The Sassy Mama Guide to Second-Hand Shopping in Hong Kong

Being a mama brings many positive things to our lives – joy, love and an appreciation for life’s simpler pleasures – but also a whole lot of expense and a fair amount of clutter too! Long since popular in other cities around the world, it seems that second hand shopping is finally having its Hong Kong moment, and frankly we’re thrilled! So please join us in cleaning out our cupboards and bagging a gently used bargain. Reuse and recycle, mama!

For The Kids

We first introduced you to Fleababy a few weeks ago, and we’re delighted to see that this gently used baby gear site seems to be going from strength to strength. Search for all your baby essentials, including furniture, feeding gear and toys, and if you can’t find what you’re looking for, simply post on the forum. Got stuff to shift? Post your ad online and let the buyers come to you. Couldn’t be easier! Check out the Fleababy site for more details.

Popular Hong Kong forum Geobaby has a good kids’ classified section, where sellers can list pretty much anything maternity and baby-related for free and buyers can scour for a pre-loved bargain or two.

Good As New Baby provides regular table sale events of maternity, baby and toddler wear, toys, books and even nursery furniture at locations all over Hong Kong. Tables are hired at $50 for those wishing to sell, and sellers are required to make a donation to Mother’s Choice. There’ll be refreshments and an expert guest speaker at every event, making the $50 entrance fee a bit of a bargain! Check out their Facebook page for more details and a full list of upcoming venues.

A great solution to our teeny-tiny living space is to rent, rather than buy new toys. Hong Kong Toy Library is the brainchild of That Mama Kate Choyce, who charges parents a nominal fee to take home a HUGE range of toys and games for kids of all ages. This is social enterprise at its best, and the Toy Library aims to partner with other Hong Kong charities such as Mothers’ Choice and Vision First. Check out their Facebook page.

Nearly New Kids is a spin-off from the ever-popular Hong Kong Moms Facebook group. This classifieds board specifies pristine quality, and many items for sale are brand new. Check out the group here.

Following the sad news last year that they had reached the end of the line due to venue issues, Seesaw Swap parties are back! A great way to buy, sell and (as the name suggests!) swap your great condition children’s items, Seesaw are currently focusing mainly on clothing items, and encourage those wishing to bring toys to consider donating to HK Toy Library (above), who will host future Seesaw events. Check out the upcoming schedule here.

Yet another Facebook group is Swap-it HK, a classified board that offers kids items galore, along with occasional furniture and clothing. Check out the Facebook page for more details.

Established in 2011, YoYo MaMa holds swap parties focusing on excellent condition kids’ clothes, accessories, educational books and toys. Items left over at the end of the party are bagged up and donated to great local charities, such as Po Leung Kuk. To find out where the next swap will take place, check out their Facebook page, then RSVP to yoyomamahk@gmail.com.

For Mama

Based out in the New Territories, 2nd Chance is Asia’s largest used furniture warehouse, buying and selling second hand homewares in great condition. You’ll find big names here like Indigo, Tree and Tequila Kola at a fraction of their original price, and all large purchases can be delivered to your door. Check out the website to see what’s currently in stock, then visit the warehouse at Unit 14, 2nd Floor
Kin Fat Industrial Centre, 13 Kin Fat Street, Tuen Mun. They can also help to source items if you’re after something in particular.

The mama of all second-hand sites in Hong Kong is AsiaExpat. Of particular note are the kids’, the home furnishings and the clothing sections. With enough patience, you can find anything and everything here, however the sheer volume of listings can make this a little unwieldy to search.

If your shelves are heaving with well-thumbed paperbacks (or you’ve finally cracked and bought a Kindle!), The Book Attic’s friendly staff will gladly take used books off your hands. As well as offering a cozy place to buy and sell reading material, there are poetry events, book clubs and kids’ story readings held monthly. Oh, and you’ll often be offered a cup of tea. See the website or head to The Cockloft, 2 Elgin Street, Central.

If your jewellery box is brimming with bits and bobs that you don’t wear (but that are just too good to pop in your kid’s dressing-up box!) then CIRCA is for you. Buying and selling used jewellery, this is a great option to free up some space and acquire a few gorgeous new baubles at the same time. They’re centrally located in Prince’s Building if you are interested in selling, and you can check out their website here.

Clothing, accessories and book swap party Forever&Again work on the principle that you take home as much as you bring, making it well worth your while to dig around your cupboards! Any unwanted items are donated to charity at the end of the events, and the entry fee includes a free drink. Check out the lineup here.

Freecycle is huge elsewhere around the world, and although the Hong Kong chapter is relatively small, they uphold the same principles as elsewhere, providing a forum for people to give away unwanted items free of charge. You’ll need to register with their Yahoo Group to join up.

You’ll need to be invited to join, but once you’re in, Hardly Worn It offers gently-used clothing and accessories, many of them designer. Recent ads include a Burberry blouse for $250, and Kate Spade sunglasses for $400. Check it out here.

Fashionable and frugal? Check out My Friends Wardrobe, where you can buy and sell stylist-approved labels at a fraction of the retail price. This online dress agency is bursting at the seams with red-hot designers (Louboutin pumps or an Erdem mini, anyone?), and best of all; you can rest assured that everything here is the real deal – there’s definitely no Shenzhen specials on this site! If your wardrobe is groaning under the weight of unworn designer ‘bargains’, turn them into hard cash here, (then buy something you’ll actually wear!) Get shopping, mama!

If you’re a vintage girl at heart, Select 18 is for you. There are clothes, shoes and accessories to be had at great prices, and the convenient location means you can pop into Oola for a glass of vino post-shop. Check them out on Facebook or head to 18 Bridges Street, Central.

The Vintage Concept stocks gorgeous watches from super-luxe brands such as Panerai, Rolex and Cartier, making this a slightly higher-end ‘used’ experience! There’s an online catalogue to browse, or head to their stores at 1 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central and 7 Fleming Road, Wanchai to try some new (old) wrist candy for size.

Happy shopping, mama!