Michael and Julie - Eco-Shop
Michael and Julie, a young couple very enthusiastic about 2nd hand shopping, shop at Eco-Shop a few times a month but Julie says she would come here everyday if she could get away with it. When asked how long they have shopped at Eco-Shop, Julie said that for “3 years we-ve been shopping at the Eco-Shop and the SPIT and rummel marts, anywhere that there-s nothing from High Street, really. Anything cheap, anything with character, (where we can) do a bit of rummaging. When asked why 2nd hand, she explained that unlike what she calls a “High-Street” shop she can rummage through all the stuff and that she likes the uniqueness of everything and how much things cost. She also presented an interesting difference between shopping 2nd hand and in the “high-street” shops. “Obviously, (in a high street shop) if you get something like in the package and it-s just been broken chances are you can take it back and get a refund. And here (at Eco-Shop) you have sort of a shorter time to get a refund, and technically if it goes on an older thing then it goes but on a new thing it can be replaced. On the other hand if you get furniture and stuff here (at Eco-Shop) it-s got a lot of character, I think, it-s been well worn in and obviously you know you-re getting good furniture b/c obviously it hasn-t fallen apart on the people before…Where upon you can get something nowadays in the stores and it-s like plywood or whatever and it-s a good chance you put it together and then you sit on it and you know it just (gestures breaking)… that-s it flat, kaput.” Michael added “Well most of the stuff you get here (Eco-Shop) is just superficial damage. It-s not something that-s unrepairable. And if you can do it yourself, it-s like yeah, why not.” One of the reasons Michael shops 2nd hand is because of the durability of the things. Talking about a bed suite they were looking at here, he said “it-s more solid than the newer stuff because most of the new stuff is just compressed wood.” Julie agrees adding that “because it-s older, it-s solider, usually than the new stuff, I find. You know it-s not just going to break in a blow of the wind.”
In addition to the durability of the things, Julie talked about the environmental impact of shopping 2nd hand. “I think also with buying your furniture at the Eco-Shop, you-re not going out and buying something new therefore you-re not cutting down more trees to make your furniture. And I think that-s very important, I think there is too much waste in the environment at the moment. It-s recycling and I think that-s very important for the environment, I think we-re just turning into a world of wasters really. I think recycling is another big reason why we shop here.” When asked how they felt about being Eco-Shoppers they both stated that it make them feel really good. “I would recommend this place to anyone and the SPIT and rummel marts…you can find bargains and that makes me feel (gestures two thumbs up) Big rush…!”