5 Items You Shouldn't Buy Used

Ebay fan? Discover which products are worth purchasing brand new.

Ebay has taught us that you can find anything -- and we do mean anything -- you could ever want to buy. From Elvis-inspired jumpsuits to locks of celebrity hair, it's all out there, and it's all for sale. Just name your price. But not every secondhand purchase is a good deal. Here are five items you should only buy new.

1. Cribs
Listen to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which says that buying used cribs can be a really dumb idea if you're not extremely careful. Each year 16 kids die because of cribs that break down, or simply have unsafe designs. Is the risk worth the few bucks you'd save? Same goes for other kid-related merchandise like strollers and car seats. Be smart and buy new; cribs can be found on babyuniverse.com for $120.

2. Computers
Dell offers a Dimension 3000 desktop system (CPU, keyboard, monitor, mouse -- the works) for under $400, so why even consider buying used? Yes, you can get a refurbished model for even less, but you won't get up-to-the-minute technology and you can't customize it to your exact specs. "Computers change so fast that it just doesn't pay to get an old one," says Suzy Gershman, author of the Born to Shop series.

3. Digital cameras
Electronics are delicate, and even small hiccups in the mechanism could affect your photos. A Canon PowerShot 3.2-megapixel -- which used to be the height of definition -- goes for $179 at B&H Photo in New York City. Sometimes you can test-drive them in-store. "If you buy a new four- or five-megapixel model now, that should be good for at least three years," says Dimitrios Delis of the Photo Marketing Association International. "Picture quality, speed -- everything is getting better."

4. Plasma screens
Older models sometimes come with major baggage: images that have been burned over time into the screen. "New technology is much better, so you won't have the CNN logo permanently in the corner," says Mendelsohn. If you can bear to wait, price points for new models are likely to come down significantly, by up to 10% a year. A good site to get you started is plasmaplanet.com.

5. Appliances
It may be tempting to look online for washer/dryers, dishwashers or fridges. But think twice about buying used. Warranty, for one. Energy efficiency, too, tends to be much better on new models, thereby chopping monthly bills. And shipping something that large can be an expensive proposition. When you're buying new, take advantage of shipping deals; Sears, for instance, sometimes offers it free on any appliance over $399.

Also buy new: DVD players, mattresses, in-line skates, microwaves, hot tubs and cell phones.

From Reader's Digest - June 2005

 

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