11 Items You Should Always Buy Brand New

In life, there will always be choices. Plenty of spending decisions that the typical consumer must make on a regular basis feature a plethora of these choices. Any new purchasing decision is frequently met with an internal struggle over-branding. There's also the added option of choosing a generic brand in many cases (a selection that will frequently save you money). But the choice to go with one brand over another isn't the only feature of many buying opportunities.

You'll also want to consider the discrepancy of new versus used. For plenty of purchasing, buying used items is far more advantageous. Buying a brand new car, home, or even timeshares is a complete waste of money when equally fantastic used options are available for a steep price cut. However, just like some purchases are better made in the used market, there's a wide range of items that you should always avoid here. Buying used gear can frequently bring a better value for your hard earned cash, but it almost always comes with a catch. Whether you're looking at dented appliances or stained and worn furniture, the price cut isn't always worth the hassle of bringing an already used (and potentially damaged) item into your home or routine. In other cases, a used good can actually bring danger into your life that you just don't need to be dealing with. These are some of the most important items that you should always shop for in stores and other outlets that sell brand new, unused goods.

The first item up on this list is something of a no-brainer. Car seats that will support your little one should never be bought in the used marketplace. A new car seat isn't just a sanitary consideration, there's actually a very important safety reason for shirking the resale environment when searching for this item, and it's one you simply can't afford to ignore, no matter how good the deal might seem on a used model.

A car seat is a safety device first, and a comfortable chair after that. The tool is purpose-built to protect your little one against the routine bumps, stops, and turns of a typical car ride, as well as the potential for a more severe impact if you are involved in a crash. The trouble is that a car seat that's been in an accident may be structurally compromised in ways that can't be seen. It's common wisdom to replace your child's car seat if it's been involved in an accident, even if the child wasn't in the seat at the time. However, some outlets do suggest that this isn't a hard and fast rule, with some manufacturers suggesting that their products can continue to be used. It's difficult to tell, however, when looking at your own car seat. The trouble here is that it's impossible to diagnose the extent of a crash's damage to a car seat that you might be buying secondhand. There's no way to be sure that a used car seat hasn't been damaged beyond reasonable use, and it's equally tricky to be totally sure that the seller isn't lying about a seat's condition, as well.

Another baby-related item that you should avoid buying secondhand is a crib. Cribs aren't subjected to the same potentially intense forces as car seats, but they frequently take their own fair share of knocks. Babies can be demanding users of just about any good you may put it in front of them. They chew things, throw things, and bash stuff with a level of reckless abandon that simply isn't seen in just about any other walk of life. As babies grow and learn they explore their environment with their hands, legs, and mouths, frequently damaging things in the process.

Even though a baby isn't very heavy or large, months of sustained physical punishment can take its toll on a child's first bed. A well-made baby crib is likely able to stand up to the kicking and slamming that goes on within its frame. However, cheaper alternatives that are frequently found throughout the marketplace today won't be built with hardwood timbers or metal and instead tend to feature cost savings parts like chip board or OSB sheet components layered over with a veneer. Buying a secondhand baby crib can open you up to the potential for structural failure. If you are going to look for a used crib, consider antique shops and other outlets that are more likely to sell durable, quality-built varieties rather than something that started its life in a flat pack box.

In the same way that many items designed for children should be reused sparingly or not at all, bike helmets exhibit the same qualities. Run of the mill bike helmets aren't typically very expensive, so buying a secondhand model isn't likely to save you a whole lot of money. This is a good starting place when exploring the used market, as major savings underpins most of the value found in secondhand goods. However, there's another reason why bike helmets, motorcycle helmets, and other head protection items in this category shouldn't be reused.

You can't know with absolute certainty what conditions the helmet has exposed to. A helmet that's been involved in a crash will almost certainly be subjected to a network of micro cracks that run throughout its shell and perhaps even the inner padding beneath. This weakening of the helmet's structure and can potentially compromise it to the point of being entirely useless. As is the case with car seats, no matter what a seller tells you there's no way to be sure that this important piece of safety equipment remains in good condition and will deliver the expected protection that you need from it. The consequences can be disastrous or even deadly.

