10 Things You Should Never Buy at Garage Sales

i agree with you in no.4 and 10 but not all of the above you mention. actually we only buy on those reliable persons we know well or a friend. be practical!!

I must again already for sure that good be of good quality and if buy already will protect me has dangerous from I take time very in thing each filtration must good is of good quality TRUE is not the fake

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

it is great ,thank u .but do u have any in persian

The heavier the used mattress, the more dead skin cells that have rubbed off and gone into it.  I vote for a new mattress every time.

The heavier the used mattress, the more dead skin cells that have rubbed off and gone into it.  I vote for a new mattress every time.

recommending not buying used shoes is going a bit too far.  put em on and if they feel ok when you walk in them, you’ll be fine.

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 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

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

As for swimsuits i think nothing is better than something. But if u have to cover up just wash it first with bleach if necessary. Don’t worry STD’s are STD’s and not Swimsuit TD’s

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

Now I agree with this coz you should not buy secondhand (used) computers EVER. You cannot be sure it is not infected even if you run a scan. Maybe OK if it is a friend (close one) or a relative (close one) who will be open about any problems that arise.

Old info here, but take the subject line ONLY, Plasma TV’s. The dont cost thousands of dollars to buy and I dont know about repairs coz they are so reliable (See prices at Tiger Direct). TV’s don’t get much handling do they? just remote control and screen cleaning occasionally so the previous owner cannot do much harm uness the TV has input sockets damaged (VISIBLE)

Shoes are better than no shoes; at least if you are in a tough environment and/or poor. If they fit and feel OK then be thankful they are not new coz now you don’t have the soreness from breaking them in! Wear socks!

yeh, what if someone has some funky foot disease?
 

yeh, what if someone has some funky foot disease?
 

An article in last month’s Digest that tells how many people were able to make money on eBay.

I will never stop buying shoes at garage sales!

I think 4 and 7 are sound advice. very few electronics that I bought at a garage sale even worked.

I think 4 and 7 are sound advice. very few electronics that I bought at a garage sale even worked.

yeah and those are the exact things most people buy too, now what…

Tires, if in decent shape of wear, tread, etc., are great as a set to get by until new ones can be purchased or even to use as a spare.

Tires, if in decent shape of wear, tread, etc., are great as a set to get by until new ones can be purchased or even to use as a spare.

The article should be called “10 obvious things you should never buy at garage sales”

“Never share a hat or comb, or lice may make your head their home.”

what????

WTF????

i would never buy a laptop at a out door sale its not safe to use 

Motorcycle helmet limits your hearing?  And you being surrounded and encased in a car with the stereo on or the cell phone to your ear has no impact on your hearing or awareness level to outside noises?  huh, so I take it you don’t ride a motorcycle or live in a state that lets you choose whether to wear a helmet or not.

Formats you should never make a list as:  Don’t make me click on a new page for just one item.  Don’t make the picture so big I have to scroll down to read the text.  I know what tires, shoes, etc. look like. 

Just because they ‘feel fine’ doesn’t mean they’re a good fit. If they’re not fit to your feet, then OVER TIME you will suffer negative health effects. People feel fine when they have one cigarette, but OVER TIME that tends to change. Duh.

hahahahahaha what?

Thanks for enumerating these! I’ve been a lot of garage sales, but I recently known this information. Somethings aren’t worth buying even if it is cheap. 

What did you say…can’t make heads or tails of it?

The more disgusting issue with used shoes is that they can transmit foot fungus. No fun.
This is more of a problem with adult shoes as small children rarely get athletes foot. They do get scabies and other communicable critters though. I think this should fit into the “intimate” items with swimsuits, mattresses, bike helmets and such.

This list really should be a “no brainer”. The only thing I would think about buying used on this list would be a crib that I had really done my homework about. I would burn the mattress though. Bedbugs are no picnic.

LOLOLOL!! this is the dumbest list ever …. cribs & bikinis & used hats, well DUH! They forgot to mention underwear too! Never buy underwear or have eaten food for that matter!

As someone who’s recently dealt with bedbugs, the bugs don’t infest the inside of the mattress. They live and breed in the box spring, nooks and crannies between the bed frame, and just about everywhere else, but not IN the mattress, unless there’s a hole in it.

