Second hand items for Christmas gifts - Yes or no? What’s your opinion?

[boymamahere]

What is your opinion on buying second hand items for Christmas gifts from places like Vinted, charity shops etc for your partners, children, family members?

My son is 3 so I’ve gone half new and half Vinted especially for toys and games. I’ve managed to find very good condition toys for half the price that they are in the shop meaning I can get more for his budget.

Would you buy second hand for your husband, family members?

YABU - it’s Christmas, gifts should be brand new.

YANBU - second hand items are fine as long as they are in a good condition

It's fine if it's something the gift receiver actually wants/will use.
If it's for the "look at me I'm being environmentally friendly" and you just buy any old random thing because it's in the charity shop - then no.

Excellent use of existing resources.

DD wants a record player, I 100% know she'll be rough with it and probably lose interest even if she doesn't break it first so I bought one from Vinted for £12 and the seller threw in an album of an artist DD likes for free!
If she surprises me and actually uses it we can always upgrade in future but I have absolutely no problem gifting second hand items in good condition. Good for my wallet and the planet.

Depends on the gift and the recipient. I bought second hand hardback books for DS because I knew he wouldn’t mind and the books were interesting. DD loves having a brand new book that has never been opened.

For adults and older children, I don't think unsolicited second hand things make good presents unless something special eg a meaningful but discontinued book.

But by all means make it known you'd be happy to receive second hand gifts yourself. Don't insist on it, that's just another demand. Maybe start at home. I've suggested my children shop in charity shops for gifts for me. CDs, puzzles - no need to be buying new. And I've bought my husband the odd charity shop game as a Christmas present, alongside other things.

For my own kids if there's something I know they'd love, in great condition then yes. Maybe other kids IF I know it's something they really want but is a ridiculous price for what it is (Barbie house for example) & they won't otherwise be getting.

Adults, only if it's something very much wanted but hard to get or something beyond affordable new, IF I knew it was exactly the right thing.

random presents, I wouldn't.

I would for my family but maybe not for in-laws unless it was something I knew they wanted and hadn't been able to find.
My kids got lots of charity shop toys for christmas when young.
Just gave me a nice memory, when my dd was buying her flat she found an unusual cranberry vase in a charity shop but didn't buy it as we were running out of space to store stuff. When she moved i scoured loads of charity shops and after a month managed to find the same vase in a different charity shop. I was ridiculously pleased to find one and she loved it and the fact I'd spent hours trying to find one.

I think it’s absolutely fine for kids (particularly your own kids, I’m not sure I’d give second hand to my nieces and nephews).

I’ve got DD a dolls house from Facebook Marketplace for £15 and it’s pristine.

I also have a Tonies box under the bed, back in the box, that I bought for DS when he was younger and he genuinely never played with it, had no interest in it so it’s been back in its box for a while and DD has never seen it. So that’s getting re-wrapped for her for Christmas with some new Tonies figures she’ll like.

I think if it's for a child and is something that is genuinely wanted that's fine.

My ex MIL used to give me something she'd grabbed from the charity shop she worked in, without any consideration as to whether id like it or not. If it's just a cheap way to fulfil a gifting obligation then that's not ok.

Yes I think it's fine, a good idea in fact, both price wise and for the planet, providing the recipient is happy with second hand.

I buy second hand for mom, dad and brother where appropriate. Also used to for my daughter when she was little, but as a teenager she is less keen currently so this year I won't. Hopefully will be able to again as she gets older.

I wouldn't go shopping in a charity shop for people, but if they genuinely wanted it and it made sense due to cost/availability was in good condition I might well do.

Sounds sensible, especially for a 3 year old. I imagine the cost of new v second hand toys is often quite significant and it's likely something he'll only play with for a relatively short time.

I think it's only really an issue if it's an obvious thoughtless regift that isn't of interest to the recipient or the item is in bad condition and only fit for the bin.

Same as with new stuff. If it is thoughtful gift in good condition then regifting and secondhand are fine. Especially to kids if it is something they won't need in 6 months. I buy a lot of used books for my godchildren.

