Purchasing new-in-box from a reseller is sometimes the only way to get the "hot" best seller items.

Not like I'm into most best-sellers, but I'm honestly surprised to see someone scandalized by the idea as if it was weird.

This year Santa scored an awesome train table off of Craigslist and some train track from eBay. I think it's a great place to consider for holiday gifts and we will continue to do shop Craigslist in the future.

Depends on what I am looking for.

Legos, yes, because they are easily washed, last forever, and retired lots have cool suprises. (Witness the coolest gift ever at four: duplo castle parts.)

Plastic toys for a preschool or sad looking plushies: bleck, no, get that rag away from my kid.

I don't generally buy toys of CL but I often sell goodies there and the toys are always gently used, in great condition, and priced fairly.

For my own kids anything goes. But if it's a gift for someone else, it would have to be new in package or vintage!

In this economy people need to be conscious of their budgets. If their budgets dictate that second hand items are what can be afforded for holidays, then so be it. I'm not about to judge someone for being fiscally responsible. It doesn't make sense to me to rack up hundreds or thousands of dollars worth of debt over holiday gifts. I would hope no one would judge me for doing this, but I know they would.

She would never think of such a thing, really? We seriously need a major paradigm shift here. Our world is literally filled with such an insane amount of stuff, I personally find it appalling that someone wouldn't even consider buying a perfectly good used item simply because she wants it new, in a box, with new packaging!

I would continue, but I feel a rant coming on, so I'll spare you all.

I'm back. I seriously hope someone says that in front of me some day. I'm mentally armed and ready. We have so many problems on our hands that we really don't have space for childish adults with fifteen year old girl sensibilities. Ugh.

There is nothing wrong buying a gift on Craigs (or a resale store or elsewhere). The only reason I could possibly think of is if you weren't sure about the item as there wouldn't be a gift receipt. But then people buy gifts all the time without providing gift receipts to the recipient!

My only qualm with craigslist I don't get as much of a vibe from as ebay is the sketchy seller factor. I know too many friends who've responded to sales ads on craigslist to get met with scary sellers demanding more than they asked for originally or only agreeing to meet in sketchy spots. Obviously, they proceeded with caution or bailed altogether, but at least with a site like ebay they're required to fulfill a purchase for the amount specified and you don't potentially have to drive to their scary Buffalo Bill house in the woods!!

We got the majority of our kids' gifts from the thrift store this year. They already have a gazillion toys and I'm all for less consumption around the holidays anyway. We were still able to find nearly new wooden pull toys, Melissa and Doug barns and animals, a bunch of cool books and a caboodle my daughter can store all her chapsticks in. Green is good.

I don't have a problem getting gifts from Craigslist for my own child. I would be a little hesitant to give it to someone else, though, in case they were one of those "icy stare" types.

Used gifts? Heck yes! My family celebrates Thriftmas every year in which we do a gift exchange with all gifts that we scored at thrift stores, consignment shops, yard sales, Craigslist, whatever! It's a highlight of the season as we each try to out do the other in terms of coolness or the price paid for the gift.

Haha, that photo makes me not want to buy ANYTHING off Craigslist. :)

upstategirl: Thriftmas sounds great!

yep, we do thriftmas too. and i always win!! i mean ... it's the thought that counts. we've been shopping thrift since i can remember. why would i change everything i know when i give gifts?

My problem with buying off of Craigslist is mainly the prices. Craigslist sellers often ask laughable amounts of money for used items. Today on our local Craigslist: a set of used Lincoln Logs for $40. That's MORE than they cost new at a seller like Amazon.

I buy almost all of my daughter's toys secondhand. As a result she has a whole preschool's worth of toys for the cost of maybe four new ones. Just last week I scored a $400 sensory table for $3.99! I always give everything a good scrub and check online for any recalls. Then, it's on to the playroom. I'd rather spend my money on things she really needs than the hottest toy of the season.

