20 things you shouldn't buy used
Buying used can save a ton of money. But, in some cases, you risk paying more for repairs than you would pay to buy new. Worse, sometimes buying used carries health or safety risks.
Cribs
Cribs -- especially the drop-side kind -- are frequently on recall lists, and the reasons are pretty terrifying. For example, in April, Nan Far Woodworkingrecalled its drop-side cribs for repair. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said:
"The cribs' drop sides can malfunction, detach or otherwise fail, causing part of the drop side to fall out of position, creating a space into which an infant or toddler can roll and become wedged or entrapped, which can lead to strangulation or suffocation. A child can also fall out of the crib. Drop-side incidents can also occur due to incorrect assembly and with age-related wear and tear."
How do you know if a crib you're eyeing on Craigslist hasn't been recalled? You could check the Consumer Product Safety Commission's list of crib recalls, but you won't know if the crib was sent back for repairs or not. You'd have to take the seller's word for it. It's better to be safe and buy a new crib.
Child car seats
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says child car seats can be safely reused after minor crashes -- if the air bags didn't deploy, no one was injured and the car drove away. But it recommends that car seats be replaced after moderate crashes.
How do you tell the difference between a car seat in a minor crash, one in a moderate crash and one that wasn't in a crash at all? You probably can't. The damage could be internal and not visible. Don't risk it. Buy a new one.
Helmets
In a crash, the thick foam inside a helmet absorbs shock and protects your head. After a crash, the helmet may look fine, but it often has breaks or tears in the foam. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeonsrecommends replacing a helmet after any crash, even a minor one. Otherwise, the helmet might not protect you in the next crash.
Laptops
If you take great care of a laptop, it can last through years of heavy use.
But you can't know how other people treat their stuff. Maybe the laptop’s previous owner dropped it, spilled coffee on it or otherwise damaged it.The laptop could work great at first but break down after you take it home.
Video cameras 
Mattresses
A used mattress can come with a lot of extras you don't want -- dead skin cells, bacteria, hair and every other gross thing you could imagine. It might also have bedbugs. The bugs are such a growing problem that Terminix has released a list of the top 15 cities for infestation.
If you bring a bedbug-infested mattress into your house, you'll pay a hefty fee to an exterminator.
Shoes
Used shoes may have been great for the original owner, because they've conformed to his or her feet. They might not be so great for you. Used shoes that don't fit just right can lead to foot or leg pain or back problems.
Makeup
I see makeup at almost every garage sale I go to, but I'd never buy any. Cosmetic brushes and wands come into contact with skin and can't be cleaned very well. A barely used tube of lipstick might be hosting illness-causing bacteria. Considering that drugstores and beauty shops regularly run makeup sales, risking your health isn't worth the savings.
Plasma TVs and HDTVs
Old tube-style TVs held up a lot better than modern flat screens do. WhileMSNBC says TVs cost an average of $500 to repair, the repair costs run much higher for plasma screens and for more complicated issues. Even at the lower end, it may be more cost-effective to buy a new TV under warranty than a used one.
Hats
The inside of that hat could be brimming with someone else's dead skin, hair, or worse -- lice. Head licefeed on blood and cause itchy and painful reactions in the scalp. The tiny bugs also travel quickly to other people and your stuff.
Swimsuits
Swimsuits hug the body and can transmit bacteria. They're also fragile. If the washing instructions aren't followed, the straps might rip or the swimsuit might lose its shape. So you could be buying something that falls apart after only a few uses.
Vacuum cleaners
Vacuums can be subjected to a lot of wear and tear, which can lead to costly repairs. Considering you can buy a new vacuum for less than $100, it isn't worth the risk to buy a used one.
Tires
Edmunds.com warns that old or used tires can pose a safety risk. As tires age, they lose elasticity. As a result, the tread could separate from the tire, causing an accident. Even if the tire isn't old, it could have been treated poorly. You can't tell a tire's condition from the tread alone, so don't buy a used one just because it looks good.
Software
Software comes with a product code, and most software manufacturers put a limit on the number of times you can reload it. When you buy software used, you have no way of knowing how many times the product code has been used. For example, if the code has a three-time limit and the original owner used it twice, you'll be able to load the software onto only one computer.
DVD players
DVD players often cost more to repair than to replace. For example, a friend of mine took her DVD player to a repair shop because the DVDs wouldn't load. The repair shop told her she'd need a new DVD drive tray. The repair would've cost $55. She bought a new one for less.
Stuffed animals
Because stuffed animals have a fabric surface, bacteria and dirt are absorbed into the fibers. Do you really want your child playing with a teddy bear -- and possibly chewing on it -- if you don't know where it's been?
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