'holds its value' argument - help please

[winniethepug]

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?

I think you were very unrealistic when you bought it to tell your DH it would hold it's value... Second hand baby products and cots rarely hold their value.

Cars do not hold their value ... the value of a new car immediately drops sharply the second you drive it off the garage forecourt.

I would not pay more than 75% of the 'new' price of any 2nd hand furniture and it would need to be immaculate 'as new.' because you don't get the back up and reassurance you'd expect from buying from a shop like say John Lewis.

would expect to pay about 50% if it was obviously used.

But people do describe certain brands of cars as holding their value. They mean they depreciate the least rather than actually staying the same value.

GeorgeEliot I agree with you on the whole about cars, however, classic cars go up in value or at least hold steady. My sister bought a 12 year old 250SL about 7 years. She paid 5k for it and sold it for 10k. My brother is driving a 15 yr old DB7. He paid 10k for it last year, it had 30k miles on the clock and could easily sell it tomorrow for 10k. I bought my car new and it is 6 years old. I would be lucky to get 30% back on what I paid for it.

If you buy new, nothing retail related holds its value. It annoys me when incorrect financial terms are attached to purchases. I grinds my gears when I hear people say clothing is an investment. Clothing is an expense or at best an awful investment - a 'vintage' gucci dress will cost 2-300 but new would have cost thousands. A 10p on the GBP return is a HUGE haircut and represents a very bad deal.

Some cars hold their value. One of ours was about £2500 when new in 1970.. it is worth over £50k today.

Holding value means the resale price goes above what you originally paid for something. If you are getting less than you paid, then no, it isnt holding its value. In the Ops case, you have lost £130, or possibly a bit more, as the value of the pound/HK dollar will have changed too since your original purchase.

I would say second hand baby stuff, unless trashed, you should expect to get about 50% of new price, so if you are able to get 70% you are doing well, point out that if you'd got a non-branded one you'd expect to sell it on for no more than £30. Did he really think someone would pay exactly the same for a second hand scratched cot that the could get box fresh from a store?

Just to point out, are you going to keep co-sleeping until the cot is definately out of use age? DS's is nearly 2 and I can see he'll definately still be in it in another year or so, can you not see you moving away from co-sleeping in the next 1-2 years? If so, i'd keep it for now...

what kind of car is that squeaky? I thought we were doing well with our VW campers purchased years ago, which have appreciated in value!

E-type Jag..

I would happily sell it and could put the money to good use ... but him indoors likes polishing it I think...

love those!

Will there be future DC? Don't you want to keep it for them?

Why don't you get the conversion kit? You can then use it as a bed until age 7.

Well, if you get 320 for it I would say that it has held it's value compared to other cots, but obviously not compared to, say, a diamond ring!

Most cots can be barely given away second hand so i would say you have done ok with it really.

Pointless to have an argument about what 'holding its value' means. Its value is whatever anyone else is now prepared to pay for it . Advertise it for £320 if that's what you think you may be able to get, if no one is interested then you'll have to drop the price. They will still have to buy a new mattress.

I'm guessing he's just fed up you spent a lot of money on a cot that hasn't had a lot of use.

Keep it and use it as a bed for your LO when you want your own bed back!

Yep, I am with better. He's still upset that you spent 450 pounds on a cot when he was thinking of buying one a bit more reasonably price.

Of course a cot, bought new, will not actually hold its value.

I do think though if you buy 2nd hand then it might hold value.

Hi ladies how did it work out for u? I'm due in feb and I wanna purchase it at Christmas! Do u know the best place for the price for it?:)
I'm hoping that it goes down in December! :)