I think let’s not be so hard on OP. I think he was just asking what our tolerances are. Seems like some don’t mind used bottles but some do. So clearly even just from responses there is a divide. I personally would hate a chewed bottle. I am so annoyed my tween does this too and once it’s on my bottle I will stop using it until I change out the spout. But it sometimes get mixed in the dishwasher and she chews on them. And this is my own tween. I can’t believe how I would feel to accept one from a complete stranger. Sure. Change the spout but it does cost more than a bottle someone else could be fine with. I think a hydro flask cap alone is like twice the price of his bottle now. Hence his rant.

So my take : coats yes, bottles no, stationary no too for me because I have seen people dig their ears with them or put them in mouths (my tween does this!) and that image just will not let me get one from a thrift store.

Anonymous wrote:Stop fishing to try and get people to criticize your wife. Also, Google how to wash down coats in a washing machine. We do ours regularly just to keep them clean.

You may not like the idea of some things used, and that’s your right. But it’s not because you are “correct”. That’s because different people are bothered by different things. it doesn’t mean one of you us wrong. Do you spend a lot of time insisting that you’re right about things?

Also, I’m married to a microbiologist who has no compunction about buying used anything that can be washed. That includes water bottles for sure. Once you clean it well, it’s clean. It doesn’t have cooties. Bite marks aren’t nice, but IMO the smart thing to do is buy the bottle used and buy a new top for it. Then you have a $40 bottle for $8 instead of some cheap Walmart bottle that doesn’t keep things cold.

You do you, OP. It’s OK that you find some things gross. But stop trying to get everyone to tell you that your wife is wrong and you are right. It’s grosser than bite marks on a bottle.

Stop fishing to try and get people to criticize your wife. Also, Google how to wash down coats in a washing machine. We do ours regularly just to keep them clean.

You may not like the idea of some things used, and that’s your right. But it’s not because you are “correct”. That’s because different people are bothered by different things. it doesn’t mean one of you us wrong. Do you spend a lot of time insisting that you’re right about things?

Also, I’m married to a microbiologist who has no compunction about buying used anything that can be washed. That includes water bottles for sure. Once you clean it well, it’s clean. It doesn’t have cooties. Bite marks aren’t nice, but IMO the smart thing to do is buy the bottle used and buy a new top for it. Then you have a $40 bottle for $8 instead of some cheap Walmart bottle that doesn’t keep things cold.

You do you, OP. It’s OK that you find some things gross. But stop trying to get everyone to tell you that your wife is wrong and you are right. It’s grosser than bite marks on a bottle.

I think getting used water bottles and coats are fine like if you go to a restaurant, you would also use their utensils no. And drink from their cups. So there is nothing wrong with used water bottles. A hydro flask is a good bottle and klean kanteens are good bottles and she probably got it at a good price. The tooth marks are just cosmetic!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We definitely do thrift store for books and clothing. I don’t buy luggage or furniture there anymore because of drugs (my brother is a LEO and made us stop) but I never would have bought a used water bottle there.

Because of residue, or because it could still be hidden in there? Do that apply to purses?

Yes, where can I find these items with hidden drugs? You know, so I can destroy them for the benefit of the community.

I recently ordered off of Poshmark and the seller shipped with drugs accidentally in the pocket. It happens…people forget.

So, what does the LEO brother think will happen on the EXTREMELY small chance you did buy an item filled with drugs? Some criminal mastermind who lost their couch full of drugs will track you down? A couch full of meth will be your gateway to addiction?

She will go full WEEDS and become a mommy dealer.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We definitely do thrift store for books and clothing. I don’t buy luggage or furniture there anymore because of drugs (my brother is a LEO and made us stop) but I never would have bought a used water bottle there.

Because of residue, or because it could still be hidden in there? Do that apply to purses?

Yes, where can I find these items with hidden drugs? You know, so I can destroy them for the benefit of the community.

I recently ordered off of Poshmark and the seller shipped with drugs accidentally in the pocket. It happens…people forget.

So, what does the LEO brother think will happen on the EXTREMELY small chance you did buy an item filled with drugs? Some criminal mastermind who lost their couch full of drugs will track you down? A couch full of meth will be your gateway to addiction?

Anonymous wrote:It's hard to tell if your wife is doing this to get the brand names or if she's doing it because she's cheap or if she's doing it to help the environment. What is her motivation?

Why can’t all three be motivating?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you don't like how your wife does it, do it yourself.

You can buy water bottles online through costco in a multi-pack or in store.

I would probably buy each of the kids new coats, especially a tween as each one deserves new things sometimes and not just the oldest. I buy new as its cheaper. But, covid is airborne not surface.

Talk to her, not us.

