| People often buying used things to save money in | | | | (typically over the Internet once installed), the |
| their daily life.. There is no problem in buying used | | | | serial number is no longer usable by anyone else. |
| items but there are some items which should | | | | Mattresses |
| never buy used.. | | | | Think about all that's happened on your bed and all |
| Camera Lenses | | | | that's happened on everyone else's beds. Used |
| SLR camera lenses should never be bought used | | | | mattresses can be filled with bacteria, mites, |
| without a return guarantee or warranty. Lenses | | | | mold, and bodily fluids. Not to mention a mattress |
| are the most expensive part of a camera, | | | | should be replaced every 10 years, and you don't |
| because that's where the quality of your images | | | | know how old a used one is. The place where |
| is determined. One tiny mark or scratch on the | | | | you spend a third of your life should be clean, |
| glass will show up in all your photos. A simple | | | | comfortable, and new. |
| misalignment will cause your photos to be | | | | Plasma TVs |
| chronically out of focus. If you're serious about | | | | When plasma TVs first came out, they had |
| photography, buy high-quality, new lenses. | | | | serious issues with burn in (when on-screen |
| Car Seats & Bicycle Helmets | | | | images physically burned into the screen, leaving |
| Both car seats and bicycle helmets are made to | | | | permanent "ghosting"). Not only do you not want |
| withstand one accident. If you buy them used and | | | | to purchase an early generation plasma TV, but |
| don't know their history, you are putting your life | | | | you want whatever TV you have to come with |
| and your child's life in danger. Safety is not an | | | | an extended warranty. If your screen dies or you |
| area to take a bargain shortcut. Be sure to | | | | have an annoying dead pixel, you'll be thankful for |
| purchase these items new. Unlike bicycle helmets, | | | | the free replacement. |
| other sports helmets (football, skateboard, etc.) | | | | Light Bulbs |
| are designed for continual pounding and don't need | | | | Normal, everyday household light bulbs are cheap |
| to be replaced as often. | | | | enough to not even consider buying used, but light |
| Speakers & Microphones | | | | bulbs for use with photography equipment are |
| Speakers and microphones are sensitive pieces of | | | | relatively expensive. Because the life of photo light |
| audio equipment. Most retailers won't even let you | | | | bulbs is so short (due to the incredible drain put on |
| return them once they leave the store. Blasting | | | | them by photo lighting fixtures), you should stock |
| speakers into oblivion and mishandling sensitive | | | | up on several new bulbs and don't even consider |
| vocal microphones will render the devices | | | | buying them used. |
| practically useless. If you don't want to get stuck | | | | Laptops |
| with buzzing speakers or crackling microphones, | | | | You often can't buy a warranty with a used |
| purchase them new. | | | | laptop, which could come in handy down the road. |
| Tires | | | | Laptop parts can wear out over time, and its |
| Much like car seats, car tires should be considered | | | | battery's life may be drained. It's hard to tell if |
| "one and done" when it comes to accidents. After | | | | liquid has been spilled on the keyboard, or if the |
| the overall trauma caused by a motor accident, | | | | unit has been dropped several times. Given the |
| tires become unstable and unreliable. Don't buy | | | | low price of laptops these days, you're better off |
| used tires, since you won't know whether or not | | | | with a new one. |
| they were taken off a totaled car. | | | | Swimsuits & Lingerie |
| Software | | | | In case it wasn't completely obvious already, don't |
| You should never buy used software, whether it's | | | | buy used swimsuits and lingerie. Not only is it |
| a game or graphics program. Most software | | | | unsanitary, but it's also pretty icky. Do you really |
| comes with a serial number which is used to | | | | want to wonder who was wearing these things |
| activate the software on your computer. Once | | | | before you? |
| this serial number is registered with the company | | | | |