What Are Some Good Questions to Ask in Buying a Used Stroller/carseat?

I am pretty sure a stranger trying to sell their carseat is not going to be honest. I wouldn't buy a carseat unless you KNOW the person selling it and you feel confident that they are not going to lie to you.

I'd ask if they have a manual and the manufactured date, as the useful life of a carseat varies from 5-7 years.

Non-smoking home?
Pets?

You can't risk a used carseat. They do have some for infants for $39 brand new advertised at Burlington Coat Factory! Even an inexpensive one (brand new), should be great!
Used strollers are fine. Test them out first. Hope you find what you need!

1. Travel systems are bulky and a waste, IMO. We rarely used ours and had I do over, I would have gotten a snap n go instead for the tiny infant stage. You can get one off Freecycle or at a consignment store.

2. I strongly urge you to not get any car seat from anyone you do not personally know well. You need to be ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN that it was never in any accident, no matter how minor. That the straps were never washed in a manner that made them soaked/wet and that it has not passed the expiration or was in a recall. I was recently in a consignment store and they would not accept car seats at all. Too big a safety risk. My sister received a travel system from our aunt from a yard sale and didn't know what to say b/c she knows all the above and later found out it was in a recall anyway. It's just not a risk one should take with a child. There may be problems with the foam or plastic that you cannot see.

If you still want the travel system, many new seats still fit older strollers. My sister was able to use our Chicco (a band I liked very much, btw) bucket seat with her brand new stroller. I passed it to her because I could guarantee as her sister that it was a safe seat. You could buy an older stroller (not as big a risk) and a new baby seat.

You can also skip the travel system and get a wearable carrier and a convertible seat that will RF and FF from 5lbs on up. Save you money in the long run.

There is a good reason that no charity (at least around us) takes used car seats for resale. You have NO way to know if that seat was in a crash -- the seat could look perfectly undamaged but if it's been in a crash it could have stresses on the plastic parts and straps that you would never see. Our local fire departments, who do things like install new car seats and inspect them, always say: Even one small crash and the seat must be replaced.

You also have no way to know-- unless you research it online BEFORE you buy-- whether that car seat has been the subject of a recall, and many, many car seat brands get recalled (go to www.cpsc.gov and search -- you'll be surprised).

It is not worth saving a little money if you are risking getting a seat that is old, has been recalled or has been in a crash.

You can ask all the questions you like but you have no way of knowing if the person selling to you is telling you the truth.

Pay more and get a new one. Why risk your child's safety? A car seat is a fundamental safety device. Please don't skimp on price and buy used just so you can get a combo, or so you can save money.

check expiration date it is on the back of the carseat if they don't have a manual call the company directly give them the name model number of the carseat they will mail you one directly,non smoker unless you don't care about that,look it over really good for any stress on the plastic of the carseat it will appear like white marks take the cover off to look at it,make sure the foamis all intack

Well, I've sold every car seat that I had, and I was very honest in saying that "This has been in a car that's never been smoked in, we've taken good care of it, and we've never been in an accident." I am thankful that people weren't too suspicious to buy from me, because the money went back into buying the next size up, etc. Not everyone selling a used car seat is a liar who's been in an accident!! :) I could, in good conscience, sell mine because I KNEW it had not been in an accident.

I do get everyone's point, though, and I'll be a hypocrite...I have sold all my used seats, but like everyone else, wouldn't buy a used seat for the life of me. Because they are right...you just don't know.

Stroller, sure, go ahead, because your child's life is not depending on it. Get something comfy and cushy, but put something heavy in it and try to maneuver it around. The last (expensive) stroller I bought was almost impossible to turn, kept drifting to one side, and you absolutely could NOT push it with one hand without veering off course. I sold it (with full discloser...this stroller sucks, I'm selling it for 5 bucks barely used) and bought a cheaper one that I love.

"Has this car seat been in a crash?"

Honestly, I wouldn't buy a used car seat from a stranger. My sister gave us her infant seat, and I only used it because she's family and we checked the model number for recalls. (We also had it installed at a car seat clinic the hospital ran.) We searched for coupons with our bigger car seat and got it for a lot less.

You really shouldn't buy used car seats for safety reasons. It's not worth the life of your child to save a few bucks. Save the money somewhere else like used clothes or toys.

Does it roll straight? Does it have any rips or very worn spots? Does it smell bad, like a cat box or animal, cigarettes? Is it heavy? Lightweight? Flimsy?

We had a double stroller and I used it for everything. I even took it to Walmart and used it instead of a stroller. I just put the groceries and stuff in the bottom basket.

My friend had one she had used over and over and it didn't roll straight. It actually hurt my wrists after a few minutes.