21 Things You Should Never Buy at Garage Sales

Spoken like someone who has never been at or below poverty level.

I question INVISIBLE damage to a helmet, and suggest something is better than nothing! Speaking personally I find motorcycle helmets limit my hearing so I consider that also adds a risk

I still say something is better than nothing. Just be aware

Travel is limited if you cannot sleep on a strange mattress. Most of them have some exposure to some on the list of Yuck. Just close your eyes and sleep

High heat steaming of a mattress kills everything including dust mites and if a mattress cover has always been used no bodily fluids with contaminate a mattress. Some people cannot afford to buy a $1000 king size mattress, and others sleep on used mattresses in an hotel! So…?

Old Rx meds didn’t make the list?!  :-)

I actually saw a returned plasma T.V. at Best Buy for sale (1.15.12). Believe it or not, the glass screen had a crack. They had the audacity to sell it as is for get this…$200 less then it went for. Who in the world would want that? That should have been sent back to the manufacturer. I guess the customer service didn’t view the T.V. that close and took the customers word.

I actually saw a returned plasma T.V. at Best Buy for sale (1.15.12). Believe it or not, the glass screen had a crack. They had the audacity to sell it as is for get this…$200 less then it went for. Who in the world would want that? That should have been sent back to the manufacturer. I guess the customer service didn’t view the T.V. that close and took the customers word.

Well, at least they didn’t mention the crotchless underwear that’s always a bargain………….

Wear a bicycle helmet? How did all of us EVER manage to survive bicycling for the past century and a half without one? The only good they do is for the companies who make them; as protection, they’re worthless.

Yuk – just the thought of some of those items used.  But things you should NEVER buy new unless you’re an enthusiast:  ping pong table, pool table, trampoline, aquarium, come to mind.  And you don’t even have to buy those at garage sales.  Just send an email around at work and ask for those items – people will eagerly GIVE them to you!

Never buy ballpoint pens, ( dried out), items marked 14k, 18k  gold , ect. unless it’s from someone
you know, same for silver jewelry marked Sterling, or .925,  used decks of cards unless you count them, blank mailing envelopes unless you check as if they had gotten wet, forget it !
kids books that look clean or unused, some have used & ripped pages in the middle of the book,
and the worse thing to buy are old canned goods even if the can is not out of share.
It’s a good way to get food poisoning !
It may be cheap, but the medical bills won’t be !!!!!!

I have bought all of these items at garage sales and have not had any problems.

Sex toys. God only knows where they have been.

I know, I am an Idiot! I just read this article, and even coment here…what is wrong with me?

Another reason for not buying #9 (shoes) is the wonderful toenail fungus that lives in them and is just waiting to infect your foot!

If I could afford to buy these things brand new, most of them, I would.  Get real!  Ive bough used tires for years at a local garage for anywhere from $5 to $10 per tire.  When my son was born, his crib came out of someones garage, and my friend gave me a mattress when she found out I was sleeping on the floor, and she got it from someone els.  Beggers can’t be choosers.  

This article is ridiculous.

1. Inspect helmet. It will be obvious if it has been damaged in an accident.  It’s probably being sold because it never gets used.

2. Inspect car seat as above. It’s probably being sold because the kid grew.

3. Inspect tires. Broken belts will be visible. They’re probably being sold (esp. snow tires) because the guy sold the car they went on or upgraded to higher performance rubber.

4. Wash the swimsuit or underwear in hot water before wearing.

5. Inspect the mattress and use a newly washed mattress pad.

6. Inspect the crib. It’s probably being sold because the baby grew up and the husband got a vasectomy.

7. See if the laptop works.  Then point out that computers get better and cheaper every day and offer $10 for it.

8. See #7 above.

9. See if they fit.  If so, they will mold to YOUR feet, too.  Wash them if they look dirty.  Kids shoes are probably being sold because the kid outgrew them.

10. Clean the hat before wearing if you’re afraid of getting some exotic scalp disease from it. 

Ever gone bowling or ice skating and needed to rent skates/shoes? Ever rented a costume with a hat for a party? Ever spent the night at a motel? If yes, are you still alive and healthy?

Sheesh.

UNDERWEAR!

