Considering a second-hand toy as xmas present - feel guilty

stormbreaker

If you are worried if it might work or the condition, why not look on Gumtree locally or put a wanted ad on? That way you can check it out before you buy!

Soubrette

easy wrote: »

I've browsed a bit on ebay. There are a few on there, hardly played with. The sellers say they work fully (but then they would, wouldn't they).

So I might be able to get a used one for 1/2 the price. But I have never given anyone a second-hand present before, it seems ......uncaring ?? Like I feel he's not worth spending the full amount on ??

Better not to buy him one at all ????

Tell me what you think please ..

My tips for ebay.

Watch the item for a few weeks and get an idea of how much they go for.

Look at the buyer feedback and also look at their negs and see how they've dealt with them. Hysterical all caps for anyone who has negged them tells me to leave them alone at all costs. Doesn't matter how many positives they have - they give the impression that if things go right then fine but if things go wrong then watch out.

Ebay and paying by paypal gives you protection. If you receive a good and it is not working then contact the seller, offer to send photos if it's physically damaged and get them done as soon as you open the package. Don't be fooled by what the seller tells you about sending you the postal receipt and you claiming the money back - it's their job to refund you. If you are not happy then start a charge back via paypal if you've used this method of payment.

They may ask for return of the product which you will have to cover. Bear in mind that Royal Mail do not consider an item lost in the post for 15 working days. I've had some items sent 1st class and not arrived for more than 7 working days. Also if not received then check your sorting office, sometimes parcels get caught up there, before contacting the seller.

If you collect, still pay by paypal as this will give the same protection as above. You can save quite a lot by looking for specific items close to your postcode and asking if you can collect (before you bid as some people don't like collections).

Consider the cost of the item plus post and packing as the total cost of the item and set your budget accordingly. Bid your max bid in the last few seconds of the auction - you won't be tempted to get into a bidding war then. If you get it, it will probably be below your max bid and if you lose it, well you didn't want to pay more anyway. It also prevents those bidders who bid below max, go away and then think, well it's only 20p more and bid again and again until they've outbid you.

Good luck, I'm sure you know most, if not all the above anyway and there are also some good tips on the ebay forum.

As to whether I would buy my kids second hand presents - no problem at all, they don't really take care of their stuff (a bit like me) but for my nephew - who loves and keeps his things totally pristine, I'd probably buy new and boxed.

Sou

LilMissEmmylou

great idea to buy it 2nd hand. i bought dd a tweenies set on ebay as i couldnt find anywhere that sold the size i wanted anymore. Saved a fortune on what the would have cost originally. Think i got the 4 of them and doodles for £15inc postage! Glad I did as now DD isn't playing with them because its all about Charlie and Lola! So I say go for it!

Maxjessdru

Get is second hand - your son will not even realise! I'm nearly 40 and only very recently (when chatting to mum) found out that a lot of my presents were second hand (they came unwrapped under the tree from Santa). Didn't even cross my mind - just pleased to get some pressies - and not remotely bothered now!

squidge60

i think you should do what you can afford and not feel guilty.x

Gingham_Ribbon

We put out used toys before Christmas and Santa comes to take them away to give to other children. And Santa brings some previously used toys too. He brought a huge digger last year that no way we could have managed to buy new and this year he's going to bring another big garden toy, for the grand total of £8. (£50 new.)

What should happen to all these toys that children are fed up of/too old for? I'd much rather see happy children playing with them than them ending up in landfill.

stone_2

I don't know why we should feel bad about giving something second hand. I bought my son a remote control buzz light year buggy thing a few years ago. I wasn't trying to save money - Disney had hundreds one week and none a few weeks later and none available in any other store. I eventually found one on ebay and not only did I save money but I also saved Xmas as it was the only thing he had asked for.

This year he wanted a guitar for his birthday - so I duly looked around for a decent one. I happened to mention it to my sister who said they had one in the loft that had belonged to my neice (who is now 32) and my cousin before her who is now in her 40s. My cousins were quite well off and it was a really good guitar and had been well wrapped. I bought a new case for it. It loooked like new and was a better guitar than one I would have been able to afford. He was thrilled and his guitar teacher commented on what a good guitar it was - you couldn't tell it was 3rd hand.

He also had a trip to Old Trafford (paid for via clubcard deals) and a football party ( I boought the medals off ebay instead of paying extra at the place)

I think it's about trying to give gifts they will enjoy rather than buying the most expensive stuff.

pandora205

I agree with other posters - go for a second hand one.

I bought my son a Roborapter two years ago. It was a nightmare to get out of the packaging, then we had to find and put batteries in. He (and friend) loved it for about a day - then it was discarded. It still annoys me now that I paid £50 or whatever for it. And we can't find the controller or manual though it'll be lurking in his bedroom.

So I'd say there are likely to be lots of these sort of toys hardly used. They are great fun but generally overpriced. It certainly makes sense to get it second hand - Your son won't know the difference and being plastic it's likely to be in perfect condition.

Errata

Different point of view. I remember being given second hand toys etc for birthday and Christmas and it's not the same as getting something brand new and shiny that no other child has played with. It often made me feel second hand as well.

sarymclary

I wouldn't feel bad about it. Email the ebay seller to clarify that the item works fully, explain that it is for a gift for Xmas. Some sellers (I do) have a returns policy within the 1st 7 days if the item is not as described, which means the description should be very honest.

I gave 2 presents last weekend which were used, but the children I gave them to were delighted with the gifts, and were played with immediately, whereas brand new gift items were just left to one side after opening.

My priority would be to get a gift my child really wanted, and this sounds the best way to do it.