Used Items: What Item Would You Not Want To Have?
By pyewacket
@pyewacket (43903)
United States
August 12, 2007 10:11pm CST
Lots of times to save money, many of us will get used items..it could be at a flea market, garage sale, even on-line...They could be books, clothes (as in thrift shops), furniture, cars, you name it...but is there one item you would NEVER considered getting used, and why?
For me it would be a used mattress. For some reason, a bed mattress is a real personal item. Gosh knows I could use a new mattress, no wonder I wake up with a bad back at times--LOL--but so many times I've passed up maybe an opportunity of getting a mattress because it was used--sometimes I'll be walking around and I'll see really fantastic, almost like new mattresses set out in the garbage...and I often think, gee if I could only bring that home...but another thing makes me hesitate...Like in my mind I'm thinking, why is this practically brand new mattress, being tossed out in the garbage...which reminds me of the other reason I would get a "used" mattress...In my neighborhood there is an almost epidemic of bedbug infestation...So nope thanks..pass
13 people like this
24 responses
@3lilangels (4639)
• United States
13 Aug 07
well i would have to say a mattress,and underwear.i feel those are very personal items,and god only knows who used them.especially with all those diseas out there.those bed bites creeped me out.i did have alot of chances to get a new mattress,but i rather wait til i can afford a new one.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
14 Aug 07
Someone wanted to give me a mattress, but number wrong...it was the wrong size for me anyway
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
14 Aug 07
Nope you're not strange...those are very personal items so used I definitely wouldn't want to have
2 people like this
@TerryZ (22076)
• United States
13 Aug 07
Im certainly with you on the used mattress. I too could use a new mattress.LOL But its something I wouldnt even consider because of the bed bugs.YUK now Im starting to itch all over.heheheh Another item I wouldnt get used would be a couch. I know alot of people who have gotten couches used and dont have a problem with them. I would only get a used couch if it was leather.
3 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
14 Aug 07
Last year I actually did get someone's used couch...very nice one as a matter of fact...the one we had (my mom was still alive then) was not only an eye-sore but shall we shall uh, cat used?? And believe it or not, the couch came from our lawyer who was representing us at the time of our eviction issue..she was moving and had gotten all new furniture, so gave us her "old" one which wasn't so old--now it belongs to my two kitties...I don't dare sit on it..it's theirs...LOL
1 person likes this
@Katlady2 (9904)
• United States
13 Aug 07
I definitely wouldn't want a used mattress either. My luck, if I did take one, my back would be out a lot more than it already is. I also have a thing about used socks. It just grosses me out to no end when someone has their old socks in their yard sale. Ick! With as bad as some people's feet get, there's no telling what might pass on to my feet!
3 people like this
@BarBaraPrz (45594)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
13 Aug 07
Well, you could always wash them in hot hot water, maybe add a little bleach...
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
14 Aug 07
I wouldn't want used shoes either to go with the used socks LOL
2 people like this
@AmbiePam (85700)
• United States
13 Aug 07
Now that you mention it, I would never purchase a used mattress. I'd be way to afriad of what used to be on it. But the thing I never buy used is shoes. My mom kind of impressed on me early on that buying used shoes should be avoided, if that was possible. Because when you think about it, it's a lot like wearing bowling shoes.
3 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
14 Aug 07
Yuk..bowling shoes...oh my gosh,..does that take me back...I used to bowl and hated getting those shoes--LOL
2 people like this
@foxyfire33 (10005)
• United States
13 Aug 07
Mattresses are on my list although I wouldn't have even thought to mention it if you hadn't. Another thing I won't get used is a car seat for the kids. I have no way of knowing if it had been in an accident or more importantly, in a way, how many times it was umm..."leaked" on. Normally I don't buy used shoes. Other people's feet gross me out. But yesterday I did get a pair from Salvation Army. I was in there for an old shirt to turn into an art smock and I saw a $5 pair of shoes that looked like they hadn't been worn. I mean NO wear inside or on the bottom, no scuff marks, nothing...like they were brand new and a high dollar brand that I'd never be able to buy actually new.
Let's see what else...underwear and socks(and yes I have seen people trying to sell their old underwear!), bedding (same as the mattress issue), drinking glasses ( I can't explain why, they just seem creepy to me)...that's all I can think of right now.
4 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
14 Aug 07
I think you covered a lot of bases here..hehe...I can't believe someone would actually want to sell used underwear though..ick!!
2 people like this
@TheCatzMeow1 (579)
• United States
13 Aug 07
I've bought a new mattress with the plastic still on it, but I wouldn't buy a used mattress either. I wouldn't buy used undergarments either. Ewwww! Just the thought of it seems creepy.