Wow. Talk about first world problems. Don’t buy a used tire because it might have been in an accident? Don’t buy a used swimsuit because it might not last as long? Don’t buy used shoes because they’ve molded to someone else’s feet? Sounds to me like the people who would be concerned about such things wouldn’t be shopping yard sales anyway.

obama’s birth certificate (every one knows it’s a fake)

Tupperware or other food containers that have been opened.  You have no idea what chemical or other substance may have been stored in them that being scratchable plastic, may never be santitized enough.

This list should also be for consignment shops 

There are MANY good used laptops. You take a risk, yes, but its calculated and absorbed by the lower resale price you pay compared to a new laptop. there are graet deals out there, like on Ebay, but you need to know what you are buying and make sure the seller has many sales with a high rating of 97-100%. You can buy a used laptop for as little as $75 that has internet and word processing, easily. You can’t buy a new laptop for under $300.

And tvs are GREAT to buy used. What does the author think- someone played frisbee witth a plasma? Plasmas suck. period. Dont buy one, not even new. Buy a lcd used and check to see if its been dropped by inspecting closely the outer body for chips, scratches, and dings, cracks. – even give it a few sniffs. bad electronics often smell burned.

As for the rest in this article- i think they are reasonable.

RUBBERS

Absolutely absurd recommendations.. use your common sense. If you’re that timid, you should be buying your unrecalled (yet) crib at a department store. And are you really serious that if a laptop or TV that works just fine is available for a tiny fraction of the new price you would pass on it? Why? Because repairs could cost as much as a new one? Does that make sense?

I always buy my used toothbrushes and underwear at rummage sales.  I think this article is unaccurate.

Someone actually got paid to write this article? Wow, what a world we’re living in these days…

Someone actually got paid to write this article? Wow, what a world we’re living in these days…

also with #3 (tires) if they are 10 years or older,(identified by the dot#) they have a higher risk of a blow out hazard

Used shoes and laptops are fine. You need to see the laptop bootup. You need to make sure it connects to the internet and runs right.

 toothbrushes, tampons, and bose speakers.

Sorry, bought a used 42″ plasma at auction for $50 – seriously.  Only guarantee was that it powered up.  It does have an issue – but after a short Google search (one attempt), I found the issue is non-killer, home fixable (if you can solder) or liveable if you do not mind mind waiting a minute or two (seriously — 1 or 2 minutes).  This screen didn’t have a tuner (a monitor by def) so without one – all it would do would be turn on and give a blue screen. 

If it dies – eh…. my 27″ CRT Toshiba’s sound module has given up the ghost for the second time.  Last time it did that, the repair was ALMOST the cost of a full replacement… today…. cheaper to replace – at least the audio outs work fine.

I do not agree with you about laptops. I am trying to sell a perfectly function 2 month old one that has never been dropped or misused. I paid almost $1000.00 for it. However, I wasn’t planning on getting laid off.  I am trying to sell it to help pay our mortgage payment.   It’s people like you who make an hinest upright citizen look like a crook.

Try telling that little Geico frog that you want all new tires (#3) on your car if it’s been in an accident. He’ll just make one of his smart remarks and deny your request.

I disagree with you on laptops, tires and car seats.  Most laptops get resold (via Craigslist or other resale site) because of being outdated, not damage.  I have bought DOZENS or them, refurb’d them, and sold them. Basic rule…have the owner turn them on and let you use them for 3-minutes…if they work, then they will work.

Tires – most ‘like new’ tires are the case of the owner wanting a different set of wheels…since a 17″ tire won’t fit on a 20″ wheel, then it is obvious. If the tires look new, ask him ‘why’ he’s selling them…if it is a case of ‘well…I got a new set of spiffy rims, and they won’t fit the new ones…’…chances are almost 100% they are just as ‘new’ as they appear.  Most ‘wreck’ tires are obviously damaged…and heads-up, when you total your car, the insurance company sells it to the junkyard…who strips it. Guess what that junkyard does with those wheels and tires if not damaged?  Simple rule…take them to a tire shop for balancing before you put them on…if they balance, chances are 99.99999% they are fine…ask them to ‘eyeball’ them beforehand, just in case.

