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10 things you should never buy new

articles.moneycentral.msn.com — Few people really enjoy wasting their hard-earned money, but many of us do it every day by buying new. We could do our pocketbooks, and the environment, a big favor by opting to be the second owner of some of the stuff we buy.

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jcs_goog, on 10/12/2007, -7/+89She basically says everything.
- corevette, on 10/12/2007, -6/+103i have a big feeling this lady who wrote the article works for eBay or Craigslist
- Yashar, on 10/12/2007, -32/+8Women?
  
  err nvm..
- mraustin1337, on 10/12/2007, -0/+13910 Things _I_ should never buy new. You all should. That way I can buy it used for cheaper.
- anotherjeff, on 10/12/2007, -38/+7who the hell uses dvds and cds?
- Shirk, on 10/12/2007, -4/+94"Little kids' toys"
  
  Sorry kids, I was told online by this lady that we should wait until a yard sale to get you some toys.
- TOTALineptitude, on 10/12/2007, -3/+210Two things you should always buy new:
  
  1. Underpants.
  2. Lube.
- davidhildreth, on 10/12/2007, -51/+10those suggestions were retarted
- RomeyRome, on 10/12/2007, -14/+61I use old oil from my car for lube. Recycling FTW.
- dirka, on 10/12/2007, -16/+5I know a few things you should "always" buy new....food, toilet paper, matches, and condoms
- Craig1394, on 10/12/2007, -5/+73"11.) Condoms"
  
  That reminds me of the time in 1987, when I was in Sacramento, CA on vacation. In a store that was like an indie version of Hot Topic, I saw a box of Condoms on the counter that were labeled "Used Condoms for Cheap *****".
- dirka, on 10/12/2007, -11/+5buy used, food..toilet paper...matches...and gum
- DurkaMcDurk, on 10/12/2007, -26/+11"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."
  
  Cause i want to wait a year after a game is released to get in on the fun... this article is ***** ridiculously stupid.
- ElMoselYEE, on 10/12/2007, -15/+11211. Vista
- Osmanthus, on 10/12/2007, -13/+20Another thing to never buy new is an Airplane. New airplanes are extremely expensive, and yet, have not been prove airworthy. Unlike cars, airplanes are legally required to meet a certain standard at all times, including special modifications required for airworthyness. Therefore, over time, airplanes actually become more airworthy while becoming cheaper. For example, you could buy a brand new four seater at the same price as a used 8 seater that goes faster and farther. Updating the interior and paint job is extremely cheap compared to the price differences.
- bat-21, on 10/12/2007, -10/+232 more things:
  
  Gas Oven - pre-WWII models are almost indestructable.
  
  Cast Iron Skillet - perfectly seasoned ones more than 30 years old are considered the holy grail of cookware.
- pants428, on 10/12/2007, -4/+40I don't care what this lady says, I'm not buying a used hoe...
- aeonoftime, on 10/12/2007, -10/+5Hmmm software....Hmmmm. Yeah I am pretty sure that most Eula's wont allow for transfer. Hello Mr. Bill Gates, I want to activate my Vista...what do you mean I cant activate it. I bought this used fair and square. She should have said don't buy the software or the games just pirate them.
- lintmonkey, on 10/12/2007, -13/+4@davidhildreth
  "those suggestions were retarted"
  
  You're retarted.
- CarolynMittens, on 10/12/2007, -1/+9Books are definitely things I always buy used; book cover design just isn't what it used to be. Though since there's no real way to disinfect a book, I can't help but think some grubby-fingered person was picking their nose or something while flipping through it :(
- jspegele, on 10/12/2007, -0/+19Jewelry. 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.
  Find a pawn shop that's been in business for awhile, get to know the owner and ask him or her for recommendations.
  
  Yea, sure, cause girls love the pawn shop jewelry.
- mraustin1337, on 10/12/2007, -1/+9@carolynmittens:
  
  Don't deal with those infected books. Get a e-book... Used.... Off of BitTorrent...!
- Perno, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5My wife buys used books for cheap at this website:
  http://www.alibris.com
  They seem to be in good condition when she gets them, and they're usually like $5 for a hardcover.
- Nerfdude, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6office equipment? yeah, i'd love to find myself a nice used computer chair that some OTHER dork has sat in for a few years.
  
  she is right on the money with hand tools though. go out and find yourself any Craftsman hand tool, and if it's worn down in any way, take it up to Sears and they'll replace it on the spot for free.
- jarva, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3@corevette
  
  She also wrote 10 Things you should never buy used.
  
  http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/SavingandDebt/FindDealsOnline/10ThingsYouShouldNeverBuyUsed.aspx
  (not that I entirely agree with it)
- tisfl37, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1My wife and I shopped for our engagement rings in the most prominent big label stores and then bought them new off of E-bay from Legit Jewelers, with money back guarantees. We paid 1/4 retail for mine, and 1/2 retail for hers. It took a while to find something exactly like what we found in the brick and mortor, but it was definately worth it. BTW: Got a quote from a pawn shop on them, (just in case), and were offered just a fraction less than what we paid for them to put them in pawn...
- merreborn, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1"i have a big feeling this lady who wrote the article works for eBay or Craigslist"
  
