Watching Your Wallet: Buying and Selling Used, Part 1

Published on http://www.aggietownsquare.com on September 9, 2009

This is a two-part series in buying and selling used items. Check back next week for the how-to on selling stuff laying around your apartment, attic, house or under your bed online for some extra cash.

Finding used treasures is like going to Disneyland for me. My favorite thing to do is to spend an hour sifting through the junk at the D.I. (Deseret Industries) and finding something I've always wanted or have been looking for. Over the summer I developed a new hobby: looking for used furniture via online classified on www.ksl.com. I was looking for a new desk and spent hours looking through some of the coolest used furniture – every color, every style, every age. So much more fun than going to R.C. Willey or Office Depot and having a normal (boring) shopping experience.

My motto is instead of paying full price, pay half for something that is gently used with a little character. Let me indulge and share a few of my best used purchases:

1. Waffle Maker

D.I. price: $4

New price: $20 at Target.com

I grew up with homemade waffles every Saturday morning, and there was no way I was coming to college without a waffle maker. Instead of buying new, I found a used waffle maker at the D.I. for $4. It's worked perfectly for two years and counting.

2. Extension Cords

D.I. price: Two for $2

New Price: Two for $20 at Target.com

This is a more recent purchase. I'm currently living in a house that may or may not have been built before electricity was invented (it remains a mystery). The electrical plugs in my bedroom are so sporatically installed that they are nowhere near my desk, bed or nightstand (which, by the way, was bought at D.I. for $10, a great find this past summer). This makes things terribly inconvenient. My alarm clock and lamp were plugged in across the room the first week of school. I was about to bite the bullet and buy a couple extension cords at Wal-Mart, but my favorite hobby kicked in and I found two three-outlet extension cords at D.I. for $2. What a find!

3. Desk

KSL.com price: $35

New price: $150 at Office Depot

After moving out of my dorm room with a huge desk and lots of storage about a year and a half ago, I needed a desk with a lot of space. After watching the KSL classifieds for a couple days I found a desk with a huge hutch and several drawers for $40. I bargained down to $35 (okay, so only $5, but still, can't do that at Office Depot) and saved about $115 by not buying new.

Hopefully these examples inspired you to look at online classifieds or the D.I. the next time you need furniture, electronics or any other items to save a few bucks (or a lot).

Here's a couple tips for buying used at the D.I.:

– Always try plugging the electronics in before you buy to be sure they work.

– Be patient and persistent. Sometimes they don't have exactly what you need the first time you go.

And a few tips about buying used from individuals online:

– The best places to look: www.ksl.com, www.craigslist.com and www.ebay.com. Also, try out A-bay, a new classified service offered right here at www.aggietownsquare.com. This service is great because all the items are in or near Logan, Utah, for easy pick up.

– When you find an ad you like, call and ask questions. Lots of questions. There may be flaws they failed to mention or capture with the photo, and you don't want to waste your time looking at something you don't like or want.

– Most prices are flexible, so don't be afraid to bargain and make an offer lower than what the seller is asking for.

– Again, be patient and persistent. Check the listings often as they change constantly.

– Steer clear of people who want your money before you see or purchase the item. Be conscientious of people who may be trying to scam you.

Bargain of the Week: Looking to buy a new iPod? Check out the refurbished iPods on www.apple.com under "Special Deals" and spend $99 instead of $149 on an eight gigabyte. These iPods may have had small problems but have been refurbished and include the full one-year Apple warranty. Look at Apple's entire refurbished store for discount computers, iPods and other Apple products.

Karlie Brand is a junior in public relations. "Watching Your Wallet" will appear online each Wednesday. Questions or comments can be sent to her at karlie.brand@aggiemail.usu.edu