2 people like this
@TheCatzMeow1 (579)
• United States
15 Aug 07
I'm afraid so. At least here in MO they do. You'd never catch ME selling my personal stuff though! I'd be too embarrassed to lay that type of thing out on a table where anyone could walk by and see.
@brendalee (6082)
• United States
13 Aug 07
I agree with you. A mattress is about the only thing I don't want that us used, unless it came from someone I really know. My boyfriends dad gave us a mattress that he bought but it bothered his back so he got a new one. I am sure he didn't use it very much.
3 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
14 Aug 07
I don't even think I would want a mattress from someone I knew...just would still give me the creeps somehow
2 people like this
@shambuca (2524)
• United States
13 Aug 07
Okay I have to say that is a good one- I will only take used furniture if it comes from someone in one of our families. Last year they had a thing on the news about bedbugs being a new and growing problem.
However- the worst for me would be used underwear....yuck!!!
3 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
15 Aug 07
I know bedbugs are a real problem around my neck of the woods...all the hardware stores have signs for products in eliminating them...used underwear? No thanks! LOL
@saigonwarrior (1331)
• United States
13 Aug 07
Well, I wouldn't take a used mattress from a stranger..I am even leery of some furniture...fabric with stuffing...used stuffed animals for the kids..nooooo...the only way that I would take these items is if they belonged to good friends or family members, then I think it would be ok..but, I am with you on the mattress thing..that is the first thing that comes to mind, bedbugs...ewwww...lol
3 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
14 Aug 07
Other kind of furniture I have no problem with...a friend just gave me a nice white lacquered desk type drawer piece which is really nice...ah..now I have extra storage space :)
1 person likes this
@pismeof (855)
• United States
13 Aug 07
PYE,I'd have to go along with you on this one..Anything with a cushion like a couch or chair or mattress that can't be replaced would certainly be off the garage sale list for me.
You never know about the inhabitants of such furniture.I really wouldn't go in for any dishes or silverware either.Just kind of creeps me out.
3 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
14 Aug 07
Dishes wouldn't completely creep me out, but a mattress definitely would LOL
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
13 Aug 07
I agree on the mattress issue, pyewacket. In the past I have gotten a used mattress or two from a close family member. That was alright with me because I knew them and their habits. Right at the top of my list would be Underwear. I wouldn't want used underwear. They might be clean, but you never know, lol.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
15 Aug 07
I wouldn't want used underwear either....yeesh--yuk--LOL
@irishmist (3814)
• United States
13 Aug 07
I would have to agree with you on the mattress. Unless it came from someone I knew. I would still have it cleaned however. I'm lucky though my son owns his own cleaning company. He has a steam cleaner, and he could clean it for me, as well as any other furniture , as he has another cleaning machine for that. I would not however wear used shoes. That would just feel creepy. Except when my daughter gives me a pair she bought ,and then didn't like.
3 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
14 Aug 07
I can understand about shoes...like maybe by wearing someone's used shoes you might get their "vibes" at least that's how I feel
1 person likes this
@cutepenguin (6431)
• Canada
14 Aug 07
Yeah, I'm pretty much in agreement about the mattress. Also bed linens - I'd never take used pillows or even pillowcases.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
15 Aug 07
I just recently accepted some bed linens from someone I know, but I plan to use them to line my cats bed that they have..LOL
@susieq223 (3742)
• United States
14 Aug 07
I wouldn't get any used underwear. No matter how much bleach or disinfectant I might use or how clean it looks, I don't think I could ever wear someone else's underwear.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
14 Aug 07
Nope...I don't think I'd be that desperate to buy used underwear either--ick
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (45594)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
13 Aug 07
Q-Tips... (or ear squeegies, as I like to call them).
2 people like this
@sumofalltears (3988)
• United States
13 Aug 07
I am not big on used stuff of any kind...I never shop at flea markets or yard sales...I figure if the person selling the stuff dosen't want it any more why would I. If I had an eye that was trained to spot antiques then I would haunt these places, but since I don't I leave the goodies there for someone that wants them...:}
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
15 Aug 07
Hoew about books? I have no problem getting used books...I often get used books at Amazon.com for practically pennies, and I'm amazed at how great the condition the books are...so why pay full price??
@teapotmommommerced (10359)
• United States
15 Aug 07
Around here we do not have a bad problem with bed bugs so I have and will again if I need to taken and slept on a used mattress. When I bought our king size bed I bought it at a garage sale. I did not have money for a new mattress, so we slept in the used mattress until I got money for a new mattress. The antique headboard and mattress and bedding was only 50 dollars.
I will not use somones panties, for me that is where I draw the line. I will not wear a swim suit unless it has been washed either. I want new panties or no panties.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
17 Aug 07
That really was a great bargain for the mattress even if used, considering how expensive a new one would be--I'm hoping to get one one of these days
