Buy pre-loved: it’s good for the planet and your pocket

Buy pre-loved: it’s good for the planet and your pocket

When buying new doesn’t quite fit

When you move into a property it is quite possible that your existing furniture or appliances don’t seem to gel with the energy or style of the house. This may necessitate the purchase of new items that reflect your lifestyle or improve it. There is also a time factor, meaning that our possessions become visibly worn or dated over time, or perhaps you realise your life would be improved by adding an appliance you have not previously considered owning.

Why buying pre-loved makes sense

With the global move to minimise waste through efforts that include ways to repurpose, recycle, reuse, and reduce, we lessen our impact on the environment. There is a myriad of reasons that come from choices in what we buy, where we buy it from, and most importantly, the feel-good factor that comes from ownership of a much coveted or desperately needed possession.

There is great value to be had from buying (and selling) second-hand or pre-loved goods. These are not always in poor condition, they may be items that people are selling because they own two, or have replaced with a newer model. People also sell because of receiving an unwanted gift, or they have changed their interior design, even outgrown a style or type of design.

From curtains to cabinets to coffee machines, the range of choice of pre-loved goods can be far more rewarding than buying new, and more so if you are looking for a specific style or manufacturer.

From the convenience of your home, online opportunities to buy - and let’s not forget sell - pre-loved goods are prolific. Facebook’s marketplace, for example, is proving to be a rewarding go-to for avid budget watchers. Yaga too; it’s not just for clothes, there are home decor items. The likes of Bob Shop, Gumtree, and Junk Mail are also popular sources for pre-loved and collector items.

Another great resource is the second-hand shops like Cash Converters and Cash Crusaders, who offer a limited warranty on the products they sell, which are varied, including jewellery, sound systems, tech, furniture, and kitchenware. Baby-Go-Round offers discounted baby items such as prams, car seats, cots, and high chairs. Given that children grow quickly, many items remain in good condition.

What to check when buying pre-loved

• Is the item in working condition, and is there an existing warranty?
• Has the item been in constant use, or storage?
• Will the item fit the space where it will be kept, and the style of your home?
• Is there an agreement with the seller allowing a return within a certain timeframe if the item stops working, even without a warranty?
• How will the item be transported?
• What is the price for the same or a similar item, in new condition?
• Are there photographs of every angle?
• Is the item priced according to its condition? (E.g., a dent in the door of a fridge might affect aesthetic appeal, but not if it's on the side placed against a wall).
• There may be an opportunity to barter: The seller might want your mobile phone in exchange for their laptop.
• Can you negotiate a better price?
• Is the product clean?
• Can you afford it?

Do you need or love it?

The most important decision, however, is determining whether you really need or love the item. While this does make a case for buying new, new purchases can be the wrong choice, especially if the product you are considering is a nice-to-have or something you are not sure will add value.

Take a water-cooler or coffee machine, for example—testing a pre-loved model might help you determine whether you really need it and if it adds value to your lifestyle.

While pre-loved may not provide you with longevity of the purchase, what it does do is allow you to work within a budget. Be warned though, buying pre-loved can be addictive, causing you to purchase items that you don’t need simply because they are at a bargain price.

For some, this is a bonus giving them a way to earn extra income through buying and selling. The trick is to be disciplined, and do the research by exploring all the options available to you so that what you buy can be as loved today as if it were brand new.