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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To buy second hand bits for Christmas...

99 replies

Emlou07 · 04/12/2017 13:30

My 4 year old has recently taken a huge liking to shopkins and Barbie. I've been looking on eBay and can get bundles of both for a fraction of the price of them new.

Not that I'm being tight, I just dislike spending £2.50 on 2 shopkins when I can get 10 for £5 eBay. Same goes for barbie clothes and accessories.

Is this out of order? I'd obviously buy looked after bits and put them in a nice box. She will also have new bits.

OH says I'm being harsh.. I thought it would be sensible 🤔

OP posts:
Blueredballoon · 04/12/2017 13:32

Totally sensible in my opinion! My DC have a mixture of toys with loads of stuff from charity shops. I wrap it nicely and they don’t care!

PinkHeart5914 · 04/12/2017 13:34

As long as they are in good condition, why not? Dc grow out of theses toys so quick if you can get good condition ones second hand why not

IHeartKingThistle · 04/12/2017 13:36

We've always done this, particularly for vintage toys and moshi monsters!

Enidblyton1 · 04/12/2017 13:36

YANBU
The only thing to watch out for is the condition - I've had the odd thing from eBay that was quite dirty/slightly broken

I once bought some (plastic tat) magiclip dolls and castle for my DDs birthday on eBay and she absolutely loved it. Paid about 20% of the original price.
Think of all the extra packaging you're saving too!

londonrach · 04/12/2017 13:36

I dont know a single mum who doesnt do the stocking that way. My dd is getting pretty much 90 percent second hand from us for xmas.

HuskyMcClusky · 04/12/2017 13:36

YANBU at all.

Glumglowworm · 04/12/2017 13:37

Yanbu

She’s 4, she won’t know the difference

As long as they’re in good clean condition, it really doesn’t matter

ThisLittleKitty · 04/12/2017 13:38

I would never do this.

Ferret2018london · 04/12/2017 13:39

Very sensible! It makes sense in all forms, your child gets the toys she wants and you have extra money saved. I often visit second hand game/electronic shops or browse ebay/amazon for cheaper alternatives and just make sure they're in a presentable box. My Mum would do the same for me as a child and I probably got more gifts as the second hand things were cheaper! haha. I thought and still think it's a brilliant idea :)

SunFlower222 · 04/12/2017 13:40

YANBU, especially as she’s only 4 she won’t even know any difference.
I gave my little girl second hand wooden doll furniture last year, it was immaculate, would have cost about £100 new but only cost me about £10.

strugglingtodomybest · 04/12/2017 13:41

We do this. I still buy as much as possible second hand and they don't care so long as it's in good condition. I mean, it's crazy to buy a brand new DVD if you can get it in the charity shop for a quid surely?

And yes, it's meant they get more presents, so they really appreciate it!

HuskyMcClusky · 04/12/2017 13:41

Kitty, care to say why, exactly?

Chaosofcalm · 04/12/2017 13:42

Definitely sensible if she does not know any difference. Save the money up in case she wants to go to uni.

RunRabbitRunRabbit · 04/12/2017 13:43

Of course it's OK! I'm surprised you need to ask.

Soubriquet · 04/12/2017 13:43

Why not?!

I've got my 4 year old an immaculate second hand kindle fire for Christmas. Fraction of the price, still looks in fantastic condition. She won't know and wouldn't care either

Zapdos · 04/12/2017 13:44

My sons are 7 and 4. Both of their 'main' Christmas presents are second hand - mainly because the stuff they want is no longer manufactured (thanks, YouTube) and so can only be found on eBay/second hand.

I doubt they'll even notice on Christmas day - it saves us the bother of wrestling stuff out of its packaging and then having loads of plastic to dispose of.

YANBU.

Bluesheep8 · 04/12/2017 13:44

I buy most of my clothes from charity shops and this year I've bought a beautiful per una (m and s) knitted wrap for my mum for Christmas. It was £2.50 and she'll love it.

ThisLittleKitty · 04/12/2017 13:46

I would just always buy new. Especially for Christmas. I wouldn't dream of giving anyone a second hand gift.

missmoz · 04/12/2017 13:50

The fact that some people insist on buying everything new, especially when children don't play with things for very long, significantly contributes to a planet drowning in plastic.

It's ethical, it's cheaper, and they won't know the difference.

RunRabbitRunRabbit · 04/12/2017 13:51

The broken crappy shit never makes it onto the charity shop shelves well, not in my local ones anyway so anything there is proven to be of half decent quality imo.

In my experience the people who have least money seem to worry most about buying new whereas those who can afford new are most relaxed about buying second hand. Is your OH viewing second hand as a judgement on your ability to provide?

Zapdos · 04/12/2017 13:55

So kitty would you rather buy a child the thing they really wanted secondhand, or something new that they were not that interested in?

rcit · 04/12/2017 13:55

3 things for eBay:

  1. be very careful about condition. It varies massively

  2. check the seller feedback, read all neutral and negative points

  3. watch out re postage/delivery times. Can take a lot longer than amazon for eg.

Original poster
Emlou07 · 04/12/2017 13:57

@runrabbitrunrabbit

His opinion is 'we can afford new, why would we buy second hand for christmas?'

Don't get me wrong, we have had a lot second hand, so his issue isn't with second hand bits himself, I guess he sees Christmas as a time for new things? I don't know 🤷‍♀️

But I'm glad others would do it too! Thanks 😊

OP posts:
PoshPenny · 04/12/2017 13:58

I have just had something arrive in the post from eBay. Gave it to my 23yo DD semi apologetically as it's kind of part of her xmas present but need to check if it fits first. It's something for her pony she has coveted for over 11 years. She is absolutely thrilled to bits with it. I got it for £40, it would be 4x that new and I couldn't justify buying it. So long as it's not all secondhand, I don't see the issue.

Trinity66 · 04/12/2017 13:59

Go for it, I've done it myself for Christmas stuff, like others have said just make sure they're in good condition before you buy