6 Things You Should Never Buy Used

Buying used can save money, keep perfectly good stuff out of the trash, and help you find things you might never see in a regular store. But some bargains aren’t worth the risk. Safety gear may have hidden damage, mattresses can harbor pests, and certain personal items can come with hygiene concerns. Before you head to the thrift store or local marketplace, know what’s better to buy new.

Key takeaways

• Avoid buying used helmets because you may not know their age, condition, or accident history.
• Used mattresses and pillows may harbor bedbugs, dust mites, roaches, and other unwanted guests.
• Be cautious with secondhand car seats, booster seats, cribs, and bassinets because older or damaged products may not meet current safety standards.
• Skip used cosmetics because bacteria, mold, and other contaminants may be difficult to detect or remove.
• Used shoes have already molded to someone else’s feet and may also come with hygiene concerns.
• Polyester clothing can hold onto odors that may not be noticeable until you wear the garment.
• A low secondhand price isn’t necessarily a bargain if the item could create safety, hygiene, or usability problems.

Bike, sports, and motorcycle helmets

Secondhand helmets may or may not be safe, and it’s not worth the gamble. Helmets could have been in a previous accident and may no longer be fully functional, even if they look fine. The plastic in older helmets may also be deteriorating, offering less protection than new helmets. 

Matresses

Even if you can get over the fact that someone else slept on the used mattress, you may be inviting pests into your home. Roaches, dust mites, and bedbugs can hide in a mattress and find a new home in your bedroom. 

For the same reasons, skip used pillows, too.

Baby items

Used car seats and cribs could be a safety hazard to your baby. Used car seats and booster seats could have previously been in an accident, which makes them less reliable, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Or they may not meet newer safety standards. 

Many older cribs and bassinets don’t meet new safety standards. They may have gaps around the mattress and railing, or large spaces between the rails that can pose choking and suffocation hazards. Others may have lead paint.

Cosmetics

Used cosmetics can be teeming with bacteria and possibly mold. Even if you think you can sanitize the item, it’s best to buy new to avoid acne, styes, pink eye, and other problems that can come with used cosmetics. 

Shoes

While this one may be a controversial take, there are several reasons to opt out of buying used shoes. For one, used shoes contain bacteria and possibly fungus that can cause you skin problems. Don’t just assume that a good spray-down with disinfectant will solve the problem.

Secondly, you’re literally walking in shoes that someone else has been walking in. Shoes mold to the owner’s feet. Chances are, your feet aren’t the same shape, and walking in shoes warped to someone else’s foot shape can cause foot and back pain. 

Polyester clothing

Polyester is plastic, and plastic can retain smells. That’s why your food containers sometimes still smell like garlic even after coming out of the dishwasher. Even if a piece of clothing smells okay in the thrift store, as soon as it warms up with your body heat, hidden smells can reveal themselves. So you really don’t know if an item has a phantom smell until you get it home and put it on. By then, your money’s gone, and you’re stuck with a stinky garment.

Here are some more thrifting tips.

FAQ

What things should you never buy used?

Some items are better purchased new because their safety, hygiene, or previous use can be difficult to verify. These can include helmets, mattresses, pillows, certain baby gear, cosmetics, shoes, and some polyester clothing.

Why shouldn’t you buy a used helmet?

A secondhand helmet may have been involved in a crash or otherwise damaged without showing obvious signs. You also may not know its age, storage history, or whether its materials have deteriorated.

Is it safe to buy a used mattress?

A used mattress can potentially bring pests such as bedbugs into your home. Mattresses can also contain dust mites and other debris from their previous environment. Buying new eliminates some of the unknowns that come with a mattress from another household.

Is it safe to buy a used car seat?

A used car seat requires extra caution because you need to know its history. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, consider whether it has been in a moderate or severe crash, whether it has recalls, whether all parts are present, and whether it still has its labels and instructions.

Should you buy a used crib?

Older cribs may not meet current safety standards, and a secondhand crib may have missing, damaged, or modified components. Check current safety requirements, recalls, and the specific crib’s condition before considering one for a baby.

Is it safe to buy used makeup?

It’s best to skip used cosmetics. Makeup can be contaminated with bacteria or other microorganisms, particularly products that have directly touched another person’s eyes, lips, or skin.

Why might you want to avoid used shoes?

Shoes can conform to the previous owner’s feet through wear. They can also contain bacteria or fungus, and you may not know how they were worn, stored, or cleaned.

Is secondhand polyester clothing worth buying?

It can be, but odor can be an issue with some polyester garments. Synthetic fibers can retain odors, and you may not notice a lingering smell until the garment warms up while you’re wearing it.