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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

ArcheryAnnie · 04/12/2017 17:26

BikeRun you've reminded me that I need to put the Harry Potter lego we still have on ebay before it gets too late for xmas!

Ciderandskatesdontmix · 04/12/2017 18:51

YANBU I have bought quite a few bits 2nd hand for Christmas. Most of dd2's presents are from eBay, she's 5 months old so really not going to care and dd2 wants a pair of heelys and I object to paying nearly £60 for a pair of novelty shoes that she'll likely grow out of in no time. I got a pair that look like they've been worn once for £18 delivered. I'll get a nice box for them and she'll be thrilled.

profpoopsnagle · 04/12/2017 19:02

One of DD's fav presents was a 'pretend mixer' for 70p. All it needed was a new battery which cost more than the toy! This year, I have found a pillow pets for £2, a Build a bear wardrobe for a fiver and DS has a second hand bike. DD has also had build a bear clothes from ebay for birthday, we could have got her 4 items or the bundle with about 8 outfits, 5 pairs of shoes and a backpack for the same budget.

(Although, when I bought the pillow pets and mentioned that it for Christmas, the charity shop seller was a little sniffy )

We purposely did a major toy clear out and charity shop drop 2 weeks ago hoping that others would benefit from it now.

JennyBlueWren · 04/12/2017 19:34

I buy second hand for myself and DS (nearly 3). Can afford gifts that way. Charity shops are great for getting things often in nearly new (or even new) condition.

Best second hand gift was a huge Noah's ark last year which I got for £5. It would have been £150 new (and so way out of my budget!).

altiara · 04/12/2017 19:49

Definitely!! I spent a fortune on moshi monster plastic characters (before shopkins can out) and then when something new comes along, that’s it you’re stuck with hundreds of pounds of plastic that no-one wants! At least buy it cheaply, then the pain isn’t so bad to bear!
Chances are some of the stuff being sold will have been hardly touched.

RachelRosie · 05/12/2017 17:20

I remember one year my brother giving me his old CD player for Christmas and I was over the moon. I knew it was second hand but felt so lucky to have something so nice (showing my age!)
I think its really sensible... I always look for second hand toys.

aspoonfulofyourownmedicine · 05/12/2017 17:24

Yes, we buy 2nd hand presents for Christmas. We have bought our DS hotwheels things hes interested in, which were half price at argos then another 2 sets £1.50 in a charity shop and a carry case £1 off a facebook selling page! We also buy new presents but very rarely but for full price!

jay95 · 05/12/2017 17:28

It's a good idea and I'm sure it will mean just as much to her. Was out shopping today and could feel myself giving in to the usual pressures around buying presents. Resist!

CombineBananaFister · 05/12/2017 17:41

I don't see the point in paying more for something than you have to really as long as it's in decent nick.
Personally I have no choice due to financial restraints but I think it's nice when more than one child gets joy from it.
Got DS a 2nd hand xbox 360 this year as even if I could afford a newer version HE wouldn't be able to afford the games for it at £50 a pop so makes sense. Also scouring eBay for Harry Potter lego (groan) !! Why don't they bloody re-issue it? Still as popular as ever. ArchieAnnie, get it on there, it'll probably pay your mortgage off

snowgal · 05/12/2017 18:48

I've done this most years (train set, octonauts, imaginext), if you lay it out for them they get the complete wow factor when they open the door on Christnas morning and never notice the lack of wrapping/packaging - double saving :)

NotCitrus · 05/12/2017 19:00

As long as you've got time to check it works/has all the bits and have a plan B if it doesn't turn up or isn't as described.
Spent a couple years telling ds that no, he wasn't going to get a Lego Millennium Falcon for Xmas as it cost 200 quid. He was so delighted when we got one on Ebay (not guaranteed, so spent ages building it ourselves and nicking the couple missing bits from ds's other space sets), so now tells us to buy second hand so he can have bigger sets than he would get otherwise - canny child!

nocutsnobuttsnococonuts · 05/12/2017 23:07

I've done this in past year's, harder now they are older and have more specific ideas about what they'd like! my best year was when I bought a large happy land storage box full of buildings and people for £4 at a church faire for dd2 and a boxed sylvannian house with furniture and family for £5 from ebay for dd1. bargain main Christmas presents that year 😂

however this year have bought dd2 a second hand 2ds for £20 off Facebook, just bought a new silicone cover and case (£12 total from amazon) and both dds have ds games second hand from ebay. bought super smash bros and new pokemon for £10 each instead of £35, classic sonic for £7 and new Nintendo's for £8. for the price of 1 new game have bought them 2 games each!

