Secondhand Christmas

Is it tacky to give a secondhand Christmas gift?

Buying secondhand is not a new idea. People have been going to thrift stores, garage sales and eBay shopping for years. But there's a taboo about opening a present that someone else opened once before.

"Many people tell me they are Christmas shopping," said Mark Scher, manager of Kohn's Pawn Shop, in Lima. "I don't think there is the stigma associated with giving this type of gift. It's more of a treasure hunt to find a good gift for an economical price."

Looking for ways to cut corners, people are traveling to thrift stores and pawn shops to find gifts.

"You can find many stylish items now in thrift stores at very affordable prices," said Betty Johnson, owner of Hidden Treasures, in Lima. "People see it as a way to save money and give something nice as a gift."

Scher added, "It makes it possible to maybe purchase something they couldn't otherwise afford."

Unique selections

The challenge is finding the perfect gift someone would want, even if it were brand new.

"It's a lot more than price that brings people into thrift stores," Johnson said. "They can find something in a thrift store that they may not see in a department store. There are often unique items you can find in a thrift store or a pawn shop."

Quality is extremely important to many shoppers.

"Clothing and toys are always popular items at our store," said Maggie Knittle, store manager of the Salvation Army Thrift Store in Van Wert. "People will look for the nicer toys to give as gifts."

Laura Daily, a cashier at the Neighborhood Relief Thrift Store in Lima, said grandparents like to shop there to buy bags of toys for the grandchildren.

"They feel like they can get more for their money by shopping at a thrift store," she said.

Sometimes it's a matter of finding the hottest items before they fly off the shelves, Scher said.

"We can't keep game systems in stock. They go off the shelves quickly," Scher said.

He said items such as laptop computers are often gone within two days.

The popular item at Lynn's Pawn Shop, in Lima, is the DVD/VCR combos.

 "A lot of it is the price," he added. "Customers find they can find good items for a cheap price."

Clothing options

We've come a long way from "second hand Rose, wearing second hand clothes."

The names on labels at a secondhand store can be more impressive than those at typical department stores.

"We see a lot of teenagers come in looking for name-brand clothing," Daily said. "It is a way they can dress well without having to pay a lot of money."

People see the benefit of buying clothes for their friends and relatives there, too.

"Many times a customer can find a clothing item with a name brand that they know will make a good gift," Daily said.

Ideas of thrift stores carrying inferior clothes are just not accurate, Johnson said.

"I think many of the stores carry very good quality items now," Johnson said. "I don't sell clothing that I wouldn't put on my kids or grandchildren."

Sharon Troby, owner of Nanna's, in Lima, said her customers enjoy finding children's clothing to give as gifts. She said clothing has sold well so far this season.

"I also find people will come in to buy clothing to help a neighbor who may be in need," she said.

Jewels of the stores

Many people find thrift stores and pawn shops are the best place to find unique jewelry for someone on their Christmas list.

"If someone collects items or enjoys a special type of jewelry, shoppers can often find it at a thrift store," Johnson said.

Reduced prices make the secondhand shops attractive, Scher said.

 "They shop here because they will probably only pay 20 to 25 percent of what it would cost in a jewelry store," he said.

He said the jewelry is professionally cleaned and often looks nearly new.

"The biggest things we sell are jewelry and guitars," Scher said. "I think that is the most popular item people purchase as gifts."

Creative gifts

Chrissy Lugibihl, manager of the Et Cetera Shop, in Bluffton, said adults like to buy a lot of Christmas decorations, jewelry and belts during the holiday season.

"We also find that tins are very popular," she said. "People will buy them and fill them with cookies or candy and gift as gifts."

Coffee mugs also sell well. "People can fill them with something special and give a nice gift," she said.

Teryn Barnhart, head cashier at Goodwill in Ottawa, said people like to purchase gift sets there.

"We put lotions and items together and sell them as gift sets," she said. "People find those make nice Christmas presents."

Holiday hopes

Larger retailers aren't the only ones hoping for a green Christmas this year. Thrift stores and pawn shops feel the pressure as well.

"We're like the other retail stores," Scher said. "Business is a little down, but it will probably pick up since it's Christmastime."

Lugibihl noticed an increase in business last month at the Et Cetera shop.

"This month, we are holding steady," she said. "We hope to see an increase in business during the holidays."

Sometimes it means bringing the Christmas items out earlier, Daily said.

 "We were very busy last month," Daily said. "I think it's because we had our Christmas items out early."

Now with the shopping season in full swing, these retailers hope shoppers don't mistake secondhand for second class.

"I'm sure hoping we have a good holiday season," Johnson said.

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Tips on thrift store shopping

• Spend a little time looking: Thrift stores may have gems, but you have to be patient and do a lot of looking.

• Test things out: If you're buying electronic items, insist on testing them. Make sure there is no corrosion in the battery compartments.

• Know your designers: A lot of designer stuff shows up in thrift stores, so it's important to know them when you see them.

• Books: A book may look brand new except for the name someone has written in it. Cover it with a large mailing label, and put your own dedication in the book.

• Stuffed animals: Make sure they are clean and do not have an odor. Jazz them up with a new ribbon or hat.

• Creative packaging: Thrift stores are great places to find baskets, tins and Christmas stockings to fill with candy, cookies or toys.