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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To buy a second hand bike for a present?

66 replies

namechangerbat · 21/12/2011 15:41

Dd is 5

New bike from halfords is about 80-100£

Independent bike shop in town sells "good make" bikes, raleighs etc, but they are 170£ +

They have a nice Raleigh Krush pink and silver bike - its second hand though for £50

I thought it was fine to do this, but my darling MOTHER has just read me the riot act about the children DESERVING a new bike and new things.

I have spent between 80 & 100 £ on her other presents - so I think I've spent quite a lot!!!

She does need a bigger bike, her old one is now far too small and can be passed down to DD2

OP posts:
Ineedchristmascake · 21/12/2011 18:40

I would never buy another new bike either, Dd1 had 2 new ones and Dd2 has had one.

All the rest and there have been a few have been second hand. Dd3 has never had or needed and new one.

Save your money for something elseXmas Grin.

vincettenoir · 22/12/2011 16:08

No it's a generational thing. Don't listen to her.

andaPontyinaPearTreeeeee · 22/12/2011 16:26

I prefer to only buy new for Xmas and birthdays, but I know that is my own personal hang up. I'm weird and have childhood related ishoos Blush - the rest of the year though I buy used more than new! Particularly as I volunteer in a charity shop :o DH has got me 2nd hand stuff before and I've loved it - like an amazing metronome for my piano :) it's just that given the choice I'd prefer to buy new for my DCs' presents.

DH bought his DDs 2nd hand laptops for Xmas, it's actually the first time he's gone ahead and bought something without us discussing it (normally he lets me get on with choosing all the gifts!), but he saw a bargain on ebay (we both got a bit addicted this year...). They weren't that great in the end, so I was a bit miffed he didn't do his research properly - he kind of got caught in the moment I think - but actually, my DSDs (who opened their gifts yesterday) are very happy with them, as they know it's the only way we could possibly afford anything like that. DSD2 even said last night "lots of my friends are getting new laptops for Xmas but I don't care - at least I've got one, I don't care if it's used" bless her :)

CatPussRoastingByAnOpenFire · 22/12/2011 17:25

My Dds last bike cost £3 from the local saturday morning auctions. I went to halfords for a new inner tube, her bike was on sale there still, for £100+! She was way more excited by the fact that her new bike was such a bargain, than she was anything else! Tell your mum to sod off, or buy the bike herself!

Original poster
namechangerbat · 22/12/2011 17:27

The bloke in the shop was really off with me when I said it was for dd's present Sad

Any way, I have it, it needs a clean even though the shop man said he would do it Hmm but it's a good nice little bike!!

OP posts:
nizlopi · 22/12/2011 18:22

My brother in law got a 2nd hand bike for my son last Christmas, he got it from his friend who's little boy was finished with it and paid for it using a bag of tobacco (classy times!)

I didn't mind at all! It was a lovely little bike, a really thoughtful gift and my little boy was so pleased :) so no, not being unreasonable.

santastophere · 22/12/2011 18:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

4madboys · 22/12/2011 18:31

yanbu at all, have done the same for my ds1! we got him a good second hand bike from a friend for £60, it would have cost us £300 new, no way would i spend that amount of money. ds2's bike is also second hand, got it from the sales boards in waitrose!! thats a great place to loook for good secondhand stuff, we got a HUGE solid pine bookcase, for £20!!! it looks fabulous, ditto our dining rm table, again solid pine, was £50, both would have cost hundreds new, we sanded and waxed the table, our choice, it didnt need it and the bookcase is good as new!

Molehillmountain · 22/12/2011 18:55

Not only will your dd not care, she won't even know. My inlaws bought dds birthday present second hand and she was delighted with it. I'm glad they saved the money tbh. It says a lot about someone and their approach to material stuff if they care too much (I smarted momentarily when dmil said what she was going to do then got over myself Blush). I have bought lots of stocking fillers in charity shops. The chocolate coins are new though Grin

andaPontyinaPearTreeeeee · 22/12/2011 20:06

wow, lovely customer service from the bike shop there Hmm

complain

FWIW, the only reason DD got a brand new bike is because my parents were desperate to buy a bike for her 4th birthday. Had we not been lucky to have that option I would've rather got a second hand bike but a decent quality one, than got a cheap but rubbish bike. When we were looking around there was a lot of crap out there. But the chances are a good make of bike will be fab for a second or subsequent user, because they are built to last. DS will be inheriting DD's when she outgrows it.

4madboys I love second hand furniture! I do some work at British Heart Foundation so I get discount, I got a gorgeous massive wall unit thing for £43 including delivery, it's got all our board games, my sheet music, the printer, wii games etc... sooooo much space, I love it!

crystalglasses · 22/12/2011 20:08

your dd won't even know it's secondhand unless someone tells her.

maypole1 · 22/12/2011 21:21

We brought second hand Lego last year washed ot put it in a fancy box never new the difference

It was his most played with gift

tralalala · 22/12/2011 21:27

yadnbu about 3/4 of our toys for all of the kids are second hand, means they get about 10 xs more than we can afford new.

Also cuts out the consumerisim of xmas and means most of the stuff we get also goes to charity, everyones a winner.

MissBetsyTrotwood · 22/12/2011 21:29

DS2 is getting DS1's old balance bike but spruced up rather. He won't remember it so it's new to him, right? So YANBU at all imo.

lazylula · 22/12/2011 21:49

Ds2 nearly got a second hand bike for Christmas but it turned out to be the size he already had, I was gutted as it was in perfect condition. In the end they have both got new bikes, but ds2 will have the one ds1 gets when they grow out of them, the only reason that ds2 isn't having the bike ds1 has just grown out of is because it needs a lot spent on it as it was secondhand to us and was stored in our shed for 4 years before ds1 grew into it! YANBU. Both boys have secondhand Knight dress up outfits as they were a lot cheaper than new ones!

CocktailQueen · 22/12/2011 22:30

YANBu - second hand bikes and other pressies are just fine!!!!

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