Here's a trick for the frugal and patient. The only trouble buying stuff used is people tend to sell their stuff like it's still new. When I go out west (live in Alabama), I go to thrift stores and find heavily used brand-name gear with a lifetime warranty. If there's anything wrong with it, I ship it back and get it repaired. Sometimes the mfg will offer to replace the items even though it could be repaired.
A sleeping bag I sent in to get it refilled because it lost its loft from age. They gave me a gift card for a replacement bag. I used it and upgraded from a 15 poly to a 0 down. It was in the spring, so they were having their post-season sale.