  Craigslist has never made a dime from people who use the site to buy/sell/trade anything. The only exceptions are job listings, and I think housing.
WayneMan, on 10/12/2007, -15/+11Excellent advice. I never even thought about the possibility of buying jewelry or hand-tools second-hand.
- marsrover21, on 10/12/2007, -17/+8I agree. That article was actually pretty good. The thing that makes it so good is that I think we all know about those things deep down inside us. The problem is compulsive buying. NEW CD!!!! MUST BUY!! HALO 3!! CAN'T WAIT!! :)
- shinynew, on 10/12/2007, -3/+10"Software and console games."
  Those are rather time sensitive. If you dont get them soon then they will be obsolete (but still good)
- BillDoE, on 10/12/2007, -4/+27Whatever. When I support what a company or publisher has done, I buy the product new. Being a cheap ass, and buying all used games at EB doesn't help innovation one damn bit. Then what you get is what we have now. Hardly any new Ideas and a bunch of rehashed junk (EA cough) thats been done to death, as cheaply as possible. While EB, Gamestop..ect make a killing. I'd rather give my hard earned cash to somebody that deserves it.
- pezholio, on 10/12/2007, -7/+10Exactly, same goes for music. If I can get it new (and can afford it) I'll buy it new. I'd rather support the artist.
- ggko, on 10/12/2007, -2/+31If you really want to support the (music) artist, go to their concerts and buy swag off their websites. They only make pennies off each CD sale, (unless they published it themselves.)
- BlackAdderIII, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6"""If you really want to support the (music) artist, go to their concerts and buy swag off their websites. They only make pennies off each CD sale, (unless they published it themselves.)"""
  
  Agreed. That and buy the CDs second hand, to ensure that you pay the artist, get a legitimate copy of the music, and don't give RIAA members of any of your money to do wrong stuff with.
  
  I also agree with the post on games - whilst I'll buy vintage games second hand I buy games from the best games companies through the proper channels to ensure they get my money.
  
  Tip for Linux users - if you want Linux support for games in the future, you should NEVER buy any Linux-supporting game second hand. Always new.
D3koy, on 10/12/2007, -1/+95Hah, well I'm making a list of things to never buy used...

*Food
*Underwear
*Toilet seats
*Paper products
*Band-aids
*Engagement rings
*Coffins

anyone have anything else to add?
- WayneMan, on 10/12/2007, -2/+93Hair brushes
  Tooth brushes
  Russian brides
- ddrace, on 10/12/2007, -2/+59Condoms
  Swabs
  Toilet paper
  Deodorant
  Gerbils
- UglieJosh, on 10/12/2007, -3/+116D3koy
  
  I bought my wife's engagement ring second hand. ***** still cost me $2,000 but it hasn't seemed to have any jinxes attached to it (unless she reads this comment and finds out I bought her ring second hand).
- SaxxonPike, on 10/12/2007, -3/+49syringes
  cigarettes
  fireworks
- hoppdawg, on 10/12/2007, -22/+10dead hookers
- marsrover21, on 10/12/2007, -3/+23why not engagement rings?
- MicroBerto, on 10/12/2007, -0/+23Diapers
- MackPrime, on 10/12/2007, -10/+31slaves.
- aguynamedben, on 10/12/2007, -4/+11I can't believe she didn't say have engagement rings under exceptions for jewelry
- MicroBerto, on 10/12/2007, -1/+29Tampons
- theblooms, on 10/12/2007, -8/+18Why not engagement rings? A rock is a rock. I got my wife's ring from a pawn shop for HALF what a jewelry store in the mall would have charged for a similar stone. That bastard so so damn clear, if you hold your ear up to it, you can hear it humming!
- CLucas916, on 10/12/2007, -3/+28If an engagement ring is sold second hand, it usually means that the engagement was broken off. Many people don't buy engagement rings second hand because they believe they are jinxed.
- andy206uk, on 10/12/2007, -7/+6Tampons *cringe*
- Zettabyte, on 10/12/2007, -4/+16"Hah, well I'm making a list of things to never buy used...
  ....
  *Underwear
  ...."
  
  You should goto Japan..
- 350Zed, on 10/12/2007, -10/+8If the second-hand engagement ring you buy is crappier than you were told by the seller (e.g., lower grade diamond, fake, etc.) THEN what do you do. If you buy new from a store who has a reputation to maintain, you're better off paying a little more.
  
  A lot of the benefit of buying new is reducing your RISK.
  
  Another example...
  
  If I buy a used car and it's a LEMON, you're screwed. If I buy a new car, I get a warranty.
  
