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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to be suspicious about these used car seats

17 replies

AmandaCooper · 10/11/2013 23:24

DH and I have come across a seller on Ebay who trades in used baby car seats. From their history it is clear that they sold ten last month and they currently have about eight more for sale. They are not buying any, just selling. All are different models and price brackets. Some are practically brand new. Each advert states categorically "this seat has never been in an accident".

Anyway DH and I started speculating about where someone might get a constant supply of used car seats that they could give that assurance about. And when we couldn't think of anywhere, out of curiosity we messaged the seller enquiring about one of the more expensive seats and asking the reason for sale. The answer came back: "we have recently changed our car and the seat doesn't fit our new car."

That seemed unlikely to be the real reason given the scale of the enterprise, which makes us suspicious. If the seats are shop display models or samples, or if there is some other reasonable explanation, why wouldn't the seller say so? The only thing DH and I can think of that makes sense is the seats are all coming out of cars which have had accidents.

Surely not?

We're definitely not buying one by the way.

OP posts:
iklboo · 10/11/2013 23:27

They could be getting them from Freecycle / Gumtree? Agree it's a bit weird, though.

YoureBeingASillyBilly · 10/11/2013 23:28

Dodgy. Avoid. Personally in wouldnt buy second hand/used at all. New for car seats is the only way to guarantee its never been in. An accident.

AmandaCooper · 10/11/2013 23:31

Yes I suppose they could be getting them from freecycle... Do people buy £270 car seats and then freecycle them a few months later though?

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AmandaCooper · 10/11/2013 23:32

Definitely not buying one!

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KerwhizzedMyself · 10/11/2013 23:33

They could be scavenging from the dump if people aren't aware about disposing of them properly. How horrible :(

SeaSickSal · 10/11/2013 23:35

They might well be a business dealing in used baby goods. Do businesses have to pay higher rates to use Ebay? If so they could be trying to avoid paying the higher fees.

5madthings · 10/11/2013 23:35

yes freecycle etc or maybe stolen? someone broke into our old car and stole all four carseats :( there is clearly a market for them.

i would never get secondhand umless it was from friend/family member i could trust.

Strumpetron · 10/11/2013 23:36

When I worked at a popular bike and pram store, anything we chucked away like that we had to bash in with a hammer because you wouldn't believe how many people would take them out of the bins, possibly selling them on.

YANBU to be wary.

AmandaCooper · 10/11/2013 23:40

I kind of wanted you to tell me there was a reasonable explanation! Sad

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Strumpetron · 10/11/2013 23:41

Could you report it in this circumstance? I don't know if eBay do investigations. I wouldn't like a baby to be injured in a faulty car seat or something.

They're obviously trying to hide something because they lied to you. I wonder what..

AmandaCooper · 10/11/2013 23:53

Strumpetron I was thinking maybe we should report.

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KerwhizzedMyself · 11/11/2013 00:11

Tentatively asking but would the police be interested in this sort of thing too as well as eBay? Is it a crime to sell potentially faulty stuff like this while announcing they are certainly safe?

Flatasawitchestit · 11/11/2013 00:12

Probably picking them up at car boot sales or buy sell fb groups and selling on for a profit.

ATouchNervous · 11/11/2013 00:27

I reported something similar to eBay about 1.5yrs ago, they weren't interested at all. Report it but don't expect them to be interested.

IneedAsockamnesty · 11/11/2013 01:22

Stuff like this is why I hate seeing second hand car seats for sale

KerwhizzedMyself · 11/11/2013 01:40

It's one of those items that really shouldn't be allowed for second hand :(

Gobbolinothewitchscat · 11/11/2013 02:32

Are they stolen?

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