Honestly with someone as expensive as a dry suit I wouldn't consider purchasing it on ebay unless that baby fit me perfect. Alterations aren't cheap. Seals aren't bad but you can spend hundreds making it larger or smaller.
Ebay Drysuit Question,Can You Advise
- Thread starter Morg_NZ
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I gave up on ebay.
The number of things that can go wrong is inifnite and your recourse is extremely limited.
Depending on the size of the previous owner and the care it's had, you could end up with a drysuit that needs $300 worth of new seals and various amounts of service on the inflator and exhaust valves.
It might also be perfect.
FWIW, everything I've purchased on eBay has been exactly what was show, and not what I expected (the Ikelite SLR case that fit no SLR made within the last 20 years; the 50W Dive-Rite halogen canister light that worked perfectly, except the charger burst into flames (the fuse was bypassed). And a couple of less notable exceptions.
The number of things that can go wrong is inifnite and your recourse is extremely limited.
Depending on the size of the previous owner and the care it's had, you could end up with a drysuit that needs $300 worth of new seals and various amounts of service on the inflator and exhaust valves.
It might also be perfect.
FWIW, everything I've purchased on eBay has been exactly what was show, and not what I expected (the Ikelite SLR case that fit no SLR made within the last 20 years; the 50W Dive-Rite halogen canister light that worked perfectly, except the charger burst into flames (the fuse was bypassed). And a couple of less notable exceptions.
Morg_NZ:
Ebay can be a wonderful resource. Like everything else in life-with a little homework you can minimize your risk. I cant help but chuckle @ peoples ignorance when I hear stories about someone not getting what they "thought" it was, It didnt fit, the wrong color, wrong size,ect.
Some people get on eBay,see something that appeals to them and then get caught up in the bidding frenzy. Only to give the seller a bad feedback rating when it arrives and is less then the utopia they had pictured in their mind. They ultimately blame the seller for not providing the item that they were thinking of.
Dont hesitate to email a seller with questions. If they dont answer, well.....then THATS your answer-move on. Buying on eBay is, for the most part like, buying a car part at a flea market. You ask questions and base your decisions on that. Yes, you can get taken but, the more you ask, the less likely it is, that it will happen.
Do your homework on eBay. I have waited until ,auctions ended that nobody bid on, emailed the seller and gotten the item for allot less then the opening bid that it was selling for. This also works with auctions that have a opening bid or a reserve.
Take your time, be educated and use your head.
Some people get on eBay,see something that appeals to them and then get caught up in the bidding frenzy. Only to give the seller a bad feedback rating when it arrives and is less then the utopia they had pictured in their mind. They ultimately blame the seller for not providing the item that they were thinking of.
Dont hesitate to email a seller with questions. If they dont answer, well.....then THATS your answer-move on. Buying on eBay is, for the most part like, buying a car part at a flea market. You ask questions and base your decisions on that. Yes, you can get taken but, the more you ask, the less likely it is, that it will happen.
Do your homework on eBay. I have waited until ,auctions ended that nobody bid on, emailed the seller and gotten the item for allot less then the opening bid that it was selling for. This also works with auctions that have a opening bid or a reserve.
Take your time, be educated and use your head.
joecad
Registered
Morg_NZ:
I had a very recent and very good experience on ebay, bought a Whites Nexus suit for only $500, EVERYTHING included (hood, LP hose, four different undergarmets, carry bag). The key is to deal with someone with lots of excellent feedback (the guy I dealt with had over 200 transactions), and ask questions of the buyer. I had never bought anything on ebay before, and was more than a little nervous. The suit was as advertised, three years only, and NEVER been wet. Also key is to nail down the actual size, visit the manufacturer's website for their sizing charts. The suit I bought was custom, and in questioning the seller, I found out that we are both 6'2", and 195 lbs.
I went into this knowing I was taking a bit of a gamble, but for the price, I figured if there were any fit or other issues, I could probably sell it (on ebay) for near what I paid.
I got lucky!
I bought my wife her DUI drysuit first at our favorite LDS. If she is warm and dry in the Great Lakes, then I get to do more diving!!
I needed a suit to hold me over til I could afford another DUI.
I bought a Bare D-7 Supra for $300 on e-bay. I e-mailed and asked questions. The suit showed up as promised. Luckily the trimmed neck and wrist seals fit me perfectly!! as did the suit!!
I dived the suit for a year and then bought the suit I wanted at my LDS
I have also seen e-bay bought drysuits come in to my LDS needing seals and valves. By the time they get through making the suit divable, they could have had a new suit for what they paid and the cost of the repairs..
I've been fortunate, all my e-bay experiences have been good ones.
Best of luck!!
I bought my wife her DUI drysuit first at our favorite LDS. If she is warm and dry in the Great Lakes, then I get to do more diving!!
I needed a suit to hold me over til I could afford another DUI.
I bought a Bare D-7 Supra for $300 on e-bay. I e-mailed and asked questions. The suit showed up as promised. Luckily the trimmed neck and wrist seals fit me perfectly!! as did the suit!!
I dived the suit for a year and then bought the suit I wanted at my LDS
I have also seen e-bay bought drysuits come in to my LDS needing seals and valves. By the time they get through making the suit divable, they could have had a new suit for what they paid and the cost of the repairs..
I've been fortunate, all my e-bay experiences have been good ones.
Best of luck!!
In my opinion, there is very little "luck" in dealing with eBay. Like I said in previous post's. If you ask questions from the seller, you minimize your risk.
What is important to note here is that, even if you purchase thru a LDS, you still run the risk of the LDS NOT taking it back due to fit reasons. I have seen 3 diver/LDS relationships get sacrificed because of this very reason.
There is another thread(s) here somewhere on scubaboard about that very problem........"I bought a suit from my LDS and it dont fit, what do I do?...."
I love this country but its slowly degrading into a sewer when it comes to consumer affairs. People have digressed into a posture of, "yep, thats what I ordered. But- I didnt consider this or that. Now its YOUR problem and, if you dont give me more than what I deserve/paid for, i'm going to spread the word that you dont have any customer support."
O.K, at the risk of the Mods kicking me off, thats all I got to say.
Use your common sense, ask questions, be an informed consumer and for god's sake, make an informed decision.
)
What is important to note here is that, even if you purchase thru a LDS, you still run the risk of the LDS NOT taking it back due to fit reasons. I have seen 3 diver/LDS relationships get sacrificed because of this very reason.
There is another thread(s) here somewhere on scubaboard about that very problem........"I bought a suit from my LDS and it dont fit, what do I do?...."
I love this country but its slowly degrading into a sewer when it comes to consumer affairs. People have digressed into a posture of, "yep, thats what I ordered. But- I didnt consider this or that. Now its YOUR problem and, if you dont give me more than what I deserve/paid for, i'm going to spread the word that you dont have any customer support."
O.K, at the risk of the Mods kicking me off, thats all I got to say.
Use your common sense, ask questions, be an informed consumer and for god's sake, make an informed decision.
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