30 Times People Shared Secondhand Items That Are Either Dangerous To Buy Or Not Worth The Money

Some things are best completely avoided if you ever spot them at a secondhand store!

Maryjane

• Published in Interesting
• December 25, 2022

There are many benefits to purchasing used items. It won't strain your wallet and it's ecologically sound.

Thrift stores are a great place to find some genuinely interesting and unusual finds. And when you give something that would have otherwise ended up in the junkyard new life, you feel a great feeling of satisfaction.

But not all used items fall under this. Some items are better avoided entirely if you ever see them at a thrift shop!

On r/AskReddit, a Redditor created a really intriguing thread asking readers to give their thoughts on items they'd never, ever buy as secondhand. The thread by the Redditor quickly gained popularity.

Over 26k upvotes and more than 18K comments have been given to the OP's post as of the time of writing. It just goes to show how many people enjoy shopping at thrift stores and the environment will greatly benefit from that.

For instance, producing new clothing consumes a lot of water and energy. Additionally, the clothing must then be sent to stores all around the world.

By purchasing used clothing, you essentially extend the life of the item and contribute to a reduction in transportation-related emissions. Not to mention that you are helping out regional companies.

You can find their insightful responses by scrolling down. 

The question is popped

1. "A Helmet. They can only take one good hit."

hermanalexie

2. "Underwear!"

Hyperb0le

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.

youneednewshoes

4. "Sex toys"

The fact that there is even a market for used ones is highly disgusting and disturbing.

DannyDorito96 added:

A vibrator. I worked at goodwill a handful of years ago, and someone donated a "lightly used" body wand. one of our managers decided she wanted it... she hid it where she thought no one would see it.

at the end of the day, me and my coworker watched her take it from her hiding spot and stuff it in her purse before we locked up and walked out together. I couldn't imagine using a pre-owned toy.. I'm assuming she cleaned it before using it at least, but I genuinely wouldn't put it past her to skip that step.

SMG329

5. "Makeup"

Never know what germs or smth they have

iatecake0

6. "Skydiving equipment / climbing equipment / anything safety related"

nofrigginway

7. "Mattress"

lilbittypp

8. "Twitter"

LongTimeHuman

9. Half empty bottles

10. "Baby carrier or child seat. Only from friends were i can be sure that they are accident free and clean"

Justeff83

11. "A Couch"

I used to work at a pest control company, and the #1 thing that brought them in was used furniture, but usually a couch.

Those f***s are terrifying- they hide in tiny cracks and crevasses during the day and then come out to feed on you at night. You don't notice until it's too late. You'll start waking up with itchy bites, see little red sprinkles in the seams of your mattress, and eventually see them.

One single pregnant female on a throw pillow is all it takes. The male stabs the female in the abdomen (literally) one time and she's pregnant for life and off to make your life miserable. Then you have to pay $2500+ for a company to treat them. And if they miss one pregnant female...

Happy_Muscle added:

I know people buy them second hand often, but I find it’s easy to conceal prior spills on certain couches. Most couches are disgusting after a few years of use.

stilettopanda

12. "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.

Guilty-Web7334

13. "I do a bit of outdoor climbing and anytime I see a rope or harness for sale it makes me cringe. Like you need to trust your life to this equipment so spend the extra £30 on it"

flamedown12

14. "Earphones"

paintingsunset

15. "Puzzles"

I couldn't handle not knowing if ONE piece is missing until the end

HellbornElfchild

16. "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.

Sinaskafitch

17. Bathing suits

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.

unkempt-ghoul

18. Tires

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.

SnooEpiphanies2931

19. "A Tesla"

20. "Prosthetics."

No second hand second hands for me

NonCompliantGiant

21. Luggages

22. "Dentures and hearing aids. I have seen used hearing aids for sale"

Helly_BB

23. Paintball

24. "Medication. It will probably taste a bit nastier."

Jabber-Wookie

25. "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.

devilmaycode

26. E-bike batteries

27. "Plunger"

Hard pass. I'll buy it new.

Draknamar

28. Water cooled graphic cards

29. "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.

oxabexo

30. This...

It's generally acceptable to wear, adore, and flaunt an article of clothing as long as it's tidy and clean in general. However, not every object is as accommodating in terms of use.

It's likely that more people will buy and sell used goods to make ends meet if the current economic situation worsens. What secondhand products would you be on the fence about purchasing?

Don't forget to comment below.

Maryjane