  This article is missing the other side of the story.
- malavalla, on 10/12/2007, -6/+1this list was done with about as much research as 99% of my college papers very little, she went to the corner pawn shop and asked what there top ten selling items were
- labmouse42, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6Looking in pawn shops for a diamond for your engagement is a very smart idea. It will take a lot of work as the vast majority of diamonds in pawn shops are crap quality. Ugly brown stones purchased by people who think bigger (more carot) is better (less clarity and color)
  
  All the pawn shops I went by were happy to offer a 30 day return. This would have given me the time to take my stone to a jewler and have it appraised.
  
  To break the supersition, when you do find a stone, just pluck the stone out and have it remounted.
- loveyhowell, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8We got my engagement ring off of ebay from a jeweler who gave us 10 days to take it to an appraiser and return it if we didn't like it. It appraised for 90% more than we paid and years later I remain very happy with my ring. It has a vintage diamond in a new-but-vintage-style setting. I wanted a diamond in the old European cut that isn't done any more, but the prices at estate jewelry stores are a complete rip-off. Yay, ebay!
- wvdavis, on 10/12/2007, -0/+22CD-Rs
- Sippi, on 10/12/2007, -4/+1bathwater
- JeremyL, on 10/12/2007, -7/+1HAHAHA
  
  Now that's a great list
- Arramol, on 10/12/2007, -6/+9"Why not engagement rings? A rock is a rock."
  
  Unfortunately, I think most women will disagree with you.
- almostmanda, on 10/12/2007, -0/+17"If an engagement ring is sold second hand, it usually means that the engagement was broken off. Many people don't buy engagement rings second hand because they believe they are jinxed."
  
  Wow, De Beers has managed to convince people that, not only is this rock magically worth 1/4 of a year's income, it's cursed if it doesn't work out for you? I can't believe some of the marketing crap Americans buy into.
  
  You know, people can just as easily return it to the jewelry store if she says "No". How is that different? Is it still "jinxed" ?
- rossjp, on 10/12/2007, -0/+11Engagement rings are evil. DeBeers would be proud of all you advocating the purchase of new engagement rings.
- theblooms, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3@Arramol
  
  Who the hell is going to tell them? I have been married coming up on 13 (of the best) years of my life. To this day, my wife has NO CLUE where I got her ring, nor how much I paid for it. All she does know is every jeweler who has ever looked at it under a loop has almost creamed themselves. That's all she cares about!
- rjani57, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3used tickets
  dentures
  drink
- AriaStar, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I have to agree on the jewelry one in a major way. I sell jewelry on the side, and you'd ***** a brick or two if you knew how CHEAP wholesale is. One ring I have right now has a certified value (USGL) of just shy of $8k. Wholesale cost? $150. So why go pay a jewelry store $10k for the piece (yup, most jewelry stores sell above value) when you can let someone else pay $10k and let you buy for a fraction of that?
  
  And really, most jewelry components are recycled around anyway. Get a ring sized down? They keep the gold. Use it (and the gold from others) to make a new ring. Sell the ring made of "used" gold as new.
  
  Just buy used and use some of the savings to get it polished up.
- KCMOStealthRT, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1parachutes: used once never opened
DatDamWuf, on 10/12/2007, -2/+24no used beer :)
- LDanix, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6Yeah, it tends to be more acidic.
carpespasm, on 10/12/2007, -2/+53UglieJosh, i dugg down your comment to save your marriage. Here's to hoping your wife doesn't frequent digg.
bobcrotch, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Actually hand tools like wrenches and the like should be purchased new if you're willing to spend the money on something like snap-on with a great warranty.

Other than that I really really liked the part about buying used consumer media, cds, movies, console stuff ect.
- sshack, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10Goto a pawn shop for tools. It's all the pro stuff stolen off worksites at 1/3rd the price
  of the crappy consumer stuff.
- theblooms, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7Snap-On honors the warranty no matter where you get them. Or at least they used to. And, yes, Snap-On IS the best. ***** is EXPENSIVE though, even used. Snap-On screwdrivers and ratchets are without equal. I do use Craftsman sockets though. Much cheaper, and the warranty is the same.
- ryodoan, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2My dad and I go around to garage sales all the time and pretty much any time we see a tool box we go through it looking for snap on or craftsman tools. No matter what condition they are in as long as they still have the name. If its craftsman just take it back to a Sears store and you can exchange it for a new one if its in bad shape.
  
  We have gotten some amazing deals from people just clearing out their garages.
andrewcool, on 10/12/2007, -1/+16New Xbox 360 game: 60 dollars. Old Xbox 360 game, been out for a year is still like 50.00 .
- Hexagram, on 10/12/2007, -3/+11Gears of War is $47 or so at Gamecrazy, but the launch titles can be as low as $19 for PGR3 (an amazing game), or The Outfit (a forgotten game)
  
