I’ve asked the kid to get me a CD that I used to own. Can’t find it, still want to listen to it.
I’m on my 3rd copy of Paul Simon’s *Graceland *and Hunters & Collectors Cut.
My favourite was when I found a reference book I used to own in a secondhand shop. Not a copy, the same book, with my pencilled in notes still in it! I sold it in Wellington and re-bought it in Auckland. It’s had a very hard life in the meantime.
Similarly, I donated a bunch of books I had “outgrown” to my elementary school’s library. Just after I graduated from college, the school closed. After the other school libraries in the district took the best volumes, the remaining materials were made available for free on a “first-come, first-served” basis. I reacquired several of my childhood favorites – some that bore marks of my previous ownership, others simply books I had coveted for their text and/or pictures over a decade earlier.
I used to own a pantry full of food. I had to rebuy the contents of that pantry recently because the energy they supplied got used up in successive weekends of ultimate frisbee (not to mention my day job).
On a more serious note, the following items got stolen from me, and I went ahead and bought exact replacements: M-Audio studio monitors, The Ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (actually the stolen copy was hardcover, and the replacement was paperback), Tivoli Model Two table radio, and two Pilot Shaker mechanical pencils.
Then of course there’s upgrading the media collection as a new format takes over, such as going from cassette to CD, or VHS to DVD. Done lots of that.
I also have bought several copies of various books over the years - sometimes I’ve lost them for whatever reason (lost in moves, loaned out and not returned, &c), sometimes I want to reread the book now and I don’t want to dig through the boxes in the basement looking for it…
The only thing I can think that I have bought the same exact version of more than once were a pair of dress shoes.
My original pair had gotten worn out, so I wanted to replace them with a new pair. I didn’t particularly care for the shoes, I didn’t think they were all that special, but when I went to the shoe store to pick out new shoes, I ended up buying the same pair again. There was literally nothing better, so I was happy to pick the same exact copy.
I’d love to do that with a pair of old running shoes I have. I’ve owned them for… wow… probably about 5 years now, and I want to replace them but I don’t think I could find them again.
Now, if we count different versions of the same or similar items, then yes there have been a couple.
Spaceballs on VHS, DVD and recently Bluray.
Some video games, downloadable versions vs originals, remakes, ports, etc.
Alienware brand computers (I’m on my 3rd one).
I once bought a bunch of parts at a U-pull-it junkyard off a car that I had junked a few months earlier, including a set of tires I’d bought new just before the thing died.
ETA: I guess more in line with the theme of this thread, the reason why I was able to do that was because I hadn’t learned my lesson and bought a virtually identical replacement car.
My wife bought a book at our library’s twice a year used book sale recently. When she opened it, she discovered that it was one she had donated several months earlier.
I’m old enough I had an extensive collection of LP’s which I eventually replaced by CD’s. I also had a lot of VHS movies which I’ve replaced with DVDs and in some case with Blu Rays. Which means I probably have three copies of some movies.
I’ll occasionally see a cheap paperback at a flea market or library book sale that I have but want to reread and I’ll buy it for fifty cents rather than dig up my old copy.
Probably the closest to what the OP is asking about is there have been a few times I’ve bought a boardgame that I used to play when I was young.
Me too, through Good Old Games and Steam; the former because I only had the Mac versions of games (MoO II, SMAC) and I’m on a PC now, and the latter because I’d rather drop five bucks than dig out my old Xbox and hope it still works (KoTOR is a bit better on PC, too).
I’ve bought clothes I actually USED TO OWN.
After donating stuff to the local Opportunity Shop (Goodwill for you folk), and visiting there to restock my wardrobe, I found a lovely skirt that suited me right down to the ground.
It was my daughter who pointed out that I had previously donated the same skirt a few months prior to the same Opp Shop.
:smack:
I’ve bought a few comics that I had as a kid (on UFO’s). Tracked down my favorite Matchbox car and a Coca-cola yo-yo as well.
Thanks for your replies everyone, it looks like the quick answer is no, I’m not the only one 
Ha! But the filker in me has to point out “booties” scans better than shoes
I’ve bought the exact stuff I used to own, too. Some of my Khorne Berserker miniatures for Warhammer 40K were well-painted enough that when I sold them the new owners didn’t feel the need to strip and repaint them. But evidently not well-painted enough that they didn’t sell them to other people, who then sold them back to me along with the rest of his stuff at a firesale price when he was getting out of the hobby.
How long does it take to wear out a hairbrush 
Word. I still have and use one I bought over 30 years ago. I got it at the Army PX when my hair finally grew back enough to need a brush.
You aren’t bald are you?
I suspect that’s part of my motivation too - bitter about some of the stuff I threw away in a hurry when I was thrown out, and now have time to browse (while his daughter that he’s still not met is napping)!
You should have said, I had the complete collection
(okay, in reality I binned them before I found the SDMB, but otherwise I’d totally have passed them on to a fellow Doper!)
What t-shirt, out of curiosity?
Yup, ex’s have a lot to answer for (although sounds like yours had good taste in clothes).
Yeah, I’ve rebought the same compilation CDs that were stolen from me years ago, rather than just buying the actual albums!
Ha 
In that case, I hope those two flattering fitted dresses with the pop-studs that I think I binned in the move, turn up in a suitcase somewhere!
I had a quick look thanks, but it’s specific boots, style “millie” by the UK Clarks I’m looking for, not just any Victorian boots. Nice stuff though
You’re male, right? Female shoes would have been discontinued after one season and we can’t get the exact copy again 
You might just win this thread
(and speaking of body products, if anyone has any spare Japonica Hair Serum made by UK Boots, can I have it please? They discontinued it)
Which CD? And that’s weird
Fabulous
Didn’t she remember she’d read it?
Yup, nostalgia has a lot to answer for!
Taking the thread title to it’s literal extreme, I have bought back two cars that I had sold years before. Not the same model, but the exact same car! I had sold both at moments where I needed the cash, but had a standing agreement with the new owner that if they ever wanted to sell, they would contact me. They did, and I bought them back. One I bought back at the exact same price I sold it for, and the other I paid a little more for than I had sold it.
Also did the same thing with a sailboat, but made out like a bandit (pirate?) on that one. Bought it back at less than half what I had sold it for, put in a weekend of work cleaning and repairing, and then flipped it for a huge profit.
One thing that irks me to no end is how frequently running shoes get ‘updated’. There’s one type that I really like that is now on version 9, whereas version 5 was the best for me. When I was able to still find new 5s, I bought a load of them.