What Do You Think of Buying Second-Hand Goods?

tooblue on 20/01/2021 - 12:14
Last edited 20/01/2021 - 12:52 by 1 other user

Since this is a forum for us tight asses I am wondering what's our attitude towards buying second-hand, including Op shops? And the reason?

I myself will search second-hands forums if I need/want electronic products. The reasons being they are less prone to fail if they functioned well in a reasonable time. Some time if I snatch a bargain I can sell it later with no or little financial loss. Perfect examples are phones, computers, monitors, camera and lenses. But I wouldn't buy personal items from strangers such as clothes, shoes, etc., unless given by friends and relatives.

Poll Options

  • 32
    I never buy second-hands
  • 327
    It depends (on category, price, location, etc.). Mind elaborate in comment?
  • 124
    I will search second-hand option before buying new if I need something
  • 7
    I only buy second-hands
General Discussion

Comments

    • ankor on 22/01/2021 - 21:07
      +1

      Hoarder or eBay powerseller?

      • Steamed Hams on 23/01/2021 - 11:31
        +1

        A little from column A and a little from column B!

  • solidussnake on 22/01/2021 - 12:17
    +8

    Second hand always first,

    Have got a collectors BF1 edition for $30
    Assassin's Creed statues for $20ish
    Galaxy S8 with a hairline Crack on the side (200) a case hid the crack
    Ryobi whipper snipper for a Gerry can $50 (used 10 times looked brand new retails for $189)
    PSP Vita with games and memory card for $150 sold the games for $60 and run homebrew on it
    I got an IKEA 6x6 shelf with included draws for $50 and sold the draws for $70
    Two $200 IKEA benchtops for $20 perfect conditon

    It's better for the environment and less waste for the future plus I always ask for a better price and usually get one, next on my sights is a Weber and possible a Death Stranding collectors If I can get a good price

    • Willco88 on 22/01/2021 - 17:48
      +1

      Yeah got OPPO RENO 5g with few cracks for $100 no issues

  • godofpizza on 22/01/2021 - 13:18

    camera and lenses are a hit am miss.
    esp with lenses if you have not idea what to look for then you could end up with an expensive paper weight.
    camera need to be check for usage or if they're been part of a recall.

    i have no issue with buying second hand gaming stuff.

    • ankor on 22/01/2021 - 18:00

      True. I've steered away from second hand camera bodies, lenses have been fine.

      I reckon I've done more damage to my second hand lenses than the previous owners. I've even bought a fairly scarred Sony fe1635 f/4 and it was super sharp until the wife dropped the lens on hardwood floor. Now its slightly decentered and unsellable :(

  • NotSureIfSerious on 22/01/2021 - 13:42

    Absolutely 2nd hand for almost everything unless I need it that day. Only thing I wouldn’t touch is mattresses and underwear.

    Got mostly baby items from marketplace/gumtree/op shops like clothes, prams, car seats ect

    Ozbargain is fantastic as I always know when I spot a good deal and I usually walk out of stores like jbhifi and good guys without buying anything.

    • Zondor on 22/01/2021 - 14:09

      Tbh I slept on a second hand mattress for 3 years and no issues.

      I think the thing with mattresses is just sussing the house it came from as much as the mattress.

      • NotSureIfSerious on 22/01/2021 - 15:19

        Yeah that’s fair I’ve often seen mattresses dumped as hard rubbish that personally I wouldn’t touch or the odd random mattress at the local salvos.

        I slept on my brothers old mattress for a few years so I agree with your sussing out it’s history first

  • sparkles on 22/01/2021 - 13:47
    +3

    Some people seem to believe buying secondhand is something only poor people do. I'm happy to purchase secondhand in the right situation. Not only to save money, but to avoid waste and reduce carbon footprint. For myself, I buy secondhand media, books, clothing, electronics, homewares and furniture. Most recent secondhand find was a 256GB iPhone 7 for $250 in brand new condition.

    Secondhand furniture can easily realise the greatest savings, like paying $150 for something that might cost $1500 new.

