This “ 11 Things To Never Buy At Garage Sales “ post explains the products that author thinks the readers may consider not purchasing at yard sales. These items can or will post safety and sanitary issues to the product users.

 And then, it is spring season again. It’s the time of the year when bargain hunting skills are put to use, that is, skills in getting the best deals from yard sales. My wife has cleaned our apartment may be because she wants to make room for new stuff or she just wants to clean.

According to the Statistic Brain, there are around 165,000 garage sales in the U.S. every week. In addition, the statistic states that the total U.S. weekly garage sales revenue stands at $4.2 million.

My wife and I like to shop at yard sales. We get to buy not-so-new stuff for way cheaper prices. If we get lucky, we get to buy new, unopened products for yard sale prices. Yes, we were fortunate in the past to buy products that were unused. I hope we’re lucky again this year.

My wife and I have reserved a portion of our monthly miscellaneous budget towards this season. We are talking about $75 for the spring season. We call this time of the year our shopping season. In the past, we spent around $60 and got products that were worth in excess of $600. This is the time of the year that we get to utilize our negotiation skills and/or put them to the test.

Things To Never Buy At Garage Sales

We buy products that range from used clothing for me (I don’t like buying at the sticker prices) to room displays. She really likes products that make the apartment look beautiful and I like to do woodworking. I always on the lookout for solid pieces of furniture, which are getting sold for a fraction of what they originally cost.

Having said all these, there are some products that we never buy no matter how cheap they are. We don’t buy t them primarily due to sanitary and safety concerns. Here are some of the products that we stay away from. You may also want to take note of these when shopping at yard sales.

Never Buy At Garage Sales #1: Mattress

Mattress is one of those items that are really expensive to buy at sticker price. You may be tempted to buy used mattress. Take the high road and resist from buying at yard sales. You don’t know if there are bed bugs in that mattress. If you buy one, then, you may also be looking at issues about mold, bacteria, and bodily fluids, all of which aren’t nice to hear. It’s just unsanitary, to say the least.

The only time I would buy a used mattress is if it’s coming from my family. But then again, I won’t need to buy it because I’m just going to ask them to give it to me for free.

Never Buy At Garage Sales #2: Used running shoes

Shoes are used to protect your feet, legs, or your lower extremities. When you buy used running shoes, you are buying shoes that are worn out and have less cushion for support. You are better off buying a new pair of shoes for your own safety. Plus, these shoes have remnants of too much sweat, bacteria, and among others that are unpleasant to your health.

Never Buy At Garage Sales #3: Baby bottles

I’ve seen a lot of people selling baby bottles at yard sales. May be it’s just me but I wouldn’t be comfortable with the idea that my child would use used baby bottles. Again, it’s probably me thinking about sanitary issues. As of June 2012, FDA no longer accepts those bottles as safe. You’ll never know if those bottles contain chemical BPA, which is present in most old bottles.

Never Buy At Garage Sales #4: Car seat

I have to admit that we bought a used car seat a couple of years ago. Fortunately, we didn’t use it for our baby. When I was looking at the car seat, I saw an expiration date and found that the car seat was already expired. We were new parents and didn’t know better (I guess that’s my excuse). You should consider not buying a car seat at yard sales because you don’t know if it has been in accidents before.

You surely are better off buying a new one and pay more if it means safety for your kid. Plus, car seat technology really improves each year. This means that new and safer car seats come out year after year.

Never Buy At Garage Sales #5: Other baby gear

Other gear such as the ones above, cribs, and playpens may not have the safety features as the new ones out in the market. Using old models of baby gear may be harmful to your kids. Aside from the above mentioned gear, you may consider staying away from purchasing plastic toys as they may contain hazardous materials to your kids.

Never Buy At Garage Sales #6: Tires

You may be tempted to buy tires at a yard sale because they’re probably way cheaper than when you buy new ones. Tires that have been in accident tend to lose their reliability and stability.  Even when the seller tells you that the tires have never been in accidents, you really aren’t sure if you can trust such statement without looking into the car history.

Better buy new tires when they are on sale not buy them at yard sales.

Never Buy At Garage Sales #7: Bike Helmets

According to Bike Helmet Safety Institute (BHSI), helmets such as bike helmets need to be replaced after they have been in accidents. You may not see the damage the accidents caused to these helmets. It is best to not purchase these at yard sales even when the sellers claim that they are new or unused ones. You’d be surprise about how many new and safe helmets are in the marketplace that are affordable.

Never Buy At Garage Sales #8: Upholstered furniture

Like mattresses, upholstered furniture can house a ton of bed bugs and fleas and may also contain stains and odors from unknown sources.

This doesn’t mean that you clearly stay away from buying upholstered furniture. If you are ever going to strip the upholstered furniture and reupholster it, then, buying such furniture may be reasonable and safe.

Never Buy At Garage Sales #9: Makeups

Unless you are certain that the products are new and were recently manufactured, you may want to stay away from buying makeups at yard sales. If you ever think of buying used ones, you may want to re-consider your desire because you may not or don’t know who used the products before.

Aside from the sanitary issue, makeups have expiration dates. It goes to say that their quality lessens overtime.

Never Buy At Garage Sales #10: Electronics

Electronics are expensive. If you think of buying them at yard sales, you may hold that idea and re-consider.  Technology changes constantly and a lot of electronics sold at yard sales are close to becoming outdated. Instead of buying them at yard sales, you can always go to brick and mortar stores and online stores, thus, giving you a greater chance at getting electronics at a better deal especially during holiday seasons. You’d be surprise that there are electronics that cost way cheaper than those sold at yard sales.

Never Buy At Garage Sales #11: Underwear and lingerie

I really don’t have to explain this, right? Enough said.

Conclusion:

The next time you go to yard sales, you may consider staying away from the products that can post sanitary, health, and safety issues to you. Have you ever bought something at yard sales that you eventually realized you shouldn’t have bought in the first place? Please live your comments below.