Someone is getting taken ... on one side or another, when the price is more on the resale (used) than it is new ... unless it is a recognized and valued collectible or something happened in the market for the new ones ... like a factory burned up, temporarily causing a shortage or a natural shortage drove the price up. Those circumstances are not the norm and they don’t match for the vast proportion of buys/sells.
As far as new versus old and used ... That’s from my personal observation, used stuff is junk about 99% of the time with a very few exceptions. And it’s basically not worth the time and resources looking for that 1% exception out there. If you sop imply accidental stubble over it when not looking, and you know it’s special and I’m that 1% category - then it would be worth it, I’ve run into the 1% accidentally myself.
That is because you are unaware that most everything can be had for far less than what is considered the standard retail price. You have been conditioned by endless propaganda A.K.A. advertising that the only way you can get a deal is by buying new and paying a hefty price to do so because stuff that is cheaper is as you say "junk"...
Sadly you are not alone. It's Why most Americans can't afford to quit their jobs because they are debt up to their ears buy paying premium for stuff they really don't need in the first place. Once you learn that it is the exact opposite that is true and you can end up with all manner of fine things by not paying premium A.K.A. retail, then life gets easy.
Everyday I look for the deals. Everyday I find them. if I can't buy it wholesale then it better be something that will appreciate in value as I own it or makes me money in some other way if not no sale!
Almost everyone I know is always asking how can you get so much for so little. the simple answer is I work at it. Years back I went on a Trip to Las Vegas. I took my wife to the Flamingo Casino stayed for 3 days and all the trip cost me was meals. Why because I found a deal that was setup by the Flamingo they chartered a plane and would put you up free and fly you round trip. All you had to do was put down a 100 buck deposit and have 5000 bucks cash on you when you boarded the plane. How did I find that deal? I called all the travel agents in the area and told them I was looking for a Casino Charter flight and room deal and then waited for the calls.
It takes effort to buy smart and you got to ask for a deal not just stumble upon it.