Would you purchase a Christmas gift from a second hand shop or thrift store?

yes i would. i have been doing this for several years already. stuff from second hand stores are not that bad. some of the stuff that they sell are actually as good as new. besides, my family and friends would not mind if i don't get them a really expensive gift. like what they say, it's the thought that counts.

No, I would not do this unless I knew the person collected certain specific things. For instance I have a friend who collects cobalt blue ginger jars. Her husband has found at least two in a thrift job. So if I saw one I would buy it for her.
Other than that we decided a few years ago that we will not exchange gifts among family members except for the children. Thank heavens for that, it really removes the stress and lets us enjoy each other's company with good food and drink.

I would if it was a collectable item that I knew the person would love to have such as I once knew someone that collected tea pots so if I saw one at a second hand store and cleaned it up I know she would be very happy to have it.

Actually, i don't think so. Somehow, it does not really seem sincere (to me, anyways) to buy from a second-hand shop, especially when you know that someone had owned that gift before. It no longer seems much of a gift to me anymore. However, handmade gifts are much more interesting, and fun! I would definitely make handmade gifts for my friends and family. It would be something i am proud to give away, and also shows my sincerity, that it's not something that i bought in the last minute.

I usually buy gifts from charity shops - but then, these are brand new goods, not used. I think, urrgh, I couldn't buy 2nd hand, that's tacky. But then I think, Yes, but my bf works in an auction house, and he gives me antique bric-a-brac as gifts and I love him for it! Antiques are second hand, right? But I wouldn't say, "Eurrrgh, a 1st dynasty Ming Vase - how tacky!"

Thrift shops I'm not sure about. Sometimes they import goods that are really nice - but I always feel the recipient will recognise where it's from, so I tend to only buy for myself. I mainly use them for candles - I bought a giant pillar candle last week that would have cost ££££s more elsewhere. I also scour village fairs, school fetes etc for cheap hand-made crafts - they make nice gifts (and you can pretend it was all your own work!)

I don't think that there is anything wrong with purchasing a Christmas gift from a thrift store. You can find a lot of nice things there. I know I have in the past. Expensive is not always the best. Besides, it's the thought that counts, not the price or the store. Don't you agree?

Yes, and I do. The kids really don't know the difference and if it works, looks good, then yes. I usually get the kids an outift and toy for christmas. Last year, I got them alot of things but I just can't afford it this year. I get my son clothes all the time from a thift, second hand store. They grow so quick and their clothes at a designer store or even Kmart is just as much as mine!!! I will go to the dollar stores for their toys for they just break them anyhow. You never know, you can find amazing, really cool things in second/thrift shops. I love going to them.
It is the thought that counts, and as long as everyone is healthy, happy and together should mean more than just the gift.

Sure. If I found something in a thrift store that I knew someone I was getting a gift for wanted, then why not. Half the stuff the people I buy for own has come from a thrift store. My area has an unusual mix of rich and poor people thus making the stuff given to the thrift store by the rich, quality items. So you can find some great stuff, with the abundant poor people there are alot of stores to shop at.

Normally I would say no, but I am one of those people that are in an economic slump. I lost my job a couple of months ago and with Christmas around the corner I am considering going to second hand shops. Of course it depends on the item, but why not? A lot of times things that are in those stores have only been slightly used and sometimes they are brand new. People buy stuff all the time and never use it. In that case it's no different then buying an item in clearance.

I have previously bought presents for relatives 2nd hand, and I will continue to do so. I think the first thing I bought was a cut-glass jewellery tray for my mum, she collected cut-glass stuff years ago and it was in perfect condition, so why not? My kids often have 2nd hand toys and clothes as gifts because I shop on eBay to get better deals. Kids grow out of toys so fast, some of the stuff I've bought has hardly been used. I wouldn't buy something that looked old and tatty, but if something is in good condition, its a great way to save money.