Evaluating a pre-loved haul

_{My latest haul, two brand new with tags (one still in the box) and one hardly worn with authentic countryside mud.}

I love browsing the Oxfam online shop with its feast of pre-loved items. Among all the polyester and occasion frocks, there are occasional gems and, over the past two or three years, I have steadily built my wardrobe.

I like to have a look at the beginning of a new season: this past summer, double denim was a thing, so I searched denim tops, jackets and coats and came up with a perfect cropped sleeveless jean jacket for £5.99. I've had countless compliments on it every time I've worn it. It's gone into the winter wardrobe now as an extra layering piece, especially as vests (waistcoats) are a thing this season.

There are often never worn, brand-new items, many still with their tags and, with shoes, still in their original packaging. The prices are a bit hit and miss: sometimes something is grossly over or under priced. You can negotiate and make an offer but it's a bit of a faff as staff are often volunteers and part-time and getting a response can take a while.

(Oxfam is in the news again with shop and office workers going on strike. A while ago they were in the news because of overseas workers exploiting women. Bit of a theme?)

This time round I was looking for hats but the Hunter wellingtons popped up in the feed below an item. Hunters tend to sell very quickly. There was a pair of ankle wellingtons and they went before I had time to get my debit card out. I was thwarted recently on a walk: due the rain, the footpath was a quagmire after 50 yards or so, no good for city fashion shoes. The Hunters had no signs of wear other than being covered in mud, so I popped them in the basket.

The Clarks hiking boots and Feiyao hi-top sneakers were new with tags and in their boxes, so I had a look at those, too. The Clarks were about the same price as the current sale price, but I decided Clarks had already had their share of the profits and any other surpluses could go to Oxfam. The Feiyao sneakers were about half the price of other similar pre-loved items listed on other sites.

There's a £3.50 one-off delivery fee regardless of how many items you have and where they come from (my three items came from three different shops). Returns are free and a label is included in the parcel. More valuable items often have a courier charge between £5-£10 although there doesn't seem to be any consistency about how this is applied.

Long story short they are all going back:

• The hiking boots have a pony skin surface which would soon wear.
• The sneakers were great fun and very comfortable. The brand is Korean and there is often a graphic on the side. But when all was said and done, I've decided to invest in a pair of Asics running shoes with more cushioning.
• The Hunters were a good fit around my feet and lower legs, with and without heavy socks. They looked very cool, too. But the width at the calf was quite narrow - great for jodhpurs but not for tucking in jeans. They were also very heavy and bulky, and a palaver to get on and off. I could see that in the everyday I would choose something more convenient to wear.

Sending them back is very easy - re-pack with the returns slip inside, stick the free post label on the outside and drop off at your local Post Office. Better than the service from many retailers.

I also look at the accessories from time to time, I've had some nice pieces from them, and I like browsing the vintage books. They also do homewares and vinyl, so great for collectors or maybe if you're looking for that spare part for your slow cooker.

All in all, a good haul, even if I decided not to keep any of them this time. I had fun opening the packages and trying them on and tomorrow I'll enjoy going to the Post Office and catching up with people on the way.