The first thing to consider is how you will get any purchased items home. If you do not have access to a vehicle capable of hauling large items it is probably not wise to invest in those things.
The next thing to consider is whether you will have the storage space for a particular item. Any individual will be happy to rid their home and garage of unwanted things. Moving clutter from their garage to yours is not a good idea though. It would be pointless to purchase something that will be dumped in your own garage and never used. Try to only purchase items that you know you have an immediate use for.
Just about anything you could ever want can be found while rummaging. Clothes, toys, appliances, and exercise equipment are just a few of the things available. Generally there is nothing wrong with the items being sold. There are just some items that should be bought new. Below are outlined five items that should never be bought while rummaging.
Item to Avoid #1: Child car seats
It is likely very tempting to purchase a safety seat on the cheap. Car seats can be quite expensive when bought brand new. Also, a child can quickly outgrow the chair within a matter of months. Most people are unaware, however, that child safety seats expire. Safety specifications and requirements are constantly being updated in order to make the chair as safe as possible. The safety of your child is certainly worth the few extra dollars for going new.
Item to Avoid #2: Laptops
Just because a laptop turns on does not mean it is capable of performing other expected actions. It is very difficult to tell how much life a computer will have to the untrained eye. One can never be sure of the contents of the hard drive and there is also viruses/spam to consider. It is not a good idea to purchase a used laptop from a private owner.
Item to Avoid #3: Plasma Television
Finding a plasma television may seem like a tremendous find. There are a couple of things to consider prior to making this purchase though. Plasma televisions are very susceptible to „screen burn-in“ or image retention. If the same picture remains on the screen for too long it will be permanently visible on the screen. Also, this type of television will lose luminosity/image brightness over time. These are things that would probably go unnoticed until the television is set up in your home.
Item to Avoid #4: Mattresses
Any mattress will be full of dead hair and skin cells from the previous owners’ body. There has also been a rise in the number of bed bug cases across the U.S. For those reasons, it is best to purchase new when springing for bedding.
Item to Avoid #5: Shoes
Shoes can serve as a breeding ground for various fungus and bacteria. Fungi can easily be spread simply by wearing shoes that have gotten wet from water or perspiration. It is impossible to tell what exactly an individual used a particular pair of shoes for. Stick to department stores when shopping for shoes.