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Secondhand Car Seats |
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Secondhand car seats
Secondhand, "previously used or owned by another; "bought a secondhand (or used) car", Source: Define: Google
While not everyone can afford a brand new car seat, it pays to take caution when buying a secondhand car seat. It is best to buy new where you can afford to.
All too often secondhand car seats have parts missing and may no longer meet current safety standards. Even though your child seat may still have a standards sticker attached, this does not mean the seat still meets current standards. Seats from the 80's can still have the sticker attached, but standards sure have changed since then.
Always check that the seat is in working order before buying - this includes checking for:
- The manufacture date
If the seat is over 10 years old from the manufacture date DO NOT buy it. Some seats have a limited life span of 5 - 8 years, these seats will have a "Do not use after" date marked on, ALWAYS go by this date. If you suspect the dates have been changed, DO NOT buy it.
Expiry dates are either found on stickers or stamped into the plastic, if the sticker has been removed use this table as a guide. Manufacture dates can be seen as a clock somewhere on the seat shell, in the event of a "missing" manufacture date sticker.
Cannot find the date? DO NOT buy it.
- A standards sticker
This confirms that when the seat was made, and first sold it meet current safety standards, however if the car seat is over 10 years old, or 5-8 years old, for limited life span seats the standards may no longer be current and the seat may be out dated when it comes to safety standards.
If the seat is within its life span - of less than 10 years, or less than the specified limited life span - and it does not have either a:
UK ECE 44.03 - Orange or red sticker with an "E" and a number in a circle
AS/NZS 1754 Or - Red and white sticker with "5 ticks"
NZS 1754 - a yellow "S" mark safety standards sticker on it, it comes from a country that is not accepted here, and should not be being sold on. DO NOT buy it.
Seats with the British kite mark standard will expire by the end of 2008 and should not be bought or used after this time.
No sticker? DO NOT buy it.
- An instruction booklet
Car seats need to be installed correctly, failure to do so could result in serious injury or death. Each car seat has a different set of instructions and should not be installed the same as a "similar" seat.
The instruction manual contains information on how to use the seat, wash the seat, what weight and height limits the seat has and what you need to do after an accident.
No instruction manual? Can you find the "right" manual online? If not, DO NOT buy it.
- A complete set of fittings
This refers to coming with everything the seat was sold with. It includes the instruction manual, locking clip, padded inserts, tether bolt, harness straps, the cover and any other accessories as supplied by the manufacturer. Without the fittings your child may be subject to injury or death in an accident.
Missing parts? Can you buy replacements? If the seat has expired - that is any seat over 5-8 years (limited life span) or over 10 years old - you will not be able to buy replacements from the manufacturer or retailer for that seat. It is not ideal to use parts from other car seats or for other brands.
Cannot buy replacements? DO NOT buy it.
- Known history
Do you really know where that seat has been, how it has been stored and if it has been in an accident or not? Can you tell if the straps have been washed in bleach?
If you do not know the seats history, it is not ideal to purchase the seat. The seller may not tell you about the accident they had last year, and the seat may have invisible stress fractures that might give way if you and your child are in an accident, using that seat.
Do not know the history? DO NOT buy it.
- Obvious damage
White stress marks -like those that appear when you twist a milk bottle - may identify a car seat that has been in an accident or mistreated.
Cracks and splits anywhere on the shell are a clue to excessive force, including force from an accident. This includes damage to polystyrene booster seats, do not ignore cracks or completely damaged pieces.
Torn or frayed harness webbing and tether strapping, also identify excessive force or ill-treatment.
Excessive sun fading - lets face it, any item left sitting in the sun all day, everyday becomes brittle and weak with time. Car seats do weaken in direct sunlight. An extremely faded cover is an example of this.
Moldy straps - Vomit, sweet treats and drinks can cause damage to seat webbing and weaken the fibres. Some people will try to remove this mold with bleach, or similar harsh chemicals, this will also weaken the webbing fibre.
Buying secondhand car seats online - Trade Me and similar sites
You do not have to complete a sale where the item is not as described or the trader has mislead you. If there are issues with the seat do not buy it just because you have made the bid.
If you have problems with the trader, please contact the auction site where your seat was purchased from.
Always ask questions on the auction.
Community watch (found at the bottom of all auctions) any car seat auctions you feel breech safety standards, or may pose a risk to any child using it.