I don’t buy anything at garage sales.  But, if I did, it would be Dos Equis.

what are you saying? Try English Rabbit1109!

what are you saying? Try English Rabbit1109!

que?

I disagree on every single one of these. Helmets would have noticeable scratches or dents. A car seat is a car seat and I see no reason it would be bad. Nothing wrong with used tires we routinely pull them out of dumpsters and some are just like new while others get turned into flower planters, we know the difference between usable and trash. Ok, well, I don’t disagree with underwear, I’d never buy used underwear. Nothing wrong with used mattresses. My queen size mattress and box spring cost me 80 dollars at the thrift store, as compared to the 200-500 it would have cost to get them new and they’ve served me well these past three years. You know, I survived being in a crib made in the 80s, as did all my siblings, none of us managed to choke or strangle ourselves*gasp shock*, so I think any baby of mine would be just fine in any crib regardless of “safety” gadgets. As with any electronic, plug it in and test it out before you buy it, but nothing’s wrong with buying used computers. Same with tvs. I love old shoes, one of my favorite shoes ever I got at the thrift store, I’ve been wearing used shoes for more years than I can remember, and I do own brand new ones too so it’s not like I don’t know the difference. So if hats are never cleaned before they’re sold them just clean them when you get them home, I mean, you do it with any other use thing you buy, right?

You know what limits your hearing? Wearing no helmet, because then you have the wind rushing in your ears, the sound of vehicles zipping all around you. What limits your hearing even more is when you wind up dead because you crashed while not wearing your helmet.

I guess we should never stay in a hotel, because if you think they clean the mattresses, they don’t. Of course we know bodily fluids would never be on a hotel mattress, just those of 80% of the people who have stayed at the hotel. 

On shoes:  or, they may have been work very little because the last was not a good match for the previous owners feet.  But ut may match yours.  I agree, would not buy well-worn shoes used.

Actually the carseat warning is spot on. When you are in a car accident get a new carseat! Same with if it’s expired. It is NOT a ploy by the carseat manufacturers to get you to buy new seats. The plastic and foam begin to break down after a period of time. Think of it this way….you leave the seat in your car. Think of how hot and cold your vehicle gets during the different seasons. Those temperature changes and changes in humidity absolutely break down the materials in carseats. If you can’t afford a new seat you can call your fire/police department and ask about programs that give out seats if you are in a certain income bracket. 

As for cribs, the problem with cribs NOW is that they are so mass produced that often times issues slip through quality control. Just read the stats on drop side cribs. If you have a drop side crib simply call the maker and request the kit to make it a non-drop side. They are free, you don’t even pay shipping. Heck mine sent me two!

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…?

Having just spent $3000 to deal with bedbugs picked up in a resort recently, I am happy not to travel for the foreseeable future. Enjoy all those hotel rooms, intrepid travelers. I am happy to stay home.

and underwear that used to be white…………….now it’s brown

 You nailed it Conejo!  Agreeing full-shure illusions of good quality filtration protecting like pin-hole in condom.  Deadly is for long time away, if you know what I mean.
 p.s. Good luck with career writing english text-books for inner-city schools.

 You nailed it Conejo!  Agreeing full-shure illusions of good quality filtration protecting like pin-hole in condom.  Deadly is for long time away, if you know what I mean.
 p.s. Good luck with career writing english text-books for inner-city schools.

I completely agree with the items in this list.

Way too sick!

OK, did I hear someone say PSYCHO?

You wanna know what’s REALLY DUMB??? Somebody who doesn’t know what the picture is on number four!

I have built or repaired more than 1000 computers over the last twenty years.  Sellers usually want too much money for their used computer equipment.  I am selling for it half price, I paid a thousand dollars for it when in fact you could buy an equivalent new computer for four hundred dollars.  Know what your are buying.  Make sure it works perfectly at the garage sale, test every key, every function, picture fills out the screen and looks perfect.  If it is a laptop make sure the battery works lasting at least a couple of hours ($100+ to replace).  Does the seller have the original manufactuer’s disks with drivers and other software or have recovery disks been downloaded?   Personally I carry a boot disk with several tools that I use to evaluate a computer’s health when I attend garage ;and rummage sales or swap meets.  Always make sure you can see the computer working before buying no matter how low the price is.  I am not interested in buying someone else’s electronic waste I have to pay to dispose of.  Never believe what the seller says.  Test it yourself, see it yourself.  Make sure you leave the computer up and running for a long time i.e. hour as some computer components on the motherboard will work fine when cold but after it warms will malfunction which maybe an expensive fix. Just remember the old saying, “Buyer Beware,” rings true with buyer computers and in fact anything electronic.  Happy Holidays from the West Coast.

