Learn Chinese - Top 10 Things You Shouldn't Buy New

CITYLIFE / Hip & New








Top 10 Things You Shouldn't Buy New
(CRI.com)
Updated: 2006-09-08 09:14


Obviously, some things are best purchased new; lingerie pops to mind. But
lots of other stuff depreciates quickly while still having plenty of
useable life left. Here are 10 items where the cost vs. use equation
strongly tilts toward buying used.

1. Books.

Your local library, for example, may allow you to reserve titles online
and then deliver them to your nearest branch for pick-up. Used book
stores abound, both in your town and online. If you're looking for a
potboiler to get you through your next cross-country flight, just stop by
almost any yard sale and pick up four for $1.

2. DVDs and CDs.

Some online retailers now surface used versions of many of the DVD movies
they sell new. You can find similar deals for online CDs (yes, Virginia,
some of us dinosaurs still buy CDs). Other good hunting grounds for
purchase of used items: movie rental chains like Blockbuster; used record
stores; yard sales.

3. Little kids' toys.

Parents know: it's all but impossible to predict which toy will be a hit
and which will lie forlorn at the bottom of the toy box. So rather than
gamble at full price, cruise consignment shops and yard sales for
bargains. Better than cheap, though, is free. Some parents set up regular
toy-swapping meets, or you might be lucky enough to score hand-me-downs
from friends and relatives.

4. Jewelry.

Fat markups on most gems (100% or more is fairly common) means that you'd
be lucky to get one-third of what you paid at a retail store, should you
ever need to sell.So let somebody else get socked with that depreciation.
Find a pawn shop that's been in business for awhile, get to know the
owner and ask him or her for recommendations. Some readers have had good
results buying via newspaper ads, but I'd want to take the piece to a
jeweler for an appraisal first.


5. Sports equipment.

We may buy everything from badminton rackets to weight sets fully
intending to wear them out, but too often they wind up collecting dust.
Buy someone else's good intention and you'll save some bucks.Happy
hunting grounds: yard sales, newspaper and online ads, resale stores like
Play It Again Sports.

6. Timeshares.

You could call these a notoriously lousy investment if you could call
them an investment at all, but you can't - because what real investment
is guaranteed to lose 30% to 70% right off the bat? That is, unless you
buy used. There's a huge number of folks who caved in to three hours of
hard sell and are now desperate to dump their shares.

7. Cars.

The average new car loses 12.2% of its value in the first year, according
to Edmunds.com; on a $20,000 car, that's $2,440, or more than $200 a
month. Some cars depreciate even faster, depending on demand, incentives
offered and other factors. Why not let someone else take that hit? Not
only will you be able to save money (or buy more car), but you'll pay
less for insurance. Cars are better-built and last longer than ever
before, which means you're less likely to get a lemon.

8. Software and console games.

Buy used, and you'll pay half or less what the software cost new. Console
games like those for the Xbox and Sony PS2 that list for $50 new, for
instance, can often be purchased used for $20 or less a year after
release. But it's more than just a matter of economy. Letting someone
else be the early adopter also allows you to benefit from their
experience. You'll find more reviews and information on software that's
been out a year or more (and you won't be that far behind the leading
edge). The bugs will have been identified along with any workarounds,
although you may have to live with some problems that are fixed in later
versions.

9. Office furniture.

Built to take a beating and last a lifetime, good-quality office desks,
filing cabinets and credenzas are relatively easy to find even when a
recession isn't cratering the local economy.

10. Hand tools.

Well-made tools with few or no moving parts -- like hammers, wrenches,
shovels, hoes, etc. -- can last decades with proper maintenance and are
relatively easy to find at yard sales. If you're not going to use a tool
frequently, you may be able to rent it or borrow from a friend or
neighbor rather than buying something else to clutter up your garage.
(Some neighborhoods even run tool-sharing cooperatives.)


















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