Is buying a "used" vacuum cleaner a safe idea?

My wife and i shop at Goodwill Stores on a regular basis. my wife spotted this used vacuum cleaner, that appeared brand new. we tested it in the store. when we hit the switch-on button, a cloud of grey smoke appeared from beneath the cleaner. at that moment, this thought came to me: “how sanitary are used vacuum cleaners?”. i turned the vacuum cleaner over and the beater had all type of junk imbedded in it. i then asked myself, “why is this vacuum cleaner at Goodwill? did the previous owner have a contagious disease? are there health laws that cover the selling of a used vacuum cleaner as a possible health risk?”.

We bought this vacuum cleaner. it has remained in the trunk of my car, until i can find my can of Lysol. i can understand making a purchase at thrift stores and completely sanitizing it at home, before using it. but, a used vacuum cleaner falls into a different category. should we have bought the vacuum cleaner or just left it in the store?