You Take A Chance...."Used Metal Detectors"

[McKinney_5900]

I am a trusting type in general with people, and buying used detectors came naturally. Now, after 6 years, I am wondering if sellers, and that includes a friend or two of mine who have "come and gone at this time" now...coulda sold limp/lame machines, stating that the detectors "have been no problems", or "works as intended."
Y'all general response is likely, "Well you buy used, you take your chances." The point in this post is to give second thoughts to anyone who simply believes that a used machine is only sold because they are quitting the hobby, maybe found a better technology in a detector...WHILE they may very well be just car salesmen in metal detectors.

Think about it. How many people have bought a used machine and put in lots of time and effort and still can't see signals which friend sees with the machine setup,,,all the settings the same, and the buddy swinging your machine against his? Response from friend, "I don't now why it's not seeing it."

Do people sell lame units, even someone you trusted as veteran and trustworthy? I think so.

 

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[SultansOfSwing]

My father just had me sell his AT Pro on ebay for him. Slightly used. He won a new one with at ms-2 headphones so he wanted to get rid of his old. Sold in a heartbeat on ebay.

He also had me buy him a Wilson C&R 4 on ebay. Seller (a pawn shop) said it had no issues and turned on and functioned fine. Upon receiving the detector it was falsing very badly and we had it shipped to keith wills for repair. The issue was a bad coil wire. The pawn shop said they just bench tested the detector and didnt move it while testing. If they had they would have noticed that the slightest movement caaused the detector to false.

Youre absolutely right, buyers discretion when it comes to buying used detectors.

Edit: come to think of it, it wasnt the wire on the C&R, it was something bad on the circuit board. Either way, it wasnt working as advertised.

 

[Icewing]

Just as with buying a car it's buyer beware, you gotta test it before you buy it second hand, if you cant test it, don't buy it for more than it's value as a parts machine.

 

[G.A.P.metal]

I never bought used,but i have sold a few.
Bought a couple of new that have failed/problems.
The one`s i have sold all were taken very good care off...and worked just like out of the factory.
Did you have a bad experience buying used ?
Gary

 

[Whyme]

I just bought a Minelab E-Trac on Ebay and it works great! I've bought many things used and refurbished on Ebay and other online stores and have only had one problem with something not working. The problem was quickly resolved and I was satisfied. Maybe I was just lucky

 

[Xraywolf]

Well, one should use caution when buying used anything.
I would think a very low proportion of used units sold are because they are defective.
Far more get sold because they are sitting in a closet collecting dust, owner passed away/lost interest or owner upgraded machines and has no use for it.

Of course, this is something there will never be stats for, thats my impression from selling and buying used over the years.
I have sold at least 5 used detectors that I bought new [Quatro, Ace 250, F-75, Tesero, Deus XP], none of them were defective. In fact, most were nearly factory new with very little use.
So yeah, use caution but I see no reason to become jaded like you seem to be, unless you have had successive bad experiences buying used detectors.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

I have bought at least a dozen detectors used, never bought one that was bad or not working as it should.

 

[Terry Soloman]

I have never had a problem buying a used machine here on Treasurenet - or selling one for that matter. For me, it comes down to reputation. Long time members cherish their rep here on the forum (I know I do), and would never risk it over a bad machine. I ALWAYS leave feedback after buying or selling a machine. One NEW member even sent me a machine so I could test it BEFORE sending him payment!

Trust, but with due diligence

 

[Loco-Digger]

I have bought most of my detectors used and have never had an issue. I have bought them via ebay and craigslist. I prefer craigslist since you can meet the seller, hold and test the item before you hand over the cash. I am always looking for great deals. I have bought many for 50 cents on the dollar and some at greater discounts. Just know that a factory warranties are designed to cover manufacturing defects. There are many people who bought detectors and came to realize that you are digging more trash than treasure and give up then sell their detectors on the cheap.

 

[Escape]

This summer I bought two used Makro Racer 2 from ebay and returned both for refunds. One the battery compartment wobbled. I contacted the seller nd he said, "they all wobble.” I don’ think so. The second one was described as being very, very clean. The screen was scoffed up. Seller offered to have it repaired at his cost. Sent that one back too. After that I gave up on it. To bad because I really liked it. I just find the price for a new one a bit steep. So I have resigned my self to hold off until the equinox comes out and see what the user reports are. . That one I would buy new. Otherwise I have several other detectors bought used that worked out very well. I generally like to buy used in like new condition.

