Buy new or take a chance with a used detector?

[syko]

Tax refund will be coming around and I may go after an Excal II this time. Of course this thing is up there in price,
but I know Treasure Hunter has said he bought an Excal or two used at a great price. I know it's a risk to buy used
from a stranger even though they paid the the full price and will usually sell it for hundreds less.

What is your opinion on buying a used MD? It's not as simple as looking at pics and expecting it to work perfect. If people
with new detectors sometimes have problems, what risk is it to get used? I wouldn't want to save a couple of hundred dollars
just to find out something is wrong with it and to get it repaired it's going to cost me (a couple of hundred dollars)=back to new pricing.

Since I don't usually buy multiple "toys" or upgrade every year...I would just want to get the best I can without going too extreme.
So a $1200 "toy"..which I know is one of the best, will it be best for it to be a new purchase or buy used and take my chances?

Maybe buying used is reserved for people that already have multiple machines and can take the chance of having it as a backup machine.

 

[Sandman]

I never buy used if I can help it as I am the one that always gets the lemon that doesn't work. I don't care if it is a electric drill or a detector. Other people have great luck at the used item, but not me. Sure on buying used you are taking a chance but the idea was to save money. I have a bigger concern with UPS shipping the items. Twice I had to sue to get them to pay up for detectors that they gave to the wrong house. Just try to go through their claim service.

However with used Excals, many times the guy just doesn't understand the "duck sounds" or he doesn't find a gold ring every time he goes out and his ole lady is wanting him to sell it so she can buy another pair of shoes. He also doesn't have the time to take her to the fabric stores like he used too. So He has to sell his detector and we end up with a good deal. We are lucky these guys don't have stones.

Either way the major brands are able to be repaired if they don't work well. Many guys get rid of them because they think they don't work right and all they have to do is clean out the sand from the coil cover or get away from the electrical interference where they are at.

But good luck on the purchase. At least you are getting the best detector for wet beaches. If you aren't going in the water the Sov. GT is the land version and I think it is better then the Excal an I can use both.

 

[oneeye]

Depends upon the manufacturer. I had no problem buying a used Tesoro Tejon, as I knew they will stand behind their stuff.
Dan

 

[Corben]

I had several detectors over the years and all but one was brand new. Either I traded for used ones or bought them used at the local dealer shop. Everyone worked just fine except......the Bounty Hunter Quick Draw II. It had a short in the coils wire. But I paid next to nothing for it so I guess that was okay too.

 

[DirtDiggerDaveinMD]

I have had good luck buying used detectors, but then again I am very picky about buying used equipment. My XLT and QXT were both purchased used. My XLT I have had for about 7 years now and I have had zero problems with it. The QXT I haven't had as long, but it was in great condition. If you do buy used, especially off of Ebay, ask questions and study any pictures that are available. Request more photos if you need to get a better picture of the unit. If the seller refuses to answer your questions or show more detailed pictures, move on. Same with the people that list machines as untested, or the old" I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO TEST IT" line. Usually if it is untested, it doesn't work. There are good dealers on the net that sell used units that you can trust, and then there are others that you can't. For example, there was a 6000 XL Pro on Ebay a few weeks ago that was beat all to hell, caked in mud and dirt, had intermittent electrical shorts, etc.. It was obvious this machine wasn't taken care of, but it still sold for over $300. People flocked to this machine like a moth to a street lamp. Weird.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

I have had good luck, I have bought 10 detectors, 8 were used detectors, all 8 arrived in perfect working condition with no issues. I prefer to buy used and let someone else absorb the depreciation. I can always get most of my money back this way when I decide to sell.

I curently have 3 water machines Excal 1500 (Has WOT COIL), Minelab Excal 1000, Custom Waterproofed Sovereign GT with WOT Coil.
2 Land Machines, Whites 6000 XLPro, and Minelab Sovereign GT with 10 inch stock coil, 15 inch WOT coil, and 15"x18" SEF Butterfly...(Also used on beach when not going in water.)
1 competition machine Fisher 1235X

Detectors I have bought, New and Used

Whites Beach Hunter ID, bought new traded in on new Sovereign GT after it leaked twice.

