UsedEverywhere.com

5 Items to Avoid Buying Used?

With so many different products available on our network of Used.com sites, I thought it might be interesting to discuss a few items you might want to avoid or at least exercise caution when you’re shopping.

Helmets

With any personal safety item, you have to consider its history. If the foam inside of a helmet is damaged, it needs to be replaced (and that won’t be visible to the new owner). The helmet doesn’t even have had to be an accident to be unsafe. If it’s been dropped or thrown, it can be damaged. So, while it’s a perfectly good idea to buy a used bike/motorcycle or skateboard, buying a new helmet would be a safer bet!

Make-Up

Even make-up that has only been used a few times can be a breeding ground for bacteria. In general, it’s not a good idea to share make-up (even with your closest friends) because you could expose yourself to pink eye or cold sores. If cost is an issue, there are a lot of websites that will teach you how to make your own beauty products. So unless the ad specifies that the products are new or unopened, used make-up is just not worth the risk.

Laptops

Buying electronics second-hand is a great idea, but you want to exercise caution. You have to be especially careful with laptops given their purpose (they are built to be transported). As a consumer, you have no idea how that used laptop has been treated in the past (was it bumped around or did the previous owner allow it to overheat?) Computers can also contain of a lot of sensitive information, so as a seller, you’d want to be 100% certain that your information had been completely wiped. If you’re really lucky, some used laptops are still under warranty. If not, take some time to get to know the seller. Ask lots of questions, and if you feel uncertain, walk away.

Lingerie

Given lingerie is such a personal/intimate purchase I would steer clear of buying used. While lingerie can be washed, many pieces are made of delicate materials and heavy duty washing (hot, soapy) is not recommended. Size is also a potential issue (we all know that there is no such thing as a standard size). And then there is the hygiene concern. You do not know the past of the used item and whether it has been cared for to your standards.

 Car Seats

There have been new regulations published by Transport Canada updating the safety standards for car seats and booster seats bought and sold in Canada. Check out our blog post with more information or you can review the regulations on the Transport Canada website and by calling Health Canada 1-866-662-0666.

Do you feel there are other products you should avoid buying used?

Adventures in Consignment

I visited my first maternity consignment shop today and overall, I was impressed.  I’m not a huge fan of shopping in general. I’ve always wished we could all just wear uniforms (clearly, I don’t have much appreciation for fashion). Luckily, I work from home so I can spend a lot of time in ‘comfy things’.

While I considered shopping online for used maternity clothes, we don’t have a car and given I like to try things on- that didn’t seem like a viable option. So, a-consignment shopping we went.

Consignment Store

Here are my tips for how to have a successful consignment experience:

Don’t settle. If you don’t love something, put it back. Don’t buy it just because it’s a good deal. I almost did that with several items (it’s only $9!). Without a little discipline, I would have ended up spending way more money and not liking half the things that I bought.

Give yourself lots of time. I spent an hour shopping when normally I’m in and out of a store in 20 minutes. It takes time to sift through the racks looking for deals, so make sure you allow yourself enough time.

Dig. I found all the items I bought where they shouldn’t have been (in the wrong size sections, tucked away in a pile on the shelf etc.).

Have a plan. Ideally, it would be good to know what you are looking for. Then if you’re dealing with a large store you can just stick to the sections you’re interested in.

If it smells, put it back.  I tried on a few things that smelled a little ‘funky’. That didn’t lend itself to a positive shopping experience, so back on the rack they went.

Do a search online.  A lot of consignment stores have Facebook groups where they advertise new items, sales or other information. The store I visited allows people to put a hold on things that they see and like on Facebook.

Visit often. People are bringing new items in daily so try to make regular trips for the best finds. Just while I was in the store, two women dropped off clothes.

I managed to get a great pair of jeans, a long shirt and a brand new t-shirt all for $36! And, I must say, it was a much more enjoyable experience compared to my first mall maternity store trip. That day, I bought one pair of jeans for $70 and I left because I couldn’t find a shirt I liked for under $30. Yikes.

Consignment Finds!

Happy Hunting! I’d love to hear about your consignment experiences and any stores you love or ideas.

It Takes a Village to Support a Pregnant Woman

As it sometimes happens in life, this week’s “lesson” presented itself with a strong theme.

I had my first appointment with my midwife this week. I was really hopeful that she would take me on as a patient because I would like to have a natural, drug-free birth and I want the extra care and attention through my pregnancy and labour.

