10 Grossest Items To Buy Second-Hand We're all for saving some money and "going green" by reusing things... but we have our limits, and there are some things that you simply must buy NEW. Items that harbor bacteria, that should be custom-fitted, or that have gone anywhere near your nether regions all qualify as things that deserve to be bought brand new, vacuum-sealed in plastic! We can't think of any reason that underwear, those garments you wear next to your genitals, mind you, should ever be purchased used. Check out this lot of "pre-owned" men's boxer briefs we found on eBay. Doesn't it look like this guy washed his underwear with something red, so while his listing claims these are white and gray they are actually varying degrees of pink? Not to mention that they're worn out and the chances of them containing skid marks are fair to excellent. Oh, and you can also get a 3-pack of brand new underwear for about $8.... Buying a used sex toy is not just disgusting, it's also illegal in most states.
Even if they can be cleaned, would you want to take a chance of catching something from a piece of rubber or latex? If you go to eBay and search for "used socks" you will find almost 7,000 listings. Since your feet sweat all day and generally have an unpleasant odor, we can't imagine why you would have any desire to don someone else's socks! Believe it or not, there are people who sell (and buy!) used cosmetics at yard sales and in thrift stores. This is gross on so many levels, not the least of which is that lipstick's high water content makes it a breeding ground for germs. And don't even get us started on how a tube of mascara can grow unspeakable bacteria that can lead to eye infections, sties, and worse.Not only that, but as soon as you open them most cosmetic formulas break down rapidly over time and don't work as well; foundation becomes cakey, lipstick goes on too dry, and lotions can become streaky. Besides the fact that the very idea of sleeping on a mattress that someone else did god-knows-what on before you got it is just plain gross, there are various health issues involved that make saving money on a used mattress a very bad idea.
First, mattresses typically mold to the shape of people's bodies, so getting comfortable on a used one is going to be tricky. Second, a typical mattress can contain tens of thousands of dust mites, which are a leading cause of allergies and a real problem for those with asthma or other breathing problems. Last, ever hear of bed bugs? We've heard stories of people selling boxes of condoms and Today Sponges at yard sales and on Craigslist, which just seems like a really, really bad idea. Are you really willing to harm your reproductive health to save a buck? Dentures are custom made to fit a specific mouth, so finding a pair that will also fit your mouth will be pretty much impossible. Plus, how gross is it to wear someone else's teeth? See: underwear... and add in the fact that you can't even bleach the hell out of a swimsuit to remove the funk of other people's junk. Sure, they can be sterilized and disinfected, but seeing a box of used pacifiers at a yard sale and then sticking them in your infant's mouth is still pretty yucky.
Since children tend to carry stuffed animals all over the place with them, furry toys tend to harbor lots of germs and bacteria. Most of them cannot be washed without losing their soft, fluffy qualities, so they become little pillows full of nasty germs. Not to mention that they often contain copious amounts of dust mites, which are a major cause of asthma and allergies; especially in vulnerable people like children. 10 Crazy Pieces of Crap On eBay Right Now 8 Hilariously Real Instagram and Tumblr Accounts 10 Funniest Badly-Translated Ads 12 Hilarious Pictures of Pinterest Fails 12 Funniest Findings in Google Translate 10 Most Chilling Stories of Modern Day Cannibalism 12 Worst Tattoos of 2011 10 Weirdest Naked Events 12 facts you didn't know about... 15 facts you didn't know about... Cat Shaped Egg Mold Wireless Bluetooth 360 Degree Speaker Take your home to the next level with stunning, stylish furniture and create a space that speaks to your inner designer.
Whether a room needs high-end pieces from top designers to the simple furnishings you need to tie a look together, you can find everything your home needs on eBay. Enjoy sifting through the choices to track down contemporary, traditional, rustic, or modern home furniture that appeals to you, your family, and your personal design sensibilities.Revamp your bedroom with new furniture, starting with a comfy mattress and choosing a sturdy, stylish bed to offer you a better night's sleep. Complement the relaxing style with beautifully crafted essentials such as nightstands, dressers, or antique-style wardrobes to create a getaway that exudes a calming vibe at the end of the day while remaining functional. Dress up your kids' and teens' spaces with durable, customisable contemporary furniture, from funky and versatile desks in bright colours to loft beds with futons or playhouses beneath. Throw in a few kid-friendly elements to make the room more inviting for guests, including trundle beds and oversized bean bag chairs.
