Second Hand vs Brand New

With the prices only increasing each year, you’re probably constantly facing the question: “Should I buy it used?”. There are many great things that you can buy used which would be a complete waste of money otherwise, but some of them can create quite a challenge of whether you should buy it used or brand new. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of buying secondhand items.

No warranty. Most of the stores provide a warranty on the item you purchase, with the minimum being two weeks and some of them can last you for the item’s lifespan. This is mostly relevant when purchasing electronic devices – from phones to washing machines. Smart phones these days are made from cheap material and most of them last for 2 years, coincidentally as long as most of their warranty lasts. Just as soon as your warranty is gone, the problems start surfacing and you will soon find yourself buying a new one. This is a major problem when purchasing used electronics, but some of the stuff you can buy doesn’t really need a warranty, for example, cars. If a car breaks down, it’s probably been running for a while and the warranty  has already ran out so purchasing it brand new just for the warranty is ridiculous. There are many different things that need warranty and many that don’t so it is up to you to decide whether it’s worth the price.

The cost. This is what makes secondhand items so good – they’re cheap since the item has been used it might be damaged. Might. That’s the keyword when purchasing something used as it can be made of unobtainium and will never ever wear out. Always do your research when purchasing something used and inspect it thoroughly because there’s always a chance that you’re getting ripped off. On the other hand, there’s always a chance that the person who’s selling something has no idea of the true value of the item and you’re getting something amazing for as little as $10!

New doesn’t mean better. There are many times when we want to buy something that we already have, just because it’s old, for example a PC. If you’re using your computer to only send emails and to check Facebook, there’s no need to buy a brand new Alienware gaming PC – you’re better off with your old one and with plenty of money left in your wallet. Before you buy something new, always think if you really need it, most of the time you probably don’t even need it, so save your time and money for better things and you will soon flood your Facebook page with photos from your trip around the world.