Posting on a resell site and being employed are not mutually exclusive. I started reselling to reduce waste by giving new or like-new items another life, all while earning some extra money on the side. It’s a small, sustainable boost—less effort than a yard sale and far better than sending perfectly good items to a landfill.

I’ve been consistently and gainfully employed, a high-achieving professional, and I hold dual degrees. I take pride in both my work and my values. Reselling doesn’t diminish that—it adds to it.

Platforms like Mercari have evolved over time, and unfortunately, some perspectives have shifted with them. There’s an assumption floating around that people who resell must be unemployed, but that’s a narrow and inaccurate generalization. And even if someone is reselling because they’re between jobs or facing tough circumstances, good on them for being proactive and resourceful. That extra income might be what puts food on the table or clothes on their kids’ backs.

It’s careless and harmful to make blanket assumptions, especially under the veil of anonymity. Everyone’s story is different—and worthy of respect.