How Long Does It Take to Get Your Money Back From a Returned Item

10 Items You Should Never Buy Secondhand — Even If It's Going To Cost You Big Money

Saving money is great, but not at your personal expense.

Car Seats

Nonstick Cookware

Finding what seems to be a good, used nonstick pan for sale for less than $10 may be a deal you're not willing to pass up — but you still should. Until 2013, Teflon — a nonstick coating — was made with the suspected carcinogen perfluorooctanoic acid. And while most manufacturers no longer use PFOA, nonstick cookware isn't normally date-stamped, so it could be difficult to determine if a used piece is safe or not. If you want a nonstick pan, you'd be better off paying around $40 for one that's PFOA free.

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Vacuums

While you can find used vacuums for under $30, you can also find a new one for as little as $60. And when someone is selling a used vacuum, you have to wonder why. Simply put, it's a tool, and if it works, why get rid of it? Vacuums suck up all kinds of things including dust, toenail clippings, animal dander and dead bugs. They can also develop suction issues or accumulate hair and other debris on their brush rollers. While you may be able to take a used vacuum apart and clean it to bring it back to life, isn't it worth the extra $30 not to?

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Baby Cribs

Secondhand baby cribs can be found at thrift stores, garage sales and listed online for as little as $40. Meanwhile, a new baby crib costs at least $100 for an economy model. But saving $60 or more by buying a used baby crib can be risky. Cribs are subject to recalls, which you won't likely know about as a secondhand owner. For example, a crib made before 2011 could be a drop-side model, which is no longer considered safe by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. A used crib could also have loose or weakened parts. Loose pieces could be a choking hazard, and weakened parts of the crib could fall apart, putting your baby in a dangerous situation.

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Mattresses

You can expect to spend around $1,000 for a brand new, comfortable and supportive mattress, which could tempt you to consider buying one that's used. If you look online, you can find used pillowtop king-size mattresses for as little as $150, which could save you $850 dollars. But mattresses don't last forever — only about seven to 10 years — so if you're buying used, you run the risk of bringing home a mattress that has diminished in quality over time. If that's not enough to convince you, used mattresses can also harbor dust mites, mold or bacteria (like E. Coli) from the previous owners.

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Tires

Buying new tires can put a strain on your wallet. You can expect to pay $80-$170 for an all-season tire, while you could get a used tire for around $30. But buying used comes with plenty of risk. Tires are one of the most important parts of a car, as they provide the vehicle's traction. When they have been used for an extended period, their tread wears down and can lead to an accident in wet weather conditions. Plus, used tires can have sidewall weathering from excessive UV exposure, low inflation or lack of use, which can result in hairline cracks in the tire that you may not notice.

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Laptops

If you're desperate for a laptop and it's not in your budget to buy new, you may turn to the used market, which can be a big mistake. Yes, it's true you can save money. In fact, used laptops can be found online for little more than the shipping cost, while new ones of the same brand start between $500-$700. A used laptop, however, could have problems that prevent you from using it as expected, such as a virus, hardware issues or a weak battery. Plus, you won't have the option to claim the repairs on a warranty, which means you'll have to spend even more money on something that may not even work.

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Helmets

Blenders

It's no secret that a new blender can be expensive — a mid-range model can cost $75-$150 — which makes a used one seem like a bargain at around $25. However, one of the main things that makes a blender useful is its blades, and years of use could have worn them down. It's also possible that you'll buy a blender with missing or broken parts, which means it won't work at all.

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Speakers

You can save 50% or more on high-end used speakers. Yet, buying used speakers can put you at a financial disadvantage. The speakers may look perfectly fine on the outside, but it's the inner components that can be compromised. Unless the seller allows you to plug in the speakers and listen to them until you're satisfied, you won't know what kind of abuse they may have suffered.

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How Long Does It Take to Get Your Money Back From a Returned Item

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