    Sometimes in the search you also stumble upon things you might not necessarily personally want/need/fit but can easily sell on like rare movies or high end clothing. This small eBay side project gives me extra guilt-free spending money for things I always buy new, like Lego and nice bed linen.

  • [Deactivated] on 22/01/2021 - 13:58

    I normally use Amazon sales to negotiate better prices for used items 😂😂😂

  • HeyHeyHeyIsItADeal on 22/01/2021 - 14:43
    +5

    I try too when I can like fridges and stuff but at this point too many people lie about things and are WAAAY TOO EXPENSIVE. Like wtf? Its second hand not brand new… I might as well buy new and that I did.

    Even things like PS4PRO second hand. 400-500 ? wtf might as well add bit extra to buy the new PS5 and play both platforms with more support and warranty.

    • inasero on 02/02/2021 - 14:50

      Well if someone is asking for ridiculous prices I just send them an equally ridiculous counter offer - hopefully they get the message

  • dgbetts on 22/01/2021 - 14:52
    +1

    I'm frequently buying second hand books and PS4 games.
    Plus I've bought and sold multiple secondhand guitars and guitar effect pedals.
    In my younger days second hand furniture was all I owned!

  • baskinghobo on 22/01/2021 - 16:35
    +2

    I avoid electronics since I will be using it until the end of it's life so I would rather not risk saving a few bucks for the risk of buying a lemon. Unless it's a fridge since they last year's and are heavily discounted.

    • DemocracyManifest on 23/01/2021 - 00:28

      Laptops are definitely not worth buying second hand, they get absolutely thrashed in their life time, especially internally

      • mskeggs on 26/01/2021 - 20:42
        +1

        Hmm, I’ve bought and sold plenty without any issues, even when hard drives were quite fragile.
        High end laptops depreciate very quickly, and offer good opportunities for savings.

        • quill on 02/03/2021 - 01:24

          Any tips on selling and buying?

          • mskeggs on 02/03/2021 - 09:47

            @quill: Not really. Look at the pics, check eBay for spare parts like a new battery, charger, ram upgrade etc. as occasionally these can be stupidly expensive.
            I steer clear of ones that need a special dongle, and ultrabooks/Macs that can't be upgraded at all.

            As a rule, ThinkPad and before them, Toshiba made very durable gear, but go and dell business grade are usually good. Asus is ok, Acer I have heard bad things but I have owned a few without drama.

  • CheeryCheapskate on 22/01/2021 - 16:50
    +5

    I'm a huge, HUGE fan of second hand and will happily purchase there often (I visit thrift shops almost once a week or two weeks). You can get some new things where stores that didn't sell products would donate them (but rarely). Clothing is an obvious item; I get a lot of designer items for $10-$20. Kid's toys are a fraction of the price and I don't feel guilty donating it back. I furnished my house with second hand items from eBay (from a real estate agent that just used items for show then sold them off). I even renovated my house with some second hand items and they've been perfect.

    I respect my fellow second hand hunters since they understand the value of money and savings. It's definitely not for the "poorer" demographics now but people that are smart with they hard earned money.

  • Blargman2001 on 22/01/2021 - 17:21
    +2

    If it's from IKEA and it fits in to the boot of an SUV fully assembled I always check gumtree first. Saves money and having to assemble it.

  • knasty on 22/01/2021 - 17:45
    +1

    I was looking for a half decent mountain bike. Got an all alloy frame bike in good condition for $80 that was over $500 new and does everything I need it to.

  • ihfree on 22/01/2021 - 17:53
    +2

    As my disposable income has increased, I'm still just as likely to buy second hand though the focus is on buying the right item now rather than upgrading. Ozbargain sometimes encourages impulse buying and then small upgrades as a result.

    I like second hand as it saves money and reduces waste. I wouldn't compromise on quality buying second hand.

    Most furniture in my house is almost all second hand from Gumtree and Facebook marketplace. I think that the only furniture I wouldn't consider buying second hand is an office chair. Our Ikea couch had a washable cover so was very easy to clean after we bought it.