  I buy my internet meme's used, saved ***** of money.
  OH ***** IT'S A LION GET IN THE CAR.
- xelloss, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3If you have gamefly, just rent the game when it first comes out, you get a brand new disc and save like 15 bucks on the first day, I get all my games for like 45 bucks the first week they come out and get the box and its all free shipping.
- Kuipo, on 10/12/2007, -7/+3Yet another downfall of the 360. Games at 60$ for no reason.
- labmouse42, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4If your on the bleeding edge of video game technology, your just going to have to suck it up and pay full price for those new titles.
  This is even more true in the world of PCs. If you just spent $2000 on a new PC gaming rig, why not pop in Fear instead of BF 1942.
- ericrous, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I actually bought the Oblivion Collectors Edition for less than $30 off ebay recently. It was $70 new less than a year ago. I always try to buy my games used. You'd be surprised what you can save if you wait just a few months.
psxtavi, on 10/12/2007, -7/+2i don't think she cooks
markfulton, on 10/12/2007, -3/+8Edit: "For those of you who do not have any common sense... Here are 10 things you should never buy new."
Misos, on 10/12/2007, -3/+10Never buy a new iPod, buy a refurb. Sure, it doesn't have laser engraving, but it's up to 51% cheaper and it comes with the same exact warranty.
- LDanix, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Refurbished electronics are great. The best of both worlds are provided.
- shosterman, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I agree with this, although many times I don't follow through. Refurb (rox0rz!) items are usually tested heavily before being put back up for sale, so it's often the case you'll be more likely to have a high quality (if not better) than a new, factory tested item.
pengu, on 10/12/2007, -42/+8I'm sorry, but are you all ***** hobos, or just plain stupid!? Get a real ***** job with decent income and stop wasting your time trying to save $2 on your girlfriends vagiclean.
- PABeachBum, on 10/12/2007, -1/+9Wow. you are a total dick.
- bobcrotch, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7Why would you not save money when you can? Who cares how much money you make, throwing it away on stupid consumer goods isn't a good way to stay wealthy.
- colinmhayes, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7good luck becoming rich with an outlook like that
- kopar, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Wow, being a dick like that, it's amazing you'd ever have a girlfriend. However, Vagiclean being your biggest recurring expense does shed some light on the quality of the ones you do manage to get.
superkendall, on 10/12/2007, -2/+16I knew they were going to list cars...

I am of two minds about that. You take a serious hit when you buy a new car, but it's really nice to own a car from scratch and know exactly what has happened to it over the whole lifetime of the vehicle.

Also nowadays some car makers are allowing a lot of customization in the build phase, really letting you tailior your car to what you want in it. I guess if you don't care what goes in a car, then buying used is a better option.
- zoom1928, on 10/12/2007, -5/+9> know exactly what has happened to it over the whole lifetime of the vehicle
  
  That's the big catch in buying used! Typically people sell cars when they become more expensive to keep running or not worth the hassle. A company I do some contract work for found-out the hard way that you should never buy a used Honda. They bought almost 40 Accords at a regional auction. Every single one of them was a loss. Those cars are complete pieces of crap and are too expensive to own without a warranty, and by buying used you're almost guaranteed to get a car that someone was having major trouble with. A good way to estimate repair costs are to get a quote on an extended warranty. The ones on a Honda are extremely expensive which shows just how horrible they are.
  
  Where I work we've bought a few used large trucks, and they were all a huge loss. A company doesn't sell a truck just because they want a new one. They buy a new one because it makes financial sense. We now save a lot of money and labor by buying new with a factory warranty.
  
  If you can find a used car from someone that you know took care of it and that you trust, then go for it. Otherwise don't pay good money for the opportunity to throw money away.
- labmouse42, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10Buy from a company like Carmax.
  When buying used, buy a car with 12,000 miles on it.
  Someone else soaks the big depreciation hit, and you get a nearly-new car.
- nougat98, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10"They bought almost 40 Accords at a regional auction. Every single one of them was a loss. Those cars are complete pieces of crap and are too expensive to own without a warranty, and by buying used you're almost guaranteed to get a car that someone was having major trouble with. A good way to estimate repair costs are to get a quote on an extended warranty. The ones on a Honda are extremely expensive which shows just how horrible they are."
  You do realize the statistics do not agree with your anecdote. You probably bought flood-damaged cars from Katrina.
  
  "Where I work we've bought a few used large trucks, and they were all a huge loss. A company doesn't sell a truck just because they want a new one. They buy a new one because it makes financial sense. We now save a lot of money and labor by buying new with a factory warranty."
  A lot of companies buy a new truck because they want to project a professional appearance to their customers. Others cannot afford to have a truck out of commission for even one day, and will pay a premium to insure against that.
- raitchison, on 10/12/2007, -3/+4I agree buying a used car is way too much risk.
  
  You don't know what's happened to the car, even Carfax won't protect you. My wife's car had $14k worth of damage in a major accident and Carfax still doesn't know about it 4 years later.
  
  Did the previous owners maintain it or did they not change the oil once while they owned it, maybe even they drove around for a few thousand miles with the oil light on?
  
  Did they drive it responsibly, or do they drive off of curbs and take speed bumps at 45Mph, or start the car on a cold day and immediately start driving it like they stole it. Maybe they let the car idle for long periods on hot days to run the A/C?
  
