I still give stuff to freinds if they can use it. But all to often they turn around and sell it.
If I have a $500 car for sale locally after a few months I might get a $300 offer. Even putting it in the Auto Hunter magazine that covers all of New England just gets me a lot of tire kickers that have to think about it or get their wife's permission. I don't remember any of them ever getting the wife's ok.
If I put it on ebay I can offer it at $500 and get $800 to $1500 by the end of the week.

On the other hand if someone bids too high for something I want to buy I let them have it. The next time one comes up that guy with more money than brains won't be bidding against me.