South Africans are quite happy to receive second-hand goods as Christmas gifts, according to a poll by Gumtree.
In the survey, 51% of participants said that they didn’t mind whether a gift was bought second-hand, while 17% said it was not acceptable and gifts should be bought new. The remaining 32% said that it “depended” on what the gift was, with several saying they wouldn’t mind pricey second-hand items like laptops or cell phones – with 11% adding that “it’s the thought that counts”.
“I was quite surprised by the reaction, but the majority of participants said that they are just pleased to receive a gift,” says Claire Cobbledick, head of marketing for Gumtree. “Others like to use Gumtree for gifting because second-hand equates unique – you find rare items and collectables that you can’t just pull off a retail shelf. I also believe that a bargain item isn’t necessarily second-hand – many items found on the site are brand new.”
Second-hand toys are also a great way of stressing the importance of being good stewards of the environment in your children, without spoiling the fun, she adds. Thrift stores and charities are inundated with used toys, many of them barely played with.
“It seems a shame to keep producing and buying new toys considering that there are mountains to be had. It’s a good idea to put one or two second-hand toys under the tree this year.”
Cobbledick says that second-hand toys can be out of the box, but never used, or unnoticeably used. “Often toys for sale are unwanted gifts, or duplicate gifts. And others are vintage cool.”
She advises shoppers to take the time to browse. “Once you see what’s out there, you can decide what’s appropriate,” she says. “For example, any bookworm will appreciate a giant box of second-hand books to devour over the holidays – and it usually costs the same as a single best seller on the retail shelf. You might also find a vintage surf board or guitar for an enthusiast, or an entry-level telescope for a budding astronomer.
“It’s about being creative rather than spending a lot of money. Why spend a lot of money on imitation pewter Victorian candlesticks from a store when you can buy the real deal second hand?”
Gadgets – such as tablets, digital cameras, binoculars and car accessories – appear to be the most desired second-hand gift items, but jewellery, vintage clothing and furniture are also in vogue.
“Refurbishing an item from a bygone era is a great way of personalising a gift for those who steer away from big retailers,” Cobbledick adds.