do you shop ebay for xmas?

[disneydave2003]

i see there are a lot of new with tags and new in box items but what about used stuff, do you buy that for xmas gifts? i have nephews who love xbox and psp and so do i but a lot of the games are used so no original boxes but the prices beat the heck out of ebgames best buy etc.

and my dgf adores prada, kate spade, burberry, you get the picture and there are some used bags that are selling for great prices. who wants to pay 300 for a bag when you can get a lightly used one for 100 or under (i don't get the whole bag thing anyway i guess cause i'm a guy)

but back to my original question, is it ok to buy used things on ebay for gifts? i wouldn't mind after all, a gift is a gift but i just wanted to see how others felt. please no debates, i'm just asking for thoughts and opinions.

have a groovy day

 

[Danemom]

I don't buy gifts from ebay.

My own personal opinions...
It would be okay to buy a new, boxed item from ebay only if you were sure the recipient would be happy with it since there are no returns.
Giving used items for gifts (no matter how lightly used) is tacky.
Definitely no clothing from ebay for gifts.

Now my confessions...
I think the recipient of the gift makes a big difference in the "rules" for this -
I have bought used video games for my son for gifts but not off ebay. That way I can easily return them if there is a problem with them. Three games for the price of one? A no brainer to me.
I've bought clothing for my daughter for gifts from ebay. Either new w/tags or something she'd loved that was no longer available new.
And, I'm also a fan of "recycling" gifts which a lot of people think is tacky, so I'm not really the Emily Post of gift giving! (I'm a teacher so I get a lot of small gifts - often bath products that I'm allergic to)

For your specific questions, I think I'd stick with new video games from ebay or an eb games type place for used. And buy the purses new, unless it's a certain bag that your gf loves and it is no longer available new.
I'm really curious what other people's opinions are!

 

[RichNKatHolly]

Unless from a very close friend or relative, I think I'd be taken aback to receive a used gift. Although, my DH knows I love Coach and Fiore bags. They are $300 + new. If he saw a used one somewhere with no signs of wear, I would have no problem with it - also, if it came from my mother. These are people who KNOW I will LOVE It.

I would purchase NWT items from ebay as gifts even though there is no return. It's new, has tags, great gift at a great price.

Also, I have some family members who collect certain items (glass, figurines, etc.) I have purchased these items from ebay even used. Alot of the stuff they collect is no longer made and they will appreciate the fact that I searched through ebay (or wherever) for it.

If you speak with your nephews and they don't mind used games (or their parents don't mind) I see no problem with using ebay to cut back on the xmas budget. I would not buy used without first letting the recipient know that was my plan.

Good luck! Also, be careful purchasing from ebay around the holidays. Lots of items advertised that the seller may not ship. Use paypal if you can.

 

[blessedby3]

I purchased a couple of dresses for my DD last year for Christmas on ebay. These werent new, but for her (she was 6 then) it was no big issue. I would not do that for anyone but my kids or DH. I wouldnt want to give a "used" gift to anyone and even if it were new the receipent would not be able to return it if they didnt like it.

 

[powellrj]

I would do it for my DH and kids, but I would never to it for anyone else. My DM usually wants to take everything back, so that would never work for her, and other family member don't buy used things for themselves, so I would never buy them and give them to them as a gift.

 

[disneydave2003]

yeah, my dgf wouldn't go for a used bag, it has to be boxed and wrapped from the store. i'm definitely buying the xbox stuff for myself, was tempted to buy some for nephews but don't want to chance being dubbed the cheap uncle for life

have you ever bought xbox games or any other games from ebay and had problems or were they ok? people bundle them or the ebay lingo is "lot of games" and the prices are unbelievable but i'm afraid they won't work so what are your experience.

 

[pyrxtc]

I do it cuz there a lot of things on ebay I couldn't find locally. Plus a lot of things you can buy new. I only buy gifts that I know will not need returning.

 

[ceecee]

I don't buy gifts from ebay.

A lot of the HOT hard to find toys sell every year like crazy. Examples: A pink Barbie VW (years ago) couldn't get it for less than $60.00. Furreal Cats...most were selling for $80.00! Last year pink Video Nows! DD has luckily never had one of those things on the top of her lists.

I see nothing wrong with buying things on Ebay for gifts. I do it and I got a lot of Disney things from my family members from Ebay...all new. Certainly I would not buy used items (unless they were antique items...I did buy coin glass for someone a few years ago, obviously that is "used" ). I find it a good way to find things that you don't see in stores everyday.

I did buy my nephew who was 10 or 12 at the time, 25 video games from a friend's kid who changed game systems. I got them for $3.00 each. I wrapped each seperately and put them all in one box.....he was thrilled!!! He kept telling everyone all day his aunt got him 25 games!

