Buying second hand

Emmy_durst

I'm always quite concerned with second hand items because I never knew where they came form and from what conditions especially with furniture and bigger purchases, if they don't wear well, we're gonna have to buy another one in the future and that's money wasted as well.

But we do buy second hand items from people that are close to us ( neighbours, friends and family) which are much more of a safer bet.

But we do always donate clothes that we don't wear for more than a year and it's out of the closet.

GreyQueen

Brand new items can be problematic also. Anyone remember the 'fun and games' a few years ago with certain brand new leather furniture which was giving its owners chemical rashes?

Some people are funny about secondhand furniture and I agree it's as well to be prudent, which is why I buy from reputable charity shops. But many people who'd shudder at the thought of even lightly-used pre-owned stuff look bafflled when you ask if they'd stay in B & Bs or hotels? Eat in restaurants or cafes, sit on seats in cinemas etc.

Shockingly, the things we touch, are touched by other people. Far better to have a lightly-used spare bed from someone's home than doss down on a mattress in a hotel which will have encountered hundreds if not thousands of strangers.

And, in my capacity as someone who books pest control treatments for one of southern England's local authorities, I can tell you bedbug infestations are a) rare and b) invariably brought into the home by the owner's luggage when returning from overseas holidays.

lessonlearned

:rotfl::rotfl:

I ve often pondered over that one.....

I cheerfully buy second hand wherever possible but have been loathe to buy second hand beds, metal frames yes but not mattresses.

However as you say I have spent time in hotels.....daft innit.:D

purpleshoes_2

You know, I was walking past one of these places, brighthouse or similar and saw a couch (sofa) in the window, 2 and a half grand over the payment terms.

So ordinary looking. My couch cost me less than 100 quid 20 years ago, its now looking a bit old and weary but I just shove throws on it.

Some people on low incomes with poor credit are getting stung, I think theres a lot to be said for buying second hand and donating as well.

When I moved into my flat 20 years ago I think I spent 800 quid and that was for everything I needed. Some bits I bought from mates cheap, some second hand, but that got me a bed, washing machine, couch,tables, chairs, fridge and assorted smaller bits and pieces.

Ive now got a second hand freezer and tables and chairs for my living room. My cooker was given to me and its still working 20 years on.

janb5

My double wall mounted gas oven died suddenly and I luckily got one on Ebay. Arrived in perfect condition and had been lightly used. Was very happy and has saved me lots of £

nuttyp

I am proud to say I love a second hand bargain, either charity shop, ebay or facebook selling page. my dining chair are my latest bargain from a charity shop. 4 cream leather ones. One is slightly faded at the back but hey who cares. I have just sold the table as its too big but I found a different second hand one that is perfect.


My daughter is a great bargain hunter too, and some things have been bought and then sold on at a profit!!

GreyQueen

As a matter of policy at the council's customer services team, we ask people trying to book bulky item collections if the item is in re-usable conditon and have they considered charitable donation/ freecycle etc?

Sometimes it's upholstered furniture/ mattresses sans the relevent labels and the charities can't take it, sometimes it's too knackered, but we will always try to divert items from the waste stream, to the extent of supplying charities' contact numbers and the website address for the local freegle group.

I freecycled my old mattress. It had always been kept under a regularly laundered mattress protector and turned regularly, and was spotless, but was getting a bit too soft and starting to give me back ache (I'm tall and like a firm mattress). It was taken away gladly by a feller for his son who was setting up home on a tight budget. I was pleased to help.

I also advertised my very worn out old leather sofa as a worn out sofa and it still left easily via freecycle. It's replacement was a DFS one in as-new condition, from the chazzer, for one-tenth of the new price.

jk0

It's amazing what previous tenants have left behind that I have acquired. In some respects, this compensates me for the damage they have also left. (I don't bother with the deposit rigmarole.)

Yesterday, I found an electric guitar in a cupboard, and the old tenant has confirmed I may give it to my sister.

HOWMUCH

My son moved into his first home last summer and we kitted it out 2 leather sofa's £150, solid oak diningtable complete with 6 leather high backed chair's £150. Kitchen electrical goods were new because he wanted black. His sister gave him a leather king size bed and she had his double from his bedroom at home. She also gave him unit's for the dining room to house dvd's book's etc. Things came off the local FB selling forum.

tommyk

I love love love a used bargain!! I recently got a beautiful joe brown tunic on preloved for a fiver, its fab! My cooker, a range thingy, was from ebay, and most of the crockery in the house is charity shop bought, not much matches but I love that! I still use and love a duvet set that I found in the airing cupboard when I moved house 13 years ago, I moved again 3 years ago and brought it with me:)