 

[diggummup]

I think the market for shady detector dealers is pretty slim at best. I'd venture to say that 98 out of 100 detectors are sold because they are gathering dust or the previous owner upgraded. I've never had an issue with a used detector except for the wall hanger Heathkit that I didn't expect to work anyway.

 

[Pacific_Searcher]

I have bought 5 used detectors, One from a charter member here (Fisher F75 85th anni) came exactly as described and working perfectly 2,3 and 4 bought off craigslist locally (Minelab excal II, Fisher f2 and Whites beach hunter id 300) obviously these i got to hold and test first and were great deals. The last wasn't as great of an experience I bought a Garrett Seahunter mkII of ebay from a very highly rated seller it arrived with a cracked coil and circuit board which may have happened in shipping. Used i have no problem with sight unseen though i'm a little skeptical.

 

[ZR2guy]

I have never had an issue selling, trading, or buying on any of the MD forums. If you are that unsure when looking at dealing with someone, just ask or look for their feedback. Guy/gals that wheel-n-deal on a regular basis are who I look for first to see what they are selling/trading. These same members on any of the the forums like to keep an A+ rating. I have traded detectors straight up before. If it is a fairly new member or one that can't provide feedback, I request that they send their detector first, if not, no problem; NO DEAL! It really comes down to common sense. Unfortunately though, with some people, common sense isn't so common. If you can take time to research that next honey hole, do the same if you are about to buy/trade with someone that you aren't sure of.

 

[Mzjavert]

I've sold many of my machines and never got a complaint. I have only bought one used machine that had a problem. It was designed for underwater use and it leaked. Could not check that pary out at the garage sale. Just needed some new o-rings.

Personally I have no problem buying used. But I would not trust the expertise of a pawn shop.

 

[jharhed]

Never had a problem buying used. I prefer buying used from a dealer and machines from northern states where there are actually seasons (no/little detecting during winter/freezing weather= lower milage machines)

 

[ChampFerguson/TN]

Used isn't for me; that just me and my situation. Everyone is different.

That said, I did buy my CTX used. But I hunted with the guy who bought it a week prior and knew how well taken care of it was. + he hadn't even sent in the warranty card yet. I didn't even want it at the time, but I couldn't let such a good deal pass me by.

 

[clv]

I have bought several detectors and one on t-net too. Never a problem, most look like they were never used but a couple times. My biggest fear in buying a used machine is if it was stolen, with minelab they make it easy to know if it's stolen or a fake,(knock-off) machine.

 

[gunsil]

I am a big fan of used machines. Like Loco says, many people get frustrated with the learning curve and digging all the junk and sell low hours machines at great discounts. All four of my modern machines were used when I got them and all work very well.

 

[Muddyhandz]

My track record isn't that great. The first used detector I bought from e-bay turned out good but the second was not good at all.
A friend wanted me to find him a good machine and had a $500 budget. I ended up winning a used sovereign elite for around $600 from a guy down south, many years ago.
It appeared to work when I received it (had red clay on the coil) and my buddy bought it.
On his first trip out, the entire control housing fell to pieces! My friend just said it fell apart out of the blue as he did not bang on anything.
Took a look and yes, it was doctored up cosmetically and there was no way to repair it other than getting a new housing.

A guy on the Canadian forum sold me a "mint" 1266X that arrived with some ridiculous alteration on the shaft that left it weak and loose (not the original locking shaft) and it was soo short, that someone only 4 apples tall could swing it. Dude tried to tell me that I know nothing about how the original shaft came and gave me the run-around.
Whatever you donkey, I've owned 4 of them since the 1990's! Luckily, a buddy (who is much shorter) wanted it and I sold it to him.
I've bought several used detectors locally and all them worked great.

 

[Jollygreen]

#1 rule. "If it sounds to good to be true if probably isn't" Do your self a favor keep saving and buy a new detector.

JG.