November 4, 2025

Things You Should Always Buy New

With Black Friday and Cyber Monday killer deals popping up later this month, which personal, household and children’s items should you put on your list and always buy new? While solid wood furniture, artwork, and vintage linens are safe and even desirable to purchase with some gentle wear on them, there are other items that experts say we should avoid buying second-hand. Here’s a quick list of things to stand in line for – IRL or digitally – and which to snub.

Health Over Savings

Car seats for the littles are best bought new. Technology improves every year and that’s the biggest reason to spurn used ones. These comfortable little chairs for infants and toddlers are safety devices first and should protect your kiddos from bumps, sudden stops and even a severe impact. 

Another important reason for purchasing new is that once a car seat has been in a car accident, it should be replaced. And how would you know if the one you’re eyeing on Next Door or Facebook Marketplace has never been compromised – unless you happen to know the original owner. Even then, car seats have a life span – typically six to seven years – after being manufactured.

For everything you ever needed to know about car seats, check out the Healthy Children FAQs. And here are several new brands of car seats reviewed by Wirecutter.

Bassinets that were made before 2011 and cribs older than 10 years should be avoided. Babies aren’t in them very long – which is why you’ll see them for resale. Wirecutter reports that the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission now has stricter regulations that require bassinets and cribs to be made of stronger materials than was required for older models. And, even if it’s a trusted family member offering you a used crib, make sure that it’s not one being recalled.

Bike helmets are another item where safety is more important than getting a good deal. Experts warn that there may be unseen cracks or other defects in used helmets that may not withstand another crash. For tips and illustrations about how a bike helmet should fit, look at the guidelines on the National Highway Traffic Safety website. 

Kitchen Items to Avoid 

Wood is porous and an easy hiding place for bacteria so wooden bowls and utensils are best purchased new. Vintage ceramics and leaded crystal made before the 1970s can leach lead into whatever’s put in them. The same goes for dishes with lead-based glaze or paint. The advice we saw is to collect them for charm, not breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Used plastic food containers should be wrapped in caution tape. That’s because any made before 2010 may contain harmful chemicals that are now banned like Bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates – which can also leach into food, especially when heated. That means those cute food containers you got from your grandmother when she downsized into assisted living might be THAT kind. Food safety experts say, when in doubt, throw it out.

While you don’t have to avoid ALL used and hand-me-down pots, pans and cookware, especially those made from stainless steel and cast iron, never buy used cookware with scratched non-stick coating. The chemicals in coatings can leach into your food which is a poor trade-off just to score a bargain. 

Money Digest also recommends avoiding vacuum cleaners, shoes, used car tires and computers, mostly because of their potential unreliability and quality issues.

Buy These items Second-Hand

Lots of quality items can be bought second-hand without fear of a safety issue and with the benefit of saving you money. Some might even prove to be more valuable than then they were originally made – like antique jewelry, old silver quarters and dimes, and other collectibles. For the average consumer, Clark Howard, the finance guru, recommends buying things like movies, CDs, cars, and furniture used – when in great condition or if you’re planning to refurbish. Just know that if it’s a car you’re shopping for, first take a look at Consumer Reports list of used cars to avoid!

Buying New in Looking Glass « Parker

Why buy new in the master-planned community of Looking Glass in Parker? Well, for exactly that reason! The homes here have never been lived in, the rooms never used, the systems are all spanking clean and it will be YEARS before you need to replace or repair major appliances, fixtures and flooring! Check out the beautiful models from Dream Finders Homes (some move-in ready!) and coming soon, Richmond American paired and single-family homes! Find your dream home right here, right now!