 

[swilshire]

I frequently buy used unique items for the immediate family from eBay and other places, such as yard sales. For non-family, I would also buy there, but only if the item were new.

Sheila

 

[ptlycloudy]

I agree with most of the others about giving used gifts. I am also careful with some items because their are so many conterfeit games, bags, jewelery, etc. on ebay.
For namebrand handbags I have purchased some for my sister at Smartbargains.com and overstock.com . You can get a deal on high end bags, although they are ususally last season.

 

[sk!mom]

I normally only buy 'nwt' from Ebay and yes I do sometimes buy gifts. I have bought my DS video games that are out of circulation but available new on Ebay and I have bought my DD clothes- always NWT. We live in a small city with limited shopping so I use Ebay to get deals on some of the brands that she loves.

I would only use Ebay for others if it was something that I was sure that they wanted. I would only buy used if it was some type of collectible. For example, my mother is a cookbook collector and my sister has purchased old, out of print cookbooks for her collection from Ebay. My mom loved those gifts.

If there was a problem with something that I bought my children then I would know it and be able to replace it. I might not know about it if I gave Ebay gifts to others.

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

For clothing I would only buy NWT for gifts except for my own kids, then I would be willing to buy used. As far as video games and books I would buy used, but in new condition (with the case, etc.). I always buy my sister a Cherished Teddies figurine for every holiday and I get alot of those off of ebay because I can find a better selection on there. It also depends how close the person I'm buying for is to me, I would have to know them well enough to know I was getting them something they wouldn't want to return.

 

[babytrees]

I have only gotten stuff off of ebay that is going to immediate family....where else was I going to find an Oddball stuffed animal? I had to buy used but after a good cleaning I gave it to my daughter as a just because gift.

I was also able to find a Cassidy porcelein doll(Marie Osmond) for my oldest...it is hard to find anything with her name on it except on Ebay.

This will be the first year I will be giving a lightly used item at Christmas time....hard to justify paying over $200 for a new portable dvd player when I got it for $89 and obviously hasn't been used or abused. Doing it this way I will be able to give more. My girls know I am a shopper and will get the best deal on what they want even if slightly used.

Like a pp said if their mom & dad & they are cool with it, add to their game collection!! Think of it not as being the cheap uncle but the cool one who can give them 5 instead of 1 game.

The bags I would say go through a reputable site too much chance for fraud on bags. p.s. I don't get the bag frenzy and I am a girl

 

[nuzmom]

I LOVE buying video games on ebay (especially for Christmas) for my DSs. I have bought gameboy advanced games and gamecube games. I like buying them new and in a wrapper, but you can expect to pay more for that condition, but usually not as much as in the stores. I do pay attention to that - there have been times that the game was on sale at Toys R Us CHEAPER than what ebayer had it for.

I have also bought a few used games. I don't try to pass them off as "new", the kids know they were bought used, but they don't care.

I have only had ONE game not work. It was bought in the wrapper and when DS went to play it, it didn't work. That was perhaps 3 weeks after the purchase (because it was a Christmas gift). I emailed the seller (he had a ebay "game" store) and explained what happened. He sent me out a new game with no problem. Phew.

Anyway, I think that buying used games for your nephews is fine. Don't try to pass them off as new, but wrap them nicely and maybe package them with a "hint book" or something. As long as you buy games that you think they'd like, I'm sure they'll be happy to get twice as many games than they would have if you bought new. Just my 2 cents.

 

[minnie1928]

I bought several toys for my DD(1.5) and DS(6) last year. I definately bought more for my DD that way, I mean really.....how was she going to know they were used? And I'll do it again this year, once I figure out what Santa's bringing....

Many of my coworkers didn't agree with this, which was fine. But I'm the one who could afford new but chose not to, and they were the ones busting the bank to buy all new toys for their kids 5 and under. And they wonder how I have extra money each month to put towards debt (DR follower ) when they don't. Not that this is the only way I save money, but it's one of them.

 

[CheapMom]

I would definately buy people used gifts off of ebay. But like others said it depends on the recipient. There are certain people who wouldn't appriciate that kind of thing. But most of my family enjoys interesting, quirky things over something shiny and new straight off the shelf from Macy's.
As for kid's toys and games- even nib- you are still taking a bit of a risk- if it is broken it is a major hassel (and minor expense) to get money back. They may not be able to get a replacement. I would probably do it if the price was so low that it was worth the risk.

 

[maggiew]

I think you could get some games for your nephews off of eBay. If they came with their case and booklet, I don't think they would know or care. Especially if its a game they really want or would play a lot. I have personally sold some old playstation games in case with booklet and they looked good as new. I have also sold old gameboy color games (no boxes, just cartridges). I don't know what the buyer was going to do with them, but they sold well.

Maggie