  Even if not grossly abused there's still a reason they are getting rid of it. Wither it gets crap gas mileage, is a lemon, is a target for thieves & vandals you don't need other peoples problems.
  
  Thank you I'll take the depreciation hit on the new car and know the history of the car I plan to drive around for the next 4-5 years.
- rhkaloge, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5You're all on crack, right?
  
  Most used cars these days are lease cars. Some poor schmuck gets soaked for the maintenance and repair no one ever does anyway but is required by the lease, and you get the benefits paying half price for a car with a solid repair record. That and rental cars, which despite the tales of "driving it like it's rented" are usually low mileage, well maintained cars.
  
  Buying from the neighbor with a "great deal" - then I would think twice. But with dealers extending warranties on used cars, you are just giving away money if you buy new.
- thunderhammer, on 10/12/2007, -4/+4It's very simple guys, all of this is factored into the price of a used car, that is why used cars cost so much less than new cars. It's not just that they depreciate, it's the very high level of uncertainty concerning the cars actual condition. That's why a used car from a car dealer is so much more expensive than a used car from a private seller - people (unwisely) trust the car dealer way more than a random dude selling his car.
  
  So it's simple, find a private seller in your newspaper or on Craig's list, have the car inspected (I think Pep Boys does this for like $100), and then you eliminate the uncertainty (most of it, anyway), but you get to keep the massive price cut that uncertainty provides. Buy a well maintained used car with about 50,000 miles on it for $8K to $10K and drive it to 100,000. The only things you'll have to replace in that time are oil, gas, spark plugs and the battery.
  
  Buying new is just throwing your money away. You'll be parking at the far end of the parking lot every day and still getting door dings, and you'll can watch as one by one all your fancy gadgets break - windows won't roll down, mirrors motors won't work. All that happens on my used car too, but I paid $5K to $10K less than you did. I'll use the money to put my kids through med school while yours go to community college ;)
- saska, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Buy a used car that is still under warranty. The 4 year/48,000 mile (or whatever) warranty doesn't go away when the original buyer trades the car in on something else. This is how I've gotten my last three nearly-new cars, and as soon as they were out of warranty, I traded them in on the next. I get a warranty, I get a near-new car without the "lot exit" tax, and I pay used car prices.
- AnteChronos, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2"Buying new is just throwing your money away. You'll be parking at the far end of the parking lot every day and still getting door dings"
  
  Or just park like normal and accept the dents and dings as inevitable. That's what I do, at any rate.
  
  "and you'll can watch as one by one all your fancy gadgets break - windows won't roll down, mirrors motors won't work. All that happens on my used car too"
  
  Really? Because none of that has happened on my new car. Then again, none of that happened on my used car, either. Toyota makes some pretty reliable cars. The bonus of buying new is that you can customize. None of the used cars on the lot had ABS the last time I was looking. None of the new ones, either. So I had one custom ordered. The ABS has since saved my life (or at least my pocketbook) at least once.
  
  "but I paid $5K to $10K less than you did."
  
  And you'll probably end up paying that much more in repair work over an equivalent time period, since your car had more miles on it to start with.
- broeks, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4I bought a 94 honda accord in 2003 for 3,500. Still gets 30 mpg. Still looks better than most 98 domestic cars.
  
  I put over 80,000 miles on it since then.
  
  I had to buy new tires $500
  
  1 new starter $300
  
  So I think honda's are reliable. Find something you like, get it checked out by a mechanic, and hope for the best, you may luck out.
- mousky, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1"Some poor schmuck gets soaked for the maintenance and repair no one ever does anyway but is required by the lease"
  
  Hmmm, I lease a vehicle and the only maintenance I have to do is an oil change. Everything else on the vehicle is long-life including the coolant, transmission fluid and plugs. I might have to get new wipers, but the brakes and tires should last beyond the life of the lease. I don't even have to take the vehicle to the dealer I leased it from. Exactly how am I getting soaked and exactly what maintenance am I getting done that "no one ever does anyway"?
- cleggy1969, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Buying a car is throwing away money period. The only thing guaranteed in car ownership is that they go down in value whether they're driven or not. Buying used only avoids the steepest part of the depreciation curve. Buying a car is like buying a tomato, the fresher the better. Leasing is the way to go, you pay for what you use. Why do you think rental car companies lease as opposed to buy the cars in their fleets?
  
  And by the way classic cars are not the exception, your buying nostalgia not an automobile.
billyh, on 10/12/2007, -11/+4Oh yah, you're supposed to run around to garage sales every Saturday morning and hope they have what you might be looking for like a hammer. Waste of time and natural resources. Might as well go buy it and get what you want. Now you have a dependable tool that you can take back to Home Depot if it fails.

And graphics software? Someone please give the lady a clue that it's all been ported to the Web for free.

I didn't find anything interesting or new in the article that isn't in 1000 books in the library.
- strictnein, on 10/12/2007, -0/+12"And graphics software? Someone please give the lady a clue that it's all been ported to the Web for free."
  
  Photoshop has been ported to the web? And you're saying that _she_ needs a clue.
  
