Used V.S. New Equipment

[jesstotheocean]

I've been up to my local dive shops and it looks like I will be spending about $1,500 for all NEW basic equipment. The good thing about buying NEW, is the lifetime garentee. I just went onto ebay and I've looked at some used Scuba diving gear and I've estimated I'll be spending half if I buy used. I would like to know the opinions of others or if anybody's had problems buying used. Thanks.

 

[mcmag21]

Jess,

Everything I own, with a few minor exceptions is used, either from e-bay or other sources of used equipment. Every piece has been inspected and rebuilt/repaired as necessary by a certified facility before I used it. I have been able to get some great deals and saved some cash for the real goodies later.

mcmag21

 

[pasley]

It's you life. You can buy the life-support equipment online used if you want. But be sure to get it checked by a reliable service center before you use it. I bought all my equipment new for $1,200. I looked at buying used, but then decided my life was worth more than the $300 I would have saved on the total package, and I have new gear with warranty.

I have seen many items on sale used on e-bay for more that my local dive shop charged. I have also seen many items misrepresented. Example SCBA tanks and aircraft oxygen bottles being sold as SCUBA tanks. They of course are not, and are neither approved nor suitable for a SCUBA application. So if you are buying off e-bay, be sure you are comfortable that you know what you are looking at. One common theme with people selling SCUBA gear on e-bay is “I don’t know anything about this stuff; I got it from a friend.”

You can get some bargains, but be very careful. I fully recommend doing as Mcmag21 says and having it inspected by a certified technician before you use it, or better, as a conditin of sale.

 

[jonnythan]

I'm lucky to be alive. All of my equipment is used.


Psh. Use a little common sense and you'll make out fine. Just be sure you consider "extra" costs of buying used like potential maintenance, help with assembly (if you need that sort of thing), etc.

 

[yknot]

There's no difference in theory between used dive equipment and buying a used car- you still have to be somewhat aware of what you're looking at with either, especially in regards to price. The biggest problem I see with used gear is that the price difference aren't great enough in most cases to warrant the purchase, but that comes from knowing where I can buy a particular item from and at what price, for new items.

 

[Gary D.]

Every single piece of gear I own or have owned over the past 40+ years of diving is used. Most of it was new when I got it but as soon as I dove with it, it became used.

As long as it passes an inspection go for it. Just know what your getting.

Gary D.

 

[redacted]

If everybody started buying and diving used gear .... I'd probably have to start paying more for my gear! Love those old metal regulators.

 

[scottfiji]

Almost everything I have is used. However, insteading of buying on Ebay, I chose to buy off local people selling through websites, scubaboards, or buying from dive shops having rental equipment sales. This way I could inspect the item before purchasing it. And I saved a lot of money. There's a lot of people around who bought scuba equipment, and then end up not using it.

 

[diversteve]

I've been up to my local dive shops and it looks like I will be spending about $1,500 for all NEW basic equipment. The good thing about buying NEW, is the lifetime garentee. I just went onto ebay and I've looked at some used Scuba diving gear and I've estimated I'll be spending half if I buy used. I would like to know the opinions of others or if anybody's had problems buying used. Thanks.

Also consider the online retailers like Scubatoys and Leisure Pro. You can sometimes get new gear almost for what some people are selling it for used. And you can get the same mfr's. guarantee from Scubatoys, not sure about LP's policies. I buy all my small accessories either on eBay or from Scubatoys unless I can't wait. There's several big eBay retailers who are also LDS's so I'm guessing they also have full warranty coverage.

While I don't see any problem with buying any of the hardstuff, cases, accessories, etc. off eBay, I'd still rather buy a reg, BC and computer and anything that needs to fit me locally, it also supports my LDS so they're around when I need something too. We have a local LDS that advertises right on their website that they match Internet prices, IMO they all will have to soon to survive.

Also doesn't hurt to ask around at your local LDS. My dive buddy happened to mention that he was looking for a computer once, the store mgr. had just taken one in on an upgrade trade, it was a $550 Aeris, I know my buddy paid under $300 for it, and it had no registered dives on it so I'm sure it had never been used.

And check with your dive acquaintances, my buddy bought a Poseidon reg from my former dive buddy for $90, it didn't have 5 dives on it since my ex-buddy had gone into other things shortly after he bought it. $60 later he's got a like new $3-400 nitrox reg.

 

[Don Burke]

I have seen many items on sale used on e-bay for more that my local dive shop charged. I have also seen many items misrepresented. Example SCBA tanks and aircraft oxygen bottles being sold as SCUBA tanks. They of course are not, and are neither approved nor suitable for a SCUBA application. So if you are buying off e-bay, be sure you are comfortable that you know what you are looking at. One common theme with people selling SCUBA gear on e-bay is “I don’t know anything about this stuff; I got it from a friend.”

Case in point:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=16057&item=7112610554&rd=1

With a Craftsman welding/cutting regulator on it, no less.