Buying guides
What to buy used, what never to buy used, and how to check everything in between
Quick answer
The best things to buy used are durable goods that lose value fast and can be checked in person: furniture, bikes, tools, LEGO® sets, consoles, appliances and many electronics. Think twice about anything whose safety history you can’t confirm (car seats, helmets), products Canada bans from resale (baby walkers, drop-side cribs), and anything with a lock, a lien or a serial you can’t check.
Most of what people need is cheaper used, and plenty of it is better made than what replaced it. The trick is knowing which items hide their problems and which don’t. A dresser shows you everything in five minutes. A car seat, a locked phone or a bike with a scratched-off serial can look perfect and still be the wrong buy. These guides cover one kind of item each: where to find the good ones on Facebook Marketplace and Kijiji, what a fair price looks like, the scams that come with that category, and what to check before you pay.
Good to buy used, with the right checks
These are the categories where buying used makes the most sense, as long as you do the one check that matters for each.
| Category | Why buying used makes sense | The check that matters most | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pokémon and other trading cards | Cards trade at prices tracked from completed sales, so you can price almost anything | The price against completed sales, not other people’s asking prices | Pokémon cards |
| LEGO® sets | Bricks don’t wear out, and retired sets are only available used | The set number, and whether it is complete with its minifigures | Used LEGO sets |
| Bikes and e-bikes | A good frame lasts for years; the first owner absorbs the drop in value | The serial number (is it stolen?) and the frame size | Used bikes |
| Phones and tablets | Last year’s model costs far less and does nearly everything this year’s does | Activation Lock off, and a clean IMEI | Used iPhones |
| Cars and trucks | A new car loses value fastest in its first years | A history report, a lien check and an independent inspection | Inspection checklist |
| Motorcycles and powersports | Often lightly used and stored for the winter | The VIN against the paperwork, and the seller’s name on the ownership | Motorcycles |
| Furniture | Resells for a fraction of its price new, and solid wood outlasts flat-pack | Bed bugs, and your measurements before you go | Furniture |
| Appliances | Big, heavy and often sold cheaply by people who are moving | See it running at the seller’s, and check the age on the label | Appliances |
| Consoles and PC parts | Hardware outlives its owner’s interest in it | Test it, and check it can still go online | Consoles, GPUs and PCs |
| Baby gear | Used for months, then outgrown | Expiry dates, recalls and what Canada bans from resale | Baby gear |
Think twice before buying these used
None of this is about fear. These are the items where the risk is something you can’t see, or where the sale itself is illegal in Canada.
| Item | Why | What the rule says |
|---|---|---|
| Baby walkers | Banned in Canada since April 2004, including second-hand sales | Health Canada lists them among products that cannot be sold, advertised or given away |
| Traditional drop-side cribs | Hardware failures can trap a baby | Their sale, new or used, has been prohibited since December 29, 2016 |
| Inclined infant sleep products | Suffocation risk | Listed by Health Canada as banned products |
| Car seats with an unknown history | A seat that has been in a crash may not protect a child, even with no visible damage | Health Canada: don’t buy one if the seller doesn’t know its history. Transport Canada: seats made before January 1, 2012 may be illegal to advertise, sell or give away |
| Bike, ski and other single-impact helmets | One hit can use up their protection, and you can’t see it | Health Canada advises against buying single-impact helmets second-hand |
| Mattresses and upholstered beds | Bed bugs hide in seams and are easy to miss | Health Canada says to check any second-hand furniture or bedding yourself and not to rely on the seller’s word |
| Phones that are “iCloud locked” or “still financed” | An Activation Lock means only the previous owner’s Apple Account can set the phone up, and a phone still being paid off has a balance owing on someone else’s plan | Apple: a locked device can’t be used until the owner removes it from their account |
| Cars without the seller’s name on the ownership | The classic sign of a curbsider, or a car the seller has no right to sell | In Ontario, a private seller must give you a Used Vehicle Information Package, which shows registered liens |
For car seats, cribs, strollers and other children’s products, the full checklist and the block words that keep these listings out of your searches are in buying used baby gear in Canada. For cars, start with stolen-car and VIN checks in Canada and curbsiders.