Zevitevitchofcrimas · 06/12/2017 00:41

Oh no op go for it, all my friends and baby circle do, did! It'd what you do it goes round in a big circle, baby Sales charity etc. They don't know at four in fact I think nearly all dd gifts at 4 were second hand. Save the money for days out, membership to local farm etc, special days out... Don't waste it needlessly! Unless your tamara ecclestone

SureJan · 06/12/2017 01:14

This year will be my baby's first Christmas & I've picked up a few bits from charity shops to wrap up for him! I've been feeling a bit tight about it, but he wont know the difference & won't care. He's got some 'new' gifts too, but I've saved some cash doing it this way.

Buttgandy · 06/12/2017 01:52

When the DC were little we used to remove all the packaging before wrapping anyway, because they don't care and just want to play with the toy. Since they've been into various 'characters' it's been ebay. Makes sense.

fidgettt · 06/12/2017 02:38

Do it OP.

ohlittlepea · 06/12/2017 05:18

I think especially with plastics ebay second hand is the ethical way to go! The more we reuse this stuff that is going to be around for 500 years the better :) I got my dd a second hand dolls house last year and dod it up. I think buuing second hand is a great ethical choice :)

LellyMcKelly · 06/12/2017 05:24

It's a great idea. You're getting great value, you're recycling, you're giving money to people who probably need it a bit more than Tesco. All this stuff will end up in landfill eventually. By buying second hand you're creating a bit less waste.

MsHopey · 06/12/2017 05:40

First Christmas with DS. He'll be 5 months at Christmas. I know he doesn't really know alot yet, but I loved Barney as a kid, so that's something I wanted to buy him a few bits and pieces of, obviously pretty much vintage now and other than some crap quality bits from Amazon there's not much choice. I got a 2 foot interactive Barney toy from shpock for £5. Followed up by 2 12 inch soft toys of Barney's friends BJ and baby bop for £4 each. And some Barney DVDs from music magpie for £1 each. I've brought a few new bits, but not much. I've made sure everything has been washed and/or dettol disinfectant sprayed for good measure. I'll do it for as long as I can.
Tbh I don't buy many new things for myself. I love bargains hunting and most my furniture, clothes, shoes, and appliances are second hand from Facebook, eBay, shpock or charity shops.
Got a pretty good quinny buzz pushchair from a charity shop last week for £8!!! I'd be mad not to!

BlueButTrue · 06/12/2017 13:31

She's 4, young enough to be in a sling by apparent MN standards

So YANBU

meatyLoaf · 06/12/2017 13:42

Your husband sounds like a snob or immature, or both.

As an example, son's friend's parents have both a house and a different 'party flat' in London Zone 1. Their son got (amongst a couple of other things) a second-hand pogo stick which they bought off me for £15 for his brithday.

saraoshea · 06/12/2017 14:33

This is definitely okay. Not only can you get more stuff that she likes whilst saving money but it is far more ethical. Consumerism is destroying this planet so if it's in good condition and you can get it second hand go for it. if a child wants something they are not going to care or even know whether it is second hand or new. I have given my children second hand gifts as well as new things and hope they will grow up knowing it's better to try and reuse stuff before buying brand new.

BitofaPoorEffort · 06/12/2017 17:37

I think It's great, especially at that age! So much better to recycle, re-use, and save the difference towards the big expenses you can't avoid, down the line. You can also get some things on EBay still sealed ot with original packaging but loads cheaper than RRP...I could pay full price but frankly so much stuff for kids (and adults) is overpriced anyway. We got great Star Wars items, fully boxed and immaculate, at £40 less than RRP. A 4 year old won't care though so you can get some great bargains and not add to the landfill!

milliemolliemou · 06/12/2017 18:30

OP just go for it. Perhaps suzuki can explain why she wouldn't do it or any other posters who wouldn't buy second hand? Clearly you wouldn't do that with anything that might be contaminated (pre-used lipstick, no) but otherwise it just sounds brilliant. That includes beautiful clothes from charity shops - providing they're laundered or clean. I know my cousin's DD rejoices in the elderly stuff we have around.

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