    Our plates came from a Hospitality business' garage sale when I was a student and are still going strong.

    Clothing is more of a mixed bag. Occasionally, i'll pick up quality clothing in good condition from op shops or garage sales. Generally pairs of jeans.

    Technology, I probably wouldn't buy second hand, though I've used laptops that have been thrown out by companies.

  • ataraxia on 22/01/2021 - 18:27

    Second hand market is taking off and its harder to find bargains now then it was 1-2 years ago. However society is so geared towards consumerism people dont have space to keep things and when you decide to upgrade something often getting rid of something is harder than selling it.

    My best pickup was a Weber gas BBQ 1 year old for less than half price. If i bought it new I would have had to fork over an additional $1500 at least.

  • sheepzpal on 22/01/2021 - 18:56

    Looking for good quality second hands for the baby

    • TheOtherLeft on 04/03/2021 - 08:31

      Doesn't your baby already have two hands?

  • emblurr on 22/01/2021 - 19:21

    Im okay with second hand things. Wouldn't buy some kitchen things like a blender or microwave. Never know if the previous owner blended Grandma or microwaved their cat.

    • fredk1000 on 22/01/2021 - 22:12

      Or just the cat poo

      • anastasiastarz on 26/01/2021 - 06:06

        lol lived at college and it didn't come from a cat I can tell you that

  • knasty on 22/01/2021 - 20:47

    Second hand cars for the win?

    • Trying2SaveABuck on 22/01/2021 - 22:12

      Not right now, 2nd hand cars have never been more expensive….

      Matter of fact some 2nd hand cars are more expensive then there new versions..

  • athuntershill on 22/01/2021 - 20:52
    +2

    School Uniforms for Kids.
    They out grown them so quickly and the price is ridiculous.

    • The-Kremlin on 23/01/2021 - 00:22
      +1

      I remember when going to school there was an option to buy second hand bathers….

  • TigerWoops on 22/01/2021 - 23:57

    Sometimes 2nd hands are more expansive than new ones on sale. So need lots of research.

  • The-Kremlin on 23/01/2021 - 00:21

    Second hand underwear is my go to choice.

  • DemocracyManifest on 23/01/2021 - 00:30

    Laptops second hand for free/close to free are good, however they get absolutely thrashed inside and out during their lifetimes usually, they are not worth the saving. Particularly if they suddenly die. Computers are the same, you don’t know the history, if something short circuits or has been mucked around with and stuffs up it’s toast. A relative bought a heap of second hand computers, like 20 plus, at least 1/4 died.

  • Hangryuman on 23/01/2021 - 11:24
    +3

    in my youth I used to frequent St.V. de P. Op shops - favourite finds included a maybe 100yo white Wedgewood plate that had antique value, and a perfect fitting good Harris Tweed jacket I wore happily for many years. We furnished share houses with their sofas and tables for few dollars.

    in Canberra with nothing much else to do, we used to go garage sailing on Saturdays around local ads in the paper, and pick up as new German kitchen implements like knives and coffee equipment - as new, for 1/10th of the new price - bargain city - I still have a lot of that decades later. On Sundays we'd go to Jamison Market and sell the excess stuff for a profit.

    reuse is better than recycling - why smash up something to get raw materials to remake a lower grade thing, when the original product can be given to someone else to use in its higher form ?

    when I kombi-vanned around Europe decades ago - I furnished the inside with cabinets and stuff we found put out on streets - and even found a perfectly good chandelier I liked so much I got it shipped back to Australia.

  • xaykogeki on 23/01/2021 - 13:37
    +1

    I only buy pre-owned luxury goods. Plenty of savings in that area.

  • burns13 on 23/01/2021 - 14:49

    Love Facebook marketplace, gumtree, eBay. I buy many big items second hand, have saved a lot of money doing it that way.

  • MementoMori on 23/01/2021 - 15:13

    Bought a $700 OzTrail canvas tent for $190. Had been used twice.

