Some second hand items can be great bargains – others, not so much.

There are some great second-hand finds out there...

...books, movies, music and more – but Reader’s Digest has a few things to never, ever buy used:

• Child car seats - Damaged car seats are common. About one in ten have been in an accident. Brand-new car seats can cost as little as $50, and safety technology improves each year. Don’t risk your child’s life.

• Cribs - Scores of crib recalls, as well as changing safety standards, make it hard to verify the safety of a used crib.

• Laptops - Laptops are more likely to have been dropped, knocked around and spilled on, simply because they’re out in the world, while a desktop computer sits mostly safe at home.

• Shoes - Used shoes have been molded to their previous owner’s feet. Poorly fitting shoes can cause pain and health problems over time.

• Hats - Hats are rarely cleaned before they are donated to thrift stores. They may contain remnants of hair products, sweat, or skin infections.