DOnt feel guilty girl! I purchase stuff ALL the time off craigslist for my kiddos in my classroom- They dont know the difference!

Ha! My Dad bought my Mom an emerald stone from craigslist and my mom snubbed it! Score for me. What do I care which place the stone was purchased from? Its a rock from the ground idk! Made it into a ring and wore the giant stone for my wedding.

Itis the trout that counts. If I find the perfect gift for someone I really don't think it matters where I bought/found/made it.

Heehee, I am sure @PARENTise meant "thought" that counts, unless there is some saying I am unfamiliar with, but I got a kick out of the "trout."

i love it! i'm all for finds at thrift stores and craigslist... how ridiculous to be so snobby, especially in this economy and the state our environment is in. buying new is so passé.

When I read the title of this article, I thought that the scandalous remark was due to the provocative position of the frog - and that this was a question of is it TOO creepy? hahaha
(For the record, yes, yes it IS creepy. I'm all for the gingerbread guy though.)

I'm all for people getting things any way they can that is legal and ethical. I'd much rather they spent $10 on something I love secondhand than spend $500 on something brand new that I don't care about. It's not about how much someone spends, but the thought of getting something for you at a price that is fair for them. If we can't both feel good about the gift giving process, then we shouldn't be giving gifts to each other!

I think it's cool. I've never bought a toy for my daughter from craigslist, but thrift stores are a different story! This year's gift is a trunk full of dress up clothes, all from consignment and secondhand stores.

Craigslist in general creeps me out but as for buying used, I'm all for it! I agree, I don't really want a second hand plush toy or something that's not easily washed, but beyond that, I see no reason to spend loads of money on new stuff if a perfectly acceptable used option is available.

I found several gifts at thrift stores this year (lovely vintage pieces for friends who will more than appreciate them) that will be cleaned up and packaged beautifully.

I scored big this year for my kids' gifts using Kijiji (Craigslist alternative - is this only in Canada? It's awesome.) and ebay. Very specific things, like 'a purple bike with black tires' with 14" rims, toddler-sized figure skates and 'a carousel with a key'. I absolutely love the idea of Thriftmas for my work exchange next year. I am always surprised by the number of people I know who are 'grossed out' by used goods. Hello?! Have you never stayed in a hotel? Slept on that mattress between those well-worn sheets? Wiped your face on those towels? Same dif! If it's washable, it's fair game.

Not buying something from Craigslist that is new and still in the box at a greatly reduced price? That is sheer stupidity. I wouldn't be surprised if she was one who lives on credit and is in major debt to have better things than she can afford.

Even if something isn't new in the box, if it is in really good condition and it is something your child would like, why not? My child had tons of resale shop toys and clothes as a baby, not b/c I couldn't afford more, but because it was a better deal and the stuff was just as good. We had more money to spend on other things that way. Feeling like you child needs all new toys is such a first world problem. It seems so spoiled.

I agree that for my own kids, I buy craigslist, consignment, etc., but I (almost) never do it for gifts to others, because I don't think most people I know would appreciate it. There are some exceptions, but they're in the minority. If I did get something new in a box off of Craigslist, ebay, etc., I'd probably give that as a gift, but I also probably wouldn't tell the person where I bought it.

We scored a Plan Toys dollhouse, furnished, for $35 on Craigslist, so, yep. We're all over it! For my side of the family, we set $20 limits for gifts. We got my mom 4 sets of Fiestaware cups and dishes for $20 exactly. Hooray! (And not the radioactive ones, btw!)

I don't see how it would be "scandalous" to buy your kid a secondhand toy on craigslist unless you, like, slept with the seller when you picked it up.

I wouldn't buy my daughter anything plush (ick), but anything awesome that can be washed is totally happening. If she judges me for that, then I'm not raising her right. Everyone else can go drown in their massive debt.

Side note: I buy stuff on craigslist all the time, but after I negotiate the deal I turn things over to my husband, who arranges to pick it up since he can defend himself against creeps better than I can.