Thank you. But you wouldn’t buy a coat you can’t wash well from Thrift too right? Like I know it’s airborne. But have also seen how kids use coats. Eating ice cream and sometimes they drop
On the collars perhaps, or Mucus on collars when zipped up
To a runny nose, or perspiration or just leaving coats on the floor at school etc.

They make kids coats that can not be washed? I would not buy one new or used! My own kids grime is just as gross as other kids.

Anonymous wrote:It's pretty entertaining to read posts from 'environmentally conscious' mommies who buy used undies to 'help the planet' while living in oversized McMansions and driving monstrous SUVs around.

It's equally entertaining to read all the complaining about "wifey" while these inane "Dear" acronyms are used here ad nauseam. I guess "DW" typed over and over again would be more their speed.

My parents always fitted us out from the thrift store it hand me downs. She was careful and had a good eye for what would last, and how to alter if needed. We did get new underoos and nicer clothes at Christmas.

You canwash a down coat and dry it with tennis balls in the dryer. I have never sent a down coat/ski jacket, etc. to the cleaners.

If it has a hood, don't wash the fake fur trim.

But there is also just a lot going on here.

Anonymous wrote:If you don't like how your wife does it, do it yourself.

You can buy water bottles online through costco in a multi-pack or in store.

I would probably buy each of the kids new coats, especially a tween as each one deserves new things sometimes and not just the oldest. I buy new as its cheaper. But, covid is airborne not surface.

Talk to her, not us.

Thank you. But you wouldn’t buy a coat you can’t wash well from Thrift too right? Like I know it’s airborne. But have also seen how kids use coats. Eating ice cream and sometimes they drop
On the collars perhaps, or Mucus on collars when zipped up
To a runny nose, or perspiration or just leaving coats on the floor at school etc.

If you don't like how your wife does it, do it yourself.

You can buy water bottles online through costco in a multi-pack or in store.

I would probably buy each of the kids new coats, especially a tween as each one deserves new things sometimes and not just the oldest. I buy new as its cheaper. But, covid is airborne not surface.

Talk to her, not us.

Sorry for the rant but I do clearly want to clear the perception that it’s not just the thrift store alone but what you get for the thrift. And why some things are new vs second hand. Especially in Covid times. Like sure viruses die but a water bottle do still have lots of “stuff” that one can never wash away. A Covid issue?

OP here. Thanks for the responses. Interesting perceptions and ok, maybe wifey shouldn’t be the word I should have used but I was a little bit perturbed this morning.

Well, I am usually out daily working but my wife is a sahm so naturally I have much less time to shop for bargains or deals. Hence she does it.

But like some has mentioned, a bottle where a child clearly had not cared for a $40 bottle and chewed it shows they have no care for their own things. Like I doubt my kids chew on their bottles, let alone would do it to a $40 bottle. But it also speaks how much they will care for their cleanliness if they don’t care about leaving tooth marks all over the spout. Seems like a nasty or indifferent previous owner?

Secondly I guess it is not just me but some of the comments above has also felt they wouldn’t buy a used water bottle from a thrift store. Why? Because some really do find it ick! Like she dumped our $5 bottle (maybe target or Walmart) and replaced mine too with a klean kanteen with a girls name still written in sharpie at the bottom. Had to scrub her name out! That bottle was decided for me!

We have three girls and they all got different water bottles but two of the three had teeth marks and the last looked somewhat ok. So couldn’t she have just bought the one? sure they were branded but it’s been in some other person’s mouth!

A coat, I agree many may have arguments either way but like why change all the 3 girls coats all at once when they are still good. They are not complaining and they can sure pass hand me downs too amongst themselves. Why buy three coats. Sure they are down but having some other kids names means any school looking at it know it’s a second hand coat unless we have to black out a big patch. Plus we couldn’t even wash it properly. (Down Need dry cleaning?).

So hence the Covid question. Would you let your kids wear another tween’s coat just with dry cleaning and that you have no idea how she was like or how clean the other family was? A $20 down coat + $35 spent on dry cleaning just doesn’t make sense to me. And to me it’s different from a normal wash.

Hence my question. Would you feel the need for back to school purchases just because we have to get things all “new” during these Covid times.

From responses, many are afraid of stuff from the thrift and clearly using used waterbottles.

I have no problem with a baking pan but a mixed bag of new and used pens and crayons from thrift. Like why? I would be open to cheap dollar tree or one good one from staples even!

Do I sound ridiculous because I am a dad?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We definitely do thrift store for books and clothing. I don’t buy luggage or furniture there anymore because of drugs (my brother is a LEO and made us stop) but I never would have bought a used water bottle there.

Because of residue, or because it could still be hidden in there? Do that apply to purses?

Yes, where can I find these items with hidden drugs? You know, so I can destroy them for the benefit of the community.

I recently ordered off of Poshmark and the seller shipped with drugs accidentally in the pocket. It happens…people forget.