Whether you are looking to fork out hundreds for a vintage Edwardian tea set or love trawling garage sales for a good bargain, used items hold both a sense of appeal and risk for shoppers.

Although garage sales and boot sales are slowly gaining popularity in the nation, there is still a sense of curiosity as to what is "okay" to buy used and what might not be worth your hard-earned money. Local consumers give their opinions on what they would never buy used and why.

Electric Feel

Although highly debatable and ultimately down to consumer choice, many will agree buying used electronic or digital media equipment, such as cameras and media players, can be a bit of a hit and miss.

Kelvin Wei, an electronics enthusiast, says he is very wary of buying used items such as laptops, DVD players and camera equipment. "Because they are portable, laptops are usually more subject to bumps and scratches. When you buy a used laptop, you have no idea what it's been through or when important parts will die on you. You also don't get the warranties and technical support that come with buying new computers."

Kelvin says he usually buys new if he buys any electronics, but is not averse to the odd second-hand bargain.

"I'm quite interested in photography and I like to collect old cameras so obviously sometimes you have to consider what you're willing to pay for and whether it is more about sentimental value or that you actually want a useable second-hand piece," he says, adding that accessories such as camera lenses and photo light bulbs are two things he would never buy second-hand, as these are already expensive anyway and a damaged lens will affect the quality of the photos.

Photo light bulbs, he adds, have such a short life span that buying used ones would not be economical.

Arif, as he prefers to be known, agrees with Kelvin, saying that he would never buy a used camera or phone. "I'd prefer to buy them new because you really don't know what's happened to the product and the warranty, if there is one, will be void."

General wear and tear is another reason to avoid buying used phones, he says. "Most people wouldn't have a two-year-old phone in the same condition they bought it, so scratches and things like that, they all add up to why it's probably being sold off in the first place."

Out with the old, in with the new

This is probably a no-brainer, but just in case: Do not buy used swimsuits or undergarments, under any circumstances. Rohayatti Hj Daud, from Bandar, says she is surprised when she sees these items at garage sales or in second-hand stores.

"When I've been overseas, and I see old swimsuits for sale or underwear at garage sales, I'm tempted to buy them and throw them in the bin so no one ever makes the mistake of buying them!"

Linda, an employee in a clothing store, adds that although "vintage" clothing has a huge following overseas, the trend of buying used clothing has not caught on yet in Brunei.

She agrees with Rohayatti that used swimsuits or underwear should never be bought or re-sold. "It's someone's dirty underwear. Do you really want to wear that, even if it has been washed a hundred times?"

Linda, who has friends in the local diving community, adds that the issue of buying used wetsuits is also debatable.

"Wetsuits lose ability to keep you warm over time. If you're a scuba diver, or the last owner was one, the constant change in water pressure will eventually wear out the wetsuit and make it more likely to tear. I think buying a new wetsuit is always a good investment because it means you're more likely to have the full level of protection."

Another item she would never buy used, says Linda, are old shoes. "Working in a clothing store has taught me the value of good fitting shoes. Over time, shoes usually change shape to fit the person's feet. Used shoes also can play host as a breeding ground for bacteria which can cause all sorts of health problems as well.

Other accessories such as hats are also not worth the bargain, she says, adding that it really is down to the consumer's preference.

"Hats are usually not cleaned before they are resold or donated, so if you buy a used hat, you don't know if you're also getting skin infections, old sweat stains, hair products. It's got quite a big 'ice' factor in my opinion."

Another bargain buy she avoids is used make-up. "It's not common here at all to buy used make-up, but that's another thing that will usually have a lot of bacteria so I'd advise people to steer clear of that, as well as buying old make-up."

The kids aren't alright

Buying for a new baby can often cost more than most parents expect, and some have even taken to buying second-hand clothes and supplies such as prams, toys and clothing to help cut on costs.

If you think that there's any chance that you'll put your children at risk by buying used items, it's probably much safer to just buy new, says Ronnie Lam, who has just had his second child.

"We spent close to $2,000 just to renovate the baby's room and buying all the furniture and extras like diapers and prams."

With essentials like prams and cribs, the number of multiple crib recalls as well as changing safety standards make it hard to verify the safety of used products, he adds.

If you have pets, it's also advisable to just say no if in doubt, adds Ronnie. "Even if pet supplies like resting pillows and collars are just sitting around in someone's garage, unless they are very well taken care of, most will be in a state that could either pass on the previous pet's bacterial infections or even be a breeding ground for pests like mites and lice."

That's definitely something you don't want your pet to get, he says. "The medical bills would not be worth the discount you get buying used pet accessories."

Realistically speaking, buying used items is really down to personal preference, so if you live by the adage that one man's trash is another's treasure, buying second-hand items can be a bargain, within reason.