Guides by category
Each guide below covers one kind of item: searches that find the good listings, the fair price and where to check it, the scams that target that category, and a checklist for the meetup.
0110 pages
Pokémon and trading cards
Pokémon, Magic, Yu-Gi-Oh, One Piece, Lorcana and sports cards: prices, fakes, sealed product, lots and graded slabs.
Buying Pokémon cards locally
The searches that find the binders others miss, a 30-second price check and a meetup that goes to plan.Buying guideHow to price a Pokémon card
PriceCharting, TCGplayer and eBay sold, read properly, converted to Canadian dollars.Buying guideIs this Pokémon card fake? 9 checks
Text, symbols, the back, the holo, the edge and a phone flashlight. No ripping required.Buying guidePokémon card scams, and how to avoid them
Deposits, counterfeit boxes, WhatsApp discounts and meetups that go wrong, with what to do about each.Buying guideCheck a graded slab before you pay
Cert lookup, card match, then label and case. Three layers, because fake slabs copy real cert numbers.Buying guideResealed booster boxes, ETBs and packs
The wrap, the seams and the crimps tell you most of it. Check them before any money moves.Buying guideCard lots, bulk and binders
Value the ten cards that matter, add a bulk rate for the rest, then decide whether to drive over.Buying guideMagic: The Gathering cards
The light test, the loupe and the green dot; proxies vs counterfeits; pricing singles and collections in Canada.Buying guideYu-Gi-Oh, One Piece and Lorcana
Each game’s own authenticity tells, where to check prices, and how to buy them locally.Buying guideHockey and sports cards
Price from sold data for the exact card, parallel and grade, and check rookies and autos for reprints and fakes.025 pages
LEGO
Used sets, set numbers, fakes, prices, minifigures and bulk bricks.
Buying used LEGO sets locally
Search by set number, check it is complete and really LEGO brand, and pay what it sells for used.Buying guideWhat a used LEGO set is worth
Find the set number, read BrickLink’s sold prices the right way, and adjust for what’s missing.Buying guideReal LEGO or another brand?
The listing wording, the box, the studs and the minifigures. Four checks that settle it.Buying guideBuy used LEGO minifigures without the fakes
The logo checks that catch counterfeits, how to price each figure, and how to buy a lot without overpaying.Buying guideBuy bulk LEGO by the bin or the pound
What’s really in a bin, how to work out a fair price per kilo, and how to clean and sort what you bring home.034 pages
Bikes
Used bikes and e-bikes, frame sizes, and how to check a bike is not stolen.
Buy a used bike on Marketplace or Kijiji
The serial, the size, the frame and the price, checked in the right order, plus a setup that finds bikes in your size.Buying guideBuy a used e-bike without buying a dead battery
The battery, the motor, the legal limits and the theft checks, in the order you should do them.Buying guideCheck if a used bike is stolen
Where the serial is, the three registries to search, the warning signs, and what to do if it matches.Buying guideBike frame sizes in used listings
What 54 cm, 17 inch and Medium mean, in one chart, and how to check fit at the meetup.046 pages
Phones and devices
iPhones, Android phones, iPads, Apple Watches and MacBooks: locks, IMEI checks and stolen devices.
Buy a used iPhone with the 10-minute check
Activation Lock, IMEI, financing, battery and parts history, all checked before any money moves.Buying guideBuy a used Galaxy, Pixel or other Android phone
The Google account lock, the IMEI and the carrier lock, then burn-in, battery and a model number that matches the box.Buying guideCheck if a used phone is stolen or blacklisted
The free IMEI checks for Canada and the US, and the two things a clean result can’t tell you.Buying guide“iPhone Locked to Owner”, and how to avoid it
Why a reset doesn’t clear Activation Lock, the check for every Apple device and Android’s FRP, and what to do if you’re stuck.Buying guideBuy a used iPad, Apple Watch or AirPods
Locks on iPads and watches, school-managed iPads, IMEI checks for cellular models, and how fakes give themselves away.Buying guideBuy a used MacBook without inheriting a lock
Activation Lock, company device management, battery cycles and the hardware checks that matter on each generation.058 pages
Vehicles
Cars, trucks, motorcycles, ATVs, snowmobiles and RVs: inspections, branded titles, odometers, curbsiders and VIN checks.
