| By :
Molly Wider
'Tis the season for great garage sales. Almost every summer weekend will be filled with garages full of people's unwanted and outgrown treasures. Garage sales can be an excellent way to find great deals on household items, garden products and used clothes and toys. While it's common to find such deals, there are a few products and items that one should keep in mind when bargain hunting. There are exceptions to what should be bought new, and what is okay to buy used. Unless it's a family member or your best friend, buying any bedding or mattresses used is a risk. Mattresses are often filled with bacteria, mites, bodily fluids and sometimes even mould. If the mattress has come from a bed-wetting child, it could be filled with dry urine and begin to smell. On average, mattresses are made to last for between eight and ten years. Skipping these at garage sales may be a good idea. Once again, unless they're coming from a friend or family member, buying used tires is not such a good thing. It is difficult to know where they have come from, if they've been in a bad accident or if they are from wrecked vehicle. If so, they will be compromised, resulting in instability and could easily fail when you need them most. We have all read consumer reports and seen the recalls on children's furniture, especially on cribs. A garage sale crib may have been perfect for the previous occupant, but that does not mean it hasn't since been recalled. Another factor to consider is whether or not the crib has been assembled properly, posing a potential safety hazard. It is best to buy cribs new. This rule also applies to car seats. Even though it may appear to be okay, some damage may not show. Keep in mind that you can purchase a new seat for as little as $50. Combine this with the fact that each year, technology improves the safety of child seats, it's advisable to just purchase new. Buying most electronics new is a good idea, but when it comes to laptops, they should always be bought new. Due to their convenient portability, laptops are especially prone to all kinds of wear and tear. As a consumer, you would not know if the laptop has ever been dropped or had liquid splashed or spilled on it. Unless it's been refurbished, it's definitely better to shell out the extra money and buy new. Additional electronics such as digital cameras, DVD players, camera equipment, plasma and HDTVs, and even software programs should all be purchased new for the same reasons as laptops. Garage sales are always a super way to save a few bucks, but buying the wrong items may have you losing money in the long run.
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