Rugs are an interesting case in the used marketplace. Many antique rugs feature truly stunning designs and may even sport an interesting provenance that makes them valuable collector's items. Vintage rugs can therefore be a great option when purchasing a new statement piece for your home.

But there's a catch: Nearly everyone has likely seen at least one of those viral videos of rugs being cleaned. The reality of a secondhand rug is that you're dealing with a truly ludicrous amount of dirt and grime under even the best of circumstances. More importantly, that filth is frequently hidden within the rug's fibers and not overtly visible. As a result, it can be hard to tell if you're buying a rug that is decently clean and tidy or overrun with dirt, grime, and potentially other surprises like a bug infestation. Unless you have the equipment necessary to thoroughly clean a rug or happen to be a collector in the market for specialist pieces, buying your rugs new is almost certainly going to be the best option.

For much the same reason as rugs, buying used vacuum cleaners opens you up to plenty of potential calamity without a whole lot of benefit to counterbalance the negative. The internal components of a vacuum cleaner get dirtier and dirtier as time goes on and it is used. Good vacuum maintenance habits can reduce the wear and tear on these parts, but there's no avoiding the fact that filters, vacuum bags, and other components will become dirty and wear out over time. You may find a bargain on a vacuum cleaner only to have to turn around and replace a number of parts right away in order to use the device. This might negate the financial benefit of buying a used item entirely while adding plenty of additional hassle to your plate.

As well, the wear and tear of using a vacuum cleaner isn't just a drain on the device's filter and bagging system. Vacuums use motorized power to deliver suction at the nozzle end, and over time the motor will become less effective and suction power will decrease. In many cases, there's little value in replacing a vacuum's motor unit and so the older this device gets closer it inches toward its inevitable obsolescence. You may be able to replace some internal components, but eventually it just won't make sense to continue reviving an old vacuum cleaner. Buying used places you farther along this timeline than is necessary.

Laptops and other computers are another technological device that buyers should essentially always buy new. It's true that a used laptop can sometimes be found for a serious bargain. But this comes not as a result of good value finds in your local resale market or online, but rather as a direct consequence of the life cycle that these tool enjoy.

Computers generally last about three to eight years before they need to be replaced. The nuanced inner workings of even the simplest personal computer feature delicate parts and intricate processes. As well, manufacturers have a tendency to stop supporting updates and security patches for devices once they cross a certain age threshold. With new models coming out essentially every year across the entire spectrum of personal computing devices, manufacturers focus on newer models and allow older ones to sunset. What this means is that's an older laptop can be found for a steep discount because it is far more likely to break down, and even if it continues working perfectly the computer is many years closer to (or perhaps even passed) the horizon of its support window. This can leave your personal information vulnerable to thieves or an event as simple as a crash. On the plus side, with so many options available in the market, you're almost certainly able to find a computer that fits your budget and usage needs, no matter what they might be, especially if you shop during known deal windows like Black Friday.

Used car tires are really only good for repurposing into new things, and realistically don't hold up well on the resale market in their current form. The hardy rubberized material can be chopped up and reused in other applications with some prominent examples in playground floor surfacing and even erosion control along river banks and beaches. They're also crushed down to create a product called crumb rubber that's used in combination with asphalt to create slightly spongy road surfaces that feature improved durability and crack resistance.

What reused tires don't frequently do well is serve as actual tires on new vehicles. The rubber material is great when totally recycled, but slapping an old tire on a new car doesn't do the job that it's intended to perform. Car tires when they're not in raw material format feature tread patterns that are specifically designed to provide traction and control across a range of road surfaces and conditions. The longer a tire is used the weaker that tread pattern becomes and eventually you may even wear it all the way to the inner wire mesh that holds it together. Old tires or an incident waiting to happen and reusing them isn't generally going to give you the value and durability you're looking for.