The used-car checklist for private sales
Paperwork, history checks, the walk-around, the test drive and the questions to ask, in the order you need them.Buying guideStolen, lien and cloned-VIN checks in Canada
The free stolen check, each province’s lien search, history reports, and the signs of a re-VINed car.Buying guideRebuilt, salvage and flood cars explained
What each brand means by province, how to price a rebuilt car, and the flood signs a quick look misses.Buying guideCurbsiders, and how to spot one
The signs Canada’s dealer regulators list, the checks that expose a fake private seller, and where to report one.Buying guideHow to check for odometer rollback
The records to compare, the wear that gives it away, and what a “potential rollback” on a history report means.Buying guideBuy a used motorcycle or dirt bike privately
Cold start, crash damage, chain, hours and paperwork, plus the VIN check that catches stolen bikes.Buying guideWhat to check on a used truck
Frame rot, towing and plow wear, 4x4 and diesel checks, and how to compare truck prices that never line up.Buying guideATVs, snowmobiles, trailers and RVs
What to check on each, the stolen and lien searches that cover them, and the deposit scams around RVs.066 pages
Home and electronics
Furniture, appliances, baby gear, consoles, gaming PCs and free stuff.
Test a used GPU or gaming PC before you pay
GPU-Z, a 20-minute stress test, mining wear, melted connectors and the box-only scam.Buying guideGenuinely free stuff
Find real giveaways first, skip the $0 bait, and never pay to receive something free.Buying guideUsed baby gear in Canada
What is banned, what needs a known history, and the checks for car seats, cribs and strollers.Buying guideUsed couches and furniture
Measure first, check for bed bugs, and skip the dropshipped “brand new” sofas.Buying guideUsed PS5, Xbox and Switch
The 10-minute test, the online-ban check, and the box-only scam.Buying guideUsed washers, dryers, fridges and stoves
See it running, read the label for age and recalls, and move it the right way.The four checks that apply to everything
Every guide above adds its own checks, but these four apply to anything you buy from a stranger.
- Price it against completed sales, not asking prices. An asking price is a hope. What things actually sold for is the real market. Search eBay sold listings, use the price guide for the category (PriceCharting for cards and games, BrickLink for LEGO sets) and compare the same item on both Facebook Marketplace and Kijiji. How to tell if a price is fair goes through it step by step.
- Identify the exact item. Get the number that pins it down: a set number for LEGO, a card number and set for Pokémon, a serial for a bike, an IMEI for a phone, a model and serial for an appliance, a VIN for a car. With it you can price the item exactly and check it against the registries that exist.
- Inspect it before you pay, in person. See it working, in daylight, in a public place where possible. For big items, go with someone. Bring what you need to test it: a charger, a game disc, a flashlight for furniture seams.
- Pay in person, never a deposit. Pay when the item is in your hands. A seller who wants a deposit, an e-transfer “to hold it” or a payment through a link is following the script of the most common Marketplace scam. Read the deposit scam and the safest ways to pay.
Where each category lives on Facebook and Kijiji
Both sites have category pages for these items. Searching inside the category cuts out the noise that a plain keyword search pulls in, such as phone cases in a phone search or LEGO storage bins in a LEGO search.
| What you want | Facebook Marketplace | Kijiji |
|---|---|---|
| Cars and trucks | Vehicles, plus the cars and trucks pages | Cars & Trucks, Classic Cars |
| Bikes and e-bikes | Bicycles, with mountain, road, gravel, hybrid, BMX, electric and kids’ bike pages | Bikes, with BMX, Kids, Mountain, Road, eBike and Cruiser, Commuter & Hybrid |
| Phones | Cell phones, with iPhones, unlocked phones and Google Pixel pages | Cell Phones |
| LEGO sets | Toys & Games, with LEGO, LEGO DUPLO and building toys pages | Toys & Games |
| Trading cards | Antiques & Collectibles, with trading cards, Pokémon cards and sports trading cards pages | Arts & Collectibles, and Toys & Games |
| Free items | The free stuff category, or a price filter of 0 | Free Stuff |
Hunt kits: the category checks Sift adds on a computer
Sift is a free browser extension for Facebook Marketplace and Kijiji. Alongside its general filters, it has hunt kits: extra checks for the things people hunt for most. A kit switches on when Sift recognises what a listing is, and its checks only fire inside that category, so the word “locked” on a dresser never sets off a phone warning. Full details are on the hunt kits page.
