You can save a lot of money shopping secondhand at thrift stores, yard sales, eBay, and Craigslist. In fact, there are some things you should always buy used if you can, such as books and clothes.
But there’s a flip side: things that are the worst to buy used. Some used goods can pose a health or safety risk. Others just don’t hold up very well, so buying secondhand is unlikely to be a bargain.
That doesn’t mean you can never find good deals on them when they’re used.
When you buy these things used, understand the risks and take precautions to protect yourself and your money.
1. Bicycle Helmets
A bike helmet is only designed to work once. During a wreck, the foam interior compresses. Even if it looks intact, it can no longer provide the same protection it once did.
And a crash isn’t the only thing that can damage a helmet. According to the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute, you can crack the foam in a helmet just by dropping it on a hard surface. The cracks may be small and hard to see, but you can detect them if you look carefully.
Even intact helmets can degrade over time. Exposure to sunlight can damage the hard outer shell of a helmet. This damage shows as fading or tiny cracks around the vents. Any helmet that shows that kind of wear is no longer protective.
There’s no good reason to buy secondhand helmets. Even if you know and trust the seller, it’s not worth the risk. They might not remember falling off the bike or dropping the helmet once.
You can buy new bike helmets at stores like Target and Walmart for less than $20. Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute tests show these inexpensive helmets provide the same protection as more expensive ones.
There are also special programs that can help you find helmets for as little as $5. At that price, there’s no advantage to buying used.
2. Car Tires
Your vehicle’s tires are literally the point where the rubber meets the road. If they’re not in good condition, they can put your safety at risk. And when you buy used tires, you can’t always tell if they’re sound.
When you buy used tires, there are too many unknowns. You can’t be sure they’ve remained adequately inflated and been rotated or that the wheels were properly aligned. You also can’t tell if they’ve been driven at excessive speeds or had a run-in with a pothole.
Behaviors like these can damage a tire in invisible ways. It’s even harder to tell when the tire is unmounted. You can’t necessarily spot problems like small leaks or bulges in the sidewall.
Also, even well-maintained tires wear out with age. Exposure to elements like ozone degrades and weakens the material. Thus, tires more than 10 years old are no longer considered roadworthy.
You can tell a tire’s age by the Department of Transportation code on the sidewall. The code’s last four digits indicate the week and year of manufacture. For instance, a tire with a code ending in 0719 was made in the seventh week of 2019.
AutoGuide.com says it’s generally safe to buy a set of used tires if they come with a used car that’s been checked and approved by a trustworthy mechanic. If the mechanic gives the car itself the thumbs-up, that’s a good sign the owner properly maintained the tires too.
Similarly, you can probably trust tires from a person you know takes scrupulous care of their car. If they’ve followed the maintenance guidelines, the tires shouldn’t have any problems you can’t see.
Just check the expiration date and tread — they should have at least an eighth of an inch. That ensures there’s still plenty of life left in them for the money you’re spending.
3. Mattresses
Many people avoid buying a used mattress simply because of the ick factor. Knowing other people’s skin, sweat, and bodily fluids could be in the mattress is a big enough reason to walk the other way.
But a bigger problem with used mattresses is the risk of picking up bedbugs. Mattresses are the most common breeding ground for bedbugs — and from there, they can spread to other parts of your home. That means even getting rid of the mattress may not eliminate the infestation.
You can’t always tell by looking if a mattress contains bedbugs. However, you can minimize the risk by getting a mattress from a reputable reseller.
But buying a used mattress has other downsides too. It won’t come with a warranty like a new one, and it won’t last as long. The average lifespan of a mattress is only seven to 10 years. So if you buy a 5-year-old mattress, it has half or less of its usable life left.
Laws on the sale of used mattresses differ from state to state. Some states require labels to show if a mattress is used or contains used parts. Some require all used mattresses to be sanitized, and others allow reuse of the springs only and not the cover or padding.
Check the laws for your state. If state law doesn’t require mattress sanitizing before resale, look for a mattress bearing a tag that shows it’s been sanitized anyway. Better yet, get a mattress that’s been recovered or reconditioned by removing, treating, and replacing the cover.
4. Cosmetics
If you’ve ever shelled out a bundle for pricey designer cosmetics only to discover you didn’t really like them, it’s easy to see how tempting it is to resell them and recover some of your lost cash. And as a buyer, it’s appealing to get a high-end product for a bargain price.
But dermatologists interviewed by Elle and Allure warn that buying used beauty products can be harmful. Makeup can harbor bacteria, viruses, and fungi that cause various skin infections. The risk is greatest with products that have reusable applicators, come into direct contact with the skin, or come in a container that you dip your fingers into.
Perfume that comes in a spray bottle is perfectly safe since the bottle doesn’t touch the skin. But according to InStyle, once you open perfume, the scent degrades within about two years. Heat and sunlight can accelerate the process, causing a fragrance to go off within a few months.
If you see yard sale cosmetics sealed in their original packaging, they’re safe as long as they aren’t expired. Perfume in a spray bottle is also OK if it smells right and is unexpired.
Used products that come in a tube or pump bottle are a tricky middle ground. It’s possible to use them without touching your skin, but you can’t be sure the previous owner always did that. While they’re probably safe, it’s probably not worth the risk.
In general, there are safer ways to save on beauty products. You can switch to cheaper brands that give value for your money, shop sales, and use coupons. You can even check out tutorials online to learn how to make your own.
5. Pet Supplies
Pet products like bowls, clothing, and toys often show up at yard sales and online. However, veterinarians interviewed by PetMD warn that these secondhand goods can pose various risks.
Soft products, like clothes, beds, and toys, can harbor pests like fleas and ticks. Stains and odors can also be a problem. And if dog toys or cat trees carry the scent of the previous owner’s pet, it could cause your pets to start urine-marking it to establish it as their territory.
Another concern is germs from a previous owner’s pet, which can linger in both soft and hard plastic pet supplies.
And finally, safety can be an issue. For example, crates or carriers need to support your pet’s weight, so it’s crucial to ensure they’re in good condition.
Secondhand pet gear is usually safe as long as you take some precautions. Inspect dog crates to ensure all the moving parts are secure and working properly and that there are no cracks or other damage to the case.
Before use, wipe the crate down with a pet-safe cleaner. To disinfect it, either follow up with a disinfectant like alcohol or a mild bleach solution or leave it in the sunlight to dry.
Metal or ceramic food and water dishes should be safe. Just clean them before use with dish detergent and water. If they’ve been used recently, disinfect them as well. It’s best to avoid plastic bowls, which can become damaged and collect debris that seeps into your pet’s food and water.
If you buy secondhand pet clothes, wash them in hot water with detergent before trying them on your pet. That will eliminate parasites like fleas and ticks along with odors and stains.
Finally, be careful with anything that contains porous materials, such as fabric. If they have no obvious stains or odors and no nooks and crannies that could harbor germs, they’re probably OK.
But avoid secondhand goods with carpet, such as cat trees.
These can be a haven for parasites, and the material makes them hard to detect.
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