Well, to be honest, quite a few of our clients asked us the question, what are the pros and cons of buying a used car seat?
And, there is nothing wrong with that, even when I wasn’t financially well I also used to buy used products.
This post could be an eye-opener for all those who are struggling to find an answer to the below questions:
Is it bad to buy a used car seat?
Why you should never buy a used car seat?
Is it OK to reuse car seats?
Does anyone buy used car seats?
Why does a car seat expire?
All the aforementioned questions have been asked by our clientele in the past, so we decided to write a post that can answer these questions.
It will not only help our clientele but also the avid readers of izzysmarthomeguide.com.
Does it make sense?
So, without any further ado, let’s begin…
Frankly speaking, what I’ve learned from my past mistakes is, that shopping for a car seat can be a confusing and costly affair, and a simple mistake can ruin your buying.
Nowadays, manufacturers are asked to follow stricter safety standards which have led to a drastic increase in car seat prices.
The gist is you can’t afford to make a mistake when it comes to buying a car seat.
And, if you’re on a shoestring budget like many of my clients then definitely, you would be interested in knowing more about used car seats and if you can consider it a safe buy, right?
To be honest, no parents should even think of buying a used infant car seat because it can expose their kids’ safety.
Being a working lady and a mom of two adorable kids, I can clearly say that infants are fragile and therefore should only be allowed to use the most updated car seats available on the market, right now.
In the case of toddler car seats, it is safe to buy a 2-year-old model that hasn’t been previously part of an accident.
Well, it’s always good to be safe than sorry.
I’m NOT telling you to either trust my words or follow my view, but isn’t it good to listen to what NHTSA has to say?
As per the NHTSA, you should replace a car seat that was a part of a car crash to ensure that the level of crash protection hasn’t been compromised.
It’s always good to take a calculated risk so try to refrain from buying car seats that are older than 2 years.
Moving further, I will be walking you through some of the important hacks that will help you in making a safe choice.
The PROS of Buying a Used Car Seat
When it comes to buying a used car seat the first thing that comes to my mind is PRICE.
Of course, the price could be the major advantage of buying a used car seat, but is it the ONLY advantage? Let’s find out.
Before we dive deep into the topic, let me tell you, that the price of a used car seat can vary drastically as it doesn’t have a price tag associated with it, and the owner of the seat is the one who will decide the price.
Nonetheless, whatever price you’ve to pay, I can assure you that you’ll save a tangible amount of money compared to buying a new car seat.
Other than the price benefit, you’re also contributing to helping the environment and making it a safe haven for future generations.
In simple words, you’re saving a car seat that is still useful otherwise would’ve been discarded in a landfill.
In layman’s terms, a used car seat can help you save some money as well as contribute to the betterment of the environment.
The CONS of Buying a Used Car Seat
Buying a used car seat comes with quite a few disadvantages, and so it really becomes important for you to go through these disadvantages before making an informed buying decision.
Unfortunately, many of these disadvantages possess serious consequences.
One of the major disadvantages is the safety concerns that are associated with a used car seat.
There could be numerous reasons for a used car seat safety being compromised.
Let’s figure out what are they…
It is really difficult to find out whether the car seat that you’re planning to buy has been associated with an accident in the past or NOT.
And, if you’re successful in finding out the car seat is associated with a crash, then the best advice that I can give to you is to REPLACE it at the earliest.
At the same time, if you’ve bought a car seat that has been associated with a crash then definitely, you’ve put your safety at a stake.
If a car seat is in great shape it doesn’t mean that it is equally safe.
I always recommend my clients dispose of a car seat that has been in use for a decade now.
The reason why I’m saying this is because the components and materials used in the car seat including foam and plastics can degrade as time passes because the car seat is exposed to numerous external things including heat and UV rays.
Nevertheless, if you’ve made up your mind to buy a used car seat then to mitigate the risk you should ask the owner about its original date of purchase along with the proof.
Don’t forget to look at the car seat’s label as it will allow you to gather details on the car seat’s compliance with the law.
Furthermore, it is always recommended to ask the seller for the car seat’s original manual in order to avoid any last-hour misadventure.
Uncertainty is yet another disadvantage that is associated with a used car seat.
The reason why I’m saying this is because you don’t have any data to find out how well the seat was handled by the previous owner in the past.
If the previous owner has cared for it well then you’re definitely lucky and the seat will serve you for the years to come.
On the contrary, if it was exposed to UV rays, etc. then definitely, it’s your back luck.
The PROS of Buying a New Car Seat
Other than the many associated benefits of buying a new car seat for your infant, being a mother a unique kind of feeling will prevail that is priceless.
First thing first, there is no hide-and-seek play anymore, you know what you’re buying what all benefits are associated with it, and whether or NOT it is in compliance with the recommended safety standards.
Moreover, now you know that your newly bought car seat meets the manufacturer’s safety specifications.
Not only will you get an “easy to read” user’s manual but also other associated accessories if you’re buying a branded car seat.
And, the best part is, you’ve time and a chance to correct any mistake in the form of a warranty that comes with the new car seat.
Well, how can we forget the edge in terms of technology that you’ll get with the new car seat?
The top-rated car seats are equipped with advanced and innovative technology.
We always recommend our clientele to buy new car seats because technology is always changing and evolving for the good.
