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

If I am in a charity shop and happen to see something I think would be appreciated I would 100% get it and have done this but it’s not the only place I get gifts from. Some years i might find more gifts in a charity shop than others.

I bought my mum jewellery and books, brica-brac and records for DP. I’ve got a couple of band shirts for a friend of mine too. I wouldn’t hide that it’s from a charity shop.

My DC have frequently requested things they have seen on youtube that are no longer made (often from Santa!) so eBay has been my friend! I’ve also bought them second hand things that are in great condition that would cost too much new, eg camera.

My DC love looking through the charity shop to spend their own money, but for birthday/christmas gifts I would generally buy new (or second hand but completely “as new”) for everyone except my own DC (and only tend to get second hand gifts for them in the types of situations mentioned above).

Definitely for books / jigsaws which have generally been used once or twice before being passed on. I picked a book up yesterday that I know my daughter will enjoy for 20p! She won’t read it more than once & it’ll then be passed on. Buying clothes etc is fine if you’re confident they’ll like it & on size etc. New with tags is great in terms of it being a new item, & often a real bargain, but obviously can’t be returned, exchanged for a different size etc

I buy second hand for my DC all the time. 99% of the time you can get a pretty much new item for a quarter of the price in shops.

I got a £65 Manchester united cost for DS for his birthday for £20 and it still had the tags on. For birthdays and Christmas its always like new items but I do but other things they need though the year from Vinted too.

Its not all about money saving - if I buy from a charity shop its about supporting the charity or sometimes about being aware of not always buying new all the time.

As long as you can find what they want, or what you know they’d like, it’s fine and sensible for young children, who are just going to tear any packaging off anyway.

A dd has found excellent bargains in e.g. a Barbie house and bikes for her dcs.

I think it's situational.

I wouldn't walk around a charity shop aimlessly, pick up something random and be like "yeah that'll do".

However, I have bought mapominoes and lots of clothes for DD for Christmas this year on vinted, because it's so much cheaper than the shops.

Blimey I went to a car boot when kids were young. Got some amazing puzzles brand new for pennies

Yes I think it's a brilliant idea and I'd have no problem with receiving second hand gifts for myself or my DC,if it's in good condition and is something they/I'd like why not.

I will browse the local charity shops a few times a week in the run up to Christmas and get things I think people will like. This week I have bought some Beast Quest books for my daughter (I don’t think she’ll stop until she has read them all), my son I got some sonic toys and I found my friend a jumper she’ll love. All my friends are charity shops lovers and rarely buy each other new things. I’ll get things for my family if I see them but my in-laws would be hugely upset if we bought them something second hand.

Dds both love schelich and sylvanians so I will buy those second hand as brand new you don't get as much for your money
They don't really care about boxes so I've got some great bargains

I couldn't care less if my gifts are second hand as long as its something I have expressed an interest in, I love reading so a cheap charity shop book is perfect for me

I don't tend to buy second hand for anyone else other than dm as she has a similar vein of thinking to me
Dp likes tech so tends to save for exactly what he wants though we have bagged a few bargains

Unless it was an absobargin and in.great condition I wouldn't buy second hand for anyone else

I buy loads second hand including for occasions.

I'm doing loads of second hand this Christmas! Definitely for my own children I have got a lot of, decent quality, stuff in charity shops for stockings and the tree present for DS will be something from gumtree like a playmobil set. I would for nieces and nephews but I don't actually think Vinted is that cheap for toys so it would have to be something I know they would like. I have got a second hand tonie character for DNiece which was actually probably only a few quid cheaper but at least better for the environment.

For adults we don't do loads of gifts really and often stick to food or vouchers but I like getting nice second hand frames in charity shops and printing pictures out.

I have no issue at all for stuff in good condition. Just got my kids a massive Lego set from charity shop at 1/5 price of new - they won't mind about no box and will be delighted to have something bigger and better than I could have afforded if purchased new. For my DP and family I get a mixture of second hand and new (depending on what it is and the quality of serving hand stuff) - some friends would never get second hand but some are fine with it

Good quality secondhand things for my own child - absolutely! It also means she can have things that are just too expensive to buy brand new.

For other people I think you need to be careful and have a conversation about it first. I wouldn't mind at all for my little girl or myself if it was decent quality but I know others would. As it happens, I'm gifting a secondhand Disney princess house plus dolls to a family friend this Xmas and her 3 year old will be delighted! But the parent agreed this and I've suggested that she also go secondhand for my little girl.

I would for my own children. For other people, probably not unless it was something that they would really like that's not otherwise available, e.g. I have a relative who is into old cameras.

My wee nephew is getting a baby sister next year and there's a book I want to get him about having a sibling. My own DC got a second-hand ex library copy because it was out of print. My nephew will probably get the expensive hardback edition that's available new.

For children, yes, pre-loved item is a good thing.
I'd rather not give gifts than buy second hand for adults.

I’ll be doing vinted for pretty much all my Christmas and birthday presents from now on. I have 4 nephews and they destroy anything bought for them within a week. I spent £50 last year on a toy and it was ruined within a week. So no fucking more. £5 per item from vinted now.

I think it depends. Is it something they want, is it something I cant only get because of a good deal, is it 2nd hand but new in box, am I buying for a toddler who wont notice or care, would I be upset to recieve similar... all those play in.

Certainly I collect books and someone of the editions I want are only available second hand and id be well chuffed.

I depends what it is. A friend once bought me 7 well chosen books from a charity shop as she knew I am a prolific reader and about to go on a beach holiday. It was a fantastic present! I usually buy charity shop books for holidays anyway and leave them there so it saved me a job and I got to read a couple of great books I might not have thought of myself.

I wouldn’t give second hand clothes as gifts unless they were BNWT.