Car seats – hey, how many children do you have? I had three boys and four seats worth a total of almost $500.  Once they outgrew them, I wanted to recapture my costs…and sold them via yardsale.  ASK QUESTIONS. Have the owner show you how they install. Does it look right? Don’t buy damaged, defective or not working properly seats…but if it looks like new, then chances are, the kids are grown out of a perfectly-good seat.  Just because you wreck your car does NOT make the car seat that you sit in bad…and it doesn’t make the child seat bad, either.  The number 1 reason for child injuries in wrecks is that the adult does NOT put the seat in properly before driving.

You can often get brand new or nearly new shoes that someone is selling because they don’t fit right or they don’t like the style.  It is absurd to proclaim blanket rules about what to buy or not to buy; instead, use your judgment and ask questions.

Tires are FINE to buy new or used… if you have eyes…LOOK!   nothing wrng with tread… NOTHING WRONG WITH TIRES …. they are rubber  they don’t dents or get HIDDEN dammage!!  save some money and buy new when you can!      THIS IS REDICULOUS!!

After my friend’s house was infested with bedbugs from a sofa she bought at a yard sale, I refuse to buy anything used. She ended up having to move!

All good stuff, but NEVER buy leftover food, open food packages, half eaten plates of food at a garage sale.

Even if it smells okay – it could be less than completely fresh.

I love the dated bonehead info in this. Example:  “If your plasma screen dies, it can cost thousands of dollars to fix or replace”.  HAHHAHAHHA   Or, you could just go to Amazon and buy a new 50″ one for $600.00   Today. Go out and see. Ha Ha.

 Have a look and see the prices vintage swimsuits are fetching on eBay and various online vintage shops. One can easily clean and disinfect such garments.

Unless of course you’re smart enough to do the appropriate research on cribs and child car seats before you buy. And if you know how to inspect child car seats, helmets, laptops and tires. DUH.

Clocks!  I have never bought a good, working clock at a yard sale or thrift store!

Also: Toothbrushes, chapstick, underwear, children, deodorant

Shoes Should Not Be Bought!! Get New Ones It’s Better. Better Safe Than Sorry :D

 why not throw some even more obvious things on this list…used qtips, underwear and discarded coffee grounds….really?  what a complete waste of space on the net…

I have heard the shoe truism before, and it makes no sense to me. New shoes aren’t molded to my feet, and neither are used ones. If they fit and are comfortable, it doesn’t make sense to me that the presence of other feet in the shoes will magically make them not fit, nor does it make sense that some cheap last used in Brazil is any more certain to fit my feet. Try shoes on.

I had a guy come up to our garage sale one time to ask if we FN had any half-used rolls of dental floss…He simply stated he didnt like paying full price for anything.  FN Yuk!

It is illegal in most (if not all) states to sell a used mattress. It is also illegal in some states to sell a used car seat. When in doubt, DONT!!!

I saw a “personal massager” at a garage sale once.  Needless to say, I didn’t buy it.

So, your crack staff researched and composed a list of common sense items; why not include toothbrushes, electric razors, eyeglasses, socks, loofahI, dentures and wigs…come on folks. Additionally, please know how so many of us always appreciate going through 10-clicks to read an entire useless article when one click would suffice.  

Another useless list made by someone lacking enough knowledge to examine an item and deal with potential issues if/when necessary.  In other words someone who knows less about the topic than the general public made a list just to keep up some sort of quota. 

HELLO EDITORS!  Please tell writers when they produce rubbish.  Thank you.

That’s why you try the shoes on first.
For the most part I beleive that this whole page is a waste of time. Using a tad bit of common sense is the key. I do hope you’re not the only editor………………… 

There is no reason not to buy used tires. With a set of tires, it’s unlightly all four have a problem. In an accident, most of the time, the tires are along for the ride and not invalved in the hit. Plus, it’s a yard sale. Ask the seller if they don’t work out, can you bring them back. As for TV’s and computers, I insist on trying them out before I’d buy them. Like tires, see if you can bring them back if they stop working.

I but used tires for my utility trailer.  I could never afford new ones, I have a hard enough time buying for my car.

used tv,s, shorts, socks, cribs, lemonade/ food, illegal software,music,videos, pit bulls, illegal weapons.

