A used or secondhand item can be a smart way to stretch a budget, but the price is only part of the decision. Before you buy, identify the exact product and check whether it has been recalled or has an available remedy.
This is a general shopping checklist, not a product-safety determination. A current recall notice and the manufacturer’s instructions control for any specific product.
Get an exact product identity
Ask for clear photos of the label, model number, date code, and manufacturer name when available. A broad name such as “baby swing,” “space heater,” or “kitchen appliance” is often not enough to distinguish versions. If the seller cannot identify the item, consider that uncertainty part of the purchase decision.
Check official recall information
- Search the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s recall database using the manufacturer, product type, model, or description.
- Read the full notice, not just a headline. Confirm the model, date range, and stated hazard match the item you are considering.
- Check the remedy. A recall may offer a repair, replacement, refund, or other specific action.
- If an item was repaired under a recall, ask for evidence of the remedy before purchasing.
Know when to walk away
Do not buy an item that appears to be subject to a recall unless you can confirm the approved remedy has been completed and the recall notice permits continued use after that remedy. CPSC says recalled products should not be sold; it also asks consumers to report recalled products offered online, with a screenshot and the exact listing link when possible.
Keep the listing record
Save the seller’s listing, photos, price, and messages until the transaction is complete. This is helpful if you need to revisit the exact model identity or report a safety concern. It is not proof that an item is safe, but it makes a later check more precise.
For gifts and children’s products
Use extra care when the item is intended for a child or will be given as a gift. Check the product’s instructions, warnings, included parts, and recall status before wrapping it. Avoid guessing whether missing hardware or an altered product is equivalent to the version in the recall notice.
Bottom line
A quick recall search is most useful when it is tied to the exact model. If you cannot identify the item well enough to check it, the lower price may not be worth the uncertainty.
Source: CPSC guidance for buying and selling products online. Reviewed November 2026.