Buying UsedTips for finding secondhand itemsBuying used items, at least sometimes, will save you a fortune over always buying things new. And not only will it keep your wallet laughing, but it will keep the earth laughing as well, since it counts as recycling. Use these tips to find almost anything secondhand. Places to shop for used stuff:
Specialty shops. There are a number of retail shops that cater to buying and selling specific types of preowned merchandise. The good old-fashioned used book store is an example of this type of store, but in recent years, a variety of other stores have popped up that handle other types of merchandise. For example, GameStop is a retailer with more than 6,100 stores that sell both new and used video games, and Play It Again Sports is a chain with more than 350 locations where people can buy, sell or trade sporting equipment. Specialty stores, such as camera shops, bridal shops and jewelry stores, frequently buy and sell used items.Thrift shops. Thrift shops, or "secondhand stores," are the perfect place for buying used stuff of all kinds. They generally carry a wide variety of items, from furniture, to clothes, to housewares. Most will let you try on clothes, and they don't usually sell broken items, so as a rule, if it's on the shelf, it works. But if you find something you want, like a blender, and want to make sure it works, just ask to test it out before you buy. Well-known stores like Goodwill usually have large stores with a huge inventory, but also check out smaller shops, often run by churches or nonprofits. You never know where you'll find a hidden gem! Yard sales. Yard sales (also known as garage sales, rummage sales and tag sales) are like thrift stores - you never know what kind of treasure you'll stumble upon! Anything a person could possibly own, other than real estate, is likely to be for sale at yard sale, and most of the time, the seller is not driving a hard bargain. They want to get rid of everything, and they'd like to do it before lunch. Check out my yard sale shopping tips to get great deals when shopping at one. And if you're thinking of having one, see my tips for hosting a yard sale. Online swap sites. With a yard sale, your neighborhood is your marketplace. Online, the whole world is your marketplace. And a large number of Web sites live to help people with trading, selling and buying used stuff. There are auction sites like eBay that rely on auctions or fixed-price sales, but there are also swap sites, like SwapStyle.com, which lets members trade fashion items, including clothes, accessories, cosmetics and shoes, and Titletrader.com, which enables members to trade books, music CDs and movies. Also, be sure to check Amazon.com when you're looking for something specific. While the initial Amazon listing will be for a new version of the item, the page will also tell you if there are used versions available from other individuals or vendors. Auctions. Auctions are a great place for buying used items at below-market prices, including one-of-a-kind, antique and high-quality pieces. See my page of auction tips to learn about the different kinds of auctions and how to get a deal when you shop at one.
Stuff you should try to buy used:Media. There is no reason for not buying used when it comes to books, textbooks, movies, games and music. What difference does it make if someone else owned it first? It's still the same story, game, song, etc. And when you're tired of it, you can re-sell it or trade it yourself.Cars. Cars are invariably a better deal when bought used. From the moment you drive a car off the new car lot, it depreciates, making the first several thousand miles the most expensive of the car's life. Let someone else pay for those expensive first miles and follow my used car buying tips to find and negotiate the best deal for a preowned car. Clothes. I wouldn't suggest buying used underwear, no matter how many times it's been washed, but does it matter if someone else once wore a shirt you like? Think of secondhand clothes as hand-me-downs. Many resale shops carry good, quality hand-me-down clothes that someone got tired of or outgrew (that's a nice way of saying it). The clothes are often in perfect condition or have only slight flaws, but cost a fraction of what they sold for new.
Wedding dresses. New wedding dresses can cost thousands of dollars. And they get worn once. Smart brides sell their dresses, and even smarter brides buy used dresses to begin with. No one but you will know it's ever been worn by anyone else, and you can use the thousands you save on your honeymoon (or, let's say, a down payment on a house).
What are your tips for buying used?Have you gotten a great deal on something used? Share with your fellow readers what you found, where you found and how you got it for peanuts! Yard Sale Shopping Tips
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Furniture. Think of used furniture as "antique" and suddenly it's way cooler! Actually, vintage furniture is in demand for some decorating styles, but even if you're not going for a shabby chic look, you can find perfectly good pieces that match your decor and cost much less than new pieces. Sometimes people redecorate and get rid of pristine pieces. Sometimes estates donate or auction entire houses full of furniture. Sometimes people move and don't want to move all their big or heavy stuff. Watch classified sites, visit secondhand stores and check yard sales, and remember that if the "bones" of the piece are good, you can refinish or recover most pieces pretty inexpensively.Search this site
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