Are flippers ruining thrift store experiences?

Was reading a debate about this on reddit.

Flippers are people who tend to look for low price items in stores that they know they can sell elsewhere for a higher price, whether it be online, FB sale, Craigslist, etc. An example would be a flipper going into goodwill, buying a $5 Patagonia jacket, and selling it for $80 online.

I will present to you the arguments I read.

People against flipping:

1. It’s morally wrong— the entire point of a thrift store is to give someone a good deal, not give someone a good deal so they can sell the item to someone else at a price that is not a good deal. It also goes against the spirit of thrifting. Many thrift stores are made to give back to the community, not be used as a tool to earn money off of.

2. It’s causing thrift stores to raise their prices unrealistically— before Patagonias could be found at $5. In some thrift stores, they’re now $40-$70 since thrift stores don’t want to be taken advantage of.

3. Flippers are overcrowding stores and taking the fun out of sales. They take all of the good items first without bothering to look at size or condition and leave other shoppers with little to nothing.

4. It’s causing people to want to donate less— when people feel that the jacket they are donating is going to be flipped instead of genuinely enjoyed by a person looking for a good deal, they decide to sell it online instead, which further ruins the thrift store experience as it lowers the quality of what thrift stores receive.

5. It’s causing thrift stores to “damage out” some items to lose some of their value— marks through the tag, holes cut into certain places, prices written on the bottoms of shoes, etc, ruining the item quality for ‘honest’ buyers who actually want to keep the item for themselves.

6. It is ruining the experience for those who are looking through thrift stores out of lack of choice. People who are struggling financially are having a hard time getting affordable coats for winter since they’re snatched up by flippers first.

People for flipping:

1. Many flippers are young people; it’s a great way for them to earn money when they’re struggling financially with sky high prices for things like college as it is.

2. Some flippers do give people ‘good’ deals. While they still make a profit, they’re usually offering these items to people at least a bit less than retail, which does save people money.

3. Thrift stores are fair game for any customer. There isn’t a specific requirement to be a shopper and nobody should be able to tell someone what they can and can’t do with their items.

4. If flippers make it to the bins first, it’s the same principle as ‘the early bird gets the worm’. People mad at flippers are just bitter that they missed out on a good deal first.

5. Flippers are making their own living, so if they’re paying for an item, they’re allowed to do what they want with it.

6. Flippers are not responsible for other people not being able to get certain items that they need. People have to find their own resources, not be mad at flippers for beating them to a nice coat or boots.

What are your thoughts on flippers?