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Original poster

'holds its value' argument - help please

42 replies

winniethepug · 22/10/2011 13:52

I bought a new Stokke cot 18 months ago for about 450 pounds. At the time I convinced my DP that it was worth the money because a) it was exactly what I wanted and b) if we chose to sell it later on, it would 'hold its value'.

15 months later, my DS has spent virtually every night with us in our bed and we are now dedicated & happy co-sleepers. I listed the cot for sale locally at approximately 320 pounds (we are now living in Hong Kong, hence the approx pricing). However, DP has just flipped because he believes that selling an item for 70% of what you paid for it does not mean it has 'held its value' and we should ask for more.

Is there a formula for this that can help settle this argument? The cot is in great condition buts its still second hand and has afew scratches from moving/disassembling etc.

Am I being unreasonable for thinking that selling an item (any item really!) for 70% of what I paid for it is 'holding its value'? Or would you sell for more or less?

OP posts:
Sandalwood · 22/10/2011 13:57

No that's not really 'holding it's value'.
Did you buy it 2nd hand?

Do you think you'll even get that £300/70% for it?

Original poster
winniethepug · 22/10/2011 14:00

Well I bought it new and its basically unused. Plus, Stokke items seem to be highly coveted here in Hong Kong.

OP posts:
rhondajean · 22/10/2011 14:01

I have no idea of the current cot market in Hong Kong, but you need to check and see what similar second hand models are being sold for close to you.

The argument with DH about what " holds its value"means we cant really help with sorry!

cantspel · 22/10/2011 14:01

No i dont think it has held its value but then i think it was a bit unrelistic of you to think it would.

I would think if you can get £320 for it you are doing well as no one is going to want to pay close to shop price for a second hand cot which i would presume they would still want to buy a new mattress for.

Original poster
winniethepug · 22/10/2011 14:07

Stokke prices here in HK are pretty much the same as the UK. It just got me wondering about second hand good prices!

Will discuss with DP when he returns from his huffy walk with dog.

OP posts:
rhondajean · 22/10/2011 14:10

I think you missed the point of my post - check the classifieds for other second hand Stokke cots for sale in your area.

Not market prices for new ones.

cantspel · 22/10/2011 14:12

Ebay completed listings show stokke going for anything from £160 to £300 ish

www.ebay.co.uk/csc/i.html?LH_Complete=1&rt=nc&LH_ItemCondition=12&_nkw=Stokke%20cot&_dmpt=UK_Baby_NurseryBedding_RL&_fln=1&_ssov=1&_trksid=p3286.c0.m282

Original poster
winniethepug · 22/10/2011 14:18

I thought 320 was definitely the most I'd get so was surprised by DPs reaction.

Rhondajean - they don't come up for sale that often here so wasnt sure about a benchmark price to use

OP posts:
FabbyChic · 22/10/2011 14:24

YOu be lucky to get £200 for it.

diddl · 22/10/2011 14:24

Don´t know any "formulae" but I bet your husband is really annoyed for listening to you!

It´s a baby item that was intended to be used everyday & you admit is scratched!

I would think myself lucky if I got 50% back on a used baby item tbh.

MumblingAndBloodyRagDoll · 22/10/2011 14:26

I don't think it's bad....but it's not held its value. Diamonds do that. Cots do not!

FabbyChic · 22/10/2011 14:26

Wow maybe not, they are awesome!

Original poster
winniethepug · 22/10/2011 14:27

diddl - DP did just muttered something about 'wool' and 'eyes'

OP posts:
diddl · 22/10/2011 14:30

Is it not the one that converts to a bed?

BertieBotts · 22/10/2011 14:34

How about instead of thinking about it "holding it's value" you could say if you sell it for £320, then really it only cost you £130 in the first place. If you would have spent that much on a cot, then it's not cost any more than any other cot.

Of course that's dependent on you getting that much for it, but I'm guessing that's probably what you meant rather than what you said, which is why DP is upset now because he thought you meant that you could sell it for what you paid for it.

MonstrouslyNarkyPuffin · 22/10/2011 14:35

I think 70% of it's value after 18 months of use is holding it's value. You bought it as new. You'd expect some depreciation. You got 18 months use out of it. DH says from an investment point of view, getting 70% of the value of anything after 18 months is brilliant - unless it's gold!

You have gotten the use of a really good quality cot for 18 months for £130.

BertieBotts · 22/10/2011 14:36

Do the completed item search on your local ebay site. That should give you a rough idea.

MonstrouslyNarkyPuffin · 22/10/2011 14:38

You would say a BMW 'holds it's value', but if you bought it as new it would still drop in value over 18 months.

Want2bSupermum · 22/10/2011 14:42

I wonder if your DH works in finance. To me 'holding it's value' means that the value of the asset keeps track with inflation. So if you bought for 450 I would want to sell for 460 after 2 years.

Before you crucify me, I know that I could never do a deal like this with a new retail item. He should have known this. I see your point that you have had a cot that only cost you GBP130-150 BUT you can have bought a 2nd hand one for half of this amount. We ended up getting ours new in a sale. It was $500 reduced to $250 and then I used another coupon to get it for $200. It is solid hardwood, made in canada using nontoxic materials. It also coverts into a full sized bed. I see that as being a decent deal as we need a double bed for another room in the house.

Original poster
winniethepug · 22/10/2011 14:42

Thanks for your posts. It's 9:40pm here so off to the family bed while the cot in question sits sadly unused in the nursery :)

OP posts:
Twunk · 22/10/2011 14:48

I'd say 70% second-hand is pretty good, especially for furniture! I'd be chuffed to get that. For less desirable items I would count on getting a third of the original value, for something in good but used value, up to half for as-new.

I live in Holland though.

trixymalixy · 22/10/2011 14:49

I think the general rule is about 50% or less for second hand furniture, although branded stuff like the Stokke trip trap are likely to get more. 70% is probably a bit optimistic, although I do agree with your interpretation of holding it's value.

Twunk · 22/10/2011 14:50

Sorry too many 'values' - I meant good-but-used condition

Gay40 · 22/10/2011 14:51

I think it means different things with different items. For example, a house holds it value over 25 years but not when the market dips.
A car may hold its value better than others.
So in my opinion you are both right, although your DH is probably still a bit annoyed about spending it in the first place - hence the reaction.

catsareevil · 22/10/2011 15:22

You meant that it would retain value relative to other brands of cot, your DP seems to have thought that you meant it would retain value in an absolute sense.

Being able to get 70% for a second hand cot would be doing well.