Buying used is a great way to save money and there are plenty of things I would never purchase brand new simply because there is little difference between new and used in those categories. Prime examples of these are books and movies, a used book is as good as a new book (check for missing pages!) and a used DVD is as good as a new DVD (check for scratches!), but there are plenty of things I would never buy used.
These items fall into three categories:
- Unable to verify quality of used, and,
- Too personal an item, and,
- Not worth the effort.
Unable to verify quality of used
This used to be a problem attributed to used cars and the whole stereotype of a used car salesmen but recently fixed as dealerships have “certified pre-owned” and other verification protocols. I don’t like buying something where the quality and durability can’t be easily verified and this applies to many things but more notably large appliances or electronics. If the cost savings is significant, I’ll still consider it but I generally don’t want to purchase an expensive used item with a history I’m completely ignorant of. Perhaps if I know my friend is an audiophile and very meticulous in upkeep, I’ll buy it from them. If it’s some random person on Craigslist, I’m not going to do it.
Too personal an item
It’s the old mantra of don’t buy used underwear or used mattresses because they’re simply too personal. I also avoid things that are an every-day type of item, I put mattresses and underwear into that category. I think everyone can identify with this category of “can’t be bought used” without further explanation. 
Not worth the effort
Time is money! The difference in cost between new and used underwear, if you can even find used underwear, is negligible and the difference between new and used mattresses is simply not worth the effort it takes to find and haul a mattress. Used cars are great because the time expended is worth the amount of money you might save by buying used and used DVDs are great because the time expended is worth the money. Don’t spend hours and hours searching for something just to save a few dollars, spend that time elsewhere.
Tags:
2 comments ↓
What about a toothbrush? Too personal?
I don’t think people sell used toothbrushes
Leave a Comment