Excellent advice

You can get a brand-new air mattress at Walmart or Target for $50 … the poor man’s Sleep Number bed.

I think I picked up bedbugs from the plane’s cargo hold.  There were no bugs in my friend’s guest room, but when I got home I suddenly had an infestation of them.

yawn – spoken like a true liberal

Steer clear of used underwear, swimsuits and sex toys too!!

Never buy second hand beer.

Yuck!

I think Archie Bunker put it this way – you can’t buy beer – you only rent it.

I think Archie Bunker put it this way – you can’t buy beer – you only rent it.

Thanks, Jcesser2, I have always wondered if used shoes could cause cancer.

RUBBERS

Waaaaaaaaa. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. So sad!!  What does that have to do with anything? Poverty level?? Your making a huge, stereotyping leap. You sad little judgmental person. You have suceeded in insulting every one who is or was at or below poverty level. Nice.

I agree, but the good fake be sure of TRUE quality be for use to each of the dangers to take very much of filtration to good use of the each time.

Very Well Sprocken….

How about Medical Equipment such as Blood Glucose Monitors and Anti-Coagulation Monitors?  I work in this industry and you would not believe the people who buy these things at garage sales and online like ebay, craigslist, etc.  First they have had blood used in them and pose a potential health risk of the transmission of disease and second they are often outdated models that you can no longer buy the supplies for!  Why else is someone trying to sell them?  Do not be a victim to this supposed “great deal”.  You will regret it! I love a great deal too!  Invest wisely in your health and save the great deals for tools, toys and trinkets!

So basically this article could be entitled, “Hey, Dummy, Don’t Be Stupid!”

That’s until you find out someone punked you and peed in the bottles and recapped them…like I’ve seen done by campus idiots…thinking they were being cute. NOT.

That’s until you find out someone punked you and peed in the bottles and recapped them…like I’ve seen done by campus idiots…thinking they were being cute. NOT.

That’s until you find out someone punked you and peed in the bottles and recapped them…like I’ve seen done by campus idiots…thinking they were being cute. NOT.

they forgot UNDERWEAR…lol

I find that helmets limit my hearing as well. The good thing is that I don’t ride motorcycles or anything like that at all. I usually just wear the helmets in the front room when I watch tv.

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

@heelerx:twitter – How do you read that into what was written? How do you know that poster wasn’t referring to personal experience? How do you know for a fact that bleach wasn’t just one expense too many? Never heard of a stain? Not all of them come out with JUST detergent. Not everybody can afford to throw out (or donate) used clothes (not advising donating underwear, for previously mentioned reasons) and run out and replace everything whenever they need to/feel like it.
I’ve spent my entire adult life below the poverty level. Going by the new level, I’ve never made that much in any TWO years I’ve been employed.
Funny, I don’t feel insulted.
“You sad little judgmental person.”
Why is it that most of the advice that some dispense to others is usually the advice that the some most need to heed?

My sympathy goes to you. I’ve dealt with them before, and to be honest, I’d rather deal with fleas.
Hope you managed to get rid of them.

They burrow in between the mattress proper (the part on which you sleep) and the beading/ropey thing around the edges. They don’t confine themselves to beds, either.
I know of at least one hotel that shut down because the heat treatment didn’t work.

If common sense actually was, this list wouldn’t be necessary.
Nothing on this list surprised me.

…other than, “How sad that people need to be told and can’t figure it out for themselves.”

I certainly agree with what Rabbit said!

I certainly agree with what Rabbit said!

USED RUBBERS

and maybe the friend doesn’t know there’s problems with #1, 2, 3, 5,6, 8 and 9? Quite possible. Don’t mistake cheapness for practicality.

