To ask what is NOT okay to buy second hand

[minddeter]

I try to buy second hand stuff as much as possible. I need some new towels-are second hand towels unacceptable?

I think second hand knickers would be a line drawn and towels have probably been just as close if not closer to someone's Front Bottom.

Where do you personally draw the line?

'I remember when I bought a mooncup on eBay, another seller was listing their ‘barely used’ one 🤢'

One careful lady owner? 🤣🤣🤣

Underwear and anything ‘intimate’
Shoes (athletes foot! Verrucas 🤢)
Car seats
Mattresses. Pillows, bedding.
Earrings
Cosmetics
I wouldn’t get second hand pjs but I don’t know why since I would but second hand clothes (I don’t but more for convenience)
I would accept/give these things from/to family though

Motorcycle helmet. Never ever buy a second hand motorcycle helmet

Well if you went to a hotel; you'd presumably use thw towels provided that everyone staying had used.
If they are in good condition ie no stains or anything I'd put them on a boil wash before using them.
I guess I'd draw the line at knickers? Make up/deodorant. Shower sponges. Anything personal that is close to the (naked) body for long periods of time.
Totally what you feel comfortable with tho I guess

Condoms.

I wouldn’t buy a second hand tumble dryer. I’ve only just cottoned to the tumble drier revolution and it seems like utter witchcraft to me. Second hand one seems to me to be dangerous. I realise I’m a lunatic though.

I buy loads of secondhand books, the occasional DVD, bits of furniture and a handbag once. That's about it.

When you have a smear or any per vagina surgery in hospital the speculum and instruments will have been used for many women so very 'second hand'. Needless to say sterilised between patients!

0MG

No underwear, or mattresses or pillows. No shoes or anything worn below the waist. No torn, dirty damaged goods, or useless rubbish or throwaways. I reluctantly use sheets and towels if given, and some outer clothing like jackets from a charity shop, usually.
Furniture I do buy, wooden stuff can be great and leather/leatherette furniture that is clean can be very good. Curtains can be washed or cleaned and, if given, can be a huge saving.
I am very wary of electrical goods but I have always used stuff left in a new house move. I have only ever bought 1 fridge and 1 washing machine new. I recently bought a second-hand quality cooker for £500, and am very happy with it.

E bay is VERY SELDOM a bargain these days!

I have long thought that charity shops could furnish a home for someone starting out with very little disposable income.

I worked in the reused goods shop at our local resource recovery park, and a woman who had moved here from overseas told me she had furnished her whole house from our shop. So many people came to the shop, many of them not at all short of disposable income either.

It really saddens me to hear of so many who won't even consider buying second hand goods and would rather buy cheap throwaway stuff just because it is new.

Pants but I have bought vintage silk tap pants. Shoes but I have bought shoes barely worn on Ebay in winter shoes as they would have worn socks . I think sandals with the imprint of toes would put me off. The thing is I used to do Bikram Yoga it was communal showers and very crowded changing rooms like being at school but worse in fact Covid has been a gamechanger in what is considered acceptable perhaps into the future. I have most beautiful items of quality secondhand unless they look worn as in damaged or smell or are stained but it has given me pause for thought over my mattress in an ideal world I would have new. It’s V Spring and the lady that freecycled it had the most beautiful house with work being done my previous mattress was a hand me down .I think I must be a poor snob 😂 Over the summer we had to rent in Switzerland for work. I had to sleep hardly as so uncomfortable on an airbnb ikea mattress with a very hairy rug in the bedroom and I suffered terrible Rhinenitightus ?? I couldn’t sleep. Everything in the apartment was used towels bath and kitchen and with everything being about 5 times the price there I just had to lump it and it was a relief to come home to my own things . So maybe its pants and bodytops but I have made exceptions on a case by case basis vintage tap pants but they are not crotch skimming and have been cleaned with no stains. I really believe in restoring treasuring and looking after things. Buy well, buy less and less waste . Water is very recycled and had waste in it . The same was said of money has been up people noses and allsorts but people loved money pre Covid Cash soceity . I had an upcycled label in Liberty back in 2011 but Joe public weren’t quite on board with environmental purchases back then I was competing with a brand who made things in a sweatshop in India . I made leather products. Leather that was obsolete for style reasons but repurposed . Why waste such a precious hide that wears well. I also have a problem with pleather esatz leather I see many stranded faux leather chairs with peeling plastic that cannot be repaired and pleather shoes or bags are unlikely to last to become future vintage. Learning to look after things and to keep them in reuseable condition to me is important. I have kept the uppers of some beautiful shoes as I hope for shoe upcycling to be a future thing. Good quality made shoes are not to be sniffed at excuse the pun! It’s craftmanship and where something has come from if someone looks after themselves, their things and the environment I would happily have their used items but for their pants 😬

I'm not rich by any stretch but I'm a lot better off thn some of my peers whom I know wouldn't dream of buying anything second hand. It's odd. Better for the environment and better for your bank account. What's not to like!
Most of my furniture and clothing is second hand and that that isn't was gifts.
Interesting about the moon cups. It sounds icky but why? They're not going to do anyone any harm as long as they're clean.

