Am I being tight?!

Just bought my teenage son a present he wanted 2nd hand but in excellent condition on marketplace. This enabled him to have another pricey gift that he also wanted. Nothing wrong with teaching kids that it’s possible to get more for your money.

also keep looking as I think you can get a better bike. We did on FB MP for our youngests Xmas present a couple of years ago and it was spotless x

Yanbu. We have bought 1 new bike and realised this was silly too late. We now do second hand. Kids grow out of them so quickly.

And size? Your average four year old will need a smaller bike than a five year old (you want the biggest they are tall enough for so you can get two years out of it) and bigger bikes cost more.

My child has never had a new bike and they have been given as presents. Why would I buy new when I can get a great one second hand and my child is none the wiser. Most of my child's toys and clothes are also second hand. Saving the planet they have to live in is no joke. I just wish a few more people would buy second hand

Quality?

I've done this for my dd in the past. Shine it up, new bell and attached some glittery streamer things.
She loved it. Sell it on or give to a charity shop to help someone else out.

She's not a real friend, bet she recoils at the thought of buying things in a charity shop.

@Whatadipstick It was 40 years ago we didn't wear helmets - instead we went down blooming great hills at a huge speed - I busted my collar bone, banged my head and had some big cuts on my legs - but survived. In fact was with my dad and step mum who told me I was complaining about muscle strain - they smeared on some antiseptic and some plasters, gave me a bit of deep heat rub and some aspirin - it was only after a few days when I went back to my mums she thought maybe I had a broken collar bone and took me to A&E - probably be a case of child neglect these days.

I've bought my DDs first and second bikes off Ebay secondhand. And various buggies and Lego sets and clothes. DCs go to a London prep school, we have a decent size house in London and a very healthy income. Could afford to buy new comfortably but I don't see the point. Everything has worked perfectly well and I'll sell on once the youngest has outgrown. My DDs don't know or care.

As long as you make it look nice I can’t see any reason why she wouldn’t love it. Years ago my son desperately wanted a giant Pooh bear. I couldn’t afford a new one and amazingly found one in a charity shop for a tenner. I bought it, I worried because it wasn’t brand new but he absolutely loved it.

@listsandbudgets oh god were you all right? Had you a helmet. I watched my son do this he was about 4. He appeared to very competent on bike and using brakes. I was putting our bin out day which means a long walk down a not very steep hill (private land thankfully - so no cars) He was excited to accompany me and forgot to use brakes. I honestly think he done a double somersault without taking his hands off the handlebars. He was bruised but ok. I couldn’t speak for about 2 hours.

Have only bought new bikes for my children once and will never do again. I now look out for ones in very good condition on Marketplace. Drove me batty seeing them leave them lying on ground or out overnight. They don’t give a hoot where they come from as long as they have a good bike. You friend is being a bit of a _k.

I have always thought children bikes are the most cliché second hand item ever. In a good sense - they are robust and last longer than the child can use them before growing up from that size

And it is definitely better to have a light second hand than new heavy one

Your friend sounds like she was spoilt as a child.

This is a totally normal thing for anyone who's not minted to do.

And even for anyone who is minted, it's good for the environment to reuse perfectly good things.

It goes for everything in our house - I’m always happy to go second hand. Kids have no problem with it either and we regularly rummage in charity shops for clothes, books or toys.

I’m actually picking DS5 up a second hand bike this lunchtime. £230 new, great condition, £45 second hand.

He will be delighted and he’ll probably need a bigger one in 18 months time.

when ours outgrow theirs we donate to a local not for profit, where apprentices service them and sell them on cheap.

YANBU she will love it. I remember my first bike for my 7th birthday - and I loved it. I didn't even know it was second hand until years later and frankly I wouldn't have cared.

Eventually when I was 8 or 9 I trashed it and my collar bone free wheeling down a steep hill performing the only perfect double mid air somersault I've ever and will ever achieve as I went through a huge pothole and over the handle bars. It had to go to the scrap man and I was devastated until mum found me another second hand... but imagine if she'd spent a small fortune on a new one.

Hopefully your DD will avoid such silly antics - those were the days it was considered OK for kids to go off by themselves for the day taking a picnic by the river and having a swim etc. -

I got a third hand bike one birthday. It had been my sister's then my brother's. My dad painted it, got new white tyres and stickers. I loved it. I think dad was a bit embarrassed it wasn't new so went on about what good quality it was! I didn't care, it was much more grown up than my trike.

OP it's too late for me to edit my post, but this is the second hand one we bought for our child's birthday. It looked brand new and we saved a lot of money, my son was overjoyed with it. You can find some real bargains, I found this by joining a group on Facebook called preowned isla and frog bikes.

I don’t think my dd has ever bought a new bike for her 3 - all of whom were cycling at 3. When outgrown they’re back on e.g. FB marketplace or passed on among friends/family. It’s entirely normal within her circle.

I have to admit to not always being so particular, though. A Gdd recently wanted a particular scooter for her birthday - dd urged me to find a 2nd hand one.
Sorry, but I wanted to give Gdd a brand new one. In a box.
Grannies are allowed!

Your gift sounds great.

Your friend sounds rude.

Has your friend never driven a pre-owned car? Or bought a house that was not brand-new?

You’ve upcycled a bike. YANBU

Its fine to buy a second hand bike! I have done and we had the money to go and buy a brand new one but I didn't want too as 1. it will get scuffed etc learning to ride and 2. I knew my daughter would absolutely go through the phase of loving it and using it all the time to then it sitting in the garage, untouched!!

Your friend is weird. Not you.

IMO it is better to buy a good quality second hand bike, than a brand new shit one. Those ones in Smyths etc, most are far too heavy for kids and they struggle to lift them. There are some great bikes you can pick up second hand, like Isla Bikes and Frog Bikes, but they are £££ brand new. It will make her learning to ride experience easier.

We bought a frog bike for our sons 4th birthday, they are £350/£400 brand new and there was no way I was spending that on bike he was likely to fall off and scratch when learning to ride. I bought a second hand one for £120 immaculate condition, you would not know it was pre owned, and the retain value for selling on once they have outgrown.