Buying used can save real money, but not every used item is a good deal. The best purchases are items where the condition is easy to inspect, the safety risk is low, and any repairs or missing parts are manageable. The worst ones are items where the critical damage is invisible.
Good Things To Buy Used
Often-good used categories include:
- Solid wood furniture (tables, dressers, bookshelves)
- Basic hand tools and power tools from known brands
- Exercise equipment like dumbbells, benches, or stationary bikes
- Books, games, and media
- Some kitchen items like cast iron pans, stand mixers, and Dutch ovens
- Kids’ clothes, which are often outgrown before they wear out
- Office chairs, especially mid-range or higher brands
- Bikes, if inspected carefully for frame damage and worn components
- Simple appliances from trusted sellers with working demonstrations
- Musical instruments from reputable sources
- Name-brand clothing in good condition
The common pattern: you can inspect the item and understand what could be wrong. A solid wood dresser either has scratches you can see or it doesn’t. A cast iron pan is either seasoned and intact or it isn’t. The condition is right in front of you.
Be Careful With Safety Items
Avoid or be very cautious with:
- Car seats, which may have been in a crash even if they look fine
- Bike helmets, which can have invisible structural damage
- Mattresses, for hygiene and pest reasons
- Cribs with unknown history or older models that may not meet current safety standards
- Medical devices that require calibration or may have degraded
- Electrical items with any visible damage to cords or housing
- Tires with unknown age or condition
Some items just aren’t worth the risk if you can’t verify their history. A car seat that was in a crash may look identical to one that wasn’t. Manufacturers recommend replacing them after any crash, even with no visible damage.
Check The Real New Price
Some used sellers ask nearly new prices. Before buying, check:
- Current retail price at major retailers
- Sale price (items go on sale regularly)
- Shipping cost if buying new online
- Warranty coverage (often voided on used items)
- Return policy (often not available used)
- Missing parts or accessories that would need to be purchased separately
Used should be meaningfully cheaper unless the item is rare, collectible, or genuinely hard to find in good condition. A used item at 85% of the new price usually isn’t worth the loss of warranty and return protection.
Inspect Before Paying
Check:
- Physical damage like cracks, dents, or bent parts
- Missing parts, accessories, or hardware
- Smells, especially mold, smoke, or pet odors
- Stains or fabric damage
- Rust on tools, joints, or metal components
- Battery health on electronics (check the battery settings menu if possible)
- Serial numbers, when relevant for warranty or theft history
- Whether it turns on and works through all its main functions
For electronics, test every major feature before paying, not just that it powers on. For furniture, press on the joints and check for signs of pests. For bikes, check the brakes, shifters, and chain. For clothing, look at seams, zippers, and wear spots.
Where To Buy Used
Different platforms work better for different items:
- Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist, local pickups, good for furniture and large items you can inspect in person
- eBay, wide selection, buyer protections, good for electronics and collectibles
- Poshmark, ThredUp, Depop, clothing, verified by sellers, photos required
- OfferUp, local, has in-app buyer ratings
- Goodwill, thrift stores, furniture, kitchen items, clothing, books
- Habitat for Humanity ReStores, building materials, appliances, furniture
For expensive items, prefer platforms with buyer protection. For smaller items, local pickup lets you inspect in person before paying.
Meet Safely
For local marketplace purchases:
- Meet in a public place when possible, a parking lot, coffee shop, or store entrance
- Bring someone with you for larger purchases or higher amounts
- Avoid carrying more cash than needed for the transaction
- Trust your instincts if something feels off
- Don’t share unnecessary personal information like your home address
- Never feel pressured to complete a purchase on the spot
Some police departments offer designated safe exchange areas in their parking lots. Worth checking if your area has one.
Know When To Buy New
Buy new when warranty, safety, hygiene, or reliability matter more than the savings.
Used is not automatically frugal. A cheap item that fails quickly is just delayed spending. The real question is whether the savings hold up when you account for the full cost of using the item.
The best used purchase is the one that still works well after the excitement of the deal wears off. Buying used pairs well with the broader idea in Cheap vs Expensive: When Paying More Saves Money: sometimes a used quality item beats a new cheap one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are the best things to buy used?
Solid wood furniture, cast iron cookware, basic tools, name-brand clothing in good condition, books, and exercise equipment are consistently good used buys. The key is that you can inspect the condition and understand what failure looks like before purchasing.
Q: What should you never buy used?
Car seats and bike helmets are the most commonly cited items because damage that affects safety can be invisible. Mattresses are often avoided for hygiene reasons. Electrical items with any cord or housing damage are a fire risk. Cribs with unknown histories may not meet current safety standards.
Q: How do I know if a used price is fair?
Check the current new price first. Then factor in whether the warranty is gone, whether parts are missing, and what condition the item is actually in. A fair used price is typically meaningfully lower than new. How much lower depends on the item type and condition, but a used item at 70–80% off new is different from one at 10% off.
Q: Is buying used on Facebook Marketplace safe?
It can be, but take precautions. Meet in a public place, bring someone with you for expensive items, test the item before handing over money, and don’t share personal information beyond what’s needed. Trust your instincts. If a deal or a person feels off, it is fine to walk away.
Learn More
- FTC: Shopping for a Better Deal
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: Managing money day to day