Wetsuits?? Come on… the conditions of wetsuits are quite easy to judge and they go for a tiny fraction of the original prices. They are also easily repairable. Often times people get into scuba diving, buy all sorts of equipment only to never use it. There are bargains to be had. Realize however, that a lot of people pee in their wetsuits while few admit it!

Things you should not buy from flea markets or garage sales.
#1. Vibrators. Especially one’s branded “The manhandler”.
#2. Used ladies or men’s panties or boxers.
#3. The 9 knots of love.
#4. Enema syringes.
#5. Bamboo ear canal cleaners.
I am sure that there’s more to add to this list…

Tires can be a bargain, just check the manufacture date on the inside of the tire. If they are ancient dont buy. If they have good tread and under 10 years BUY. I have with no problems. Same with car seats, if they are newer they are ok. Quit scaring people. Matress sets are another ok, if you inspect them first. Vermin infestations can be clearly seen. When you have limited income ya make due within your budget. If ya want people to only buy new stuff insted of the used that nyou say not to buy, then pay for it.

Plasma TVs cost thousands to fix? Only if they cost tens of thousands to buy in the first place!

This, and the comment about laptops, suggests that most of the advice here can safely be ignored.

You know what? Back in the old days we had lots of hand-me-downs, including cribs that have been in the family for generations. They may not be deemed safe by today’s standards but with some common sense you can make even those old heirlooms safe. For my first baby I was given a crib that was originally used for my husband and two of his siblings (all of whom survived just fine being in that crib) when they were babies, it was from the 1950s. The slats were too far apart to be considered safe nowadays, but we used fabric and weaved it through the slats and also used crib bumper pads. Not everyone can afford to buy stuff brand new, especially young parents who are just starting out and are on a limited budget. Just because someone out there had something bad happen while using a certain product, doesn’t mean it will happen to everyone. As long as you are aware of the potential for some kind of hazard, you can take precautions to prevent a similiar incident. The only thing I would agree with is that you need to be careful with helmets and car seats because they do lose their protective qualities once they have been in an accident. If they come from a trusted source like a friend or relative and you know they are fine, then yes, but don’t buy such used things online, at yard sales or thrift stores. And used undies are a definite nono, just the thought of it is disgusting. I’ve purchased a mattress set for cheap when a motel was doing remodelling. It was in very good condition but as a precaution we had it professionally steam cleaned. Some thrift stores such as Goodwill take donated old mattresses and box springs and have them either cleaned and sterilized or refurbished with new padding and covers. They can be purchased for alot less than what they would cost in a mattress outlet or furniture store. As long as you use common sense most used items should be fine.  

11. Vacuum Cleaners, they usually suck, er uh don’t suck.

dont buy used toothbrushes either

Tires? You’re kidding of course. This would also apply to buying any used vehicle. And what about potholes encountered with your existing tires? Sorry, but if there’s a problem with a tire due to an accident, it tends to become apparent visually or while giving your used tire it’s first road-test.

The bicycle helmet isn’t always safe to buy brad new in a regular store either.  They aren’t always packaged appropriately and could have been damaged long before they even hit the stores.  I have seen them on display with nothing but a loop to hang them on the shelves.

My first child was born a few years before all the crib recalls. We went crib shopping and I flat refused to buy any of the drop-side cribs they were selling. I took one look at the plastic guides and had serious doubts about the safety. Shortly after my second was born (and still before the recalls) a friend offered use of an *old* crib she had: one with metal guides (it was a design from 20+ years ago). I took her up on it and have been pleased with its quality.

This “list” articles must be written by those who make their livings writing.   They are not valid consumers.  Their lists are generally simplistic and rather stupid.  Reminds me of the time the FDA wrote published a safety list for farmers and told them to be careful not to slip in wet cow piles.

Why do they show a picture of a swim suit while talking about wet suits?  Don’t they know the difference?

I don’t get it.  People spend thousands of dollars and countless hours on their yards.  Then, on weekends, they trash up the place and the neighborhood by hauling all their uselss junk out in front of their houses.  On average they make $1.27 an hour – not counting what gets stolen (for absolutely no apparent reason).