I probably wouldn’t for an adult unless it was something they really wanted and would otherwise be out of budget. For my DD (6) I often get her stuff off vinted for Xmas/birthday, this year she wants wicked Lego and I found a set that had been built once and then put back in box for £5 rather than the £30 it would cost new. I buy new things as well, but she gets more for my money by having some second hand stuff.

Depends on the items and its condition surely? If it's something you know for a fact would be used and the person getting it would be happy AND it also looks decently, I see no problem in getting a second hand item for a gift. Something that's visibly ruined from the past usage would be inappropriate but this isn't the case here.
I get second hand items sometimes when it's something the person would like and it's rare. I usually add some stocking fillers and/or a smartshow 3d video card and it all makes a solid gift together.

I buy new and second hand for gifting. I always try to get gifts that I know people will love, regardless of where they come from. I'm on the lookout throughout the year, whether it be shops, online, Vinted or charity shops.

My rule is that if it's from a charity shop or Vinted, it has to look new and still be in a box or have tags on. Some examples: a boxed Yankee candle gift set for secret santa from a charity shop £3, a Barbour scarf with tags on for a friend for £10 from Vinted, a CD that was nostalgic for my mum, but that was out of stock everywhere online for £1, a science kit still in cellophane for my daughter for £2.

I would be happy to receive something from a charity shop myself, not sure if that makes a difference.

Agree with you here. Random tat just becuase it’s a couple of quid that won’t get used isn’t exactly being economically friendly.

I’ve spent a small fortune on vinted, loads of the kids stuff for Christmas has been bought there. Some new, some used but in as new/excellent condition. Kids won’t know the difference as looks good and it all plays the same

Depends what it is and who it is for.

Last Christmas there was a particular, slightly unusual, item my sister was after and she said she wouldn't mind it being second hand if that was all I could find. I did look around several charity and second hand shops but found nothing suitable so then ended up finding a new one. So second hand was on the table, as it were, but only because she mentioned it.

If I was short of money and buying toys, books etc for my own child I would definitely consider it.

When I was about 10 or 11 there was an elderly lady who my parents befriended. One year I had been making calendars for Christmas presents (1970s and I didn't have much pocket money) and I gave one to this lady. In exchange she gave me a hard back book from her own collection. She obviously knew I was a bookworm. It was a lovely, collectible book celebrating the Coronation of George VI that she had clearly had for years. I was genuinely thrilled and still have it to this day.

This is my opinion.

If I buy second hand it has to be very good or look new.

I wouldn’t purchase something that clearly looked used, even for my DC. I am quite funny about buying toys that have scratch marks or chewed etc.

Depends….. if they want the item, or if it’s simply because it’s cheap. Stocking fillers like scarves and gloves could work. I’ve bought some stuff of eBay for myself for a trip - I’ll only wear them once, then wash and take to charity or possibly gift to friends if they want them. High end designer items at the fraction of the cost, Hermes and Chanel arrived looking like new and in the original box.

It’s not something I’ve ever done unless you count antiques, my dad used to love old books first or limited editions and I managed to find the odd gem, my sil collects toby jugs and I got her a lovely one last year

I've bought secondhand books but wouldn't buy secondhand clothes or accessories as a Christmas/birthday gift for an adult. I have bought several things which are in brand new condition with the tag attached though, the best being a wonderful pair of leather gloves for my brother. Have wrapped up secondhand things for dc though. Can't explain the logic but it works for me!

I don't think we've ever bought any bigger presents for DD brand new, a big toot toot garage thing when she was little, karaoke machine, barbie dreamhouse, bike, scooter, mahoosive lego set, they've all been second hand but in good condition. And in their box apart from the bike. Smaller stuff generally new. This year might be the first time, as we're thinking instax camera and you never know if you get a dud buying second hand tech.

Yes agree, you just can’t trust it sometimes. I’m not sure if I’d buy something electrical or like a games system / camera off Vinted either