  The real WTF here is that she doesn't understand that the valuable part of most software packages is not the CD, but the software key, and that is easily retainable.
- pengu, on 10/12/2007, -4/+1actually the real WTF here is that the rest of you out there USING said graphics software aren't claiming the purchase price against your tax, and therefore looking forward to the new features thanks to the Man (ie, tax dept. for ur country) rather than spending time looking for 3 year old software which only costs a few days salary..
- Mirag3, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2@strictnein (nice pun)
  GIMP
  Not the same, but good enough.
sciencebase, on 10/12/2007, -0/+14This is on MSN and she's recommending that we buy second-hand software! What would Bill say?
- racekarl, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4I was under the impression that the EULA on most commercial software specifically prohibits reselling it, so is she advocating a mild form of piracy?
- Urusai, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3There is no mild piracy, only the rape and pillage of copyright holders. And sea chanties, there must be sea chanties.
skEwb35, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3If nobody bought new, there wouldn't be used stuff to buy, but I'll still stick to the used buying when possible.
kflasch, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10I love buying used things (within reason), but I happily buy some music and books brand new so I can directly support the creator.
- Kuipo, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5as ggko said...
  "If you really want to support the (music) artist, go to their concerts and buy swag off their websites. They only make pennies off each CD sale, (unless they published it themselves.)"
- foobar5892, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Didn't know the Big Four created music.
valiko75, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6I noticed that people get more aggressive when commenting on digg, especially towards the end: at the beginning there are jokes and some amusing stuff, and then pengu comes up into play, or mainchemical, who, apparently, doesn't like anything but programming stuff on digg.

People are not supposed to do everything she said, I also like buy used stuff, but within reason (I agree kflasch)!!!!

Oh and @mainchemical,
you dind't even have to click on the title if you thought it was SPAM...
superpotential, on 10/12/2007, -3/+10as much as this article seems to say the obvious, the majority of the middle class USA doesn't take it into account. when someone wins the lottery or gets a nice salary raise, why must their first instinct be to buy a new car or some other thing that hurts the environment by buying new?

also, why do so many rich people not seem to realize that used things have value, and even that old junky cordless phone could be reused by some poor college student? seriously, anything that works ought to never find itself in the trash. *someone* has a use for it.

http://www.craigslist.com/
- qwertydvorak, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3http://www.freecycle.org
- ExSlashdotter, on 10/12/2007, -2/+8actually, its http://craigslist.org
  
  but .com will redirect you anyway.
st3vo, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5well never mind that one
Rageous, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Agreed on DVDs, which seem to lose their value the minute you open the shrink wrap (hence Netflix and a stack of DVD+DLs on my desk)... the rest of the stuff, you could make the same case for anything. Bottom line is, shop wisely and make a predetermination just how important said items really are to you.
JPDyno, on 10/12/2007, -5/+3Buried.
Crap. Would never buy new CDs or DVDs, majority of the planet treats them like crap and you'd be lucky to find ones that all the tracks played through. Kids toys are the same, most would be busted, full of drool (kids OR dogs, who knows?!)
- newbietheatre, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1I agree, this one and Jewelery are the only topics I take major exception to. I just wouldn't do it. I'd like to know both these things are being bought new.
Amidnightsunset, on 10/12/2007, -1/+16Buy Books used.

Exception: The one I wrote

She didn't seem like a hypocrite there.
kicken18, on 10/12/2007, -4/+1Cars is a good one actually. I have a Seat Ibiza Mk4 1.9 TDi and these cars actually only perform best in terms of speed, 0-60 and econemy after 20,000 miles once its been run in. Its the same for all Diesel cars and petrol on that matter. I bought mine at 27,000 miles, so pretty much at the perfect bit. The bloke befor put up with all the ***** of running it in, and I get only food from here out :D
- dwhitbeck, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Buying a used car in the north is a problem. In Pennsylvania they not only use a huge amount of salt on the roads, they mix the salt with sand (more like gravel) so that it sand blasts the paint and galvanize off your car so the salt can rot your car more quickly. Since a lot of the damage starts underneath the car or in cracks, it is hard to tell what shape the body is in.
  If you buy a new car here with the intention of getting the most for your money by driving it a long time, you are screwed as well because the body won't hold up. Probably the best bet is to take a vacation in the south or southwest and buy a used car there.
feralkid, on 10/12/2007, -4/+311) Girlfriends

Used girlfriends are significantly cheaper than the shiny, brand new ones.
- labmouse42, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1But they have so much more baggage...
- ateoto, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Yeah but like cars, when they are new you know exactly whose been in it and what work has been done to it.
- wvdavis, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3@ labmouse42 - News Flash ::::All chicks (new & used) have baggage.::::
- Skeptic1970, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I tried buying new but the maternity ward has a restraining order on me. ;(
- rjani57, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1...and a darn site more smoother round the edges. that can be a good thing as well as a bad thing. U decide which side you prefer.
Netwatcher, on 10/12/2007, -2/+8One thing you should never buy new, Exercise Equipment.

