Products worth buying used, and what to check in the condition notes before you do.
Some products are gambles secondhand. Others are durable, repairable, and steeply discounted the moment the box is opened. These are our picks in the second category. New to used-condition shopping? Start with the Conditions Guide, then set up a watchlist so a deal finds you.
Helmets, car seats, mattresses, earbuds and groomers are where buying used goes wrong most often. Here is what actually drives the risk in each, and where a factory-refurbished unit is the better answer.
Rust washes off. Cracks, warping and deep pitting don't. Why a used Lodge skillet is one of the safest secondhand buys in the kitchen, and the three checks that matter.
Where to buy a used Kindle Paperwhite (Amazon Resale, Renewed, eBay, Back Market, Swappa), which generation to get, and the registration check that trips up buyers.
The used Aeron market is huge and the discounts are real. What the A/B/C sizes mean, what wears out, and why the 12-year warranty doesn't come with it.
A used DeWalt 20V MAX drill kit can be a genuine bargain, but the drill isn't the part that wears out. What to check about batteries, chuck, and kit contents.
The Baratza Encore burr grinder is built to be repaired, holds its value, and shows up used constantly. What to check before buying one secondhand.