Secondhand shopping has always been one of the best ways to be fashionable and green at the same time.
In this increasingly environmentally conscious world (and one that’s climbing out of a recession), buying used is actually being on trend. ABC News reported that secondhand clothing sales are going up 35 percent a year, compared to regular retailers that only see gains of about 2 percent. Goodwill saw an 84 percent revenue increase in the sale of donated goods from 2007 to 2012, from $1.9 billion to $3.5 billion.
And as this recent Business Week article shows, it’s even become acceptable to buy used clothing in — gasp! — the luxury goods market.
Buying secondhand is undoubtedly cheaper and has a much smaller carbon footprint compared to newly manufactured items. So that got us wondering, what items are okay to buy pre-owned and what aren’t? Here’s a handy list, according to Business Insider.
Items you should always buy secondhand
Bicycles
Textbooks
Children’s clothing
Cars
Household appliances
Children’s toys
Office furniture
Wedding attire
Pets (meaning that you should check out the local pound or shelter)
Entertainment (DVDs, CDs, electronic games)
A house
Jewels
Designer threads
Items you should never buy secondhand
Bike helmets
Cribs
Laptops
Footwear
Cookware
Hats
Blenders
Upholstered furniture
Camera lenses
Mattresses and pillows
Swimsuits
Wet suits
Vacuum cleaners
Child car seats
Automobile tires
Computer software
Digital cameras
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