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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to buy clothes and presents for the kids from eBay instead of new??

60 replies

CocktailQueen · 16/10/2011 19:52

Over the last couple of years I have become an eBay queen and use it A LOT for purchases - lots of kids clothes and pressies, as you can save so much, and it's ecologically friendly too. But - we're not badly off and I don't actually HAVE to buy second hand - so AIBU?? Do you do the same? Or hate the idea? I'd much rather buy a party dress, say, for £5 than £20! My dd won't get much wear out of it, so why spend a fortune; and it's not likely to hae been worn much already. What do you think??

OP posts:
GalloweesG · 17/10/2011 06:43

Yanbu - I intend to list some of the dc's outgrown clothes today. :)

DawnOfTheDeementedDead · 17/10/2011 06:48

YANBU.

Most of what my dc wear is second hand. From Ebay, NCT sales, car boot sales, charity shops.

In fact, i'm planning to kit out DC5 completely from an NCT sale next month.

I don't think theres anything wrong with that at all. It's sensible.

BeeMyBaby · 17/10/2011 06:55

YANBU, almost all of DD's clothes are second hand as she gets such short use out of them, and all my maternity clothes are second hand for the same reason. Like others have said I buy her new shoes though.

camdancer · 17/10/2011 07:00

Why spend £££ when you can get something just as good at lower prices. You do have to know your prices, and check how much postage is, otherwise you end up paying more than online prices.

Most of our Christmas is ebay, charity shops or nearly new sales. Everyone gets what they want. I can't see a downside.

FootprintsOnTheMoon · 17/10/2011 07:08

Confused - don't get Fabbychic logic.

I buy my own clothes 'live' (I.e.from a real shop), because I have shape as well as size, and because I expect to wear clothes for years.

I happily buy DC clothes from eBay - because if it is a lovely item in their size, then 99% of the time it will look lovely on them - for the 12 months max they wear it (less if you accoun for seasonality).

'Deserve' is very loaded. There is nothing intrinsically inferior with second hand. You obviously have to be more discriminating in judging condition. What my kids deserve is not to have me wince when their clothes get worn out or stained playing 'doggies' or 'explorers' or 'mad scientist' or what ever.

TandB · 17/10/2011 07:11

YANBU

Almost all of DS's current clothes and toys came from ebay, a charity shop or an NCT sale.

This will no doubt make Fabby go Shock but he even has some second-hand cloth nappies....

inmysparetime · 17/10/2011 07:42

I didn't even buy most of my DCs clothes as I just put the word out at church that I didn't mind second hand and people kept giving me bags and bags of clothes their DCs had outgrown. For my part, I have passed on my DCs clothes to others who could use them. Some clothes move beyond use, and relatives buy some things new, but passing on clothes is useful instead of wasteful, and saves a lot of money.

flipandfill · 17/10/2011 08:47

YANBU- you will save a fortune though, I bought my entire 9-12 month clothes for my daughter from a car boot sale for about £12 - including a jacket with labels still on.... We work hard for our money so want to make it go as far as possible... She has a few new bits and all her clothes are in good condition. She doesn't mind - the more we save now, the more we will have for holidays and stuff.

We also had a brand new monsoon party dress for £5 from ebay instead of about £35- she had pretty much ruined it by the end of the day but it didn't matter..

BikeRunSki · 17/10/2011 08:52

YANBU at all. I do, lots of people I know do. Plus Charity shops, Nearly New Sale, MS.

musicposy · 17/10/2011 09:00

YANBU. I've already started buying stocking stuff off ebay, lots of it secondhand. So much better for the environment as well as my pocket.

The girls know some is not new, they don't care. Particularly stuff like DS games. I just picked a couple of games up, boxes, manuals, etc for less than a fiver each. Why pay £30? I test that they work and then they go in the stockings.

We started really when DD2 started collecting Pokemon stuff - lots of it you can only get secondhand. For her birthday she wanted a game boy colour so she could play the old games like Pokemon yellow. I said, "You do realize it won't be new?" and she said, "I don't care about that." I found a beautiful one, boxed, for £18, plus some games. She had in the end what would have been about £200 worth of stuff when it was new, for around £30. Since then we've all really questioned why we're buying new when there is so much available out there 2nd hand.

So much better for the planet not to keep on filling your life with new stuff. Good on you, I say. :)

pallymama · 17/10/2011 09:06

YANBU. All bar one of DDs birthday presents this year are from ebay, as is my favourite dress.

