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AIBU?

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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:
RumAppleGinger · 04/12/2017 13:59

Yep, both DS's have loads of second hand stuff coming their way. DS1(7) wants an electric guitar and I got him a lovely one off gumtree with an amp for £40. He is also obsessed with Teen Titans Go. There are hardly any TTG toys on the market as they all came out at least 5 years ago so got some decent toys off EBay as well as a second hand ps3 game.

DS2(3) is Toy Story daft and managed to get a bundle of all 7 full sized toy characters for £50 on eBay.

Does the packaging really matter?! It's all going in the bin anyway, these toys get a new home instead of heading to landfill and I'm quids in. Everyone wins.

Gileswithachainsaw · 04/12/2017 14:01

It's fine

Just so long as it's in full working order all parts present etc

There's no sense paying nore for stuff that will end up broken or lost eventually anyway.

Just don't be "that guy"

The one who gets presents but doesn't check everything is clean and working and that no pieces are missing then leaving the parents to explain to an upset child why their stuff isn't working Wink

MargaretCabbage · 04/12/2017 14:07

Last year we got a Thomas the Tank Engine bundle for my son. It was at least 5x less than we would have had to pay new, so he was able to have a lot more of the engines than we'd have otherwise been able to afford. This year I've struggled to find some toys he wanted that are going for crazy money brand new on eBay so I've picked them up secondhand, I'm sure he'll be delighted.

Sheitgeist · 04/12/2017 14:09

YANBU. DD had a wonderful birthday, because we spent the usual budget in mostly second hand stuff. It was actually her suggestion!
Most of the Christmas presents I buy will be new, but generally I buy most things second hand.

RB68 · 04/12/2017 14:12

for the we can afford new - this is about value - what value plastic tut - she will get the same value from secondhand as new for play factor - bang the rest of the cash in the college fund.

Nomad86 · 04/12/2017 14:13

DC are 3 and 1. Practically all their presents are second hand and they'll not know the difference. Result, two sackfulls of presents for £60. I'll buy new once they start asking for the latest stuff. We're not short of money, I just begrudge spending a fortune on stuff that is perfectly good second hand. That said, their clothes come from charity shops and eBay for the same reason, I'll spend more when I have to.

KeatingsKids · 04/12/2017 14:13

I do it. Crazy not to. I got £300 of Octonauts for £70. I don't see why you wouldn't. My kids don't care about the packaging/box.

LordSugarWillSeeYouNow · 04/12/2017 14:14

Personally I wouldn't but my dd wants very specific things for Christmas that are only available in a certain shop and have recently just come out.

I think charity shop toys/dolls etc are a good idea day to day but for a special occasion such as birthday or Christmas, I wouldn't feel right giving my dc second hand and ds especially wouldn't be happy ( he has asd and OCD and has a thing about germs )

Each to their own :)

Beansonapost · 04/12/2017 14:26

Second hand for Christmas here... like we do with almost all things related to the children.

We're not short on money, but it's wasteful IMO.

And things in the charity shops / eBay means great value for money.

Besides my children are 2 and 9months, they will lose interest very quickly.

Enwi · 04/12/2017 14:28

My absolute favourite present from my entire childhood was a big box of Bratz dolls and accessories my mum had picked up at the carbort sale. The present was for my little sister and I to share, and we still talk about how excited we were at the time.
Totally not unreasonable! X

Santasbigredbobblehat · 04/12/2017 14:29

Bought both of mine second hand happyland stuff and bikes for birthdays/Christmas. The happyland stuff looked new.

Letseatgrandma · 04/12/2017 14:35

YABU for thinking YABU ;)

I buy just about everything second hand these days!!

Original poster
Emlou07 · 04/12/2017 14:39

@enwi

My best friend found her box of Bratz dolls under her bed and brought them round to give to my eldest (child in question) she she is OBSESSED!

Talk about a blast from the past lol

OP posts:
gamerwidow · 04/12/2017 14:40

My best ever Christmas present was a load of secondhand Sindy furniture. It didn’t matter one joy that it wasn’t new.

RiseToday · 04/12/2017 14:40

I've bought a load of Paw Patrol characters second hand because they are an absolute rip off brand new and I've saved over 50%.

They were all in excellent condition, the only thing they didn't have was the original packaging which is fine by me as it's just more waste to contend with!

Changingagain · 04/12/2017 14:48

I started wrapping my 2 year olds gifts yesterday and realised I've gone a bit over the top, but most of it is second hand. His main present is a big bundle of happyland pieces from eBay, I know he'll like them a lot more than the current range.

Dragongirl10 · 04/12/2017 14:49

Absolutely yes, there is nothing wrong with buying second hand.

Even if you can easily afford new, at a young age they will not know, or care, and you can put the money to something important later that you cannot get second hand!

Witchend · 04/12/2017 14:53

I buy a fair amount of second hand stuff for Christmas. The dc know that it means they can have things they otherwise wouldn't have-either an expensive thing that's cheaper because it's second hand or that they get something else as well.
They've never complained. The oldest is 17yo.

Natsku · 04/12/2017 14:54

Oh absolutely, so much that I buy is second hand - it's not only cheaper, it's better for the environment to reuse things instead of buying new. At the moment I'm looking for a good price for second hand LEGO friends sets.

SuzukiLi · 04/12/2017 14:55

I wouldn't.

WhyteKnyght · 04/12/2017 14:58

Totally fine. Just make sure it's in great condition.

I would always mention to the recipient where it had come from, though. We often had/have charity shop gifts from my DF.

Queeniebed · 04/12/2017 15:00

Totally sensible but agree with rcit

Ive bought loads of second hand stuff for my DS - usually on facebay or carboot. I always check the condition and pay next to nothing.

Parrish · 04/12/2017 15:00

Do it. Young kids don't care. My kids didn't even notice when I rewrapped their little stocking presents from one year to give the next year. Didn't. Even. Notice.

shakeatailfeather · 04/12/2017 15:01

We've done this in the past, mainly because the toys ds wanted weren't available in shops. He loved bob the builder when he was about 3 but this was when the programme had been around for ages so the toys had been phased out. I managed to get loads of the vehicles from a combination of local ebay and charity shops and he was overjoyed! Also got thomas take and play items which have been played and played with :)

Much better than getting something he had no interest in, just so it was new!

Queeniebed · 04/12/2017 15:02

My best ever present growing up was a game boy and loads of games - excellent 6 month old condition for Christmas. I had that from 9-in my 20s. I stupidly sold it for £2 back to a shop - It had one tiny scratch and I could have gotten £100s on ebay selling it as a collectors item. - had box and everything