 I don’t think this is a list of things to NEVER buy, it’s just a list of things to know before you buy. Check it over, sanitize it, don’t be paranoid.

after 18 years in the biz used electronics especially computers are a great buy when large company’s items go off lease. Especially desktops. Everything depends on price vs performance.

i’m with u nemo,,, how about,, 10 things u should never take when dumpster diving,,,,, the shoes i have on right now, for instance,, coffee cups, a bird feeder, christmas ornaments and a lamp.  amazing what a little duct tape will fix up.

The one about laptops is just retarded, and has nothing to do with the fact that it came from a garage sale.

Condoms are my pick to be on the list, I made that mistake years ago, but I love all 6 of my kids.

Used luggage is also risky. Picture this. You get a great buy on a perfect sized, great condition Samsonite (or whatever). You pack your stuff and head for the airport. As you sit wait for your flight, the drug sniffing dogs come by and are attracted to your new carry-on. Seems the previous owner used it to transport some contraband. They take you into the little room and now you got some spanin to do. 

I hate that you don’t put your whole list on one page.

Laptops are ok to buy if you are allowed to go through it and do a complete checkout of it.

DO NOT BUY   used condoms.

Common sense.  WHat a dumb f u c k i ng list.

Is this a commercial;?  I don’t see what your talking about!. Common seance should handle this.

Tryed to see Boeing Aircraft , told me that it was not abav. on this site/////////

I don’t sleep on unused mattresses at motels?????????????????

Our family goes garage sailing every weekend…
Man, this list is set up by those product manufacturers to try and scare mom’s and dad’s from trying to save some money. I have bought all of those things with no problems and saved thousands of dollas.

Let me provide a better list:
1. Do not buy the LEMONADE from the kids.
2. Do not buy China and Decorative Plates (nobody really wants them)
3. Do not buy the Walmart and Target brand clothes, go for better (same price too)
4. Do not buy Harry Potter books for reselling on Amazon (everyone is junking them)
5. Do not buy cheap furniture
6. Do not buy anything from Eagle Scout sales (the prices are always way jacked)
7. Do not buy DVD’s (they are ancient). 
8. Do not buy collections of anything (stamps, coins, dolls) – high chances are you are getting taken
9 Do not buy the book “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” (that book is in every GS and has NO value).
10. Do not buy  Sewing Machines (they won’t work, and service is probably discontinued)

That’s a better list.

Writer needs to do some research on video games.  There is no “one person only” games out there (PC maybe, console no).  There are online passes, but those are for the multiplayer and most gamers are aware of what games do and do not have them…and even if they do, they can be purchased from the console’s respective marketplace.

THEY FORGOT TO INCLUDE TOOTHBRUSHES!

If you search hard enough, you can find a reason to not buy anything second handed.  Notice how most of the reasons include…  if’s, might’s and maybe’s…

tl;dr: dont buy anything from garage sales. it could be used.

Ridiculous story designed to perpetuate the throwaway culture. Use common sense, not an article in the online Reader’s Digest to determine whether you should buy any used item. I’ve bought many a no-no on this list with no ill effects.  

 #7 dont buy laptop due to spills and what not…. oh please come on, if you got half common sense of most ppl, you would do something called “TURN IT ON” its honestly not hard to do that and see if its functional or not, just remember to check the CD drive though, in case laser may be damaged

um.. why not just list everything at a garage sale
I mean don’t you already take risks when you buy the crap anyway captain obvious ?

I think most of us are sensible enough to not buy flaking non stick cookware but often the older cookware and kitchen appliances are much better than the new ones. Cast iron can last forever with care and usually a quick look is enough to tell if it has been cared for properly. Meat grinders, knives and other kitchen tools can be found often at prices below buying the poor quality stuff available today and still be first rate equipment.  Depending on the piece of equipment some see little use and can be in like new condition even after years of ownership. Personally I have often bought older kitchen tools and will continue to look for those hard to find, sometimes no longer made, tools and kitchen gagets that I remember from many years back that will outlast and out perform the plastic stuff made in China today. For an example I have several glass, lemon and orange juicers that were made over 60 years ago and they still look brand new.

I only buy a good used BMW.

Dumb

Reader’s Digest Editors got it wrong on almost everything. Talk about clueless.
How much do they pay you editors?

