Thoughts on purchase of unused, long-discontinued BCD?

[Parlem]

Hello!

For the past few years I've been diving a Mares Hybrid size XL BCD and it has served me well. It had always been on the bigger size and, after dropping 10kg in the last couple of years, it's now clearly a size too large for me.

This particular model was discontinued by Mares quite a few years ago but I've managed to find a brand-new unit that's been in storage for 10 years but has never been used and is the size I need. The seller used to own an online scuba store that shut down a while ago and he has been selling gear privately for the past few years. He's wants 245€ for it.

Do you reckon it's a good deal? Should I be concerned about maintenance? Ten years in storage is a long time ... If I bite the bullet, would you advise having it serviced by a Mares dealer? I'm thinking O-rings must have hardened and perhaps become brittle over the years, that sort of thing ...

I'd appreciate your thoughts on the matter and many thanks in advance.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

How much was that BCD new?

 

[Scuba-74]

If it's old stock unused BCD, chances are it was kept in a plastic bag in storage and was never inflated. My main concern would be the bladder being pressed together for this long, not the o-rings. My second concern would be rubber seals in the deflation valves. If you trust the seller, I suggest you ask them to inflate it and see if it holds air for 24 hours or so.

 

[Parlem]

How much was that BCD new?

Good question! I've found the original invoice from 2015 and I paid 400€ at the time.

 

[Parlem]

If it's old stock unused BCD, chances are it was kept in a plastic bag in storage and was never inflated. My main concern would be the bladder being pressed together for this long, not the o-rings. My second concern would be rubber seals in the deflation valves. If you trust the seller, I suggest you ask them to inflate it and see if it holds air for 24 hours or so.

Thank you, that's very good advice!

 

[broncobowsher]

Plastics and rubbers that have been kept in motion remain flexible. Let them sit and they harden up and get crispy. Just because it is new in the box does not protect it against aging issues.

At that price, way too much. They are asking 60% of new retail for a perishable item that is near the end of its life. 10, maybe 20% of original retail price would be better in line.

In general I would just say skip it altogether. Look at what else is out there that is new. About all I would say go for it would be if it was super cheap and you wanted something for the pool so you didn't have to run your good stuff in pool water.

 

[grantmac]

You could spend basically that much and get a BP&W you'd never outgrow.

 

[Still Kicking]

BC/backplate design has come along way in the past few years. Look at what is available on the market now. Unlike wine, plastics don't get better with age.

 

[happy-diver]

Given your circmstances regarding this bc I would snap it up

And my considered advice would be that it will be in perfect condition requiring no service

 

[broncobowsher]

Given your circmstances regarding this bc I would snap it up

And my considered advice would be that it will be in perfect condition requiring no service

Sounds like a seller trying to unload old merch.