Tips offer help for Amazon Prime Day, garage sale shopping

Some people love it - and some people hate it - but Amazon Prime Day arrives once again Tuesday.

(The deals for Amazon Prime members officially kick off at 9 p.m. today.)

Expect lower prices on health and beauty items, Amazon products, books, movies, music, office products, and home goods, according to FatWallet.com.

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A survey by DealNews found a nearly 50/50 split when it comes to whether shoppers found the sale worth the trouble.

Detractors have said past Prime Days were like terrible garage sales with lackluster discounts, and some shoppers reported not being able to buy anything due to technical glitches.

To avoid those issues, empty your cart before you start shopping and clear your browser’s cache, according to FatWallet.

Walmart, Kohl’s, Target and other retailers will also offer competitive deals on Tuesday in hopes of getting in on some of the Prime Day action.

MORE: Local couple warns consumers of rental scam

What not to buy at a garage sale

Garage sales can be a great place to get deals on home goods, clothing, electronics, and toys but there are some items you should leave on the table.

Don't buy baby items like cribs, car seats, and playpens because they may be under recall or aren't as gently used as they may look, according to PennyHoarder.com.

Avoid bike and other sports helmets because you won’t know if they’ve ever been in an accident.

Steer clear of mattresses, stuffed animals, and upholstered furniture because of — yuck — potential bed bugs, fleas and mold.

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In addition, Reader's Digest warns garage sale shoppers to avoid buying tires due to potential unseen damage and recalls.

Avoid laptops, video games, televisions, again with the unseen potential damage.

Also, steer clear of shoes due to mold and bacteria, and makeup because it can expire and/or contain bacteria and germs.

If you are hosting a garage sale, here are some recommendations from a local expert on how to make the most money from your stuff and stay organized.

Rental scams

If you are looking for a nice home to rent, beware of ads that seem too good to be true.

A New Carlisle couple was almost sucked into a rental scam posted on Craigslist.

They reached out to me to make sure other people weren’t victimized.

Experts said the best way to protect yourself is to become your own detective. Find out what happened to the couple, the true homeowners reaction, and ways to scope out a scammer here.

Rachel Murray is a WHIO-TV consumer reporter. You can watch her reports on News Center 7, follow her on Twitter @RMurrayWHIO, and like her fan page on Facebook.

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