Survey finds it really is “the thought that counts”

Would you mind if you found something under the tree that has been “previously owned”?  A recent poll by Gumtree showed that the majority of South Africans aren’t concerned about whether the gift they receive is second hand or not.
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. 11% added that they believed “it’s the thought that counts”.

“We believe that gift giving should create special moments between people, that means your gift should be unique & thoughtful.

“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. Most thrift stores and charities will tell you that they 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 secondhand 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!”

Nicole Chowles, founder of online gifting company Tidy & CO, said that gifting isn’t necessary about the item itself, or even its value. “We believe that gift giving should create special moments between people, that means your gift should be unique & thoughtful. Ideally you want a gift that represents a moment you and your person have shared in the past.”

Of course, not everyone is particularly “gifted” at coming up with a gift idea. “We actually created a Gift Finder that allows you to answer questions about the recipients, which then makes suggestions based on their profile and personality,” says Chowles.

Cobbledick says that shoppers should take the time to browse. “Once you see what’s out there, you can decide what’s appropriate,” she advises. “For example, any book worm 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 – seem to be the most desired secondhand gift items, but jewelry, vintage clothing and furniture are also in vogue. “Refurbishing an item from a bygone era is a great way of personalizing a gift for those who steer away from big retailers.”

Both Chowles and Cobbledick says the spirit of giving is about selecting an item that is thoughtful and useful. “That does mean it’s possibly to buy something in a thrifty way. Other items also go up in value because they are older – certain books or hand-made items, for example,” says Cobbledick.

Ideally you want a gift that represents a moment you and your person have shared in the past.”

Items that should not be bought second hand include fixer-uppers (unless that person enjoys refurbishing old finds), certain baby items (that may have been recalled), or items that are missing parts that will have to be replaced.

“Living things (plants and pets) are not good gifts,” says Cobbledick. “The recipient may not be willing or able to take care of them.”