That’s a very sweeping statement. Even if one is at the verified “poverty” level, they don’t have to be relegated to purchasing other peoples junk at garage sales. There are plenty of discount stores out there, you know…and before you accuse me of not having personal experience, I grew up in the projects in a large Midwestern City and my mother made sure we didn’t have to wear stuff from garage “garbage” sales. She took pride in herself and us and made doggone sure we were presentable and she did it on jobs that paid very little!

and how do you know whether or not the writer isn’t just some tightwad who cries poor?

Agree. By the time one has to get the old mattress cleaned or purchases the mattress covers that allegedly prevent bed bug infestations, they’ve spent whatever savings they thought they made. Better to buy newer and better quality in the first place than spend more money trying to fix someone else’s problem.

One can go to a discount shoe place and get better shoes for low cost. Purchasing used shoes from a thrift store or a garage can sometimes be about the same price as payless, and by the time you get done getting heels repaired it actually cost more.

Try not wearing that helmet and you may not live to hear at all.

You must be the cheapest so and so on the planet! I’ll bet your a man living in your mother’s basement because no woman would ever be as chintzy as you sound! Enjoy your lonely horders old age.

Pick your hotel carefully that’s all. If it’s a cheapo roach motel place that charges by the hour, then duh, don’t stay there.

Pick your hotel carefully that’s all. If it’s a cheapo roach motel place that charges by the hour, then duh, don’t stay there.

Pick your hotel carefully that’s all. If it’s a cheapo roach motel place that charges by the hour, then duh, don’t stay there.

Pick your hotel carefully that’s all. If it’s a cheapo roach motel place that charges by the hour, then duh, don’t stay there.

Pick your hotel carefully that’s all. If it’s a cheapo roach motel place that charges by the hour, then duh, don’t stay there.

Unless you are willing to go to the expense of repairing or cleaning used items, you’re better off purchasing them new.

Unless you are willing to go to the expense of repairing or cleaning used items, you’re better off purchasing them new.

Unless you are willing to go to the expense of repairing or cleaning used items, you’re better off purchasing them new.

Unless you are willing to go to the expense of repairing or cleaning used items, you’re better off purchasing them new.

Unless you are willing to go to the expense of repairing or cleaning used items, you’re better off purchasing them new.

This is a no brainer!!

They said extremely personal products that hug the body, which applies to underwear.

Stupid article!!!!

What about pillows, toothbrushes, pacifiers, hairbrushes, OTC medications…shouldn’t these be included?

What about pillows, toothbrushes, pacifiers, hairbrushes, OTC medications…shouldn’t these be included?

What about pillows, toothbrushes, pacifiers, hairbrushes, OTC medications…shouldn’t these be included?

What about pillows, toothbrushes, pacifiers, hairbrushes, OTC medications…shouldn’t these be included?

What about pillows, toothbrushes, pacifiers, hairbrushes, OTC medications…shouldn’t these be included?

What about pillows, toothbrushes, pacifiers, hairbrushes, OTC medications…shouldn’t these be included?

What about pillows, toothbrushes, pacifiers, hairbrushes, OTC medications…shouldn’t these be included?

What about pillows, toothbrushes, pacifiers, hairbrushes, OTC medications…shouldn’t these be included?

What about pillows, toothbrushes, pacifiers, hairbrushes, OTC medications…shouldn’t these be included?

What about pillows, toothbrushes, pacifiers, hairbrushes, OTC medications…shouldn’t these be included?

What about pillows, toothbrushes, pacifiers, hairbrushes, OTC medications…shouldn’t these be included?

The list-makers must have really been having a bad day to come up with this.

The list-makers must have really been having a bad day to come up with this.

The list-makers must have really been having a bad day to come up with this.

The list-makers must have really been having a bad day to come up with this.

The list-makers must have really been having a bad day to come up with this.

The list-makers must have really been having a bad day to come up with this.

The list-makers must have really been having a bad day to come up with this.

The list-makers must have really been having a bad day to come up with this.

The list-makers must have really been having a bad day to come up with this.

The list-makers must have really been having a bad day to come up with this.

The list-makers must have really been having a bad day to come up with this.

The list-makers must have really been having a bad day to come up with this.

The list-makers must have really been having a bad day to come up with this.

Never buy back issues of Reader’s Digest. They’re full of articles like this.

Never buy back issues of Reader’s Digest. They’re full of articles like this.

Never buy back issues of Reader’s Digest. They’re full of articles like this.