Any gear you buy used, probably was never used more the twice.
Kind of like most gym memberships.
iyiinsan, on 10/12/2007, -5/+1Buy your one year old a used toy...

...blame the article when he gets sick from that.
BGog, on 10/12/2007, -6/+1oops. wrong story.
ThankTheCheese, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2games without online content should always be bought second hand, but the problem comes to online multiplayer games. Does anyone know if it is possible to get a new serial number for a game you have bought second hand to prevent them from re-using it?
- Kuipo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1For most games it is not. Simply because they factor in that every player must 1. buy the game, then 2. pay the monthly fee. Simply giving that first part away won't make any sense. Now there are exceptions where the game install is given away for free and there is ONLY a monthly fee. All the most popular MMORPG's are of the first type mentioned.
hiPpymIck, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2small ads in your local paper are a good place for second-hand bargains - course you never know whatll be there
Kuipo, on 10/12/2007, -4/+4Here's what I don't get. If something is good enough for you to buy the product... don't you want to support who made it? Buying a product used in no way supports the original creator. For example: I just played WarCraft3 again and decided I liked it enough to pay Blizzard for their product. Now that's a game that I could have EASILY gotten a copy of for real cheap. But then I wouldn't be doing what I set out to do in the first place, which is pay Blizzard for a game.

It's called voting with your money, and I think too many people have forgotten how powerful it really is. If everyone were to sit back and think: is this product good enough for me to pay the creator, or should I not bother? We might have better products. But see, that right there is the problem. People would have to think about what they are doing.

Buying a product isn't just a "ME ME ME ME ME It's all about ME" decision... at least it shouldn't be.
- tokyopimp, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Of course, but only if I really love the product... I play a lot of games, there is no way in hell I could afford to play the amount of games I do if I bought them all brand new. I'll either wait for a greatest hits version or get it used, 60 bucks is to much money for me to buy every game new.
tokyopimp, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I don't care I buy used games unless I really have to play the game right away, and I know it's a great game. So games like God Of War, Gears Of War, Halo etc I'll buy brand new. But most of the time I buy used, because I don't have a lot of money and 60 dollars is more than a weeks worth of food for myself, or two full tanks of gas.
johnstar, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2"some of us dinosaurs still buy CDs" I buy cds they are not plagued with d.r.m.
d38as3r, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1I wonder... hum, alot of software is bound to the original purchaser, and is not transferrable or resellable, and as far as the Games go, sure, if you want your kid playing resident evil, while everyone else is playing halo,,, well dont cut yourself turning in them cans.
WDot, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1I buy RIAA CD's used so as not to support the labels.

Also, while I buy a lot of games used, many you can get a steep discount on "new" after a while. Call of Duty 2 now comes bundled with the original for $40. Quake 4 can be gotten for about 20 bucks now.
rgremill, on 10/12/2007, -5/+0Has anyone seen a used Wii console for half off?
codpiece, on 10/12/2007, -11/+1My pocket is filled with cum
codpiece, on 10/12/2007, -8/+1I soiled myself, how embarassing
OnoTadaki, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1Except the fact that buying new products helps our economy. The world economic powers are just that because of their liberal spending habits. If we all passed things back and forth when we didn't need them, our economy would suffer greatly.
jbozzy, on 10/12/2007, -3/+0I love whoever said gerbils.
raccettura, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1This article is somewhat fud:

1. Not all software can be bought used... in fact many/most can't because they need to be "activated"... go ahead, buy a used Windows cd... you'll run into issues.

2. Used cars may be cheaper, but you don't know what it's really worth. Some individuals treat their cars like absolute crap. Might have been in accidents, had parts replaced with ripoff poorly installed parts, etc. etc. Unless your a very good mechanic and take the thing apart, your buying a promise. Many have been ripped off to learn their purchase was in an accident and repaired off the books (so no report shows the history, and keeps resale value up).

3. Little Kids Toys - there's a sanitation issue here. Only toys that can be pretty much sterilized are really a good idea.

4. Jewelry - Only if you know how to spot the bogus stuff. And from reputable places... some of these places are known to be ripoffs.
- rodrigo74, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1You really felt Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt while reading it?
- PABeachBum, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Sterilized? OK we're not talking about Fisher Prices "My First Surgery Set". If you find a used toy in a consignment shop, it's probably been sitting there for weeks. if any pathogens still are alive inside that toy, you should be calling the CDC.
  
  A little germ paranoia is ok, but even an OCD freak like me knows most bad crap dies off after a certain amount of time. Spray it down with Lysol and let your kids at it.
PaulWu, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I don't know if I agree with the car thing. I guess it depends on what you need it for.
- rjani57, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1usually to drive around in! some guys might have other ideas.
rodrigo74, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Regarding books, I totally agree. It is such a huge waste of resources.

For those who already have a big library of used books, it is a great idea to start using Bookmooch.com (or similar sites) to swap books instead, you save money, space on your shelves and trees.
ibeetle, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3The great thing about buying used CD's and DVD's is that no money goes to the scum-sucking-greedy-bastards in the entertainment business, and their head-honchos, and their unions.