15 weeks pregnant

I explained to her that we have recently moved back to Halifax from Vancouver (but we’re originally from Edmonton). We made the decision to move back to Halifax partly because it was a much more realistic and affordable place for us to live the life we wanted (house, travel etc.). But, it was a challenging decision because it meant moving 6,000 kms away from our support base – our families and our lifelong friends. Granted, we already lived “away” but it was a reasonable drive (occasionally). I also explained that my need for extra care also stems from the fact that I lost my mom to cancer when I was 16, so I wasn’t going to have her along for the journey. Kelly spent the majority of the appointment talking about the importance of building a strong support network through my pregnancy (and beyond). She talked about how it was one of the key ways to stay emotionally healthy and strong and she gave me some homework. I had to think about my support network and consider how to bolster it in the next few months.

And just like that, I met my first new pregnant friend in Halifax. I have always enjoyed (and required) a large social circle. I love making friends and having lots of friends is important to me. I have some amazing friends in Halifax but I’m the first in our group to venture into motherhood. I also have a great network of friends in Edmonton who are moms (and have been great virtual support). But, I think it’s important to make a few friends who I can bore to death with the details of my pregnancy (and eventually, my baby) in person. One gold star.

Friends with babies

I have not completed my goal of finding a regular outing that involves pregnant women, but I have decided that I am going to try out prenatal yoga (several people have suggested it). Two gold stars (ok, well, I know I haven’t technically earned this star yet – but I’m taking it!)

And then came my first test: a week alone. My husband Mark went to the UK to visit a friend for the week, and I am on my own. Usually, I’m quite content to be on my own, but in my pregnant state, I’m feeling quite needy, lonely and emotional and well, alone. Time to test the ol’ support group. I’m happy to report I’m feeling very supported and have had several opportunities to stay social (board game nights, dessert dates, 1 hour phone calls). Three gold stars.

And so, in my 15th week of my pregnancy the importance of support is the clearest it has ever been. Being pregnant is exciting, but it’s also physically and emotionally draining and a little bit scary. Building yourself the proper support network should be on the giant list of “to do’s” you find in books and on parenting websites. Peruse the bulletin boards at libraries and coffee shops, look online (many local mom groups have their own Facebook pages), read local publications and talk to your doctor/midwife/doula/astrologist – whatever!  Just be sure to take a good look at your support system and devote some time to build it up if needed.

Homework complete.

Small Bundle, Big Needs

I am 14 weeks and 3 days pregnant with my first child. It is an exciting, terrifying, thrilling, daunting time. My hormones are raging and my mind is filled with all the decisions I have to make in the next six months. What will we name the baby? Will we find out the gender? What type of birth do I want? 

My husband Mark & I

Surprisingly, the questions I find the most unnerving are the questions about all the things a baby needs. What kind of crib do we buy for our 1 bedroom apartment? Disposable or cloth diapers? Jogging or conventional stroller? I know nothing about baby products, so where to start?

Well, given I am a planner and I love budgets and lists I immediately created a ‘must have’ list. At first, I pulled lists from the Internet, but I quickly realized that what I deemed a ‘must have’ was much more minimalist than the norm (is a wipe warmer really a ‘must have’?).

Ultimate Wipes Warmer via UsedOttawa

My husband and I finally agreed on our list (but not before a giant fight we had when he suggested that since we don’t have a car, we don’t need a car seat. Since I was giving birth in July, it might be a nice day so maybe I’d want to walk home. Yeah… right). We were both shocked to see that our minimalist ‘must have’ list still had us spending over a thousand dollars.

And that was the moment that I decided upon my newest baby related goal. The second-hand challenge. My goal is to purchase nearly everything I need for our baby, second-hand (if I can’t borrow it or have it made). I started by emailing my friends for brand names I should look for and items they might be able to lend me. In the start, I had a few items on my ‘buy new’ list that I just couldn’t imagine getting second hand… namely a breast pump and cloth diapers. Though, after a bit of research, it turns out that with some knowledge (and some replacement tubing, in the case of the pump) they are perfectly acceptable items to buy second hand.

With that, I acquired my first baby item: 13 ‘gently used’ cloth diapers.  Purchased new, this brand of diapers sells for about $20/diaper ($260 total). Used, I got them for $100! A 39% savings!

My fabulous first find

Next up… the hunt is on for a dresser and a bed of some kind. I think I’m going to enjoy this! If anyone has any tips or pointers, I’d love to hear how you saved money on baby items.