Never buy back issues of Reader’s Digest. They’re full of articles like this.

Maybe they’re missing this guy back at the home.

Maybe they’re missing this guy back at the home.

Used condoms, or unused but unwrapped ones. Ya never know.

Used condoms, or unused but unwrapped ones. Ya never know.

The last couple of crib recalls were sponsored by crib manufacturers.

I might say the same thing about helmets.

so, if you can’t afford a new car seat,what do you do?…ou’re full of it!!!

tires have manufacturers date on the side, dont buy anything over 4yrs old, no matter what the tread looks like for example  0506

Not to mention that kids in car seats tend to drool on them and if a child was sick in one there could still be viruses or bacteria on them.

I couldn’t finish this article after the first two IDIOT claims.

How can a bicycle helmet or a baby car seat be involved in an accident and not be readily apparent? YOU CANNOT FIX THE DAAMN THINGS.

This article is another example of letting retarded people pose as journalists.

I couldn’t finish this article after the first two IDIOT claims.

How can a bicycle helmet or a baby car seat be involved in an accident and not be readily apparent? YOU CANNOT FIX THE DAAMN THINGS.

This article is another example of letting retarded people pose as journalists.

WHAT IN MANY MANY CASES THE HELMETS ARE NEVER USED. 2ND IF THE ARE DAMAGED IT WOULD BE OBVIOUS TO SEE . JUST TRYING TO SELL MORE HELMETS . THE STATISTICS DO NOT SUPPORT SECOND HAND HELMETS ARE MORE DANGEROUS THAN NEW

MANY OF THE SHOES SOLD USED HAVE NEVER BEEN WORN OR JUST ONCE WHATS THE DIFFERENCE EXCEPT PRICE YOU STILL NEED TO USE THEM TO SETTLE IN THE FIT

MANY OF THE SHOES SOLD USED HAVE NEVER BEEN WORN OR JUST ONCE WHATS THE DIFFERENCE EXCEPT PRICE YOU STILL NEED TO USE THEM TO SETTLE IN THE FIT

MANY OF THE SHOES SOLD USED HAVE NEVER BEEN WORN OR JUST ONCE WHATS THE DIFFERENCE EXCEPT PRICE YOU STILL NEED TO USE THEM TO SETTLE IN THE FIT

That’s NOT true about helmets.  To say that a helmet is bad because it’s dropped is a load of crap.  This is just legal bullshit to protect from lawsuits and sell more helmets.  

My grandma used to buy underwear. Imagine getting a ‘new’ pair of tidy whiteys, pre stained!!! She is definitely a survivor of the Depression, their generation definitely knows how to get by on less.  

My grandma used to buy underwear. Imagine getting a ‘new’ pair of tidy whiteys, pre stained!!! She is definitely a survivor of the Depression, their generation definitely knows how to get by on less.  

Never buy Readers Digest at Garage Sales
They are probably overpriced and have bedbugs.

 Rabbit actually makes more sense than the article about Garage Sales

Never buy children at 
Garage Sales
Bad bad bad

Never buy children at 
Garage Sales
Bad bad bad

This list is largely intuitive and not particularly helpful.  One I would add that could be helpful are Area Rugs.  Unless it’s a very valuable rug, it will cost more to have it cleaned than it’s worth.  Just go to Target / Crate n Barrel and buy a new one.

This list is largely intuitive and not particularly helpful.  One I would add that could be helpful are Area Rugs.  Unless it’s a very valuable rug, it will cost more to have it cleaned than it’s worth.  Just go to Target / Crate n Barrel and buy a new one.

This list is largely intuitive and not particularly helpful.  One I would add that could be helpful are Area Rugs.  Unless it’s a very valuable rug, it will cost more to have it cleaned than it’s worth.  Just go to Target / Crate n Barrel and buy a new one.

Rabbit-say-what???

these tips sponsored by the retail merchandisers trust, I’m sure.
The reason we buy at garage sales is we cannot afford to buy some things new.
Well-off folks dont get it.

Seriously? This article was obviously written by someone who has never bought secondhand… Stick to what you know.

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.

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………….

LOL. For real.!!!!!

Don’t buy used beds ( germs ,mite and sickness) cause you can’t put the mattress in the washer…

Huh?

Huh?