Things You Don't Have To Buy New
Michael Estrin from AskMen.com and Liz Pulliam Weston from MSN Money wrote two articles of the same topic: where used items deliver more value than brand new ones. What makes to the list:
- DVDs/CDs/Games
- Books
- Sporting Goods
- Jewelry
- Toys
- Home/Timeshares
- Cars
- Office Furniture
- Hand Tools
I agree with most of the selections. For example, I haven't bought CD, DVD or books at regular price for more than two years now -- you can almost always get 50% discount or more at eBay. Both of my cars were bought as used, same as my house. My wife and I also have good appetite for garage shopping.
What I cannot agree are two items. First, jewelry. I know the huge markup by jewellers, and I will advocate comparison shopping when it comes to jewelry, but I cannot imagine someone will buy a used engagement ring for his fiancé. Sometimes, it is not all about money.
Second, I am not convinced I should buy tools as used. Yes, a used mower may look and work like new, but how can one know whether it hasn't been repaired before, and whether there are any safety risks. To be a cheapskate, I'd rather buy a factory-reconditioned one (like my desktop computer) instead of risking my life for limited savings.
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I have to disagree on the used tools. I've had only great experiences buying used tools on ebay, and saved hundreds in the process. It's especially worthwile if the brand is reputable, and you can verify that the model being sold is a recent one. I can understand your apprehension with regards to safety, but sticking with solid brand names significantly reduces this risk. For non-power tools, this is certainly not an issue.
Good points. Thank you Erich.