    The handle on the bag was slightly torn, but other than that, a true bargain.

    All the things that people think they'll use but then never up doing so usually go for great prices.

  • CoreJava on 23/01/2021 - 15:47
    -5

    Don't waste your money on 2nd hand goods. You don't know where it came from who used it. Always get new and fresh.

  • iSamurai on 23/01/2021 - 20:15

    I guess enough has been said buying secondhand items… here’s what I usually will check on gumtree/eBay etc. for secondhand items:

    • cars
    • push bikes (road bikes)
    • bike components
    • Furniture
    • electronics - laptops, monitors, accessories etc.
    • appliances - coffee machine
    • clothes
    • books

    For clothes you’d be surprised some of them are quite new. A lot of them people just wear once or twice. I guess expensive items like soccer jerseys, winter jackets and premium brands are really cheap when you find one that’s secondhand. My only tip is that if you aren’t a smoker and don’t want cigarette smell you should ask the seller if that’s the case as it’s not easy to wash the smell out especially with synthetic materials. I don’t buy used cycling kits though as that’s just due to hygiene reasons and if you want really cheap kits go to aliexpress.

    Bikes and bike components definitely I’ll try secondhand first. They depreciate so quickly, after a year or two you’d pick up a nice bike for a lot less. You should pay attention to how much the consumables have been worn and if that’s the case you could also use that as a leverage to haggle.

    My car is an ex-rental. I know this is pretty polarised, some people love it and others hate it. I can say that for my particular instance the car was only a year old, everything in order and sold at a fixed price.

    For furniture sometimes you can pick up a really good deal as people move all the time (especially in an apartment and you have lots of neighbours). They might sell or giveaway some things instead of shipping them.

    As for books, there are tonnes of books online for instance abebooks that sell used books for cheap. I don’t care if they’re used and slightly bent or creased.

  • funnysht on 23/01/2021 - 23:14

    Yes def second hand- gumtree etc.

    When buying something- now i always think can i buy this easily second hand?

    Like tables, bed frames, sofas, basically anything non electronic shoulud be ok

  • Limitless on 24/01/2021 - 00:42

    I have been on market place a fair bit lately wedding planning but I have started to weigh up if It is worth the effort to travel for something I can buy in kmart….something that is an hour round trip is it worth it to save $10? Time vs money saved is becoming a factor but I have started to want to try and live a more sustainable life. So much stuff gets donated to op shops it is so wasteful to buy things new all the time. Kids books are $0.50 at the op shop….. I shudder at the thought of paying $10+ for a book new. But I also want live with less so try to avoid new and second hand clothes at the moment

    • ihbh on 24/01/2021 - 15:21

      It only makes sense if you factor in travel cost an the opportunity cost of your time. Most of my second hand stuff are very close to home.

  • EtherealArchelon on 24/01/2021 - 10:48

    Super surprised by how many people wouldn't wear second hand clothes.
    Do you not think washing machines clean? How filthy do you think other people are?
    Maybe it's because I'm a doctor so I get other people's bodily fluids on my skin/clothes all the time that just gets washed off that makes me unconcerned.

    Love op shopping, haven't bought a new item of clothes for years probably. Female fashion is so fickle, things aren't made to last, lots of problems with microplastics etc. So I don't want to contribute to that.
    When we headed to Europe for a holiday, we found all our cold stuff in op shops. Kathmandu, North face, Arteryx. Merino layers.

    Plenty of completely new things to be found as well. And salvos and lifeline have online stores too!

    Never owned a new car, my phone not new.

    • anastasiastarz on 26/01/2021 - 06:03

      Do you not think washing machines clean? haha yes - I lived at college and there were often ciggy butts and other things in the machines

      How filthy do you think other people are? Do not ask. There's a reason I commented below never to buy used kitchwares like pots/pans/baking ins. I've lived with the most disgusting people before as part of the college experience.

