When I was a kid, there wasn't a lot of money for new things. I kind of resented it because I didn't understand that there just wasn't the extra. But, my folks were smart...they bought second hand to save money and usually "traded up" when given a chance. Besides my dad working for a soda pop plant, they ran a used furniture store. I remember going to auctions, sales, etc.
Fast forward a couple of decades and here I am scouting flea markets, second hand places, and garage sales. I've found some good bargains too. I feel that not only am I saving money, I'm also "recycling" things by giving them a new home.
One friend of mine loves the same things and since we both collect a certain type of dishes, we are always on the look out for the other's pattern. Neither of us minds that is has been used.
Recently I've found some like new things and I'm tempted to purchase them for gifts. I guess I don't get the idea of someone thinking they are too good for used things. I'm not talking about abused or chipped stuff. I'd rather have a really nice dish that had been enjoyed before than a piece of junk purchased new.
So, what's the opinion of the SA folks? Is it OK to buy a like new item to gift?
Gift giving and buying "used"
June 14th, 2012 at 03:57 pm
June 14th, 2012 at 05:32 pm 1339695155
My kids would rather get five or six used video games than one or two new ones. Same with books. When they were little they would rather have the box full of thousands of used legos from a garage sale then one new set you can barely do anything yet. They love to get t-shirts from Goodwill with retro designs on them. After all you wash them first so it's not like you're going to get other people's germs. Neither one of them thinks used is a bad thing.
My husband often gets used things because what he wants is often no longer being made new. I will get used things, like glass containers, canning jars, serving platters, or whatnot. I wouldn't mind being given them at all.
I think you have to have the right mindset to both give and receive used things, though. There are people that abhor hand me downs, leftovers, and buying used, but in this economy, I don't know how they can afford to survive. It's selective squeamishness (as Amy Daczyzn calls it) and they really just need to get over it.
There are even people who won't get books from the library because you don't know who touched them last. Of course these same people will rent movies out of a video store that other people have used and use public restrooms, so that whole thinking falls apart.
June 14th, 2012 at 06:37 pm 1339699054
I like to find gently-used items to give as gifts, and I'm perfectly happy to get them, too. But I think some people feel undervalued if they get something used. It's an unfortunate mindset.
June 14th, 2012 at 06:53 pm 1339700037
For our two baby showers, we actively requested that people give us hand-me-downs or things bought used. Since baby stuff is rarely used long enough to wear out or even look used, it seemed like a waste of our friends' money and the earth's resources to get new stuff for ours. People so appreciated it that some are still handing down stuff as the kids grow up, so we rarely have to buy a single scrap of clothing, and the kids are dressed better than we are!
June 14th, 2012 at 08:00 pm 1339704039
Which kind of comes down to perception. I know most my friends think "gross" and "icky" when they picture "used." Honestly, I haven't bought much used over the years that wasn't in mint condition. My used shopping tends towards the "barely used" variety (which has maybe depreciated 75% in value because it had a prior owner for about 5 minutes) So yeah, we give used gifts all the time. Who would even know? Except it doesn't come in shrink wrap??
What they don't know won't hurt them.
June 14th, 2012 at 08:18 pm 1339705080
We once gave a friend a stack of 5 used books presented nicely with a pretty ribbon and tag. In this case, they were obviously used, but they were all on a topic of interest to her, and she loved them.
I once gave a mixer for a wedding present. I'd found it at a yard sale where a couple was selling off surplus wedding gifts that they couldn't return because they didn't have gift receipt. It was a nice Cuisenart hand mixer. Brand new. $10. And it was on the registry for the wedding we attended. So I guess not exactly used...
If it is in "like new" condition, how would anyone know?
Like MM, most of the things we purchase used are in reality, brand new. The exception would be books for my classroom, which I will buy in almost any condition... for the right price!
June 14th, 2012 at 09:51 pm 1339710693
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June 15th, 2012 at 04:54 am 1339736084