Start with “used items” on Google Shopping: Google scans many of the largest retail sites including eBay, Etsy, Mercari, Poshmark and Amazon, as well as physical chains like Play It Again Sports. It won’t find every option online, but it’s the easiest place to start.

Many used items are virtually new: Brands are reselling returned items. These may only have been tried on and still have their tags. That’s especially true on massive sites like eBay, Mercari and Etsy. 

Try these places if you want more vetting: Big centralized marketplaces such as Goodwill, Amazon Warehouse and Amazon Renewed are clearinghouses for used, returned and refurbished items. 

Buy from your neighbors: Garage sales have gone online thanks to companies like OfferUp, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist and Nextdoor. Buy Nothing groups let you give, and receive, free of charge. 

Search in your category, especially clothes: New companies are specializing in furniture, electronics, baby gear and, above all, clothing. Poshmark, Depop (now owned by Etsy) and thredUP curate vast inventories at every price point.

Is the used online market ready compare to new? Quality varied. Preferred styles weren’t always available. Returns and shipping weren’t as seamless as Amazon. For low-cost items, it was sometimes cheaper to buy new than pay to ship even discounted used items.