According to this article…don’t go to garage sales! That’s basically what is being said. In other words…I’m too good to to touch someones used items. THEN DON’T. Some of us don’t have the luxury of running out to the store and paying full price for everything. Perhaps next time you are throwing out your “valuables”, you could rate them, price them accordingly, and make sure you put them at the end of the driveway…so you won’t have to chance looking us ghetto trash garage salers in the eye. We will drop our money in a can *and use wipes first so we don’t get germs on your money*.

This is the stupidest list I’ve ever seen. “22 foods you should never eat from the back of an angry, rabid skunk” Will be their next list. Blogorrhea.

Ok, I wouldn’t say NEVER buy DVDs at a garage sale, I’d just say know what you are getting and don’t be suprised if it’s scratched… Some DVDs aren’t available new anymore. VIdeo games too, well at least until Xbox 720 comes out.

Yet, for #16 they show a console that has nothing to do with todays games, buying older games from a garage sale is perfect!

I have never purchased a DVD at a thrift store or at a garage sale that did not work perfectly. If you have old legacy game consoles like the original Nintendo the only place you will find games for it is to buy them at a garage sale or thrift store. New in box legacy games will run hundreds of dollars. This was a terrible article.

As a libertarian, I feel like people are smart enough to look at most of this stuff and determine if there is likely a problem with it. Granted, considering how dumb some people are, there might be rare instances where someone might want to tag along and make sure they don’t drool excessively, fall over, or buy something that will harm themselves, but people should just exercise some common sense and I’m sure they’ll be fine 99.999% of the time with any or all of these items used.

Most of these comments are pretty stupid. These comments seem to imply that the buyer is incapable of judging safety, product wear, cleanliness, and the like and/or that the buyer has no way to remedy the shortcomings of the items purchased. Here are some news flashes for you: Clothing can be altered or repaired by anyone with a sewing machine and/or basic seamstress skills, certainly simple things like pants leg lengths, shirt and coat sleeve lengths, missing buttons, that sort of thing. Seamstress skills are easy to learn. Mattresses can be sprayed and steam cleaned. You can also enclose a mattress in an airtight plastic mattress cover so that your own bed linen never touches the mattress. If the vertical slats of a baby bed are too side apart, you can cover them with a plastic cushion, or even a piece of plywood. Laptop computers can be plugged in and tested on site, or they may be so inexpensive that the buyer is willing to take a chance. You do not have to be too bright to pick out cooking utensils that are in good repair–avoid aluminum and those with flaking or worn non-stick coatings. Tires can be examined for breaks in sidewalls, tread depths, and non-repairable holes. Hats can be steam cleaned or in some cases dry cleaned, and you can inspect the hat before purchase and avoid those that are obviously heavily soiled. The strength and structural integrity of plastic objects should be observable at time of purchase. Bedbugs will not survive a hot washing cycle and long dry time in the dryer.

I am not below the poverty line, but have an income in excess of $150,000 per year. I buy at garage sales, Goodwill, and thrift shops not because I have to do so. I do so because these points of purchase offer excellent value. I prefer to save my money so I can pay my own expenses instead of looking to the government to do so. I buy generic food items at Aldi and dollar stores, and can and freeze vegetables from my garden every year. In this country, you can live very well by careful purchasing of items that others have used and discarded, and you can develop major savings by doing so.

Many people seem not to appreciate the amount of money they can save by this kind of shopping and food preservation. (By the way, I bought my huge steam canner at a garage sale for $5.00, not $125 at a retail store.) I have found by speaking to some of the individuals who come to church food banks that many of these individuals do not wish to use any except new items, and some of them reject the idea of generic brands. This is not an attitude well designed to lift them out of poverty, but rather an approach that is more likely to keep them in the position of needing handouts from others. Some of them are afraid of what others will think of them if they shop at thrift stores, but seem not to have such concerns over accepting and using food stamps, unemployment insurance payments, Medicaid, and food banks. To live thriftily in this country, the first thing you need to realize is that no one else really cares what you do or where you shop.

I my self wouldn’t buy anything personal or been worn by any one, not in this day and tine with all the Bed Bugs going around. Perhaps painting, silver ware, china, If some one so happens to buy such items, ensure you throughly wash them in hot water.