TheLadyEvenstar · 17/10/2011 09:10

I buy 95% of DS2's clothes from ebay/MN. There are 4 boys in our family plus 2 very close friends who we pass clothes around. The problem now though is

DS1's clothes are medium mens so they won't fit
DN1's are 11-12
DN2's are 7-8
DS2's are 7-8

So DS2 at 4 is the same size clothes as DN2 who is 8 they also have the same size shoe. He went and ruined the cycle by growing too quickly Sad.

Ebay all the way as far as I am concerned.

ln1981 · 17/10/2011 09:11

Yanbu OP.

I did this a couple of years ago for xmas for everyone in the family (dp had been made redundant, so not much money about). Its definately the way to go. The kids do still get some new toys but if someting is good quality and has been well looked after, then I will buy it.

I have started buying all my own clothes on Ebay, I mainly buy things that are new, but I get them at a fraction of the cost. I loe ebay!! Smile

ln1981 · 17/10/2011 09:11

love not loe

Theas18 · 17/10/2011 09:15

Why is this an ABIU???

It's normal isn't it?? and Charity shops etc. all fair game for best bang for your Xmas buck!

Theas18 · 17/10/2011 09:22

Why is this an ABIU???

It's normal isn't it?? and Charity shops etc. all fair game for best bang for your Xmas buck!

NinkyNonker · 17/10/2011 09:26

I buy a lot from eBay, not cause we have to financially but because it makes sense. I tend to get the bigger bits from there for dd (coats, little bits from boden etc) and buy the cheaper bits like vests and baby grows new. If I'm buying something I tend to check there first, then Amazon, then Quidco...maybe I'm just stingy!

madam52 · 17/10/2011 09:32

I had this argument with a friend after suggesting she go on EBay for her DGCs outfits - four party dresses and two x little shirts waistcoats and trousers for her belated night 'do' (by two years - long story) for her wedding.
I got a horrified Mrs Bouquetesque reply and off she went to Debenhams and spent around £250. Her argument was that she couldnt bear the thought of them not being the first to wear their clothes. Until i pointed out some suitable Bridesmaid/party type dresses for £12 each (on last bid) that had been dry cleaned and were still in sellophane whereas the £50 ones she had bought had probably been tried on by an untold quantity of mucky urchinslittle darlings. So the Ebay ones would have been less 'tainted' if anything.

madam52 · 17/10/2011 09:33

damn strikeouts mucky urchins

choceyes · 17/10/2011 09:35

YANBU at all!

I love getting bargains from Ebay. I can afford to buy new, but I also like quality brands like Frugi, POP, NAS etc which are really quite expensive for kids clothes, but they last really well, so I have no qualms about getting them good quality clothing at a lower price. I'd rather buy better clothes second hand than poor quality clothes new.
My MIL looks down on buying second hand, and always buys the DCs ill fitting, uninteresting clothes from TK MAxx and Tesco etc. But they look better in the second hand clothes I buy them!

I love NCT sales too. Always buy lots of toys and books for them.

But I always buy shoes new, although if there is a pair in good condition at a NCT sale or charity shop I'll buy it as a spare.

Fixture · 17/10/2011 09:39

YANBU. I buy lots of things second-hand. Recycling is a good thing and you get to save money into the bargain :)

Gingefringe · 17/10/2011 09:47

I buy loads off eBay and then re-sell them or give them to charity shops as I dont mind parting with them. I also think that eBay must keep Royal Mail going at the moment!!

mamasmissionimpossible · 17/10/2011 09:59

Is it just me that finds that once I add in postage, quite often I am not getting such a bargain. I can go to H&M or sainsbury and buy brand new for cheaper.

I have been burned by buying on ebay. I bought a playmobil ambulance the other day on ebay and it was filthy when it arrived. I stuck it in disinfectant, but still feel reluctant to give it to the dc's.

nickschick · 17/10/2011 10:06

Funnily enough I had this conversation with ds1 at the weekend.

He is 18 and very 'into' clothes, I was lucky ebough to get to a jumble sale on Friday where I bought some fab stuff for myself (leopard print clutch/next purse/fab long black tshirt top/black and gold scarf and a diamante t shirt )altogether I spent £1.80 including the 20p entry Grin.

Ds1 said its a shame you couldnt do this when we were small youd have saved a fortune if you could have got us stuff like this........Grin I have always gone to sales and charity shops but as i wash everything new and secondhand before they wear it -theyve never realised Smile.

porcamiseria · 17/10/2011 10:10

mamamission

give that seller bad feedback!!!! really, thats wrong and they need to learn . or ask for a refund and say toy disgusting, ebay is set up to handle complainst

I sold a bag of baby toys for £6 plus £6P&P
so for £12 she got a plastic bag of good, clean toys that had she bought seperately would have cost £40+

likewise for clothes you sell/buy "bundles". but I agree a one off dirty toy, complain!!!!

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