5 Things You Should Never Buy at a Garage Sale — Where To Get Them Instead
Garage sales can be goldmines, and greatly support the theory that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Furniture, glassware, books, kitschy decor and more can be found for Venmoed pennies on the dollar. However, even the most frugal shopper knows that certain things aren’t a good bargain no matter how cheap they are.
Some items come with safety risks, hygiene issues or hidden costs that make buying used a bad deal, especially when affordable new options are easy to find if you know where to look. Here are things you should never buy at a garage sale, plus where to buy them new instead so you actually save money (and headaches) in the long run.
Check Out: 40 Easy Ways To Save Money Every Day
See Next: Start Growing Your Net Worth With Smarter Tracking
Pillows
A $2 pillow might sound like a steal until you realize what could be inside it. More than just a metaphor for things that can make your skin crawl, these could have bed bugs or dust mites (not to mention mold, bacteria or bodily fluids). Even if they look clean, there’s no way to know their history or sanitation level.
Even if your money worries are keeping you up at night, clean sleep is non‑negotiable. Worry not as you can pick up a great deal online with the premium down alternative pillow from Quince for $39.99 (compared to the original price of $89).
Car Seats and Booster Seats
This one is critical, and the safe bet is never compromising the structural integrity of a used car seat. Even if they look fine at the current garage sale you’re perusing, you cannot verify whether they were involved in a crash, whether internal damage exists or whether parts were recalled or have expired. Also, did you know that they also have expiration dates?
These are essential, so you should definitely buy new. Big-box stores have great sales for big-ticket items like this. For example, Target is having a great Memorial Day sale on the Graco TriRide 3-in-1 convertible car seat, which is normally $199.99 and is currently marked down to $149.99. Safety equipment should come with guarantees, not guesses.
Small Electronics
Garage sale electronics rarely come with return options, or, you know, all the working parts. Testing them on a folding table while the previous owner is watching also isn’t the same as real‑world use to see if the batteries are worn out or there are sneaky safety hazards with the wiring.
That $20 printer is probably not worth the headache of carrying. If you don’t want to jam up your finances later, try something like the HP DeskJet wireless AI-enabled all-in-one inkjet printer with three months of Instant Ink for your home office from Best Buy. It is under $50 ($49.89) and covers all your needs for the foreseeable future.
Bike Helmets
Yes, you wear helmets every day if you’re an avid cyclist, but they are truly only designed to protect you once. After an impact — even a minor one — the internal foam may be compromised, even if the outside isn’t.
Brain protection is not the place to bargain hunt. You can find high-quality options, often on sale, at sporting goods or outdoor retailers like REI. For example, this convoy mips bike helmet.
Cribs
Similar to car seats, soft baby items like cribs, pack-and-plays or bouncers tend not to age well. In fact, many older baby gear or items often fail modern safety standards. Even a gently used crib could be subject to recalls or have worn-out hardware or joints. This, plus the fact that garage sales rarely include instruction manuals or replacement parts means you are better off shopping for budget baby brands else where.
Safety standards change, and babies outgrow risks slower than gear gets outdated. Instead, BuyBuy Baby has plenty of discount options such as this Sorelle Furniture Mia crib for $137.34
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
More From MoneyLion:
