Shopping at thrift stores can be fun and extremely cost effective. However, what many people don’t know is that there might be hidden dangers associated with shopping thrift stores.
Shopping for clothes and vintage antiques can be a great deal of fun when you know what to look for. It’s kind of like going on a scavenger hunt for the perfect item in a sea of used items. However, there are some things you should also avoid when shopping at thrift stores. These thrift store dangers might not be immediately apparent, but if you stop for a moment to use some common sense, suddenly things become a little more clear as to why you shouldn’t buy certain things from these places. For instance, some items may contain hidden dangers the employees might not consider when putting them on display. Others may contain creepy crawlies that you don’t want to introduce into your home.
Regardless of what it may be, the following 20+ thrift store dangers should be reconsidered before you bring the item to the checkout.
1) Car Seats: Did you know that children’s car seats actually have an expiration date? If you go into any store and look at the side of the manufacturer’s label, you can find this date there. If a child seat has no expiration date, that should also be an immediate red flag. Not to mention, you have no way of knowing if this might be a seat that has been recalled if it’s missing the manufacturer’s label. When it comes to your child’s safety, you should always opt for the newest, safest models.
2) Bike Helmets: Believe it or not, you really shouldn’t be purchasing a bike helmet from a thrift store. If you have any kind of crash with your bike helmet, unless it’s an industrial or heavy duty helmet it should always be replaced. If it’s a serious crash, your helmet will likely not even be usable anymore. Nevertheless, you don’t know the history of this helmet. Therefore, why would you trust your safety to it?
