What equipment would you avoid buying used?

[The District Reef]

With the holidays just around the corner and Black Friday deals galore, I'm sure a lot of reefers will be upgrading their equipment this winter. In the meantime, some of us more budget-conscious reefers will also looking to upgrade via R2R's marketplace and our local reef groups. With that in mind, is there any equipment you would simply avoid buying used?

 

[Flippers4pups]

Return pumps, heaters.

 

[sfin52]

Heaters

 

[Idoc]

Definitely heaters!!

 

[hotdrop]

Heaters pumps tanks (smaller newer tanks are ok if you can see that they have been installed properly but scratches aren’t always obvious). MP10s aren’t usually a good deal used because both sides wear out over a couple years

 

[Goodair]

Heaters.

 

[Zero1091]

Reeflink...
Good paper weight though.

 

[Barnabie Mejia]

Heaters for sure, the way I see it, they got a new one for a reason.... I just replaced mine that was 6 months old, and will use it for a backup. Nothing wrong with it, just wanted a back up. During the Black Friday sales ima try and score another one so I have a new back up and the 6 month old one will be used for a mixing heater...

 

[VA5]

Toss up between tank and lights .
For a large tank if it was not leveled it has a potential to rupture.
LEDs lose output over the years

 

[AZMSGT]

Reeflink...
Good paper weight though.

Nah, my Reeflink is perfect. Works and is 100% reliable. Makes setting up all the Ecotech gear I have much easier.

I would never buy a large tank used. A smaller one in the <70g size I would consider.

Heaters.. Never ever, ever buy these used. To cheap to not get new and have the piece of mind that the new one should work.

Some lighting I would not buy used. MH and older T-5 set ups. Odds are the Ballasts are shot and need to be replaced.

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

With the holidays just around the corner and Black Friday deals galore, I'm sure a lot of reefers will be upgrading their equipment this winter. In the meantime, some of us more budget-conscious reefers will also looking to upgrade via R2R's marketplace and our local reef groups. With that in mind, is there any equipment you would simply avoid buying used?

I avoid anything used, priced at 75% of original price. I don't care how new it is. It's used.
In other words, if when new was $100, and someone tries selling at $75, I would only pay up to $25. At $75, I'll buy it new, with warranty.

 

[hotdrop]

I avoid anything used, priced at 75% of original price. I don't care how new it is. It's used.
In other words, if when new was $100, and someone tries selling at $75, I would only pay up to $25. At $75, I'll buy it new, with warranty.

It’s interesting most echo tech and Neptune gear sells for more or the same used than you can buy it for new as as retailer.

 

[Salty Lemon]

Heaters

Heaters for sure, the way I see it, they got a new one for a reason.... I just replaced mine that was 6 months old, and will use it for a backup. Nothing wrong with it, just wanted a back up. During the Black Friday sales ima try and score another one so I have a new back up and the 6 month old one will be used for a mixing heater...

Definitely heaters!!

Heaters.

Add my name to the list. Heaters generally don't last very long. I keep a backup for the one I have in my current tank -- just in case it decides to die in some dramatic fashion.

 

[LadyMac]

I’m not picky about used things, because I live on a budget. If I had to choose I’d say probably testing supplies, because it’s easy to get something that’s in accurate or out of date. I wouldn’t mind used heaters, or lights, within reason. Say someone has a heater and they are wanting to upgrade to a larger size and they no longer need theirs, price dependent I’d get it. Same with lights. I see people offer certain ones where they are just upgrading. If it’s something I can use and a good price I’m game. Even if it’s bartering. If I have something I don’t need and you do as well, cool we can totally trade. I’ve had many used aquariums. As a matter of fact every aquarium in my home, save the waterbox, was bought/traded for used. If it still functions then it’s still of value.

 

[Bryce M.]

Heaters

 

[ca1ore]

I’ve long been of the opinion that buying used is not the ‘deal’ that people think it is. Invariably people expect more for their used gear than they’d be willing to pay you for yours - and some get quite indignant should you have the temerity to ‘lowball’ them. I agree with the earlier post that buying new is better than paying 75% for used.

I would never buy a used tank. No way to know how it’s been treated, and misrepresentations on age are common. I also avoid mechanical devices that wear or lights that have a reputation for premature failures. So pumps, power heads and heaters are out. Perhaps the only exception would be something like a fairly priced PanWorld pump which is decades reliable. I do buy used stuff occasionally if it’s no longer available new, or lacks a mechanical component (I.e. skimmer bodies).

 

[Bryce M.]

I’ve long been of the opinion that buying used is not the ‘deal’ that people think it is. Invariably people expect more for their used gear than they’d be willing to pay you for yours - and some get quite indignant should you have the temerity to ‘lowball’ them. I agree with the earlier post that buying new is better than paying 75% for used.

I would never buy a used tank. No way to know how it’s been treated, and misrepresentations on age are common. I also avoid mechanical devices that wear or lights that have a reputation for premature failures. So pumps, power heads and heaters are out. Perhaps the only exception would be something like a fairly priced PanWorld pump which is decades reliable. I do buy used stuff occasionally if it’s no longer available new, or lacks a mechanical component (I.e. skimmer bodies).

I see where you are coming from
but!
I got to disagree with the tanks
I recently bought a 3,000 dollar custom 150G for 500
guy had it up when I bought it
actually my current tank is used too!
IMO the price is def worth it depending on who you get it from. For both my tanks I never paid over 50% MSRP

 

[ca1ore]

I simply said that I would not buy a used tank. What others choose to do is up to them. If you come home and your steal-of-a-deal has dumped 125 gallons of water on your floor it will seem somewhat less of a great deal (of course, a new tank can fail also). I just wouldn’t personally do it. As with anything, there are always exceptions based on common sense. For example, if somebody were selling a coast to coast tank for a faction of new, and it appeared in good shape, I’d be tempted. Some years ago I came across a used 180 for sale. Turned out it was a tank I had owned and sold a few years prior - there were some uniques aspects to it. Seller was representing it as 5 years old. I had bought it new in 1993 so it was actually 20 years old. Caveat emptor.

 

[Bryce M.]

I simply said that I would not buy a used tank. What others choose to do is up to them. If you come home and your steal-of-a-deal has dumped 125 gallons of water on your floor it will seem somewhat less of a great deal (of course, a new tank can fail also). I just wouldn’t personally do it. As with anything, there are always exceptions based on common sense. For example, if somebody were selling a coast to coast tank for a faction of new, and it appeared in good shape, I’d be tempted. Some years ago I came across a used 180 for sale. Turned out it was a tank I had owned and sold a few years prior - there were some uniques aspects to it. Seller was representing it as 5 years old. I had bought it new in 1993 so it was actually 20 years old. Caveat emptor.

Like I said I see where your coming from, and with that 180 I get that completely. You really can't trust anyone.
Just in my opinion it's worth it but I get it completely
just wanted to share my thoughts is all! not trying to start a fight!

 

[Tamberav]

Heaters!

Anything else I am game for... Most used stuff can be found in like-new condition.

I don't mind buying tanks.... I have found some less then a year old at a fraction of the price. I also bought a getting out of the hobby set up that came with everything he had and made a significant amount of money just selling off the extras I didn't need.