second hand shoes and boots

ninnoodle

I have no problem with 'nearly new' shoes, from either charity shops or ebay, but I wouldn't buy a pair of well-worn shoes.

j.e.j.

I think if it was friends or family I wouldn't be too worried. Unfortunately there's no-one who takes the same size as me, - my sis has little feet and my mum's are larger

The disinfectant spray sounds like a good idea, but would it get rid of nasties like athletes foot, fungal infection, verrucas, gout..:eek:

I guess, as you say, you've just got to look at the shoes and judge for yourself how 'worn' they are and whether it's worth risking it. I just thought I'd ask people's opinions here, as so many of the people on this board are brilliant at living on a budget and I wondered if people generally found it acceptable to buy footwear 2nd hand to save money.

BitterAndTwisted

Gout isn't infectious! I expect if there are fungus spores hanging around they won't last long in a dry environment. I've bought boots and shoes on ebay before but I scrutinise the photo like nobody's business. I've only ever bid on new or nearly-new and never had any that were unacceptable. Got some new leather boots from a US seller once which would have been £150-£200 here for about forty quid. None of the charity shops I've ever been to (and I've been to lots) have had anything approaching half-decent shoes.

*niptuckfan*

i buy nearly all my shoes new/nearly new from charity shops - this is cheaper than when i bought new shoes/boots and then had to get them re heeled! many women buy shoes they never wear lol i am a size 5 think thats a common size and i have no probs finding them in the charity shop

ruthber

I agree with having a good look in charity shops. Just today I picked up a brand new pair of school shoes for my son. they had original label on them for £18, the charity shop put £6 price on them but I only paid £3 as the lady said all shoes were half-price today. I also pick up shoes for myself there as long as they look barely worn or new. You can easily establish this by looking at the heel and sole.

carefullycautious

j.e.j. wrote: »

Thanks for your replies. Not being a car-driver I walk everywhere (!) so the cheaper, poorer quality makes of new shoes would probably be false economy. Some of those ballet-pump things would barely last me a week :rotfl: But new shoes, especially boots, are so-oo expensive.

It just got me thinking, as I buy things from EBay and I often see people bidding against each other for someone else's worn shoes. As you say it probably depends on the condition. Perhaps I'm just being a bit too squeamish.

I do look thru the charity shops, where you can have a better look at the condition of the shoes, but I haven't managed to find a good pair yet in my size.

I think you will find there are people with a shoe fetish also.

System

I have trouble walking in my own shoes let alone anyone elses.

YORKSHIRELASS

I wouldnt buy second hand everyday shoes - although I have bought a couple of pairs of strappy evening type sandals, which were like new.

Shoes and undies are the only things I insist on buying new. I am quite hard on my shoes and its as more about whether second hand shoes would be good for my feet than hygiene issues.

For my kids I would buy second hand football boots, cricket boots and football trainers that they dont wear very often. I would rather they had new everyday shoes and I have never been lucky enough to find anything decent in the charity shop.

Cat501

I bought a pair of obviously rarely worn ankle boots in a charity shop last week, £3, I was delighted with them:j I've also bought strappy sandals there, if I could always find nice shoes in good condition I'd have no problem buying all my footwear from charity shops

Gracie_1827

I bought a beautiful pair of Clarks shoes from age UK shop last year...I'd been looking for a pair to match my new dress I'd bought to go to a wedding that week. I looked everywhere and couldn't find anything. On the way back to the carpark I spotted them in the window and thought...Why not. No point in paying £50 to be worn a couple of times. They were my size..still had the price tag on the underside and they were a perfect match for my dress. Cost £6...bargain:T