Secondhand gifts

[candybar]

Hi,

Just a quick question, would you give a friend a secondhand book as a Christmas gift?

I had a book in mind for a friend, not my best friend or oldest friend, but someone I'd like to give a gift to at Christmas time. Anyway a new copy was over my budget in W.H Smith and also on Amazon, so I found a copy on eBay for half price, purchased it and it's arrived in great condition. So I was planning on wrapping it and passing it on nearer to the time. It's only now that I'm thinking about it that I'm wondering if it's 'ok' to give a used gift.

I'm as little confused as I'm just not sure what the deal is with this kind of thing - so my question is how would you feel if you were give a pre owned book?

Thanks in advance!

[CadburyTime]

I think if it's as good as new (half the books in Smiths have been thumbed through multiple times) then it's fine imo - if it looks obviously used however I wouldn't be especially pleased, unless it's an antique/out of print book.

[tabbycat28]

Definitely not a problem as far as I'm concerned. I've received second hand books as gifts before and still loved them :)

[attheendoftheday]

I do secondhand gifts for close family who won't mind or for others if they are like new and they won't notice!

[NorwaySpruce]

Books are tricky.

An out of print book would be fine second hand, but there is a risk with in-print books that you'll look as though you've wrapped up last week's reading.

It does sound as though the book you're giving is pretty rare/unusual though as it's expensive new.

I'd happily give away any book I'd read, but I wouldn't wrap it

If you think your friend will get what you mean and won't think you rushed to wrap the first thing you could lay your hands on, then second hand is fine.

My children get loads of second hand things as Christmas and birthday presents.

[RedButtonhole]

It wouldn't bother me at all, but I devour books and buy almost all of them second hand for myself, and wouldn't be likely to care where it came from as long as I was getting a new book.

Could you stick a mini bottle of wine or a wee box of chocolates in with it to make it more "gifty" iyswim?

You know your friend best and whether or not she would judge you. My mum ould never give a second hand gift but would be quite happy receiving one, it depends on the individual.

[Got99problems]

I always specify second hand when people are buying me a book, as all the words are the same and it seems a waste to pay twice the price for a new copy. If it looks second hand I'd probably just explain what you said here, that you really wanted to get her it but it was over your budget. If looks pretty new I wouldn't give it another thought.

[ignominious]

Wouldn't bother me especially as it's a book.

[gravyandspuds]

Yes it's absolutely fine.I presume you could get a cheaper book but it wouldn't be one she/he'd like as much.Therefore the thought really is what counts.

[mmgirish]

It's the thought that counts! Go for it.

[Dragonlette]

My siblings and I get each other books pretty much every Christmas and birthday. I know that every book I am given has been read by at least my sibling and they're usually bought second hand too. Doesn't bother me in the slightest. So I do the same for them. My sister was thrilled that she got a whole series a couple of years ago, if I'd bought new then she'd only have the first 2.

[candybar]

Thanks everyone, Personally I wouldn't care if I was gifted a book that was secondhand, this book isn't rare or old or anything - it was just too expensive to buy new. The copy I've got doesn't look tatty, it's in very good condition.

I think I'll give it as a gift after all. I think it should be well received :)

[Floggingmolly]

It would be by me