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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask what is NOT okay to buy second hand

288 replies

minddeter · 21/04/2021 14:09

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?

OP posts:

Original poster

minddeter · 21/04/2021 18:11

I want the linen! My thread so I shuold get first dibs :)
Thanks for all the replies-interesting!

OP posts:

Original poster

minddeter · 21/04/2021 18:12

@blacksax

I don't think I'd be happy with a second-hand parachute.

OP posts:

safariboot · 21/04/2021 18:13

Towels would be fine, they get washed. That said they're cheap enough new.

For me a mattress would be a hard no. They get full of dust mites (and maybe bedbugs) and covered in bodily fluids and can't be effectively cleaned.

Cuddly toys are also a no.

But then a sofa was a yes, which is inconsistent, but it was £10.

Original poster

minddeter · 21/04/2021 18:13

@DDIJ

I suppose it's no different from a second hand penis.

I actually did laugh out loud at this!

OP posts:

Love51 · 21/04/2021 18:14

@Iamtooknackeredtorun

Ivory.

Fur.

Intimate apparel.

Shoes.

I thought the received wisdom was that fur is only ok second hand. Oddly ivory is never ok, despite the moral premise being the same.

mathanxiety · 21/04/2021 18:18

Adding hats to my list of things I never buy second hand.

lljkk · 21/04/2021 18:20

I am not sure I've seen 2nd hand mattresses for sale anywhere.
I have bought or would use almost everything listed here. No regrets.

Not sex toys. I mean, I'd flog mine, but not sure I want yours.

I'd love to flog my mooncup when done with it. Must be a pervy website for that somewhere.

Forgothowmuchlhatehomeschoolin · 21/04/2021 18:30

I love a charity shop rummage but wouldn't consider buying shoes, underwear, bedding or towels

Youdontknowwhatyoureonabout · 21/04/2021 18:39

Don’t you wear undies underneath your pjs?

I didn’t know underwear under pj’s was a thing. Sounds really uncomfortable.

I am not sure I've seen 2nd hand mattresses for sale anywhere

People selling beds on eBay frequently include the mattress and often picture the mankiest looking thing that looks like they’ve pulled it out of an alleyway. Grim.

Before anyone wonders, I had to look for an exact replacement for ASD DS collapsed cabin bed that they no longer make. Thankfully I didn’t find one and managed to persuade him to have a different one but a couple of weeks of him begging me to find a replacement were really tough.

EveningOverRooftops · 21/04/2021 18:43

My Foundations - shoes and underwear.

Pretty much everything else is considered based on the item, it’s quality and how used it looks and what it’s made from. Cotton can be hot washed, dry clean only can hint at too much faff to bother with.

I bought a fabulous bed spread for a fiver 8 or so years ago and it’s still in fabulous condition. The washing instruction tag was in immaculate condition (great to look at to see how well ‘used’ it’s likely to have been) so I assumed it had been on a guest bed previously or sat in a blanket box.

My pre covid thing was to buy candles that people had burned for a little bit and not like the smell. Picked up all sorts of fancy ones for a £1 or so second hand. People have said I’m a bit nuts but £1 or £30 on a candle? My garden in the summer eves looked great with them all out there

All my dishes are secondhand. I gave up having a matching set years ago (clumsy send Kid) and have bought some fab furniture too.

Wherearemymarbles · 21/04/2021 18:46

I dont get the car seat one.

Most are just bits of plastic you put a seatbelt round. No much to go wrong and very obvious if they are broken.

We couldn’t even give away a booster seat which is beyond basic!

EveryDayIsADuvetDay · 21/04/2021 18:49

@NewYearNewTwatName

toilet paper

that one made me laugh - I've been thinking about putting a "fancy sharing loo paper?" message in the block WhatsApp. Last year I got some "who gives a crap" paper - which was great, but the box has lasted nearly a year. I was going to see if anyone wanted to share a box, so it took up less room - but concerned people might think it was weird.

LaceyBetty · 21/04/2021 18:53

Don’t you wear undies underneath your pjs? If so, I really don’t see how they’re the same at all.

Surely we need a whole other thread for this debate.

Lazyi · 21/04/2021 18:56

Mattress and maybe sofa because of bed bugs. Would wear second hand (or second bot) pants no problem.. they get washed.

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 21/04/2021 19:06

People selling beds on eBay frequently include the mattress and often picture the mankiest looking thing that looks like they’ve pulled it out of an alleyway. Grim.

Granted, it was on FreeCycle, but I saw an advert for somebody giving away a single bed divan. Nothing odd there, except for the fact they said "You'll need to collect it from outside - if nobody wants it, I'm burning it". Note: it clearly didn't say that they would take it outside for easy loading purposes, just before the arranged collection time: it sounds like that's where it had been living for quite some time. I'm guessing it got burnt

mathanxiety · 21/04/2021 19:08

It's often not at all obvious that a carseat has been damaged or involved in anything other than a minor crash, belts damaged from strain, small parts missing from around the back. They also come with expiration dates as temps inside a car (hot and cold alike) can cause degradation of plastic parts, and the assumed wear and tear is also taken into account.

Also, unless you do a lot of homework on recalls, you might find yourself in possession of a very dodgy lemon.

Jillly · 21/04/2021 19:11

You're not supposed to buy car seats or cot mattresses 2nd hand.
Any safety gear such as helmets, harnesses, climbing ropes should be new.

SaucyHorse · 21/04/2021 19:19

I just binned my old manual breast pump as I assumed that nobody could possibly want one second hand. Maybe I was wrong, though!

Somuddled · 21/04/2021 19:31

The only parachutes I have owned have been second hand. I can only dream of having enough money to buy one new.

toffeebutterpopcorn · 21/04/2021 19:35

Pants, shoes, cosmetics/perfume.

Mellonsprite · 21/04/2021 19:36

Knickers... and shoes. Second hand Shoes are a no no for me due to ...... fungal toenail infections.
The amount of manky toes I’ve seen in sandals is awful, and it was murder trying to clear mine up when I got this, so never again!

lightand · 21/04/2021 19:37

@Rubyupbeat

Ooh and foot wear a big no no

People are writing not footwear. Can I ask why please? I am increasingly buying more second hand stuff. I wouldnt buy footwear that is running out of grip however[hate the idea of slipping].

Are people thinking you could pick up something from footwear?

lightand · 21/04/2021 19:38

x post.

Mellonsprite · 21/04/2021 19:38

@lightand see me post above ^^ fungal toe nail infections

KateKeeper · 21/04/2021 19:39

This interests me because MN is full of support for sex with people you've only just met, and here are posters 'drawing the line' at buying a second hand towel

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