Buyer’s Remorse
Buying used items can have many advantages. You get to save money, and you can even find items that are no longer being manufactured. But on the other hand, you can be opening yourself up to unexpected risks. With that in mind, here are 20 items you should never buy used.
1. Helmets
Under the regulation of safety first, it's important to buy protective equipment fresh out of the box. This is because you don’t know the kind of strains such items have been put under, and it's never a good idea to bargain with your safety.
2. Rock Climbing Gear
Rock climbing can be an expensive hobby, and you might want to give yourself a head start by saving on second-hand equipment. But the truth is that harnesses and ropes in particular are susceptible to compromise, and depending on where or how they were stored, they can snap on you.
3. Mattresses
Of course, mattresses can be expensive, but sometimes it's better sleeping on the floor or in a sleeping bag than buying a used mattress. You have no idea what that mattress has gone through—do you really want to bring it into your own house? Sure, you can throw some clean bedsheets on it, but in your heart of hearts, you’ll always know what you’re lying on.
4. Intimate Clothing
Any kind of clothing that’s going to be directly touching your skin should be given some forethought. This includes stockings, underwear, and other undergarments as well. You can buy bags of them for cheap at Walmart; please don’t subject yourself to lightly used intimates.
5. Car Seats
You never know the history of the car seat you’re buying, and someone can easily lie about it. The thing is, if a car seat has been in an accident, it's likely that some components have been damaged, and the seat should be thrown away. Even if the seat looks fine, manufacturers recommend throwing them away.
6. Cell Phones
This one’s probably going to be controversial, but if you are going to buy a used phone, be sure to get it completely factory reset, and try apps like Swappa. The issue on other sites is that the phone may have been stolen, and the battery charge also degrades with use.
7. Upholstery
Things like sofas or chairs that have upholstery can be breeding grounds for a certain kind of bug. You know the one I’m talking about. The furniture may look clean at first, but it only takes a few hours for the problem to reveal itself.
8. Tires
If you’re buying used tires, make sure to go through an official store that has inspected them. If you buy them from a random seller, you have no idea why they were thrown out, and part degradation is a dangerous game.
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9. Makeup
Unless you’re 1000% sure it was never opened or used, you should not buy makeup. You might argue that it's eyeshadow and you’ll use your own brush, but the odds of contaminants and skin infections skyrocket when people share makeup.
10. Swimwear
Similar to intimate clothing, swimwear is just a tad too personal to be shared. You put yourself at risk of contaminants and exposure, and it's considered unhygienic and unsafe.
11. Bedding
The whole bed area should be kept utterly away from second-hand items. Like mattresses, bedding is an even more dangerous game. You could argue that you’ll run it through super hot water and it’ll be safe enough, but the odds of bugs, dust mites, and other health contaminants just aren’t worth it.
12. Strollers
Strollers can be quite expensive, which is why many people prefer to buy them second-hand, but manufacturers and experts don’t recommend this, as strollers are vulnerable to component damage. The ambiguous safety, plus the fact that you don’t know if they’ve been recalled or sterilized, puts your baby at unnecessary risk.
13. Plastic Containers
Buying those food storage plastic containers may seem like the environmentally friendly thing to do, but when it comes to food safety, you should never take the risk. For instance, many people use those containers for all sorts of things—some even use them for leaky sinks or dog food.
14. Shoes
Shoes are another breeding ground for bacteria, and some can even retain fungus that causes ailments like athlete’s foot. If you really insist on buying second-hand shoes, the least you can do is clean them thoroughly.
15. Pots and Pans
It turns out pots and pans are loaded with toxic chemicals that leak out if they’re burned or scratched. Since many of these used items will be in such a state, you’d be putting your body at a major risk.
16. Stuffed Animals
Stuffed animals are unfortunately also opportunities for certain kinds of bugs and can lead to infestations if you bring them into your home. You might think you can just wash them, but plenty of these toys can’t withstand household washers and dryers.
17. Vacuums
You might do a test run and see that the vacuum works, assuming it's safe to buy second-hand. But many problems may be lying in wait. For instance, clogs can worsen with time, and they’re likely trapped with the dust and hair of the person you bought it from.
18. Medication
This really should be a no-brainer, but buying used medication puts you at risk for tampering. Even if the bottle seems sealed, there are many ways to fake that. In fact, medication tampering cases have come out of big-box stores too.
Christina Victoria Craft on Unsplash
19. Vintage Dishes
While vintage dishes are fine for displaying, you shouldn’t buy them second-hand if you plan on eating off them. This is because old dinnerware is known to have lead issues that make eating off them dangerous.
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20. Lotions
This really shouldn’t even be up for debate. You have no idea if the item has been tampered with, and touching the same areas can lead to infections and breeding grounds for germs. Just no.