Bring everyone together by outfitting the family room or living area in comfortable furniture the entire clan can enjoy. From sleek suede or microfibre sofas to sturdy oak entertainment centres and modern accent tables, this space can be as attractive as it is cozy. Bring a bland dining area up to date with a pub-style dinette set and chrome and leather bar stools, or create an individual look all your own with chairs of different styles and a long table that facilitates family conversation and memory-making. With so many choices at your fingertips, decorating is easy and fun again.What I Learned From Selling My Own Stuff at an Estate Sale Estate sales aren't just for dead people -- there are many other fine reasons to call in the experts at turning used stuff into cash. Maybe you're downsizing like I am, or you want to make some money and simultaneously clear out some clutter -- or maybe "Hoarders" is begging to film you. Whatever your story, here's how to hold an estate sale (or shop at one).
Setting Up an Estate Sale In one sense, an estate sale is basically a glorified yard sale with more stuff and better advertising. But don't try to do it yourself -- an estate sells takes a lot of labor, some of it more specialized than you might think, so contract with a company. Look for listings on estatesales.net (also a good way to find estate sales to shop) and connect with a firm that has a longer track record and good reviews on Angie's List or other review sites. Most estate sales companies won't handle your sale if the goods aren't worth a minimum value -- often $10,000 or more. If your sale is accepted, an evaluator will look over your belongings and write up a contract. The commission and set-up fees can run 30 percent or more of proceeds to advertise and run the sale, plus contacting collectors if you have specialized items. I hired a company that has been in business for 40 years. I was advised to lock away anything I didn't want sold -- and I mean anything, from framed children's artwork to the toothpaste tube on the sink -- or mark it "NFS " (not for sale) with blue masking tape.
Several weeks after my evaluation, a crew of eight came out and went through my house top to bottom, pricing, organizing and setting up displays. By the end of the day, my house looked like a three-story department store. I highly recommend being available on set-up day. It helped for me to be on hand to answer questions ("Are there more pieces to this collection?"), provide interesting backstories for some items (it apparently helped my company sell some photographic equipment), share the prices I had found on eBay (EBAY) for comparable pieces, and -- vital -- make sure things you don't want sold are held in a place inaccessible to the public. Also, as unpaid manpower, I helped clear out a room to display high-end items.Get Out of the House On the day of the sale, though, I left the house early. Like real estate brokers, estate sale staff advise owners to be away when potential buyers arrive. Customers can be extremely snarky about items that means a great deal to you. Who needs to hear that?
I only came home to sleep, shower and make the bed ready for another day of the sale. On the second day, everything was discounted by 25 percent -- except for items that had minimum prices, such as a few pieces of furniture I knew I'd rather keep than sell at too low a price to replace. On the third day, everything was discounted by 50 percent -- with the same minimum rule. If I had been getting rid of the contents of the entire house, I could also have contracted for a charity pickup or trash clean-out for a fee -- a rather substantial fee -- so I opted out of those. I received a check for my share of the proceeds about two weeks later. It wasn't as much as I expected, and entire categories of items -- like tableware and clothes -- hardly moved at all. Books didn't sell briskly in this age of e-books. What people will buy and for how much can differ considerably from what you'd expect. You may see reviews online about estate sales from people complaining that their items were sold at bargain-basement prices.
If you want top prices for what you're selling, you'll have to do some research, and likely sell the pieces online yourself, or go though an auction house and set minimum bids, instead of holding an estate sale. And here are a few tips for shoppers: Going early (shoppers lined up two hours before the sale began) is best for collectibles, and going early on the last day offers the best deals.The estate sale company will usually only hold purchases until closing on the last day.If you go to an estate sale in which the owners are moving rather than being deceased, household staples, kitchen equipment and sofas will likely go with them. All that said, it can be a wrenching experience to sell your things for less than you expect -- or see them not sell at all. My own experience was fairly good. Comic books, records, photo equipment and some furniture (but not the antiques, surprisingly) moved out the door in the first few hours, according to the nightly email reports I got from the company.
I was paid quickly, but because not as much sold as expected, the company took out its minimum cut, which ended up to be almost half of the proceeds. I was still left with a large amount of stuff, most of which moved with me to my new, smaller home, or was carted off to the Salvation Army. If you don't have the time to run multiple yard sales, trundle everything off to auction, or put up individual items on eBay, an estate sale may be your best option for cleaning out a house fast. In my case, I was left with more than I had hoped for, but tomorrow is another day -- for my own yard sale. Want more news like this? Sign up for Finance Report by AOL and get everything from business news to personal finance tips delivered directly to your inbox daily! Subscribe to our other newsletters Emails may offer personalized content or ads. You may unsubscribe any time. 2 cards charging 0% interest for 21 months Pay off your current high-interest credit card balance using this method The highest paying cash back card is here Transfer your debt to a card with 0% APR for up to 21 months Veterans could receive up to $42,000 with these VA benefits An astonishing 21-month 0% APR credit card If you owe less than $300k