Do your research before buying some items secondhand, Health Canada says
Do your research before buying some items secondhand, Health Canada says
Many used items are great, but regulatory agency says buyers should watch out for damage, recalls and bans
The three things Lee said buyers need to check for are an item's condition, whether it has any recalls and if it is banned in Canada.
For instance, Lee said, a used helmet could have hidden internal damage from a previous accident without showing any cracks on the outside. In that case, Lee said buyers' best bet is to ask the item's seller about its history and hope they are honest.
Well, duh. Safety equipment is one of those categories of things that you have to be careful of even if you're buying new, given the existence of cheap Chinese counterfeit items and Amazon's willingness to pass them off. Buy new from a brick-and-mortar store, or do your research and check certifications as well as age and condition and claimed history. Which route you go depends on whether you have more time or more money available to you.