Buy used, and from a local business; they need the money more than Wal-mart.

Note: Not all unions are bad. Just the ones that seem to be representing certain sectors of the entertainment industry.
smithjohn, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1I agree you should never buy vista
Dillywin, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I never ever buy a used game if i have the option of buying it new. There is nothing like spending 12 hours ripping open the plastic casing with my newly chewed of fingernails (that i received choosing what game i was going to buy).
Also all the money goes to the person who bought the game the first time not to the people who actually made the game.If you are going to be legal you might as well give money to the people who deserve it not to some greedy company like gamestop
bpapa, on 10/12/2007, -3/+4Honestly I can't stand people who are overly cheap. The other thing that bothers me, for whatever reason, are the people who are like "yeah, I'd like to buy one of those... but I'll wait until model 5.0 comes out cause then model 4.0 will be cheaper." Thank god for companies like Apple, who make version 4.0 vanish when they announce 5.0. :)

Aside from that, I never buy used games. I mean, have you SEEN the people who sell their games to EB and Gamestop? I wouldn't bank on those guys washing their hands after they masturbate. No thanks of their games.
- rodrigo74, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Your first paragraph was kinda OK, but the second, just creepy. What next? Use gloves all day? How do you handle money, etc?
gingernut, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I must say that I really agree with the part about console games. When they are released here in the UK, they are about 40 GBP, a few months later, only 20, around a year later only 10. I buy games mostly new (a few months/a year after release), but not brand new. They are an absolute rip-off.
YankeeSR23, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Sporting equipment?

Baseball bats should never be bought used cause most metal bats (high school and college) lose their "pop" after about year's use so the second hand user would never get the full swing out of the bat.

Wooden bats could have unseen cracks and therefore would break quicker.

This lady should do more research and she'd have learned that.
- PABeachBum, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2You're being overly pedantic. Did you expect this woman to spend hours upon hours researching the various nuances of used sporting goods equipment for any possible type of activity? In that case, I'm quite upset she did not write a full 100 point checklist and include a service manual for every brand of used automobiles currently being sold.
- shockingbird, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3I agree.. shallow and pedantic.
DeepDoo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Who wants to wait a year on a game?
well other than PC Halo players that is.
Topher06, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4One thing I always wonder about when I here about tight ass penny pinchers go on like this, what the f*ck are you going to do with all that saved up money? The type of people that squirel away every penny and don't buy anything because buying something is frivolous end up dying rich. When they are young, they think they are saving up every penny so they can have an amazing retirement. They dream of travelling the world, owning a beautiful house, or driving that awesome car, so they save up every penny, avoiding buying anything fun and frivolous, or even just investing a reasonable amount of money for everyday life (yeah, that cable might take $40 a month out of your wallet, but its entertainment and can be educational), so they can put it all into retirement savings. Then after 30+ years of scrimping and saving, having no or avoiding any fun, they realize they are 60 years old, have a bad hip, and can't travel the world because it hurts to sit on a plane for more then an hour, can't own that big house because they can't take care of it properly, and can't drive that awesome car because their reflexes can't handle a 500hp sports car and they crash into the nearest mailbox.

Live a little. Sure, you can save money buying things by recognizing when they can be bought for discounted or used prices, but are just as good as brand new (but cars are not them, I have yet to hear someone buying a used car that didn't cost them in the long run), but have a life while your young and middle aged and splurge a little, you will enjoy it more rather then waiting for your twilight years where you might not be able to take advantage of it.

Live hard, die young. No point being a millionaire at age 90, unless Anna Nicole Smith floats your boat.
- libertinette, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4uh well I save money on the little things and spent it on vacations. If you save money, you end up with a nest egg to spend on something you would like but normally wouldn't have the money for. Not everyone that saves money lives a life of suffering. I don't have cable, but I do have a massage chair. I try to buy used when it makes sense, and when it doesn't I figure out if I really want it or not. I have priorities.
- bubbadoo989, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I think most people who take your advice wind up in hock up to their eyeballs.
  
  The key, whether you're rich or poor, is to consume things of value, always staying within your means. Most people will go out and buy that 500 hp sports car, finance it and in 5 years (depending on where you live and how well you take of care of it), it's an old car that has lost more than 1/2 of it's value. Of course, like the article says, if you have the cash (not credit) and it really does make you happy, then by all means, go ahead and buy it. But, if you're after what most are, image, prestige and status, a car aint going to do it for you. Maybe therapy will.
- PABeachBum, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Did you grow up in a multi-child household? Couple pairs of braces here, a stationwagon there, a trip to the shore, all drains the savings account pretty quickly. Penny pinching is not always a long term necessity.
- nougat98, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3"I have yet to hear someone buying a used car that didn't cost them in the long run"
  Then you're either naive, lying, or an idiot.
- LittlemanTAMU, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Then don't go whining to the government for help when you're old. If you can afford to save a bit for later and don't, society has no obligation to bail you out.
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