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Garage sale finds you’re better off skipping

Garage sales can be great for bargains, but some secondhand finds may come with hidden safety, hygiene or quality concerns

Garage sales can feel like treasure hunts. For a few dollars, you might find a piece of furniture, a kitchen gadget or something you’ve been looking for at a fraction of the original price.

But a low price doesn’t always mean you’re getting a good deal. Some items sold at garage sales can have problems that aren’t obvious at first glance. Others may be difficult to clean, impossible to verify or simply worn out from years of use.

Plenty of secondhand items, however, can be worthwhile, particularly when you can inspect them carefully and understand what you’re buying. The bigger concern is with products where a previous accident, hidden damage, age or personal use could affect their safety or usefulness.

There’s also a difference between something that looks a little worn and something that has reached the end of its practical life. A scratched piece of furniture might be an easy fix. A helmet with an unknown history is another story. 

Reader’s Digest highlights several categories that you may want to approach cautiously at garage sales, from safety equipment to personal items and electronics. Some are probably best left behind altogether, while others may simply require more careful consideration before you hand over your cash.

If you love the thrill of finding a bargain, you don’t have to give up garage-sale shopping. Just know which deals might not be worth the gamble.

1. Skip used helmets when you can’t verify their history

Bady Abbas / Unsplash

A helmet might look perfectly fine sitting on a garage-sale table, but its appearance doesn’t........

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