Whites 6000 XL Pro, bought used, still own. This has been an excellent machine a jewelry magnet in parks......Love it...I could sell it for what I paid for it tomorrow if I wanted.

Minelab Excal 1000, bought used and sold it when I bought the waterproofed Sovereign GT.

Minelab Sovereign GT, bought new with trade in of Beach Hunter ID and cash difference with a WOT coil, still own.

Sovereign GT customed waterproofed, has WOT coil, bought used, still own. This has been a great detector both in the surf and wet sand.....Could sell it tomorrow for what I have in it.

Excal 1000, bought used still own.

Tesoro Conquistador, bought used to use in competition hunts for the freq shifter, sold when I bought the Fisher 1235X.

Troy X2, bought used sold.

Fisher 1235 X, bought used to use on competition hunts, still own.

Excal 1500, bought used as Excal 1000, spliced in the WOT 15 inch coil, which is why I call it Excal 1500.

 

[syko]

With my luck I will go for a used Excal and end up with a useless stick. Maybe I should use you as
an agent to buy it for me since you have such good luck.

Hmmm.. if I do go for one I think it would be safer to go new because I sure can't afford to get burned with a bad unit. Especially since I would not buy another anytime soon. I'd be lucky to get the one.

 

[GibH]

I've had pretty good luck with used equipment. Everything I have bought off the forums have worked as expected.

I've had issues twice, one was a Conquistador (still use it) bought off ebay that Tesoro repaired for free, and the other was an Excal I just bought off craigslist. The battery pod was trashed and I just got a new one for it, even at that I still have under 400 in it.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

With my luck I will go for a used Excal and end up with a useless stick. Maybe I should use you as
an agent to buy it for me since you have such good luck.

Hmmm.. if I do go for one I think it would be safer to go new because I sure can't afford to get burned with a bad unit. Especially since I would not buy another anytime soon. I'd be lucky to get the one.

All but one of the used ones came from the "for sale boards", most off of TN, but a couple off another site. I did lose out on another Excal (1.5 years old with straight shaft)yesterday off of EBay at the last second when someone top my max by $10. One of my Excals I got for $475 off another site's board, and have missed one for $500 and one other excal for $535 becasue I didn't act quick enough, both gone with in 5 mins of my seeing them when I hesitated to think about it a couple minutes......


Good luck on your search...

 

[thompy]

Ive had great luck buying used but for the water i would buy new, nice to have that warranty

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Ive had great luck buying used but for the water i would buy new, nice to have that warranty

Minelab only carries a 1 year warranty on the Excal II now, not like it use to be so the additional cost to buy new is only good for 1 year. I am saving $600 or more buying them used, that can buy a lot of accessories or pay for trips to repair. Out of the 8 used detectors I have bought so far, only had 2 trips to repairs, both same unit, for a grand total of cost, door to door for both trips was less then $200, and that included extras I asked them to do that was not part of repair, like additional charger, and new decal on the control unit....But that is just me, not saying anyone is wrong buying new at all...

 

[Woodland Detectors]

Only buy it if you use it first.

Just like anything.

The guy's buying machines used without using them first are taking a huge gamble.

 

[bazinga]

I would recommend buying used off of ebay. Pay with a credit card through PayPal. When you get the machine, test it out. If it doesn't work, send it back. If they say 'no returns' then file a PayPal claim and they will tell you to send it back and get your refund. If for some odd reason that the PayPal claim gets denied, then you can file a chargeback through your credit card company. Also, I think ebay is trying to help out buyers as well. So you basically have three levels of protection. You are only out the cost to ship it back.

I've bought three used machines off of ebay. Two explorers and an excalibur and had nothing but great results and pockets full of gold and silver.

