Buying USED Computer

[n733lk]

Strange question, I'm considering purchasing a "new" computer on eBay. The downside is there won't be a warranty since not sold through an authorized dealer. How often do these things need warranty work? It's a good price.

Thoughts?

 

[jffknapp]

Like all used gear it depends on the last time it was dove and how the person took care of it. It only takes one jacked up attempt at changing a battery to end the life of a dive computer.

I had someone bring their reg & computer to get serviced late last year. The diver had got it off Craigslist and the reg was in pretty good shape. The computer, which was in the console, had been previously removed using a big'ole screwdriver which had cracked the housing. The diver had no idea and until I popped the pc out no one could tell. Had he taken it on a dive it would have died a most immediate death...

To answer your question...enough that I wouldn't buy one without getting an expert (competent dive professional) to check it out first.

 

[Bubbletrubble]

How much more would it cost to purchase the computer new (or a comparable one) from an authorized dealer? Answering this will give you a handle on the "cost" of the warranty.

The last used computer I purchased was on Ebay. It was a great deal at $100. The seller had excellent feedback and was prompt in answering questions that I had. I took a shot and got lucky. I don't know if I would have felt as comfortable making the winning bid if it had been $100+ higher than that.

 

[DandyDon]

Not enough info to say really, but I understand that you don't want to attract other bidders.

If it happens to be Oceanic or Aires, then it uses programs I like and comes with a great company service & replacement program. Regardless of where you go it, if it dies - you can trade it in for a newly refurbished one with warranty & new battery at a very reasonable price. :laughing: I've done this a few times.

Some companies use programs that penalize the diver's dive time needlessly so they can market as conservative, and I do not know about other companies and their replacement program. You could call the company to ask about the model and how much to replace if it dies before bidding.

First thing you do when you get a used computer is change the battery and download the users manual so you can study it until you know you computer very well.

 

[Garrobo]

After doing about two dozen ocean dives I saw that other divers had those neet computers on their wrists so I decided to join in and get one for myself. I bought a slightly used Mares Tudor with SPG and hose on Ebay from a guy who had bought two of them, one for himself and one for his 15 year old son who had never dove before. He stated that the son did one dive and decided he didn't want any more. Anyway, that was five years ago and I still use this computer. Since it uses a AAA battery, I have changed that myself several times. Other than that it has functioned perfectly all this time. In the meantime I got a real deal on a wrist computer which I bought and use the two of them just in case. As an aside, when I got the Tudor in the mail and read up on how to use it, I went into the log and it had the one dive, date, etc. still on it. It showed the one dive of 95 feet. No wonder the kid bailed out. What an idiot this guy was to do that to him.

 

[redacted]

It really depends on the savings you are looking at and your disposition towards buyer risk. Infantile failures in electronics would be my primary concern: Glossary: Infantile Failure - (a.k.a. infant failure mode) | Sweetwater.com. I would probably opt for a used computer advertised as working and look for really low prices like 25% of retail than a new computer at 75% of retail.

 

[fjpatrum]

Ebay is one of those "iffy" situations. I would contact the seller and ask a bunch of honest and specific questions. If you get satisfactory answers, you're more likely to get a decent computer that will work. If you get sketchy answers, pass the deal and keep shopping.

I have bought some older dive gear off ebay with satisfactory results. I was, however, planning to modify it anyway so satisfactory is a relative thing. Like I said, getting good feedback from the seller is the best gauge I have found on whether to bid on something or not.

 

[seaducer]

I have had my computer for years, and only needed to change batteries (user replaceable)

These things really are simple (from a computer standpoint).

Of course caveat emptor was made for Ebay

 

[ianr33]

Computers are about the only used dive gear I wouldn't buy on Ebay .

Great place to offload one that starting to act up though!

Shop carefully and you can get new computers,with warranty,for a very reasonable price.

 

[--tom--]

You also might do a check to see if there has been a recall on that particular model.