From Bedding to Wetsuits, Don't Buy These Pre-Owned Items

Bedding (Sanitation)  Mattresses are no good after 8-10 years – they're lumpy and misshapen. They, along with other bedding, also offer other people's body fluids, bacteria, molds, and mites. Eewww!

Bike Helmets (Safety) Did you know that bike helmets are not meant to be used after their first accident? Now you do. If the helmet has already been in an accident, it won't protect you, if you have one. And damage to used helmets is often hard to detect.

Camera Lenses (Durability) A single lens reflex (SLR) is the most expensive part of a camera. Of course, you won't see the defect until you take your first picture. No matter how small, it will always show up.

Cribs (Safety) At least once or twice a year it seems another style of baby crib is being recalled, and it's hard to keep up. If you put your baby to bed in a used crib, the child may never wake up. Be careful of other kids furniture, too.

DVD Players (Durability) Players have lasers that eventually wear out. If you buy a used one, you have no idea how soon that will be. Laser repair can cost more than a new unit. Duh!

Hats (Sanitation) If you must have that old chapeau hanging in the back of the thrift store, take it to a cleaner who specializes in cleaning and blocking hats. After all, you could also be buying skin infections, sweat stains, crummy hair care products, and other icky stuff.

Infant Seats (Safety) Here again, don't compromise your kid's safety. It's hard to keep up with the endless recalls on these products, too. Safety seat technology improves every year. And, for gosh sakes, a new seat's only going to run you about fifty bucks.

Laptops (Durability) Here again, you could just be buying trouble. No telling where a laptop has been or what it's been through. Heaven only knows what could be on the hard drive, like viruses, or porn you just don't want to see. Plus, you're missing out on the warranties and tech support you get with a new one.

Makeup (Sanitation) This is another one of those products that has a high Eewww! factor. Makeup is a breeding ground for bacteria and any number of skin diseases. In fact, you should beware of the sample stations at department store and pharmacy cosmetic counters.

Microphones and Speakers (Durability) Another pre-owned rip-off. Don't bother with them unless they're free. And even at that, are they going to ruin whatever you use them with? And new ones aren't that expensive nowadays.

Pet Items (Sanitation) Old stains, old odors, old pet care products, icky hair, ickier bugs! Just forget it. Any pet product should be bought new. They're not that expensive anyway and your pup or kit deserves the best.

Plasma and HDTV's (Durability) Once again, how long has it been used? It is going to go PPPFFFTTTZZZ! in the middle of The Big Game? And repair often costs as much as a new one.

Shoes (Sanitation) They better fit really well or you'll end up ruining your feet, your posture, your health. Also, feet may be waaaay down there, but they're still your feet. Would you want to play footsy with the last person who wore them?

Software (Durability or Rip Off) Everybody knows that once a serial number has been used for installation, it's kaput. And you can't get updates either. Usually a bad cost-cutting strategy. Plus, do you like ripping off the code warrior/artists who created it?

Tires (Safety) Was that tire in a wreck? It may be a tire you wouldn't want to ride your life on. And it's not really wise to buy only one or only three tires. Throws your car out of whack.

Vacuums (Durability) You can be sure this appliance has seen a rougher life than any other home care item. And repairs aren't cheap. Plus, it's been sucking up other people's filth.

Video and Digital Cameras (Durability) Cameras of all kinds lead a rough life, because they're used where the action is. It may not be obvious that it's been dropped or banged around, but once you're aware of the damage, it's too late, and repair won't be cheap. And, you'll miss that great action shot!

Wetsuits (Durability) Unless the previous owner only wore it to kinky parties, you're better off buying new. If used by a bona fide scuba diver, the constant change in water pressure will have started to wear it thin already, and prone to tear. Glub, glub, glub!

Sure, it's great to be green and recycle stuff, but you can take it too far!