Laptop and electronic devices are fine, if you know what you are buying and how to troubleshoot it. For those of us not bothered by appearances, but rather interested only in what the item can do for us, sometimes the amount of savings is worth it. If you are not a geek, or don’t have access to one, forget it.

why is this page blank???

What BS. I’ve bought used clothing, shoes, bedsheets, etc with NO problems. Has Readers Digest ever heard of BLEACH?? I’m a disabled veteran and live on a fixed income. I can’t always afford NEW things. And what’s with all the name calling and drama in the posts? Play nice everyone.

“But constant changes in water pressure also wear out swimwear faster than regular clothing…”

What the hell kind of pseudo-scientific bull scat is that? Just goes to remind us that much of what you read from internet “experts” is nonsense.

Wow, the nonsense abounds, “Rust, flaky non-stick coatings, and chemicals that leach out are just a few of the safety problems you can run into with older cookware”.

The non-stick coating on cookware is chemically inert, rust is harmless; just more crap advice.

Never is a strong word. Many many many music collectors have scored wonderful music and even valuable items buying cds at garage sales. Unlike, say, used mattresses, the risk of contamination is minimal and you can usually tell how good a shape it’s in by looking at it. It’s not unusual to find cds at garage sales going for a buck or less, especially since people are now much less likely to collect them and more likely to get their music from digital files. If you buy 10 for $10 and 2 or 3 of them aren’t as good as they look, you’ve still done very well.

if your buying used sheets, bedding, swim wear your just a dirty nasty nasty person, being poor is one thing, being nasty is a whole other world. I say make the below poverty peeps be forced to use condoms and re use them,, no reason to tax the system any further, this way you got poor AND nasty covered!!!

Why did they show an old nintendo and mention not buying it because games just started doing one time play codes? FAIL on the part of the author. I would buy an old school 80s Nintendo any day of the week

this is the worst article ever….. so what should someone buy at a garage sale??

Seriously? Don’t buy NES games at a yard sale? You’re kidding right?

….Dont ever pick up a framed picture of Michelle Bachmann……..You dont know how many dogs went on it.

So what am I suppose to buy at a garage/yard sale? I couldve sworn people told me to live within my means.

You are so wrong to tell people not to buy a lot of those good items. Shame on you.

John Morales makes a good point who is the corporate sponsor of this list? I would suggest you follow this list if you lack common sense.
With 2 meth charges in my past when I got clean I found I was unemployable. Now I would never work for someone else 50 hours a weeks; when I can work at home and see my son grow up and make just as much.
I make 20-30K a year on buying and selling used merchandise. Most of which comes from auctions where I don’t know the history.
Helmets, Car Seats, Tires: Can all be inspected and expiration dates checked.
Swimwear, Mattresses, Shoes, Sheets and Pillowcases, Upholstered Furniture, Tailored Clothing, Stuffed Animals, Running Shoes, Hats: Can and should be thoroughly and properly disinfected. If you don’t know how to clean an item take it to a pro.
Cribs: Are easy to check the model number and see if it is safe. If the model number is missing it can be turned into something useful; there are dozens of websites on rehabbing old cribs.
Laptops, Plasma TV and other Electronics, Video Games: Can be tested to tell if they are fully functional.
Baby Bottles: Discard the nipple and sanitize the bottle; buying used bottles can save a young parent enough that they can also buy a bottle sanatizer they could not otherwise afford.
Worn Plates Pots and Other Cookware, Blenders and Kitchen Electronics: These are easy to check to see if they are safe to use. Most are made of Aluminum that after breaking off the handle is worth $.50 per pound. So if you can get a 10 lb pot for $.25…
DVD’s CD’s and VHS: Take a look and also know what the local pawn shop charges to buff the scratches out.
Fragrance or Makeup: If you are using these you know how to tell what is good and what is not.
Thanks anyway Readers Digest and Whoever the sponsor of this article is. I have common sense and will use it.

I have always driven used cars, worn used clothes, and bought used houses. I also own two nice airplanes and a 1500 acre farm in Central America. Penny saved is penny earned,

Okay, whoever wrote this article basically just made it stupid to go to a garage sale! I can understand the bedbug issue, but seriously?