Trading cards. Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh, One Piece, Lorcana and graded titles get one-click links to the card’s prices on PriceCharting and TCGplayer, with grade and condition words stripped from the search so it finds the card. The Cards hunt hides “PM for price” posts, which tell you nothing.
LEGO. Sift reads the set number from the title (“LEGO · set 75192”) and links straight to BrickLink’s price guide for that set. It marks wording that says a listing may not be LEGO brand, an incomplete set or missing minifigures, and good signs such as sealed, complete and instructions included.
Bikes. Sift reads the frame size, lets you hide every size but yours, and links a written serial to Bike Index, or searches Bike Index for stolen bikes reported near the listing’s city. Wording such as “no serial”, “lost the lock key” or “found this bike” gets a Check this chip.
Phones and devices. “iCloud locked”, “blacklisted” and “still financed” get Check this chips; “unlocked”, “clean IMEI” and AppleCare get green ones. Phones, tablets and watches link to a free IMEI check.
Cars. The Car hunt sets year and maximum-mileage limits, hides salvage, rebuilt, flood, as-is and for-parts titles, hides dealers and dims cars you have already looked at.
In Sift’s options, Start a hunt sets up any of these in one click and saves it as a preset you can switch to from the popup. Sift does not authenticate cards, sets or devices, and it doesn’t check registries itself: it reads what the seller wrote and takes you to the right place to check. It runs on Chrome, Edge and Brave on a computer, not on phones.
Trademarks
LEGO® is a trademark of the LEGO Group of companies, which does not sponsor, authorize or endorse this site. Pokémon is a trademark of Nintendo, Creatures Inc., GAME FREAK inc. and The Pokémon Company, none of which is affiliated with Sift. Sift is independent and not affiliated with Meta, Facebook, Kijiji or any brand named in these guides.
Questions people ask
What are the best things to buy used?
Things that lose value quickly but last for years and can be checked in person. Furniture, bikes, tools, LEGO sets, consoles, many appliances and most electronics are good examples. Check the price against completed sales, see the item working, and pay when you have it in your hands.
What should you never buy used?
Anything whose safety history you can’t verify, such as a car seat with an unknown history or a helmet that may have taken a hit, plus products Canada bans from resale, such as baby walkers, traditional drop-side cribs and inclined infant sleep products. Be careful with mattresses too, because of bed bugs.
Is it safe to buy used electronics on Facebook Marketplace?
Yes, with checks. See the item working, check locks and serials (Activation Lock and the IMEI for phones, online sign-in for consoles), meet in a busy public place and pay in person once you have tested it. Never send a deposit to hold an item.
What is a hunt kit in Sift?
A set of checks Sift adds for one kind of item on Facebook Marketplace and Kijiji, such as PriceCharting links for trading cards, BrickLink’s price guide for LEGO sets or Bike Index links for bikes. It switches on by itself when Sift recognises the item.
Sources
- 01Health Canada Buying second-hand products
- 02Health Canada Information for shoppers of second-hand products
- 03Government of Canada Minister Pettigrew announces a ban on baby walkers (April 2004)
- 04Transport Canada Expiry dates on child car seats and booster seats
- 05Health Canada Second-hand car seat and booster seat safety
- 06Health Canada Bedbugs: how do I prevent an infestation
- 07Apple Support Activation Lock for iPhone and iPad
- 08Ontario.ca Used Vehicle Information Package
- 09The LEGO Group Fair Play (trademark guidelines)
- 10The Pokémon Company International Legal information