Don't buy these things if they're used
Posted
Apr 22 2008, 06:18 PM
by
Karen Datko
An article at MSN Money about things you should buy only when they're new prompted Mrs. Nespy at Mrs. Nespy's World to come up with her own top 10 list. Among her items: child car seats, helmets, mattresses, children's shoes, makeup, hot tubs and many car parts.
She also offers an action plan if you really can't afford to buy these things new.
Mrs. Nespy provides good reasons for passing on these used goods. For instance, car seats and helmets might have been damaged in an accident, she says. If you can't afford new, acquire them only from someone you'd trust with your life or that of your child, and make sure the items haven't been recalled.
Some things on her list are items we'd never think to purchase used, but apparently others do. Example: Used makeup on eBay. She says it could be contaminated with icky germs. The alternative is to watch for deals at drugstores, unless you buy your makeup only from department stores. But, Mrs. Nespy writes, if "you can spend $38 on a tube of mascara, I'm guessing you probably aren't searching eBay for makeup (or much of anything else)."
Pass on used hot tubs. "Seriously, people. Disgusting," she writes. "Have you ever seen a set of jets properly cleaned out?" The ick factor also applies to used bathing suits.
