Quality used or budget new?

[ovrrdrive]

Hey all. We're new to the game and in the process of buying all of our gear. Our LDS sells Aqualung and Scubapro so I'm trying to keep in those brands so service will be available locally and so far have purchased 2 mk25/s600 regs for $275-300 each used and was just wondering if I'm going about it the right way or if given the same choices most of you would rather spend the same money on a budget new reg or quality used. I have one more set to buy.

The set I have in hand looks new and supposedly only has 5 dives on it (believable too) and the one I have on the way is supposed to have around 35 on it and said to be in the same condition. My thought is once they are serviced they should work as new. When I save enough to buy another right now my plan is to find another of the same and then take them to the LDS to get them checked out and rebuilt. It will be a few weeks before I buy the last and was just looking for opinions. Thanks.

There's so much out there it's almost a relief he only services those 2 brands. It makes the choices easier.

Ideas?

 

[ovrrdrive]

Btw we're OW divers and will probably never be in colder water than 72 degrees at one of the local springs.

 

[smellzlikefish]

I've held out and paid much less for regulators and had them serviced. I never bought my own until I got a buyers preference with most of the major brands, and now get more than 50% off. I have also picked up used gear from friends at their garage sales and whatnot for enormous discounts. I even got a free Calypso regulator that my dad found in the attic from his diving in the 70's! With $300, I'm the kind of person that might spend it on Craigslist and wait until I can find a whole set of gear for the right price, then get it serviced. But then, if something fails, there's no company to chase after. Fortunately, my equipment hasn't tried too hard to kill me yet.

 

[RJP]

There's so much out there it's almost a relief he only services those 2 brands. It makes the choices easier.

Does he really only service TWO BRANDS? That's a bit odd.

 

[it_mike]

ovrrdrive, you're doing great. Quality used gear is a much better deal than cheap new gear. ScubaPro (with the warranty card) will repair the regulators for life.

Keep it up, and enjoy the bubbles,

Mike

 

[DevonDiver]

Another vote for quality used gear. If I had a choice between a top-of-the-range, second hand, reg or brand new baseline model....I would get the best reg available.

The only difference between new and old is the cost of a service.

 

[ovrrdrive]

Does he really only service TWO BRANDS? That's a bit odd.

I haven't tried to get somethign serviced there that he didn't sell yet, but I have heard from some people I know that he "doesn't like" to service stuff he doesn't sell. He's broken a few rules as defined on this forum so far as it pertains to what people consider a good LDS, but to be honest I like the guy and trust him. He's just fighting tooth and nail to stay in business.

He certified John Travolta last year so he can't be all that bad. (I hope)

It just seems easier if I get SP stuff, and based on the reputation if I get what I want we should be golden. It seems the consensus is what I was thinking. I just hate to buy garbage and don't have the cash to buy 3 brand new sets of gear yet.

Thanks for all the opinions so far. I think that scubaboard may be the only place on the net you can get this many replies before 7Am.

 

[martzak]

Another vote for high quality used gear. However, don't feel bad about making your LDS work for your money. There are a lot of online LDSs out there that sell aqualung and scubapro gear at bargin prices. Your LDS should work with you on price and/or some type of an extended service agreement, 2 years of free serivce (parts and labor), for example.

 

[RJP]

He's just fighting tooth and nail to stay in business.

Maybe if he serviced more than just two brands...

 

[halocline]

You're on the right track. You're getting essentially top of the line stuff. You could easily get a MK10/G250 for your third set for about half the price and then see which one you like better.

I only buy used regs, and typically much older than the ones you got.