 

[luvsdux]

I've bought 5 used, 1 unused off Ebay, one used from a dealer on another forum and one used from a friend. Haven't had a problem with any of them, but may have been lucky. On the other hand, most were purchased at a price that allowed for a bit of repair had it been needed. That said, I would suggest one stay with one of the popular, known brands that have a reputation for good service.
My two cents,
Luvsdux

 

[Woodland Detectors]

I would recommend buying used off of ebay. Pay with a credit card through PayPal. When you get the machine, test it out. If it doesn't work, send it back. If they say 'no returns' then file a PayPal claim and they will tell you to send it back and get your refund. If for some odd reason that the PayPal claim gets denied, then you can file a chargeback through your credit card company. Also, I think ebay is trying to help out buyers as well. So you basically have three levels of protection. You are only out the cost to ship it back.

I've bought three used machines off of ebay. Two explorers and an excalibur and had nothing but great results and pockets full of gold and silver.

sounds like a huge pain in the butt to me.

Buy it new if you can afford it. And I'm not saying this because I am a dealer. I get guys PM'ing me all the time asking if I will sell their used detector for them. I wont do it unless they bring it to me and let me check it out first. Key words: See it work before you buy it. To me it's like going to a pawn shop to buy a used car stereo. How many do you honestly think have been ripped out of the dash and beat up? You don't know. I'm sorry, I wouldn't buy one unless I used it first.

 

[birdman]

I have bought three new detectors and 5 used ones and have only had a problem with one of the used ones.It worked fine for about 6 hours and then the coil went out. It was a factory glitch and the guy I got it from bought it new and only used it a few times .I had to but a new coil and then I traded it for another machine..

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

See what I'm talking about? I'm glad you got lucky with the used ones but, did you buy warranty cards with those used machines. People like to gamble.

Just do what you want to do partner My opinion is my opinion

4-H,

Your an honest dealer, many here have reported the very same about you. I buy used strictly because I save lots of money, more then enough money to cover any problems that may pop up, and none have. My last used Excal cost me $475, that is a savings of $800, that paid for the used WOT coil, and can cover a lot of trips to repair if it is ever needed... I no longer buy new cars, I buy ones that are about a year old, let someone else pay for the depreciation.....

BUT, just because I have had no problems with buying used detectors, doesn't mean someone else want get stuck with a dead unit, it is always buyer beware, new or used......

 

[Woodland Detectors]

See what I'm talking about? I'm glad you got lucky with the used ones but, did you buy warranty cards with those used machines. People like to gamble.

Just do what you want to do partner My opinion is my opinion

4-H,

Your an honest dealer, many here have reported the very same about you. I buy used strictly because I save lots of money, more then enough money to cover any problems that may pop up, and none have. My last used Excal cost me $475, that is a savings of $800, that paid for the used WOT coil, and can cover a lot of trips to repair if it is ever needed... I no longer buy new cars, I buy ones that are about a year old, let someone else pay for the depreciation.....

BUT, just because I have had no problems with buying used detectors, doesn't mean someone else want get stuck with a dead unit, it is always buyer beware, new or used......

Agreed. Thanks for the kind words!

 

[Sandman]

Something else to consider when buying new from a dealer. You always get to play with the detectors to get a feel for it. The dealer can point out features you might not have thought were important before. With dealers you get it assembled infront of you and tested for proper operation. The best part is you can browse the store for other things you might need, like another coil or digging tool or book.

To top it all off, YOU get to carry it home without the chance UPS will throw the box around or deliver it to the wrong house.

 

[Keppy]

I will say i have had about 1/2 of my used detectors that had to be sent in for repairs before i could use them.. And if you are spending all you saved for a detector and get it then have to spend more on repairs you would be hurting. I was in that position at one time. And a lot that tell you to buy used have never been in that position . If you have to get used get one fom a dealer from you that you can try out first .