"I didn’t expect it to get much attention when posting it I was just curious what other people would not buy secondhand," the author of the thread told Bored Panda about what inspired them to ask the question in the first place.
"I buy a lot of clothes secondhand as I’m not very well off so I was surprised to see people say they would never buy clothes."
They said that secondhand shopping "is great" if you don't happen to have much money. You can find some high-quality items that you can nab for very little cash.
"It can make clothing cheaper and even give you opportunities to make a little money. For example, the jacket I bought for £2 was actually worth more than £40 due to its rarity. This allowed me to have more money for the week and do some actual food shopping," the OP shared.
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In the redditor's opinion, the secondhand market will grow much bigger than before due to the cost of living crisis that's very apparent in the UK.
"People here in England can’t afford to warm their house up never mind spending £100 for a jacket so when these cheap opportunities come along it’s nice. Also, other people don’t know it’s second hand so you won’t be judged," they told Bored Panda.
"Some shops near me selling second-hand clothes and utilities are life savers and if it wasn’t for them, me and my family would be struggling to eat."
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We also enquired the redditor about the current cost of living situation in their local area of Doncaster, in England.
"We are one of the worst cities to be affected by the cost of living. My shopping bill has almost doubled in the last 3 months," they told us that they can only afford to pay the bills. Meanwhile, luxuries and fun activities are out of the question.
The redditor’s thread went viral almost immediately. At the time of writing, the OP’s post had over 26k upvotes (and counting!). It just goes to show how many people are fans of secondhand shopping. And that definitely bodes well for the environment.
Making new clothes, for instance, uses a ton of water and energy. That’s on top of the fact that the clothes then have to be shipped to stores the world over. When you buy secondhand, you’re essentially giving the clothes an extended lifespan and helping reduce emissions from transport. Not to mention that you’re supporting local businesses.
So long as an item of clothing is neat and clean, it’s generally fine to wear it and love it and show it off to all of your friends. But not every item is as forgiving when it comes to use.
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For instance, Market Watch warns people not to buy things like baby cribs, car seats, or helmets if they can’t fully verify how they’ve been used, and if they’re not defective. In short, you can never truly be certain whether or not they’re safe to use. It’s generally best to err on the side of caution and always spring for a brand new version in these cases.
The same goes for mattresses. You have no idea what’s hiding in the middle. Bed bugs. Rot. Decades of sweat. Yuck! Just say ‘no.’
You should also exercise caution when buying secondhand smartphones. They might have been stolen and resold. They might have unwanted software and malware inside of them.
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I know people buy them second hand often, but I find it’s easy to conceal prior spills on certain couches. Most couches are disgusting after a few years of use.
As for antiques, we might love them, but one thing that you should consider is if an object has been crafted with toxic materials. For instance, a piece of furniture that you spotted at your local thrift store might look fantastic in your living room, but if it’s coated in lead paint, you want to pass on this. Lead-based paints were banned for residential use in the United States only in 1978. So keep this in mind.
Similarly, be wary of any used toys that you think your child might like. Some toys get recalled because they are unsafe. Don’t automatically assume that what you’ve got your eye on is 100% safe. Be critical. Be skeptical. Be objective.
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Anyone who’s looking for cool and unique items ought to visit their local flea markets, garage sales, goodwill shops, and antique stores on a regular basis. You never know when something new (well, old, but you get it) might show up. If you get along with any of the shop owners, they can also inform you about new inventory if you’re looking for something particular, too.
If the current economic climate grows worse, it’s very possible that more and more people will buy and sell secondhand items to make ends meet. So if there is a global recession in the coming years, you can probably bet your bottom dollar that the popularity of secondhand clothing and thrift shops will explode, massively.
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