@Helenluvsrob

The point with towels / bedding etc is not “ no need to buy 2nd hand they are cheap enough “ it’s the planet doesn’t need more stuff - and actually old towels / bedding is often better quality. I’m yearning for a lovely stripy cotton flannel sheet like at my nans now

I wouldn't say regularly, but every few months we take in donation at our charity shop which is obviously a house clearance from someone who has downsized, gone into care, or died.

Quite often in those donations we find boxed linen like tablecloths, napkins, towels, sometimes with a little paper note saying who had given them to the donor as a wedding present. On one hand it's quite sad that these items were given as a present in the 60s and never used, but on the other they sell really well and fly out of the door.

Things like Sewing Bee on TV have transformed the way in which textiles sell. We have a few customers who regularly come in and buy all sorts of dresses, shirts, curtains and duvet covers not to use them in their current form but to use for the fabric. The quality of all vintage items is miles away from what we see now - things were made to last.

Undergarments & bathing suits (anything that touches “down there”) and car seats (unless I specifically know/trust the person I’m getting it from so I know it hasn’t been in an accident).

@eaglejulesk

I have long thought that charity shops could furnish a home for someone starting out with very little disposable income.

I worked in the reused goods shop at our local resource recovery park, and a woman who had moved here from overseas told me she had furnished her whole house from our shop. So many people came to the shop, many of them not at all short of disposable income either.

It really saddens me to hear of so many who won't even consider buying second hand goods and would rather buy cheap throwaway stuff just because it is new.

Our local hospice has a stand alone furniture collection and selling warehouse. They have the most amazing almost new, very good quality, range of furniture. It is them I am arranging to come in and take what they want from DM's house. They recently bought and hardly used, as they went into a care home, a full dining set and two new sofas from the local very upmarket furniture store. I don't know how much they will sell for, but they cost several thousand......

That's wonderful BigWoollyJumpers. Someone is going to be very happy because of your generosity. This is exactly why I don't understand people who insist on buying new, when they could get excellent quality pre-loved goods for a much better price. I'm sure the hospice will be thrilled with your donation. I sent all my DM's furniture, which wasn't new and not the best in quality but still in good condition, to the Salvation Army shop here.

Anything that requires confidence in safety;
Fire alarms, cycle helmets, motorbike helmets, car seats, cot mattresses, medication.

Anything that's been too up close and personal!
Underwear, sanipro, swimming costumes, nappies, mattresses, pillows, shoes, anything that would have been near intimate or unclean areas is a no from me.

Things that cannot be checked over completely I would only buy with caution as sometimes they don't work. I've been caught out with a camera decades ago.

Things that are electrical should be safety tested before using but I'd still consider buy second hand;
Deep fat fryers, bread makers, appliances. I've had a recent appliance take out my electrics. Tbh It's easier to buy new.

I buy most of my clothes on ebay, it's become a bit of a hobby. It's amazing how many people buy things then can't be bothered to return if they're not right so stick it on ebay for next to nothing. The majority of the things I buy are BNW, generally with tags. I honestly couldn't afford most of the stuff 'new' from the store but hey, I am extremely well-dressed, save a ton of money and it gives me an interest. Win win as far as I'm concerned! Plus if I get fed up with it I can move it on to charity shops without feeling bad about wasting cash. I only buy new shoes with labels or very lightly worn - you can tell if you know what you're looking for on the soles etc. Personally I've never bothered buying used bras, pants or swimwear but that's just a personal preference. I wouldn't judge others for it.

anything worn below the waist
So @me109f Trousers are out, shirts are in. What about dresses and catsuits?

I wouldn't buy 2nd hand
Car seats
Underwear
And mooncups

Weve got a 2nd hand dishwasher that so far has lasted longer than the previous one we bought from new. Both kids have 2nd hand phones, our sofa is 2nd hand, DS bed is 2nd hand, DD loves depop and car boot sales so lots of her clothes are 2nd hand.

Safety equipment and electrical equipment unless PAT certified.

I have second hand clothes, bags, furniture, vehicle, books, toys, linens, art, crockery, cutlery. Some bought, some inherited, some swapped with friends.

When DH and I moved in together we had his old sofa which he'd had second hand. Brought one new one which was crap and now have a 2nd hand one again. The sideboard is 2nd hand, the other side board and the tall corner unit, all second hand. Some of the toys. Lots of the books. Some of the crockery in the kitchen, random bog knives. Lots of the younger kids clothes, some of 5he bog ones and some dress up costumes are second hand, along with a handful of my dresses. In turn we donate / sell any of the good quality outgrown clothes, books and toys.

I feel iffy about buying anything thats touched the general foof area. Skirts yes, Jean's, pants, shorts, underwear. Not for me. I know logically they will be clean but I find it off putting.