Second-hand goods |
All goods, whether new or second-hand when sold, should be safe for their intended purpose. Second-hand goods bought privately or from a second-hand shop may not be as safe as the new product.
Many goods must comply with mandatory safety standards, even when they are second-hand.
For a list of these products, see products with mandatory standards.
Before buying
Before you buy, ask these questions about the product:
- Is it missing any safety instructions or warnings? This is especially important for cots, child restraints, electrical items, car jacks, trolley jacks and vehicle stands because the information supplied will help you use the goods safely.
- Is it obviously damaged or are parts missing? The goods may have been in an accident and is no longer safe to use, especially bicycles, child restraints, and bicycle and motorcycle helmets.
- Does it need any special tools to make it useable that may be difficult to get? For example, most cots need a special type of tool to join the parts together.
- Has it been the subject of a safety recall in the past? Check by going to Product Safety Recalls website.
What to look for
If you buy privately or through a garage sale, the goods may not be covered by safety laws - so think very carefully before buying.
Before you buy, ask yourself these questions:
- If it is an electrical product, does it have a testing tag? Electrical tags show whether the product has been safety tested.
- Does the metal product show erosion? This could indicate a larger problem for later.
- Are spare parts available if you need them? Some goods sold through second-hand shops are so old that spare parts are no longer available. This is a problem for goods with moving parts that will wear down, such as strollers and electrical items.
- Are any of the product´s safety features missing, such as guards on exercise bikes and power tools, brakes on bikes and safety instructions?
Compare prices between new and used goods. Sometimes it may be better in the long term to spend a little more and know that the product is safe and covered by a warranty.
Last reviewed 21/12/2011 |
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