Overview of second hand shopping

Till now we have learnt the nuances and basics of shopping at second hand shops.  So the basic rule in shopping at second hand shops is, check out the things you are shopping for, double check the veracity of the shop in which you are shopping, double check the working condition of items you intend to buy and last, but not the least- never hesitate to check out the product in several shops before ending up in one particular shop.  The best products to buy in second hand shops are electronic items in good working condition, vehicles and other home use products. 

The worst things to buy in a second hand shop are clothes and other personal use products including headphones and footwear.  There are a lot of places where you can try buying good electronic items at a cheap rate. The only reason for suggesting second hand shops is that the product quality wouldn’t be compromised to a great extent along with getting a good deal with respect to the prices.  So dear readers, I have given a brief overview of what you got to expect and follow while shopping at second hand retailers.  We can next move on to our next topic of discussion.  Stay tuned to the site in the coming weeks!

 

Use the telephone effectively

Here comes a very valuable shopping tip which would go down the annals of shopping as the most time tested and trusted tip.

“Don’t hesitate to call up “n” number of stores before deciding on the final one”

Quite corny and not too funny! But it is quite a serious issue which is nevertheless absolutely true.  The truth of this tip lies in the fact that not many shops have the amount of collection they claim to have.  The moment you call them up and inquire them regarding a particular product, you actually catch them unawares and 9 times out of 10, they are bound to tell you the truth.  This moment of truth is what actually would help you find the right shopping spot for you.  This tip holds good for both second hand shopping enthusiasts as well as first hand shopping freaks.  And it is more suitable for second hand shopping enthusiasts.  This is because, it is these shop guys who lie about their stocks most of the times and it is also true that they are the most innocent of the lot that they do not know to cover up their lies in a clever way which first hand retailers manage to do! 

Look a first hand retailer for a second hand deal

As I had mentioned in my previous post, don’t hesitate to inquire the seller and also don’t hesitate to step into a first hand retailer showroom to know the specs and details of the product in question.  It might be embarrassing in the beginning.  But it is absolutely OK to walk into a first hand retailer’s showroom to inquire about a product which you are going to buy at a second hand showroom.  Yes, it might sound a bit clichéd.  But after all it is your money which is in question and not the retailer’s! so the next golden rule in second hand shopping would be:

     “Find your way to a first hand retailer before finishing your second hand deal!”

In most of the cases, the first hand retailer would be more than happy to help you. After all you are not going to be telling him that you are looking out for a second hand deal! After you get the complete details and specifications about the particular product, you can go back to the second hand retailer and astonish him with the amount of detail and specs you managed to collect.  The moment he knows that you know quite a bit about the product, he would think twice before telling you the price of the product!