Planning to buy a new car seat can expose you to a wide range of options, all equipped with idiosyncratic superlative features including the most advanced safety features.
So, bringing home a good quality car seat can give you peace of mind as well because now your baby is in safe and secure hands.
The CONS of Buying a New Car Seat
Frankly speaking, I’ll not say it as a con rather “opportunity cost” would be the better word to define it.
Saying “price” as a drawback wouldn’t be correct because some really good quality car seats are available at affordable prices.
You’re paying extra bucks for the advanced features and safety, it’s an opportunity cost, indeed.
However, if you consider price as a drawback then you don’t have an option but to bear with it in case, you’re planning to buy a new car seat.
And, this isn’t the case with a car seat but with any new vs. old product.
Correct me, if I’m wrong.
Other than the price, I don’t think is any drawback associated with a new car seat.
In case, you’ve found one then please do let us know in the comment section, we’ll validate it and if it is legit we would be more than happy to inculcate the drawback in our post.
New Vs. Old Car Seats
I hope till now you have made up your mind about the car seat that you want to go with.
As said earlier, both the new and the old car seats come with their own sets of pros and cons.
It’s totally your decision which car seat you want to go with.
For example, if you’re on a shoestring budget then definitely, a used car seat would be a great fit for you.
Nevertheless, if you’ll review all the options you’ll definitely find out that the new car seat could be a better option for your kind in terms of both comfort and safety.
Buying a new car seat might cost you more upfront but it will pay you in the long run, and most importantly, you know what you’re paying for.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, you should buy a new car seat for your kid until and unless she is ready to use a regular seat belt.
The main issue that I find with a used car seat is that I can’t gather information regarding its handling and use.
I don’t know how it was handled and whether it was a part of any crash in the past or NOT.
However, if you don’t have a budget for a new car seat then either you can wait and save some money until you’re ready to afford a new car seat or choose a used car seat wisely.
Never purchase a used car seat that is older than 10 years.
To be honest, I recommend my clients not to buy a used car seat that is older than two years.
At the same time, when you’re buying a used car seat make sure that it comes with a manufacturer’s label as that is one of the ways to check whether there was any recall in the past or not.
Never buy a used car seat that has any cracks or is missing any parts.
We always recommend our readers for buying a new car seat because by doing so you’ll know that your car seat underwent a quality control process, so it will keep your child safe and secured.
Moreover, a warranty would be in place so that if anything goes wrong can be compensated
Similarly, buying a new car seat will take away worries such as car seat history or how well it was used in the past because it’s a completely new one.
And, your new car set would be technically advanced, highly comfortable, and long-lasting.
In fact, it would meet all the current standards including the safety ones.
Last but not least, if you’re a working mom like me and want the peace of mind that your kids are in safe hands then go for a new car seat rather than a used one.
FAQs
In this section, we will be responding to the queries related to the pros and cons of buying a used car seat.
In case, we’re not able to cover your query then please free to reach out to us via the contact form of izzysmarthomeguide.com.
Is it bad to buy a used car seat?
DEFINITELY NOT.
You can go with a used car seat that is less than 2 years old.
However, buying a used car seat might expose you to safety loopholes as you’ll not have any data related to whether it was involved in a crash in the past or NOT.
Similarly, you would not be able to find out how well was it handled by the existing owner in the past.
If it was mishandled and exposed to UV rays and heat in the past then definitely, the car seat would be more vulnerable to safety flaws.
So, the gist is that you should wisely.
Why you should never buy a used car seat?
I’ll not say that you shouldn’t buy a used car seat rather would modify the question, and will say that you shouldn’t buy a used car seat if you don’t have budget constraints as the data related to its past uses and handling wouldn’t be available for you.
Is it OK to reuse car seats?
Of course, it’s perfectly fine to reuse car seats ONLY IF you’re able to find out whether it was involved in any crash in the past or NOT.
Furthermore, gathering information about how well the seat was handled by the existing owner in the past would definitely help you in making an informed buying decision.
Does anyone buy used car seats?
I know a couple of my clients who were on shoestring budgets and hence opted for a used car seat.
Why does a car seat expire?
You shouldn’t use any car seat that has surpassed 10 years from its manufacturing date.
The components and materials used in the car seat including foam and plastics can degrade as time passes because the car seat is exposed to numerous external things including heat and UV rays.
It’s A Wrap
First and foremost, I would like to thank you for being with us till the end.
Secondly, I would like to bring to your notice that I along with my core team have put loads and loads of effort into coming up with this idiosyncratic superlative piece of information.
And, in case, you liked our efforts and want to appreciate us then please do share the information with like-minded people and the ones who are in need of it.
After all, sharing is caring, isn’t it?
Cutting a long story short, I hope that the pros and cons of a used car seat will definitely help you in making an informed buying decision.
To conclude, we recommend a new car seat if you don’t have budget constraints.
Though you’ll have to pay more upfront in the long run the rewards would be mind-boggling in terms of advanced and innovative features, comfort, and safety.
In case, you’re on a budget constraint and opting for a used car seat then try to gather information about it in terms of usability, whether it was involved in any crash or not, and how well was it handled by the previous owner.
And, once the information is handy with you then making a decision would be easy for you.
That’s all, as of now:):)
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