Action line 80915 - Thrift store profit Published Oct. 14, 2008 By Anonymous 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey -- Complaint: A co-worker of mine recently PCS'd. I helped him drop off several hundred dollars of donated baby items from swings, double strollers, high chairs etc. Within a few days these items were posted on the Incirlik classifieds for crazy amounts of money. My wife and I recently had a son and the Thrift Store was an enormous help to us in finding items that families have donated to help other families around the base. I spoke with the Thrift Store and there are no procedures in place to ensure this doesn't happen. In fact, I was informed that several people on base shop at neighborhood yard sales then bring the items to the store to sell on consignment for a decent profit. I don't feel the Thrift Store should be a "second job" opportunity for anyone on base, nor should it be used for making profits off the donations of others. I can't come up with an idea on how this could be regulated and although it may not be illegal, everyone that I have spoken to feels it is morally wrong. Response: Thank you for raising this issue, and it's a tough one. Unfortunately, there is nothing illegal about buying items from the thrift store and selling them for a profit. It doesn't make me happy, but there is nothing (legal, AFI, or policy) to prevent it. Talking with my wife this issue happens at many bases across the Air Force and is not isolated to Incirlik. The person who takes advantage of those cheap prices removes this benefit from those who really need it. That is not how we should treat fellow Airmen. I hope that any person doing this sort of thing reads this note and thinks twice before doing it. Again, thanks for the call.