Should I go with this deal?

[mainlobster101]

I need a new infant seat for our baby due in December. A friend of mine has a Keyfit 30 that she has taken care of, never been in an accident, etc that she is selling for $100 with 2 bases. I know the bases are expensive so new this would all cost close to $250 I think. The only problem I see is that her seat was made in April 2009 so I'd only be bale to use it for 3 years. We do plan on having more kids but not sure when. Should I take the $100 deal and worry about a new seat when/if we get there? Or just go ahead and get the new one now?

ETA: We really can't afford to get a new chicco and a additional base so if we got the new chicco then we'd have to stick to a single base and move it from car to car.

 

[luckyclov]

If it's a good friend, who you know well enough to be honest about the seat's full history and trust her with your child's life, then I may consider purchasing hers. Since you already know it hasn't been crashed, has she ever washed/submerged the harness straps in water?You won't get full use of the seat, as you know, just the time left until expiration, so, like you've already done, keep that in mind...especially since you plan on having more children.

Also keep in mind, the bases expire as well, so you won't be able to carry over bases to a new infant seat later on down the road.

If you decide just to purchase a new one, so you get full life (assuming you get one with a relatively recent date of manufacture), you don't *need* 2 bases. The Keyfit 22/30 can be installed in vehicles without a base...and it's actually not too complicated. It's a little easier then moving the base from car-to-car-to-car.

 

[Brigala]

If she has washed the harness straps (and not followed the manufacturer's instructions) you can check to see how much a replacement harness would cost from Chicco. So it isn't necessarily a dealbreaker if you can get a harness for not too much $$.

 

[bnsnyde]

I think my brand new Chaperone was 2009 b/c we got a deal from Britax.
Our other infant seat got us through 3 kids and could have gone most of the way with 4!

I'm just going to sell it when it's outgrown rather than plan baby #5 around when the seat expires, lol.

I feel infant seats are due for makeovers soon anyway. Just my thoughts. They sure had not changed much from 2005 except they got bigger! But I'm seeing more safety features now.

 

[mainlobster101]

I think my brand new Chaperone was 2009 b/c we got a deal from Britax.
Our other infant seat got us through 3 kids and could have gone most of the way with 4!

I'm just going to sell it when it's outgrown rather than plan baby #5 around when the seat expires, lol.

I feel infant seats are due for makeovers soon anyway. Just my thoughts. They sure had not changed much from 2005 except they got bigger! But I'm seeing more safety features now.

This is a good idea... maybe we'll just use this one and sell it when we are done. Someone could still get a year or two out of it!

I checked and she hasn't washed the straps but I called Chicco just to price them for future reference. The harness and crotch strap together would be $35 plus shipping.

 

[wavegal]

I would take it and do what pp suggested!

 

[ketchupqueen]

Remember to check that she hasn't checked or gate-checked it on an airplane, too.

 

[mainlobster101]

Remember to check that she hasn't checked or gate-checked it on an airplane, too.

Really? By that logic, wouldn't even shipping the seat to the store/house/etc cause it to be unusable as well?

 

[rachelandtyke]

Really? By that logic, wouldn't even shipping the seat to the store/house/etc cause it to be unusable as well?

No, because in those cases it is packaged in it's box that is designed to take a beating without the seat being damaged. Seats that are checked or gate checked aren't usually in the original box.

 

[mainlobster101]

No, because in those cases it is packaged in it's box that is designed to take a beating without the seat being damaged. Seats that are checked or gate checked aren't usually in the original box.

So are you supposed to never check ro gate check a seat? I hear about people doing this all the time. They even make bags especially for that purpose, don't they?

 

[ketchupqueen]

So are you supposed to never check ro gate check a seat? I hear about people doing this all the time. They even make bags especially for that purpose, don't they?

Yes, but those bags are just... bags. No, I'd never gate check a seat. If I absolutely had to check a seat it would be packed in a sturdy, well-fitting box, and padded (preferably with bubble wrap.) I've seen car seats be thrown down from the plane to the tarmac and bounce, and just be picked up, brushed off, and put on the cart. They surely didn't tell the owners that the seat had just taken a 2-story fall. The seat could "look fine" on the outside, and be damaged inside in a way that means that the seat wouldn't perform in a crash.

The best way to protect a seat is to use it on the plane. This is also safer for the child. The second best is not to bring the seat, but to have or get one on the other end.

 

[mainlobster101]

Yes, but those bags are just... bags. No, I'd never gate check a seat. If I absolutely had to check a seat it would be packed in a sturdy, well-fitting box, and padded (preferably with bubble wrap.) I've seen car seats be thrown down from the plane to the tarmac and bounce, and just be picked up, brushed off, and put on the cart. They surely didn't tell the owners that the seat had just taken a 2-story fall. The seat could "look fine" on the outside, and be damaged inside in a way that means that the seat wouldn't perform in a crash.

The best way to protect a seat is to use it on the plane. This is also safer for the child. The second best is not to bring the seat, but to have or get one on the other end.

Ok thanks... I checked and she has used it twice on a plane but never checked it. I told her I'd go ahead and buy it.