Consumer Reports offers a buyer beware warning as you’re looking for ways to make ends meet. No doubt there are deals to be had at garage sales, but while you’re picking out items for pennies on the dollar, CR warns there are a few items you should never buy second-hand.
Take battery-powered lawn tools. The product should come with the charger, extra batteries, and the manual if the seller still has it.
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“The most important thing you want to know is the age of the tool,” said Consumer Reports Home Editor Paul Hope.
For mowers, many riding mowers have an hour meter. So, you’ll know exactly how many hours it has been on the job. Don’t just examine the mower, size up the yard.
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“If you’re buying a mower from someone who has a ton of trees and not much grass, you might get a great deal because that mower might not have been used all that much,” Hope said.
The voluntary safety standard for walk-behind and ride-on mowers is ANSI/OPEI B71.1-2003. The Consumer Product Safety Commission says that if you are shopping for a mower, a label certifying that the mower or garden tractor meets the 2003 ANSI B71.1 standard indicates that the machine has these safety features.
If you have children, you know that yard sales can be a great way to get what you need without breaking the bank -- but you still have to be careful that the gear you get for your baby is safe!
“While it’s illegal to sell recalled products, including on the second-hand market, people might not be aware of the law, or may not realize the product they’re selling has been recalled,” explained Emily Thomas, the manager of Auto Safety at Consumer Reports’ Auto Test Center.
And it’s not uncommon to find recalled infant sleepers and other products. Cribs with drop-down sides are another dangerous item to never buy. These have been linked to dozens of infant deaths and were banned in 2011. Even parents planning on using newer cribs still need to be careful.
“Sometimes a used crib may be passed on to you disassembled. You won’t know if there’s missing hardware unless you have the assembly instructions,” warned Angela Lashbrook, a senior reporter at Consumer Reports.
Thomas says used car seats are also problematic.
“Buying used car seats is not a good idea because there’s a lot you won’t reliably know about the seat, including its crash history,” she said.
Consumer Reports says if you’re still considering a used car seat that has no broken or missing parts and you know hasn’t been in a crash, you’ll want to check the seat’s expiration date on the label and in the owner’s manual, as well as search for any open recalls on the model. You can find the model number on the seat’s manufacturer label.
If cost is a concern and you need help getting a safe car seat, crib, or other baby necessities, some area nonprofits may be able to help.
And be careful about buying old used toys. A safe battery compartment will have a screw.