UK NEWS

NOW IT'S THE HAND-ME-UP GENERATION...

Wednesday May 23,2007

By Graham Hiscott, Consumer Journalist of the Year

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IT used to be that parents passed on treasured heirlooms to their children.

But now the tradition of hand-me-downs is being replaced by hand-me-ups when new technology is involved.

It is becoming common for parents to “inherit” digital cameras, iPods and other gadgets from sons and daughters who are upgrading to the latest model.

Currys electrical stores quizzed customers to find out what happens to replaced products. Seven in ten over 55 said they had recently received a technology product from a younger relative.

Mobile phones are the most popular hand-me-ups, with almost half of those aged 18 to 24 passing their old handset up the family tree.

MP3 players and iPods came second, handed on by almost a quarter of the 2,000 people questioned.

It is becoming common for parents to 'inherit' digital cameras, iPods and other gadgets.

The arrival of gaming consoles like Nintendo Wii and Xbox 360 has also led to a significant number of grandparents trying them out.

Joanna Armspach, 60, from South-west London, took up gaming on an old Nintendo Gameboy after her daughter bought a replacement Nintendo DS.

She said: “When my daughter offered it to me I was a bit sceptical – but I couldn’t have been more wrong.
“It keeps me sharp and it is better than daytime TV. I can’t wait for my daughter to finish with her DS so that I can have that off her as well.”

More than a quarter of over-55s have received a no-longer-wanted digital camera from a younger relative. And more than half the over-55s questioned said that their hand-me-ups were the first technology products they had used.

Currys marketing director Anna Burleigh added: “The last five years have seen huge growth in internet usage among older generations.

“Now they are expanding into other technologies, giving rise to a generation of gadget-loving grandparents.”

Simon Osborne-Walker, of Stuff magazine, said makers should think about products “aimed more specifically at this older audience”.

WISDOM

24.05.07, 12:20pm

Oh, the wisdom that comes from advancing years. That of not being sufficiently stupid to buy the stuff first hand.........
As my children so graciously say of me.."dad taught me everything I know, but not everything he know's...........................
So much learned....... So much yet to pass on.

• Posted by: James • Report Comment