I’m all for the second-hand buy/sell groups. It’s great when something pre-loved finds a new home, and instead of taking up space in a box at your house gets a new chance of being used with someone else.
Beijing’s got multiple second-hand goodies groups and here’s how to join in.
Clothes-shoes for kids
This group is as straightforward as its name. If you’re only looking to buy some kids’ clothes, this is the group to join.
Add WeChat ID: Wilhelmina87 to join.
Maternity, Newborn Buy & Sell CN
This group is for all your baby gadgets. There’s everything from clothes to books and toys in there from parents whose kids have outgrown them.
Add WeChat ID: fukai2504 to join.
KID Stuff: Buy, sell, swap. BJ
Every parent knows kids outgrow their clothes in the blink of an eye! This group is great if you’re looking for kid stuff. There’s everything from kids’ clothes and toys, to furniture.
Add WeChat ID: lilin_ChinaDe to join.
These are just three of the more active groups for kids’ items. If you’d like to be added to others, message Wilhelmina87.
While I’ve purchased many great outfits for my kid, plenty of books, and even sold some furniture in these groups before, there are some seriously odd things that have made me go “Huh?”
1. ¥¥¥¥¥
It could totally just be me, but I think that these buy and sell groups are like virtual yard sales. You want to sell the stuff you don’t need anymore, and like at yard sales, you expect things to be cheap. Just because you spent RMB 1,000 on something a year ago and took really good care of it, doesn’t mean you can re-sell it for RMB 1,000 a year later. I always find it odd when someone tries to sell their used stuff for more money than the things cost on Taobao.
2. Makeup
During the age of social distancing, why would you buy second-hand makeup from a stranger? Don’t get me wrong, I share makeup with my girlfriends all the time, but that’s different. I know them! We go out to eat together, we drink together, we party together. In other words, we’re sharing germs already anyway. Used makeup from a stranger in a second-hand group is a different story. You can’t sanitize a used lipstick or eyeshadow, and you don’t know who’s used it in the past. If you buy a color that doesn’t look as good on you as you expected, give it to a friend or just toss it.
3. Undergarments
I can’t believe I’ve seen someone try to sell this in groups before. Fine, it was their kids’ underwear that they outgrew, but still. Gross!
4. Homemade Art
I’m sure you had a great time doing your home art project, but that doesn’t mean that others need to buy it. Over the past more than nine years I’ve lived in Beijing, there have been times when people have tried to sell their finished paint-by-number.
5. Medication
Yes, there is half-used medication in some of these groups. Most of the time it’s for kids, but please be careful. Medications expire and go bad if they’re not stored properly. You know how there’s a warning on most bottles that says, “Do not consume if opened”? This should always apply here!
Images: Pexels
