Second-hand Santa steps up as a legitimate Christmas gift option

Receiving second-hand Christmas gifts is not as weird as it once was as a rising number of people are buying them off sites like Gumtree.

Second-hand gift-giving at Christmas is losing its stigma as a growing number of Australians say they are comfortable receiving presents previously owned by others.

New research by Gumtree has found that 65 per cent of consumers say they would be happy to get a second-hand present, up from 55 per cent a year ago.

However, almost one-third of people worry that they would be seen as cheap if they give something second-hand, even though retro gifts are surging in popularity this Christmas.

KIDS, CASH AND CHRISTMAS: Take Scott Pape’s seasonal survey

Gumtree spokeswoman Kirsty Dunn said second-hand presents could be unique so “rather than look cheap you can look really thoughtful”.

“Historically there was more of a stigma … It’s good to see more people becoming eco-conscious,” she said.

Retro gaming was popular, and electronics brands had brought out new versions of their retro consoles, Ms Dunn said. “But the old ones still work on your TV with the right cable. We just bought a vintage Atari 2600 from Gumtree and it works,” she said.

Gifts don’t have to be new to be warmly received.

The research also found that:

• More than 60 per cent of people have been disappointed by wasteful or thoughtless gift giving.

• The average Aussie spends $670 on Christmas presents.

• Almost 60 per cent of people say the most stressful part of Christmas is finding the perfect gift for everyone.

Ms Dunn said there was still time for people to make money by tapping into the second-hand economy and selling their own unwanted items.

A Moneysmart.gov.au spokeswoman said a pre-Christmas home clean-up could boost people’s festive budget.

“Spend a few hours clearing out anything you no longer need around the house, like clothes, books, jewellery, furniture, music, or sporting equipment,” she said.

“You could sell these items online, hold a garage sale, or find a local buy-swap-sell.

“Op shops, antique stores and second-hand bookshops can be a treasure trove for the thrifty Christmas shopper. If you’re prepared to spend the time looking through their stock, you can often find good quality items at a fraction of the price you’d pay at big name stores.”

GUMTREE’S TOP 10 SEARCHED TOYS

1. Sony PlayStation 4

2. Pool table

3. Lego

4. Trampoline

5. Cubby house

6. Gaming PC

7. Xbox One

8. Drum kit

9. Nintendo switch

10. Go-kart

Source: Gumtree.com.au