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I don't understand why people buy so many things brand new? They're so much more expensive that way. Even something that's "almost new" or "close to new" or is in fact new but didn't sell so has been moved to a secondhand outlet is cheaper than brand new.

I hardly ever buy new stuff unless it is very hard to find used or I will have to wait a very long time to find it that way, or I can get it new for the same price as it would be used.

Clothes- I buy ALL my clothing items, including shoes, used. Uh...I may have once bought a package or two of underwear new...but I often get it at thrift stores and just bleach it well when I wash it the first time.

Vehicles- drive it more than a few miles, it's 'used' and incredibly devalued. Why not get one gently used to begin with?

Appliances: it would not occur to me to buy most appliances new.

Furniture: same as above, used.
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Things I do buy new: art supplies (though I do buy used when I see them, these are harder to find secondhand), quiltign fabric (as for art supplies, and I also cut up clothes for quilts), fencing and other livestock equipment that is hard to find used or not worth the difference, toys for birthday presents (though I will get used in very good condition if available), and....small thigns such as laundry baskets, that are not easy to find used.

me too, chamoisee. i buy more or less all my clothes from charity shops, and then tend to "adjust" them into something i like to wear (except for when i'm working in schools, cos i have to look vaguely respectable then).

same goes for everything else - i've never bought a sofa or anything new. (actually, i've never bought a sofa - i seem to inherit them from places i've lived in). i'm a rabid recycler, anyway.

I love the smell and feel of new things dont get get me wrong if I dont have the money I would not buy it but I value things that have quality

I prefer brand news simply because I feel uncomfortable with anything that has already been used by someone else.

Michael.

I don't understand that, either. I like new things, but they really aren't worth the money, usually. If I can't find something used I'll buy it new. Although what I buy used, I always buy the best quality, as opposed to whatever I can find. It's not worth buying used if it's not a decent quality IMO

I buy quite a few things new, but that is mostly because I view it as an investment. I tend to buy something, and then use it until it can't be used anymore. I don't have much in my apartment that is newer than 5 years.

I've never bought furniture, it's all been either inherited or gotten from someone who is moving. Most of my appliances were gifts from my wedding. I had a car. It was new (well, it was a year or two back a model, but it wasn't sold so it was kind-of new). I drove it until it wouldn't go anymore. My fault, though. I kept meaning to get the oil changed but never did it (damn AS). That's a big reason why I don't drive now.

I certainly see your point chamoisee. However, I'm somewhat obsessed with having things for their entire usefull lifetimes. It's just deeply satisfying in some strange way for me. I also hate to discard anything that still works even partially because to me it is not "used up" yet. Something about having something from the begining to the end of it's existance is appealing to me.

I never buy things used. The lower price isn't worth the hassle of needing to worry about a piece of equipment being damaged. Even mere cosmetic blemishes devalue a product.

Also, the higher likelyhood that a used piece of equipment will be damaged and need to be returned negates the amount of money saved on the "bargain."

For instance (assuming you make as little as 50 dollars an hour), if it takes 30 minutes to exchange a used piece of equipment that was 25 dollars less than a brand new product, you will have lost 25 dollars in potential revenue and you will still have a used product. If you factor in the money for gas, you will have actually lost money.

This is true with "bargain" brands of products as well. It may cost less to get a cheap printer like a lexmark instead of an HP, but the hassle of having a piece of garbage that doesn't work makes it more economical to buy something from a more reputable dealer, like HP.

Anyone else feel this way?

oh, i agree. it would be nice to be able to "afford" such an opinion, though, which i can't.

anyway, even if i could, i think the whole consumer society is getting completely out of control - i know people who throw away perfectly good white goods, just because they don't match the decor any more, and perfectly good computer hardware, just cos there's something with an extra (probably cosmetic) gadget on a new one.

manufacturers have sucked you all in - of course they've got to convince you that you NEED their new product. sounds like they're doing well at it, with an awful lot of people.

Clothes I buy new nowadays, thought in the past I used to wear a lot of used clothing.

My car was 4 yours old when I bought it.

On this moment I have only used furniture in my home.

Though not really antique, the furniture that was made in the beginnning of the 20e centure is of a much better quality then the furniture you can buy nowadays, so I don´t see the sense of buying that sort of furniture.

My sofa is second hand, but I can imagine buying one new.

Computerhardware I buy new, but I use it for a long time.

Normal household things I buy mostly new.

oooh, yes - i forgot to say that most of my furniture is old oak - bit of an antique freak myself, although i can rarely afford it. amazing what you can find in skips by the side of the road, though

Things I buy new:

Clothes (I buy the best quality if possible, I want them to last)

computer stuff (quality issues, etc)


Things I buy used/second hand:

TV's and entertainment stuff, I don't care about quality in these deparments

Cars. I drive a very nice 1987 pontiac. I don't think I will ever buy a new car. Quality is generally not an issue here.

Computer software.

appliances and other items not listed.

Stuff I make:

I make my own furniture when I have the wood. I hate modern furniture, as it is total cr*p. Staples and glue won't cut it for me.

Some ceramics for food, cereal, etc



I make my choices between the two worlds, and make whatever I am not sastified with.