Buying New vs Pre-Owned - Anything

sumyungguy on 29/11/2023 - 13:14
Last edited 29/11/2023 - 18:09

Some consumers exclusively buy stuff new, including motor vehicles. Others will consider pre-owned but only for select items. I don't intend to convince anyone here to change their values, but a discussion may provide some helpful counterpoints. Yes, OzB Deals are predominantly for stuff that's new and available in commercial quantities.

Main thing I want to request is for anyone asking in Forums for tips on what [enter consumer goods here] should I buy, please tell us whether you prefer new or pre-owned. There's a massive difference in price/value so little point pitching say pre-owned stuff to people who prefer brand new.

General Discussion

Comments

  • jugsy on 29/11/2023 - 13:19
    +2
    1. Reduce
    2. Reuse
    3. Repurpose
    4. Recycle

    People skip steps or jump around randomly. These are meant to be in order!

    • jv on 29/11/2023 - 13:24
      +1

      5. Repurchase

      jv on 29/11/2023 - 13:24 (Collapsed - Offtopic. Show)
      • jugsy on 29/11/2023 - 13:28
        +1

        Are you on the live page full time?

        • jv on 29/11/2023 - 13:30
          +6

          No, I have two staff monitoring it.

          • jugsy on 29/11/2023 - 13:34

            @jv: How do I get a position with you?

    • Pcosmic on 29/11/2023 - 15:49
      1. Refuse
      2. Reduce
      3. Reuse

      The rest is trash

      • jugsy on 29/11/2023 - 15:51

        Refuse is part of reduce. What is wrong with repurpose (e.g. empty wine casks as bird scarers) and recycle (e.g. cans to depot)?

    • Sinnerator on 03/12/2023 - 10:07

      because coporations knew how to pass this responsibility onto the consumer

  • scrimshaw on 29/11/2023 - 13:33
    +1

    University textbooks. About half of my books were second hand (and many not the current editions) but for some subjects like math it doesn't matter if the textbook is an edition older.
    expensive musical instruments?
    office desks and furniture. ex-government surplus stuff is usually good quality. Better than buying from IKEA..
    And Xbox 360 and PS2 games about a decade ago. That was way back when PS Plus and Game Pass wasn't a thing.

  • Archi on 29/11/2023 - 13:34

    brand new undies everytime…

  • Hybroid on 29/11/2023 - 13:38

    Audio equipment is the only thing I am open to pre-owned as they’re usually great quality for fraction of the cost. Things like AV receivers, speakers, amps etc. Obviously not headphones though.

    I struggle with the concept of anything else pre-owned, especially clothing.

    • apple2016 on 29/11/2023 - 14:54

      I do this as well!

  • AustriaBargain on 29/11/2023 - 14:09
    +1

    If I were rich I'd buy all new stuff, who wouldn't. But I'm broke ass so I just don't buy anything at all.

  • ihfree on 29/11/2023 - 14:25
    +1

    I'm open to almost anything second hand except for items with hygiene issues. As an example, we bought a second hand cot and a new mattress.

    Many second hand items that I am interested in fail to be good value. Once a balance of time, effort, and saving over new is considered, I have found I am better off purchasing new. I have also sold a few things for more than I paid for them new.

  • apple2016 on 29/11/2023 - 14:54

    Either way. I usually go for minimum TCO. I tend to hold on to my cars for > 10 yrs. so buying then new with 5-7 yr warranty make sense for me. but have bought secondhand when its mainly for short term need.

  • Gunnar on 29/11/2023 - 14:56
    +4

    underwear - always buy used, much cheaper, usually free

    • Drakesy on 29/11/2023 - 16:00
      +1

      I find when they're pre worn in they come with additional aeration holes which everyone else seems to overlook.

      • Gunnar on 29/11/2023 - 16:37

        I know, plus if they are pre-skidded any new stains can be explained with a simple "no, that is a factory blemish"

    • ihbh on 29/11/2023 - 17:51

      Are you a Japanese dude?

  • rumblytangara on 29/11/2023 - 15:02
    +1

    Good quality used furniture (not mattresses), definitely. It'll last forever and not be made of some kind of crappy laminate over particleboard or MDF.

    Property. When I was looking a while back, no way was I prepared to put money down on a new (or even recent) build.

  • garetz on 29/11/2023 - 16:26

    Anything that touches any part of your body i always buy brand new.

    Things like computer parts or audio gear like amps and dacs i try to find them 2nd hand for about 50% discounted.

    • mskeggs on 29/11/2023 - 20:25

      That's an interesting rule.
      EYou wouldn't buy a vintage watch or antique jewellery? Are you comfortable with kids wearing hand me down clothes from a relative or friend?
      Is it the idea the item might not be properly sanitized that is the issue, or something else?

      • garetz on 29/11/2023 - 21:09

        No i always buy watches brand new, you dont really know how they were treated before buying them. A watch can be very easily magnetized or messed around with and you wouldnt know it till you wanted to service it. There is alot of frankenwatches, where they take out the original parts inside then replace them with working counterfeit parts for rolexes or patek philippe and unless you know what to look out for, you would have very little idea that is the case.

        Again, sanitizing a watch is very simple to do, but that would not be the issue for me.

        I like to collect ipods, you cannot buy them brand new obviously anymore, but i have seen many many fake ipods, i have gotten one or 2 myself, if i didnt have an extensive knowledge of them, you would have no chance of knowing they were fake.

  • sam-1966 on 29/11/2023 - 16:50

    I've been very happy with used washing machines - each has lasted several years. Two so far over nearly 30 years.

  • ihbh on 29/11/2023 - 17:42
    +1

    We've been trying to be more sustainable for many years now. Many preowned goods are free or very cheap and in great condition. Some excellent ones include:

    • Ikea furniture such as Kallax shelves and Alex drawers are functional and light and I don't care if my kids don't treat it like I do. We try to live in a minimalist furniture house and have given away a lot of our good quality furniture.
    • Books - I own far too many new books bought in the past (mainly deep discounted, but new) and have started buying for the kids, the family preowned books from Lifeline, Vinnies, etc. We donate a lot too to maintain the sustainability cycle.
    • PCs - Dells, etc.
    • Phones - my wife is happy to take my preowned. We only need one newish one to take good photos of the kids.
    • Clothes - nearly all the kids clothes are free/very cheap. My sister-in-law saw that one of the kids' pants had holes at the knees (my kids are very active, climbing, etc.) and told my mum who offered to give us money to buy new clothes for the kids… My wife for the last couple of years has almost exclusively gotten free or bought from Vinnies, etc. I've only worn some free shorts; the other stuff don't fit me. I have far too many beautiful two ply Egyptian cotton shirts from corporate work days and Icebreaker gear that I'm trying to run down and have only bought mainly pants new as my staple wears out.
    • Toys - mostly preowned. We have some new strategic games due to availability.
    • Lego - I have a few new sets bought when cheap and a tonne of preowned. You can build hundreds of sets and enjoy just about every main theme and the kids play with a subset daily.
    • Gardening stuff - I've hardly bought any new apart from some tools; we swap crops, plants, planters, etc. and might only buy another cheap second hand Vegepod.
    • Ozbar Gain on 29/11/2023 - 20:12

      Far out… Is you wife at least new?

      • ihbh on 29/11/2023 - 20:15
        +2

        Definitely.

  • Benoffie on 29/11/2023 - 22:54

    I will always consider secondhand. Most of my furniture is. Im in the middle of renovations and i spend a large portion of time trawling salvage yards and stalking FB and gumtree for stuff.

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