To think that the majority of people don't realise stuff can be bought cheaper?

[Namechangearoonie123]

Who is buying new retail stuff

At a car boot sale yesterday everything was 50p-£2, DVDs, furniture, dresses that would cost £50, shoes that would cost £60,chests of drawers that would cost £40, books - almost new 10pence

Everything I buy from EBay is half/third of what it would cost new

I got a barbecue for free on freecycle, I'm just about to give away a leather sofa for free that would have cost £600. (It's as new and was in the house when we moved in)

Who is buying new ?

It's not always about preference. I'd love to buy all new, have all matching furniture but I can't. I'm a single parent living on a tight budget.

If I can buy new I do, if I can't I look in charity shops and eBay, ect.yes there are times in need something now but if I don't have the money then I just have to manage the best I can until I manage to find someone else's unwanted cast offs!

At a car boot sale yesterday everything was 50p-£2, DVDs, furniture, dresses that would cost £50, shoes that would cost £60,chests of drawers that would cost £40, books - almost new 10pence

I know and I totally agree however I am glad some people do not realise or care because I want their stuff when they sell it on .

I have a friend always moaning about money, refuses to go to car boots and so on and buys brand new from john lewis.

justashopgirl

"or do people really get rid of absolute gems"....

YES!! They do!

Mil gave us her cast offs, perfect worn once top boutique stuff...v wealthy...the dresses sat around for a few weeks...and we were doing a car boot anyway...so I said lets chuck them in...saves hassle of ebay.

TOP quality dresses...£8 each. we could have got loads more on ebay but were decorating, didnt want the hassle and wanted them gone. between two ladies they were gone in mins...snapped up.

people get bored of stuff...just want a change, you are not really going to sell total junk...childrens toys....amazing amazing stuff for pennies...

again giving stuff away...I have been on Freecyle for years, if I could post everything I have ever got off it, it would convert everyone over the country to it, rowing machine, cross trainer, rowing machine, food processor, piano, play house, toys, books, clothes....plant pots....all really really nice stuff!

I have given away and moved on very good items too.

I can't afford designer gear so if I can buy a 2nd hand designer top for £3 I would rather do that than buy a £3 top from primark which will shrink in the wash or go out of shape

same here would much rather buy good quality than primark for the same price.

I have second hand fabric sofas. They have been much admired since I bought them, and I've had quite a few offers from others wanting to buy them off me. They are not stained, smelly, or structurally unsound; they are also not new looking, no where near perfect, have some a few frayed threads, and yet they're still gorgeous and I love them. They cost £40 for both, delivered.

I also have a sofa from Ikea. Less than two years old. Looks horrible already, the dye in the fabric is uneven now from sun bleaching and from where it has been sat on, it's also no where near as comfortable as the beloved second hand sofas. If someone wants a black corner sofa that turns into a double bed, inbox me! lol (don't think I sold it well there).

So, I buy a mix of new and second hand. As PP have noted, sometimes charity shops are terribly overpriced, with cheap Primark clothes being sold for more than they cost new, but you can also find good quality clothes, designer, brand new with tags, for very good prices. Sometimes new shops' sales have the best prices. If you have the time it's all about looking around. Though, if you NEED something, something specific, and within a tight time frame, it's inevitably more convenient to buy it new and then ignore any prices you later see as you can get a false sense of disappointment over seeing things later, which are cheaper and would have suited, however they would not really have been a bargain as you would have to have put up with the inconvenience of being without a needed item until you'd found it. Though it is difficult to quantify the value of convenience. One way of judging is what you are willing to pay at the time.

If I'm buying something I'm usually wanting to buy something specific so don't want to trail round car boot sales in the hope of finding it. My time for shopping is limited. I'd rather have a few select things than a house full of "bargains". Car boot sale fans I know have endless tat in their houses.
I worry good stuff that's cheap at car boot sales is nicked.

I never seem to find anything at boot fairs but I do use the buy sell groups and ebay and the market place on amazon a fair bit. Infact the only new things in my lounge that were brought new were the TV, dvd player, printer and the two lamps. Literally everything else second hand. Sofas gumtree, woodburner restored off ebay, furniture all ebay, hoover buy sell group, table ebay. We love a bargain here :D