Purchasing used computer

[77mmbass]

Hi,
I was certified by SSI in 1990 but got out of the game for a while. When I wanted to get back into it I seemed to have lost my card so I went ahead and certified through PADI. It hadn't been diving in years so its nice to have a refresher. I want to start buying my own gear since I am close to San Diego and my significant other (Dive Master) and I will be heading over a lot to dive. I am looking to buy my regulator and octo new as well as my BC. (already have mask, fins, etc).

My question is about purchasing a used computer.
A local diver has a Sherwood Wisdom 2 for sale. It is in very nice shape, works properly and has about 200 or so dives on it.

I was always told to stay away from used gear, but wonder if buying a used computer in nice working/physical shape would be fine. It will save me about $500+.

Thanks in advance for the help.

been reading the forums here for a while and appreciate all the good info.

 

[redacted]

Tell me why you think it would be a good idea to save $500 by buying a used computer yet avoid saving again that much with used regs and BCD.

That computer sounds good. There are plenty of similar good buys on used regulators and BCDs,

 

[doctormike]

I was always told to stay away from used gear

Does the person who told you that own a dive shop?

 

[RJP]

I've been diving used gear exclusively for nearly a decade. Never had a problem.

Though, it was all brand new gear the first time I dove with it... but it's been used gear since then.

:d

But seriously, there's nothing inherently wrong with gear that has been dived numerous times as long as it's been well-maintained. That's where you run into potential issues with a piece of used gear, in that you never know how it's be treated over time. How something "looks" might not be an accurate representation.

In watch collecting circles we use the phrase "Buy the seller, not the watch." Meaning if you are highly confident in the provenance and care of a particular item, the fact that it might be pre-owned is immaterial.

---------- Post added September 17th, 2015 at 01:36 PM ----------

Does the person who told you that own a dive shop?

"This bolt-snap is life-support equipment!"

 

[FinnMom]

Like many of my friends (all tech divers and gear hounds), I have at least 75% used gear, including 4 used computers (for 3 divers). Admittedly I live in a country whre the whole diving community is a bit like "us", so it's easier to buy sight unseen. In the states I might like to see the stuff or have some background on who was selling it. I would not be inherently worried about buying anything just because it was used.

 

[DJ457]

Hi,
I was certified by SSI in 1990 but got out of the game for a while. When I wanted to get back into it I seemed to have lost my card so I went ahead and certified through PADI. It hadn't been diving in years so its nice to have a refresher. I want to start buying my own gear since I am close to San Diego and my significant other (Dive Master) and I will be heading over a lot to dive. I am looking to buy my regulator and octo new as well as my BC. (already have mask, fins, etc).

My question is about purchasing a used computer.
A local diver has a Sherwood Wisdom 2 for sale. It is in very nice shape, works properly and has about 200 or so dives on it.

I was always told to stay away from used gear, but wonder if buying a used computer in nice working/physical shape would be fine. It will save me about $500+.

Thanks in advance for the help.

been reading the forums here for a while and appreciate all the good info.

Wisdom 3 for sale

Sherwood Wisdom 3 Air Integrated Scuba Dive Nitrox Computer Compass and Q D | eBay

 

[77mmbass]

Tell me why you think it would be a good idea to save $500 by buying a used computer yet avoid saving again that much with used regs and BCD.

That computer sounds good. There are plenty of similar good buys on used regulators and BCDs,

I was told that by buying a new regulator the user will know the history from day one. With a used one you never know how it was treated, serviced etc.

As a new diver back in the 90s I listened to what the instructor told us about used gear. No he didn't own a shop. I am reading more posts on purchasing used regs and BC. And I agree with the above post that said you buy the seller.

I suppose it would be a good idea to look into it. I am open to all options as I get back into this.

Thanks.

 

[RJP]

I was told that by buying a new regulator the user will know the history from day one. With a used one you never know how it was treated, serviced etc.

I'd have more confidence in a used reg than a used computer. If the reg has something wrong you can get it serviced. With a computer, other than a battery change or new o-ring, there aren't many service options.

 

[redacted]

I was told that by buying a new regulator the user will know the history from day one. With a used one you never know how it was treated, serviced etc.

As a new diver back in the 90s I listened to what the instructor told us about used gear. No he didn't own a shop. I am reading more posts on purchasing used regs and BC. And I agree with the above post that said you buy the seller.

I suppose it would be a good idea to look into it. I am open to all options as I get back into this.

Thanks.

I wasted a lot of $$$ on new regulators when I first started. They were good regulators, at least until their first service where the scuba shop did a very poor job.

A BCD is pretty much a no brainer. A good visual and functional inspection and leak check and you are in business with a 50 to 75% savings.

Regs may be a bit trickier but still a lot easier than something like a used car. It does help to have a bit of knowledge, so start here: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/regulators/346813-regulator-inspection-checklist-rev-7-a.html.

With a good inspection, you can minimize the risk of buying someone's problem. Look at the regulator and the seller and adjust the price accordingly. 50% of new price is the maximum you should consider. I usually think in terms of 10 to 25% of new price, and sometime much less. But I do have the advantage of having taught myself to service my regulators. I have probably bought close to 100 regulator stages and have only seen a couple I could not fix. They were plastic 2nd stages (I prefer metal) and cases can be hard to find. They were all an octo as part of a full kit so they were cheap to begin with and no real loss.

Dive shops work very hard to discourage used purchases as it increases their profits to sell new. Their hard work really pays off for those of use buying used gear.

 

[kwinter]

1. Buy a good quality used reg
2. Take the first stage and use it to knock out the teeth of the person that told you not to buy used equipment so he can't give anyone else bad advice.

Problem solved.