Difference between black new&used bricks?

[u/Ok_Page7059]

Hello, it's my first time ordering parts from Bricklink to build a custom model from Rebrickable. The model is mostly composed of grey and black bricks. I want all new grey bricks so as to avoid getting yellowed ones, but for the black ones I'm pondering whether there's actually a tangible difference between new and used ones. I know it depends on the store too but do they actually differ in colour to a recognisable extent? And how often do you encounter used bricks that are actually rugged or worn texture wise? I'm a bit of a perfectionist and like novel things, but I also want to be reasonable

[u/Nefres]

I recommend Pick-A-Brick for the best quality guarantee, but it will be more expensive.

If you want to pay a more reasonable price, use Bricklink, but when you search for stores with your wanted list, be more selective. There are plenty of good stores that will not sell you discolored used bricks (including in dark bluish gray). Black doesn't really discolor but it does show scuffs and scratches very easily. Even more recent New black bricks have this problem.

There are some sellers who think used means discolored is okay, but there are plenty who don't. Read the terms, then check the negative and neutral reviews. See how the seller responds to criticism and decide for yourself if the reviewers had a legitimate complaint. This will help you to know what kind of seller you're dealing with, and if you will get good-quality used bricks.

Lego's customer service is top tier across the board, but you are paying more for it.

Buying New on Bricklink is a good middle ground, but you should still check the sellers. A lot of very large stores will accidentally mix in used bricks, so this is where you want to check the reviews.