Purchase Regrets?

[nuisance26]

~Have you ever bought something secondhand that really didn't work out the way you wanted? What was it and why did you regret the purchase?
How about kicking yourself for not buying something? What was your "big fish that got away"?~

[jas]

probably tons of little things that once I got them home I noticed the flaw that made it useless. The big one that got away (after a few days I ran back and bought it) was a buffet at the thrift store. They wanted 120.00 for it and even at that price it was a good deal. I just didn't want to spend the money. After kicking myself a hundred times I went back hopeing it was still there. It was! I talked them down to 80.00. I love that thing. I now keep all my craft stuff in in. The stuff that really did get away I have completely forgotten about thankfully or it would be driving me nuts!

[nuisance26]

~Great save on the buffet!
My regrets are little things too. Some small scale organizers that didn't work in the space, books that had information that was way too outdated to be useful and clothes that didn't seem to fit in my life like I thought they would. Luckily all those things were pretty cheap.
One of my fish that got away was a set of those special ironing inserts for sleeves and cuffs and things. They were more than I wanted to pay($10)so I passed. Then I realized how handy they would have been and how much they are new but it was too late, they were gone. Another little fish was a Pampered Chef press & seal I saw in a thrift bin for $.25 about two years ago. I didn't know what it was or what is used for until I saw it recommended here on FV for freezer pbj's. I ended up buying one new this year. :/ ~

[Palooka]

Mine has been mostly clothes and kitchen stuff. The other day I found a nice Reebok shirt and the neck is tight and hot. I mean I can wear it, but it drives me crazy.

I don't think I ever kicked myself for not buying anything.

[The Muse]

I have a dress that just doesn't fit right that I regret buying and a cardigan that has a stain on the sleeve (one of my early finds and didn't notice it). Together, these items didn't cost more than $10, so not a huge loss.

My fish that got away was an LL Bean sweater for $2.99. It was light blue and a reasoned that I probably wouldn't wear that color, so I bought just the red one and I wear it all the time and wish I'd not been so cheap and spent the $2.99 for the other one. Now I live in Denmark where people generally have fewer clothes to begin with, and barely worn things are few and far between at the secondhand shops.

[TheresaRHPS]

I bought these horrid candles at a neighbor's yard sale. I thought they were kind of unique and pretty...until I brought them home. They were off-white candles in glass holders...and the holders were slathered in red glitter--glitter which promptly started to flake off in huge chunks as soon as I handed my $1 over (shocked at the price, too).

Aside from the hideous molting candles, I've bought a lot of clothes that just didn't fit right.

My one thing that got away...they had about 5 vintage cameras for $2 a piece at our local Goodwill. I didn't have ANY money on me. I went back the next day to get them and they were all gone. I saw the same camera at an antique store a little while later for $20.

[shoiji]

I could have purchased a mahogany leather insert desk for $20. It got away because I did not take my hatchback.

I have gotten much better at not buying something just because it was only x amount. Also knowing what would work well with what I had helps alot. One item I bought was a cheap metal plant stand that I thought I needed so the cats would be away from the plant. A couple months later I realized it stood out from the rest of the place because it was just so different looking. And different not in a good way.

My place is eclectic but the plant stand just did not go. It just looked really cheap and tacky.