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18 People Share Things That Are Not Worth It Or Even Dangerous To Buy Secondhand
Article created by: Ilona Baliūnaitė
There are a lot of advantages to buying things secondhand. It’s light on your wallet. It’s eco-friendly. You can stumble upon some truly cool and weird treasures in thrift shops. And there’s a deep sense of satisfaction when you give new life to items that would have otherwise ended up in the junkyard. However, this doesn’t apply to all used objects. Some things are best completely avoided if you ever spot them at a secondhand store!
One redditor started up a very interesting thread on r/AskReddit, asking folks to share their opinions about what they’d never, ever buy secondhand. Their answers were illuminating (with the exception of a few dumb jokes), and you’ll find them as you scroll down, dear Pandas. We’d love to hear what used items you’d be on the fence about getting. Be sure to share your thoughts with all the other readers in the comments!
Bored Panda got in touch with the author of the viral thread, from the UK, and they were kind enough to answer our questions. They noted that for some people, like them, secondhand items can be literal life savers. Read on for our full interview with the redditor.
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#3
Pacifiers.
When I was pregnant, my mother in law gave me a plastic baggie of used pacifiers. She had bought them at a garage sale and told me they'd be fine to use if I just boiled them first. No. Hard pass. They went straight in the trash when I got home.
#5
Twitter.
Binky Melnik 9 months ago (edited)
WTH is “second-hand Twitter”? Someone’s not using his brain. You can’t buy “used apps” as you simply download them from the store, dummy. (Oh: I spose it’s possible the dope replied to the wrong thread, in which case BP are the dummies who grabbed this post.)
#6
Baby carrier or child seat. Only from friends were i can be sure that they are accident free and clean.
#8
My local goodwill sold bathing suits, used bathing suits. Used lingerie too (just the tops), once my big sister was going to buy both but assumed they were new but given to goodwill because the person who bought it ended up not liking it or something. She even asked the lady at the desk about it. When we got to the car she found out both were stained especially the lingerie. You can assume with what.
I could never buy either of those used, especially after that.
#9
Breast pumps. Unless it’s a closed system. When mine were small, most were not closed systems, which allows aerosolized breast milk particles to get places you can’t clean. FDA does not recommend it.
#12
Air Conditioners. I bought one from a thrift store once. I gave it what I thought was a thorough cleaning on the inside. Then, for the next week, I suffered awful flu-like symptoms. Runny nose, headaches, the works. Turns out it was mold poisoning from the AC. Took that unit out and was fine by the next morning. Never going to risk that again.
#13
I never understood the used tire market. I know they’re expensive, but for something that literally separates you from a 70mph fiery death, I’d rather make sure I’m getting ones that are new.
#15
Plunger.
Hard pass. I'll buy it new.
Binky Melnik 9 months ago
WTAF? How hard-up do you hafta be to sell (or buy!) a used item that was $5 new? I’ve seen ‘em in dollar stores.
#16
Medication. It will probably taste a bit nastier.
Binky Melnik 9 months ago
I have NO idea why “it’d taste nastier,” but in poor neighborhoods, where people can’t afford their meds, they’ll happily take others’. I’ve gone without to help sick immigrants. You just walk into a church and hand it to the minister as he knows who needs it. Some of these seem to be urban legends.
#17
Bed sheets. No thanks. Hard pass.
We don't even bother trying to give them away to other people. Best we can do is donate to animal shelters so the furry ones have something soft to snuggle around in.
Binky Melnik 9 months ago
Meanwhile there are people going without sheets and blankets. Please stop with the horror movie ideas. Washers and bleach exist for a reason, and everyone should have sheets and blankets. And I’m not talking about a 20-year-old sheet that’s now just a ribbon of fabric; I mean real, decent, clean sheets. Please don’t stop donating things people need because you have some weird bug up your a*s and are imagining all manner of insane c**p. Poor people deserve bed linens, too. (I miss you, Sonny, even if keeping you in decent bed linens was a bit out of my budget at times. 😞)
#18
Mens pj pants. My husband started to look at some and I said, “nope. no way!” Some men wear pj pants all night and all day with no underwear for days at a time. Like the same pair for multiple days of sitting around the house not showering. Also not to mention teenage boys. I can’t get myself to let my husband buy used ones. It grosses me out.
Binky Melnik 9 months ago
Here’s another one who’s apparently never heard of chlorine bleach and washing machines. If you won’t share your jams out of some imaginary problem, I hafta assume you enjoy laughing at and humiliating someone’s bare a*s.
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