Shoes are yet another item that see a wear pattern influence their usefulness over lengthy timelines. When you put on a new pair of shoes it won't have any indentations built into the sole or unique creases across the outer layer. This is part of the reason why people break in new shoes slowly rather than just diving in all at once. New shoes can cut or blister feet as they start conforming to the soft and unique curvature of a person's foot. But, over time the discomfort that a new pair of shoes might deliver dissipates and the shoe ends up fitting like a glove around the distinct geometry of its wearer's foot.

If you can avoid buying secondhand shoes, you will also save yourself from the hassle of continuous general discomfort as a result of this breaking in effect. A new pair of shoes will eventually conform to your feet while an old pair has already been molded to a different user's foot shape. The sole compresses and the outer layer creases and bends alongside specific walking dynamics. Used shoes just aren't as comfortable and the longevity you'll get out of an old pair of shoes is limited by the steps someone else has put into them.

It's a great idea to buy old cast iron pans and other cookware. Vintage cast iron gear was frequently made with higher quality standards dictating their production than is the case with newer models. As a result, old cookware can sometimes be extremely valuable. There is a collector's market within this world and certain examples can actually fetch a fairly healthy profit if you know what you're looking for.

The same can't be said for nonstick aluminum pans and other similar cookware. Nonstick coating was a true revelation in the world of cooking. While professional chefs often utilize bare cookware that don't feature any kind of assistive technology like this, those of us who are mere mortals in the kitchen demand the leeway that this kind of additional coating can provide. A nonstick pan makes everything easier for someone who doesn't have the time or skill to use alternatives. Similarly, cast iron requires seasoning and after-cook care that can be time consuming and perhaps even sometimes difficult. But there is a problem with nonstick pans that makes their resale value essentially nonexistent. After a while, the nonstick coating will start to flake off and it can end up in the food you cook. New research into PFAS has highlighted the dangers of these so-called "forever chemicals," and unsurprisingly, the nonstick, waterproof properties of these chemical compounds makes them a key component in the technology that keeps your eggs from merging with the pan. Tossing old nonstick cookware is the best option, and opting to buy new instead of used is simply a must.

Anyone who spends a decent amount of time out on the water is likely to have considered purchasing a wetsuit. These bathing garments are essential for scuba divers, surfers, and others who frequent lakes, rivers, and ocean waters. A wetsuit is a tool that helps introduce buoyancy to your body and keeps you warm as you dive beneath the surf. Wetsuits achieve this feat by hugging tight to your body. As you jump into the water, a thin stream of liquid enters the suit and forms a critical barrier between it and your skin. Your body warms this water and the suit traps it in place to keep you comfortable even in temperatures approaching frigid (although drysuits are necessary for some scuba adventures and other aquatic endeavors in particularly cold water).

The manner by which a wetsuit works is also the reason why used examples aren't always a great idea. Even at a bargain price, a used wetsuit is one that has likely been stretched out of shape through frequent use. The result is a suit that won't keep you all that warm in the cold water and may even deliver inefficient buoyancy, which can be a real detriment to scuba divers and others who are counting on this factor.

Old appliances can seem like a tremendous bargain when you find them at garage sales or in any discount retail space. An old dishwasher, washing machine, or refrigerator might be marked down with a serious discount that makes the purchase seem extremely tempting. But the reality is that secondhand appliances are notoriously difficult to assess. They are intricate machines and even the most basic appliances like a microwave or stovetop feature all manner of important technology and integrated components. Exploring the ins and outs of an appliance that has already seen moderate use is something of a fool's errand. No matter where you find a used appliance, it will be difficult if not impossible to spend the time necessary to ensure that all of its internal mechanisms are still functioning appropriately. At a garage sale, you'd be digging around in a dishwasher or dryer that someone else owns as they watch you, and in a secondhand retail store the sales staff might also not take too kindly to your investigative efforts.

Beyond these limitations, even if you do manage to spot a unit that hasn't seen any real damage or degradation you'll be working with someone else's grime and mess. This may not be a big deal to some buyers looking for a bargain above all else, but the issue of longevity remains no matter how clean the model appears.