Dumbest article I have ever read on the Internet. It boggles the mind that people don’t know this already.

Who reads this kind of nonsense?

You forgot to include “leftovers” on the list. Likewise “dog poop.” Either Reader’s Digest has idiot readers, or the folks at Reader’s Digest thinks they do. Could both be true?

EDIT: Now, after having read the other comments, I am forced to conclude that Reader’s Digest DOES have idiots for readership. I am out of here!

Wow, had no idea NES games had 2013 technology embeded in them.

i bought some stinky used diapers but they were totally fine – thats probably why those didnt make it on the list

This is ridiculous. Mattresses with potential bedbugs I understand. Hats, because they might have somebody’s sweat residue in them (and that’s “gross”), a blender because the blade might be dull eventually, DVDs because they might have a scratch, a flatscreen because, well, don’t you want a “better” one refurbished by the manufacturer and sold for 20 times what you’ll pay at a garage sale?

This is what happens when the pathetic American educational system runs up against the cowardice bred in consumers during the past hundred years of commercial fear tactics. At that point, no sane person would have bought bread, because you can get the components for a tenth of the cost. So they told everybody that that was gross and unsafe, and now we’re so afraid of a speck of dust that we eat what isn’t even food anymore.

But by all means, continue to believe that you are actually getting something better when you pay more, and that any suggestion to the contrary is low brow. That is, if you already live in a place that doesn’t have garage sales. Frankly, if your town has them, then you aren’t rich enough to act like you’re better than those who sell or buy from their human neighbors instead of China.

Advice from those who have no ability to size up an item, used or new.

This article brought to you by Walmart…..

Good grief! There is a whole lot of germaphobes out there. “Buy used and save the difference,” that’s what the Duggers say.

I’m a little worried about anyone who can’t clean sheets, clothing (I don’t buy underwear at garage sales, but I’m well aware that it’s a silly foible) well enough to make it safe. I shoe horses for a living, and I’d have to be a damned fool to pay full price for either clothing or shoes for work – I’ve had a (new to me) pair of work boots destroyed within ten minutes of starting work – but I only paid four bucks for them, so even though they fit like they were custom made, I could cope.

Helmets and child seats show age and wear – though it’s not true that they don’t eventually get less safe, some is better than none, and it’s usually possible to tell if one is only a year or so old and barely used. Close inspection and running your hands over all parts of either will show up most damage issues.

Computers are a great buy if you can fix them (I can), not if you can’t.

Obviously written by someone with a whole lot more money than a lot of folks have, and a lot less ability to cope with life – and a throw-away ethic to boot.

I’d agree that if you’re not very good at cleaning, and can’t absolutely trust your ability to evaluate some of these things, then take a pass – but that’s hardly a blanket condemnation of buying any of this stuff used.

Don’t buy
Life Insurance policy
Auto Insurance
Underwear
Steaks and burger meat.
Deodorant
Fireworks, Hand grenades
Used Elvis lamp shades,posters
Animals of any kind
Soiled bedding
Memberships to Aryian Brotherhood
Playboys that wont open
Rolex watches
Nudist Magazines

this article states that u should never buy blenders and other kitchen electronics what a laugh i bought a black and deckard coffee maker at a yard sale for .75 and i used it for 5 years

Well, that list covers almost everything in garage sales…

So basically…never shop at a yard sale? And, FWIW, strangest comment thread I have ever read.

Bullshit list.

There is nothing wrong with buying CDs/DVDs at garage sales. Most are perfectly fine, and if they aren’t the least you could do is check for visible scratches before you buy them. Most of my DVDs are from garage sales that I got for 2 bucks, in perfectly good condition!

I say everyone likes a bargain and if you like it and the price is right,go for it,no matter who you are : )

Item #9, shoes, Item #20, RUNNING shoes… because if you don’t spell that out I’m TOTALLY gonna say “no” to random everyday shoes, but RUNNING shoes, no, those are another story, surely “shoes” doesn’t cover those.

It aint rocket science.

o thank god for readers digest…

So basically… don’t buy ANYTHING from garage sales!

So.. pretty much buy nothing. Got it.