  • vinni9284 on 24/01/2021 - 10:54

    Many people don't like second hand goods but drive second hand cars 🤣

  • ihbh on 24/01/2021 - 15:20
    +1

    I will search second-hand option before buying new if I need something:

    • Most of the kids' clothes, books and toys are free or nominal cost (neighbours, friends, community, op shops or gumtree). Wife buys good quality clothes second hand too. I haven't been able to - since I've gone whole food plant based, I don't fit in op shop clothes, that is normal guys' clothes, so I don't try anymore. Also I'm working through my big collection of new, but discounted when I bought, quality business shirts, Icebreaker and other merino clothing, etc. - I usually wear my clothes until they start getting holes and my Mum comments when she sees me.

    • We've gotten a lot of free very good quality furniture within a few blocks of our house - either can be disassembled to fit in the boot of the car, or wife has helped me carry it home.

    • I was humbled just this week by the kindness and helpfulness of strangers. I drove to the next suburb to pick up two free used Ikea storage units for the garage (> $100 new each). As I drove into the basement of the apartment complex, the husband helped me carry it to put it in the boot of my car - oh sh*t - it doesn't fit. I had been prepared and took out my set of hex keys to disassemble it - oh crap - the screws were half way between two hex keys, which was very odd. So the husband offers to drive it to my place - both fit perfectly in the back of his SUV. He tells me he sometimes jog in my street. So he follows me home with the units and helps me unload it.

    • Also this week I picked up > $200 of used once pots for the garden (a tonne from a home based gardening business) from a house just next to our block. I was lucky it was left out just before I drove home from shopping. It would have been gone the next day - picked up by landscape gardeners, etc.

    Everything we don't use anymore (my wife disagrees on my definition of this) we try to donate back to the op shops or community.

  • leiiv on 24/01/2021 - 16:09

    I wish there is a de facto single/federated classified website that everyone uses.
    The problem with buying second hand stuff is that it depends on your timing and luck.
    I also think that a lot of people would just throw away stuff instead of spending time selling them and getting pennies.

    • ihbh on 24/01/2021 - 16:36

      getting pennies

      Most likely to get genuine takers for the stuff instead of wasters. I paid $5 for four good quality hula hoops from a house that sold two years ago for $12m - left it in the letter box.

      • fredk1000 on 24/01/2021 - 21:15

        They came from a good home.

  • Scythic on 24/01/2021 - 16:49
    +1

    My brother only buys pre-owned PS4 games neither from JB hi-fi or from Facebook marketplace lol. Saved a lot 🙂

    • leiiv on 25/01/2021 - 14:03
      +1

      So where does he buy them from?

      • Scythic on 25/01/2021 - 14:45

        autocorrect :L

  • anastasiastarz on 26/01/2021 - 05:59

    Depends - but after living at college DO NOT buy any kitchenware like pots, pans, baking trays/tin or any of that stuff. Kids are nasty, and not just boys.

  • i like free on 26/01/2021 - 23:53
    +3

    I love buying second hand items whether it’s clothing, furniture, everyday items, it has saved me a truckload! My mum is massively into op shops whereas I prefer FB marketplace and flee markets. Most of my wardrobe from the age of 18 has been secondhand however these days I do buy new. There are some amazingly cheap clothing that is extremely good quality as well at a fraction of the retail price. Also when I get sick of wearing something I just put it up for sale at the cost I bought it at. The secondhand market is best as you can save so much money and you’re doing the planet a favour!

  • inasero on 03/02/2021 - 00:26
    +3

    I've basically outfitted my entire house with second hand furniture and appliances. I would consider my leather couch and 10-seater dining table to be the biggest bargains.

    For some reason alot of people go through a new set of furniture every couple of years to update their decor and I find these big ticket items have the biggest discount compared to their new price, and would never go back to buying brand new anymore.

    Also recently got a second hand accordion off Gumtree in excellent condition for $200 and have been teaching myself how to play - its great fun!

  • TheOtherLeft on 04/03/2021 - 08:32

    I draw the line at buying second hand underwear.

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