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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to wonder what you WOULDN'T buy 2nd hand

91 replies

cariadlet · 22/04/2019 13:46

Dp is currently wearing a pair of trainers that one of his friends gave him. Dd is also wearing a pair of trainers that she bought 2nd hand online.

I buy lots of clothes from charity shops but I'm really squeamish about feet and said that I would never buy 2nd hand shoes.

This led to dp and dd asking what I would be happy to buy 2nd hand. When I said no to towels, dp asked about hotels. Obviously I know that towels are washed and reused but I had never really thought about it. I had a sudden unwanted image of a previous guest using the towel in my room to dry their feet and crevices. I had a genuine physical reaction. It made me feel quite shivery and yucky.

I know I was being ridiculous and irrational, but please tell me that I'm not the only one. What wouldn't you want to buy 2nd hand or use after other people? (I'm assuming undies are a no-no for everybody).

OP posts:
funinthesun19 · 22/04/2019 13:49

Underwear

Sparklingbrook · 22/04/2019 13:49

I would not buy second hand shoes, or towels. Or undies-but saying that my friends successfully sold her maternity pants on E-bay. Yuk.

araiwa · 22/04/2019 13:50

Tissues

funinthesun19 · 22/04/2019 13:50

(I'm assuming undies are a no-no for everybody).

Sorry, I just saw this 😂

terftastic1984 · 22/04/2019 13:50

Vibrators

AhoyDelBoy · 22/04/2019 13:51

As above and also pyjamas. I dunno why they just always look so manky when I see them in opshops Envy

Nacreous · 22/04/2019 13:53

I mean I have had second hand bras and tights but only from family.

I'm pretty happy with second hand shoes as long as they are in good nick.

Bit funny about swimming costumes, but again have had second hand from family.

I've had towels and tea towels second hand, and bed linen, crockery, cutlery, cooking stuff, sofas, appliances. I figure if it can be saved from landfill then we might go to hell in a handcart at least a little bit slower, and it saves money.

I probably wouldn't buy a second hand mattress though. I think because it's nigh on impossible to clean, and because at least in a hotel I am reassured that they will use mattress toppers which I choose to believe will be cleaned semi regularly.

Sparklesocks · 22/04/2019 13:56

I don’t think I could do PJs, towels, bedding, mattress. Yes hotels reuse towels but they are usually higher quality than home towels, and they use industrial washing machines and replace them when they get too worn - so I would say thats different to inheriting/buying towels from an individual.

I can do second hand shoes, but not trainers which can be sweat traps - happy with more formal shoes though.

NicksWife08 · 22/04/2019 13:57

Underwear, children's shoes, children's car seat and mattresses.

EnglishRose13 · 22/04/2019 14:02

Bedding sets

Every time I see some for sale on Facebook I'm a little grossed out.

But then it's the same as hotel bed linen, which I'm fine about.

DramaAlpaca · 22/04/2019 14:08

I couldn't wear someone else's clothing or shoes, the thought makes me squeamish tbh. Apart from my own family's stuff, that's fine.

I'm perfectly happy to buy second hand cars, furniture, books & that sort of thing, and I do, regularly, but not something you wear.

BlitheringIdiots · 22/04/2019 14:10

Any Clothes including shoes.

TheTrollFairy · 22/04/2019 14:13

Mouthwash 😂

I wouldn’t buy 2nd hand car seat (unless from someone I know and 100% sure not in an accident)
Wouldn’t buy knickers 2nd hand either

NitrousOxide · 22/04/2019 14:13

Menstrual cups Grin

isseywithcats · 22/04/2019 14:17

Shoes, towels, bedding, most charity shops dont sell underwear or socks (ours dosent) i only buy clothes at our shop that still have the tags on, but dont mind buying second hand books, camping equipment, collectable ornaments

randomsabreuse · 22/04/2019 14:18

I'm very much a "need it now" type shopper. I hate clothes shopping and would prefer a quick visit to one shop, try on all they have of the required item in my theoretical size plus one either side, choose least bad and leave. Charity shops aren't good for this option... neither is TK Maxx ...

On the wouldn't want factor, anything that it would be impossible to clean properly... especially cuddly toys that don't machine wash!

KittyInTheCradle · 22/04/2019 14:19

Underwear or a cot mattress. Other than that, anything that's cleanable/varnish-able is good!

agnurse · 22/04/2019 14:21

Car seats. These should NEVER be bought secondhand because it's impossible to know the provenance definitively. If a car seat has EVER been in an accident it MUST be replaced. There could be microscopic damage that is invisible to the naked eye but renders the seat unsafe.

Undies and swimwear I won't buy secondhand either, for obvious reasons.

KittyInTheCradle · 22/04/2019 14:21

Oh also safety equipment like someone else said - bike seat or car seat for baby, or bicycle helmet.

YesimstillwatchingNetflix · 22/04/2019 14:23

I love buying secondhand for environmental reasons. The only things I don't use secondhand are underwear (though I have stripped and sanitised cloth nappies given to me by a neighbour), sheets, PJs and that sort of thing.

My husband has an aversion to anything second hand though. 🤷🏻‍♀️

ImFreeToDoWhatIWant · 22/04/2019 14:24

Knickers. Everything else is fair game imo.

BrokenWing · 22/04/2019 14:25

Anything going on/in my body, eg cosmetics, earrings for hygiene and safety reasons.

Any underwear/socks unless BNWT

I have never bought 2nd hand clothes or shoes, so not sure. Maybe if worn once type thing.

No to bedding, mattresses and towels ewww

Dh wanted to buy a jacuzzi type bath 2nd hand off a friend and I said no way as I thought about bits that might be in the filters/system (and didnt want a jacuzzi bath anyway!!)

GuineaPiglet345 · 22/04/2019 14:25

I will buy 2nd cars (although I still have to give the steering wheel a good wipe over before first use) and houses, we got a lovely 2nd hand shed off a neighbour because it was brown and she wanted a green one to match her fence and she didn’t want to paint it (yes, really!).

Anything that’s been near someone else’s crotch, arm pits or feet is a big no-no, I heard the plastic in kids toys can be poisonous when it’s a few years old so no to that too.

Holymolymackerel · 22/04/2019 14:26

Mattresses, bedding, towels, underwear, footwear, make up, car child seat, baby feeding equipment,

GuineaPiglet345 · 22/04/2019 14:28

Oh and I won’t have 2nd hand books in the house because too many people keep them in toilets Envy (not envy)

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