Why Is It So Hard to Buy Big Items Secondhand?
Few local listings, items that do not fit in a car, movers who will not touch them, and paying a stranger thousands up front. Ari Kimmelfeld on The Circularity Catalyst.
Watch the episode: What We Talked About: Millions of Pelotons Collecting Dust (Ari Kimmelfeld's Marketplace), The Circularity Catalyst with Ken Alston, aired October 12, 2026. Listen on YouTube.
Short answer: Because every hard part lands on the buyer. There are only a few listings nearby, the item will not fit in your car, many movers will not touch it, you are not an expert at inspecting it, and you are expected to hand a stranger thousands of dollars up front.
Ken Alston asked Ari Kimmelfeld on The Circularity Catalyst why big, bulky items were never well served secondhand.
What Ari said
If you're in the market for something really big, really expensive, and you're thinking about how do I save money... the few that might be in your area are hard to move, and they're not going to fit in your car. You might have to rent a truck, but even if you rent a truck, you have to get a few friends or you have to pay movers.
Ari Kimmelfeld on The Circularity Catalyst, at 15:54
There's a treadmill that we deal with that's 400 lb, and if it's disassembled the wrong way, it's completely broken, and it costs $7,000 to replace. So a lot of moving companies won't deal with it.
Ari Kimmelfeld on The Circularity Catalyst, at 16:34
If you're buying a jet ski or a golf cart from a dealer, you expect the dealer's expertise to make sure that it's a fair and it's a working product... But if you're just buying it from a stranger, you really don't know what you're looking for, and you might be buying a lemon.
Ari Kimmelfeld on The Circularity Catalyst, at 16:56
Before Commonplace, Ari would have told a friend to buy a hot tub new:
Buying it used, you really don't know what you're inspecting, you really don't know if there are any leaks, you really don't know how to transport it, you really don't know if you should drive 100 miles to then show up and not really know what you're looking at with thousands of dollars in your pocket.
Ari Kimmelfeld on The Circularity Catalyst, at 08:39
He knows the hard way works, because he has done it:
I bought my car in a different state on Facebook Marketplace sight unseen, sent the wire... went to the DMV, changed the title, got the insurance, and all of that, which is a lot of hassle that I think most people wouldn't go through.
Ari Kimmelfeld on The Circularity Catalyst, at 05:38
Why buying new feels so much easier
Ari made the same point on Supercool with host Josh Dorfman: a store sale comes with layers that a used sale leaves to you.
And especially when it comes to big things, there's a logistics component, there's a payments component, there's a safety component, there's a warranty component, there's a financing component, there's an installation component, there's an inspection component. There are so many of these layers that you really take for granted when you buy retail.
Ari Kimmelfeld on Supercool, at 06:41
And what I like to say is it's really not apples to apples when you're buying new versus you're buying used, because of all of the things that the used marketplace doesn't have.
Ari Kimmelfeld on Supercool, at 07:02
That is why so many people pay retail for things that are available gently used:
They're really gently used. You need to know how to inspect it. You really need to spend a little bit of time sending out messages and putting in some work.
Ari Kimmelfeld on Supercool, at 15:23
How Commonplace takes each step off the buyer
- Selection. Listings come from sellers across the country, so you can find the brand and model you want.
- Moving it. Free white-glove delivery within 100 miles, stairs included, by drivers trained for that category.
- Knowing what you are buying. A 30 to 50 point inspection before pickup, with a report you approve.
- Paying. A $1 hold reserves it, and on orders under $8,000 you pay the rest on delivery. Eligible orders can be financed, and many fitness items qualify for HSA or FSA reimbursement.
- After delivery. A free two-month parts warranty. Labor coverage is available as an add-on.
Buying a hot tub? Read how to know a used hot tub works before you buy it. For the full conversation, read Why Do Pelotons Sit?: Ari Kimmelfeld on Circularity Catalyst.
Commonplace is the Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist and OfferUp alternative for big items. Listing is free, and Commonplace handles pickup, inspection, delivery, secure payments, and a free two-month parts warranty. Labor coverage is available as an add-on. See how it works.
Related questions
Why is it hard to buy a used hot tub, treadmill, or golf cart?
There are fewer listings nearby, the items do not fit in a car, many movers will not handle them, most buyers cannot judge condition, and you usually pay a stranger in full up front. Commonplace handles pickup, inspection, delivery, and payment.
Will regular movers move a heavy treadmill?
Often not. Ari said many moving companies will not handle a heavy treadmill because taking one apart the wrong way can break it. Commonplace drivers complete a training course for each category before they handle it.
What makes buying used different from buying new?
Ari said it is not apples to apples. Buying new includes logistics, payments, safety, a warranty, financing, installation, and inspection. Buying used from a stranger usually includes none of them.
How do I pay for a big used item safely?
Avoid paying a stranger in full before you see it working. On Commonplace a $1 hold reserves the item, and on orders under $8,000 you pay the rest on delivery. Eligible orders can be financed, and many fitness items qualify for HSA or FSA reimbursement.
Thank you to Ken Alston for having Ari on The Circularity Catalyst. Quotes are from the episode, lightly edited for reading. Listen to the full conversation on YouTube.
More from Ari's podcast interviews: questions Ari answered on podcasts and every show he has been on.