Do you buy used gears/equipments?

[monkie]

Just wondering. I think I should start buying used gears/equipments to save some cash for more gears.

Do you buy used? Why or why not?

[Sloan]

Almost everything I buy is used.
If I don't like it, I can sell it for the same amount or more and not lose money.

[snellular5]

Exactly what sloan said theres no loss, and you can find some great gear for cheap.

[monkie]

Hmm........ I'm thinking about buying a used amp.... Hm...

[solaris1982]

In addition to little losses if you don't like it, if you do like it, you got it much cheaper than you could have.

[pohaku]

I commented on this in another thread.

http://homerecording.com/bbs/showpos...9&postcount=22

I agree with the other posters that if you do it right, you can moderate your risk of getting ripped off and have very little financial risk if it turns out you don't like the item. If you buy judiciously, you can typically resell for close or sometimes more than what you paid. On average, you may just suffer the transaction cost if any (one set of paypal fees and shipping).

[Dani Pace]

If it wasn't for used gear, I wouldn't have much to work with. I don't have a problem with buying pre owned, if it has been taken care of.

[SonicAlbert]

You can only sell the item and get your money back on it if it is indeed in the condition described when you bought it. I've been ripped off far too many times now to really trust used gear.

Quite often the gear is not working as described or cosmetically in as good condition. Then you have trouble selling it for what you paid for it, unless you want to be as bad a liar as the person that sold it to you.

I have bought lots of used gear, and it is a great way to add to the studio inexpensively. But at this point the only time I buy used is if the gear I want is no longer made and I don't have a choice. If it is still being manufactured and available new, I'll buy it new.

It only takes a few deals gone bad to wipe out the financial advantage of buying used. And if you don't think it will happen to you, you're in for a nasty surprise. Any used gear deal should be considered "buyer beware".

[WhiteStrat]

I'm about half & half--new & used. I've been fortunate and had no bad transactions with used gear (yet). I think SonicAlbert is right--it has to be considered an inevitability.

I started buying used with the logic already mentioned in this thread: if I don't like it, I can sell it for the same and not be out any money. But guess what?

Turns out I'm a pack rat. I've never sold a single piece of gear. So as I look around at all the stuff I don't use but am JUST SURE I will again some day, I can at least comfort myself with the knowledge that I saved on a lot of it...

[second skin]

i buy used mostly. i can think of 5 mics, my monitors, two power amps and a couple of preamps off the top of my head

i've had very good luck buying things off of the boards including this one, gear slutz and harmony central. i also keep an eye on the local craigslist although there tend to be a lot of flakes on there with overpriced equipment.

things that i tend to buy new would be digital gear such as my interface and computer type things.

[true-eurt]

The only gear I have that was new when purchased, is my Omega Lexicon...M-Audio monitors...Cheapie Keyboard...and 3 of my 13 guitars...oh, and two of my mics and a couple of pedals...everything else was previously owned, even my PC!!..and I own a lot of musical toys.

I love to buy new..but I'm tight!!...so depending on what my need is, if I can find it used, I go for it!

None were purchased online, unseen or unchecked, so of course, that helped out in my success with *used*. My Tele worried me at first...thought it had a cracked body, but it is a finish issue...a few dents on it and that is okay with me and fixable, if I so choose.

I, like WhiteStrat, have not been able to sell one item of gear. I did do a trade-in...once...my Spector bass and amp... once...and over a year later, repurchased the bass. I've given away 2 guitars, but wish I still had them.

I much prefer, purchasing someone guitar/gear while they are actually with me, cause if I do it alone, once I get home with the gear, I want to keep it....my grandkids almost had NO Christmas from granny one year!!!

[mikeh]

I buy a lot of my gear used - however, I only buy used gear that I can personally plug in and test out before I buy (I don't buy anything used through Ebay, etc.).

I've never been burned on used gear - in part it may be luck.....but mostly it's because I make sure to see it, touch it and test it.

[rayc]

Most of my gear & instruments are preloved.
If not for used gear I wouldn't be recording.