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

[Slingshot]

I've owned a lot of machines and been detecting since the BFO's were the only game in town. The majority of my machines have been "used", but I would never buy a high dollar top of the line, or close, unit unless it is new. I do radio electronics repair, and a metal detector is a radio, so I can fix a lot of non-working units, but have had to send a couple to Keith Wells that I couldn't figure out. Most detectors aren't even broken in good before they get put in a closet and basically forgotten about, and these are what you want to find, as long as the batteries were removed before they went Rip Van Winkle. Battery leakage is the most common damage in these forgotten units. Component degradation is a constant, and failure can strike at any moment, which is true of any electronics. Used machines have worked well for me, but I'm picky about what I buy, and realize it is always a gamble. I will buy non-working units if the price is right, on the chance I can resurrect them, which I usually can. After battery damage, most other problems are actually mechanical, switches, pots, disconnected wiring, bad battery contact, disrupted board traces, loose coil, etc. Actual component failure usually is with capacitors, anything beyond that and it starts getting complicated, at least for me. All that being said, in the past few years I found a couple of 50ish year old White's BFO's that ran like champs when I put the batteries in, you just never know.

 

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[Peter67]

Bought untill now 14 used metall detectors and the only one i had a small problem with was the youngest one that still had 4 years guarantee so that was not a problem. A part of buying used detectors is luck and another part is just like cars some have more defaults and others are more reliable. I have bought in the past 8 used Tesoro's and using them for years without any problem.

 

[Rawhide]

Saved for months. Bought a used detector. After of 6 months of swings in finding nothing but bottle caps I was able to compare signals with a same type of detector. After sending it in was told it had a bad coil and was dunked in the ocean. I dont live anywhere near a ocean. The guy still sells detectors on various forums. I was pretty upset about it. Save yourself head aches, I learned the hard way.

 

[gunsil]

#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.

Many fantastic deals are out there on used detectors that were closet queens, and many still have full factory warranty on them making minor problems no problem. I agree with those that get their used machines on craigslist since then you can easily see what condition they are in and usually try them out. Meeting the owner in person also makes it easier to see if the seller is an honest person or not. I got My safari off ebay from a dealer in FL who had only used it on a two week trip to Cost Rica and I saved 4 hundred and it had a full warranty. My Excal came on craigslist from a woman in OH whose husband had passed away after using it on land only a few times. It had sat in a closet for eight years and only needed a new battery pack. It is a "blue" model, preferred by some over the newer ones, and it cost half of a new one. ATP was an older model that the owner had sent back to Garrett for the pinpoint and shaft upgrade and has functioned perfectly for the five or six years I have owned it. It was a craigslist deal and I got to try it out before purchase and the seller was a fine honest gentleman. I could not drive the nice cars I like or use the fine detectors and many other items I own had I not bought them used. If one does their research and knows what they are looking at the second hand market for almost anything is a good place to shop. Of course if you're one of those doctors or lawyers making hundreds of dollars an hour or more, buy new!! If you're a working Joe like me the used market is great for most things.

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

I'm sure, like cars and homes, people sell their problems.

I bought my first "real" detector used and still have it. And it still is a very good (if analog) detector.

 

[RustyGold]

Buying and selling on eBay is, or can be, a hit or miss when buying used equipment. Here on TNet though it's been 100% positive.
I did purchase a used Omega 8000 ver. 6, out of warranty on TNet, that after a year bellied up. I sent it in for repair and First Texas sent back a new Omega 8500 in the box at no charge. After using the 8500 I like it better than the 8000. So that worked out great on the "used" purchase.
Buying used is best inspected prior to purchase or at least a generous return agreement.

 

[Escape]

I just bought a CZ3D on eBay. Great deal on a machine with only 3 hours on it and lots of extras. Seller decided to get back into detecting then got injured. He listed everything as Local Pick up Only. No shipping. That eliminated the majority of potential buyers. Will keep detector clean and resell in spring. Still have an eye on the equinox.

 

[DeepseekerADS]

I purchased my CTX and Excal II, as well as a Fisher 1265X on TNet, also picked up a 6" and 17" coils for the CTX here. I've not been disappointed. I also sold my Etrac on TNet. Like others stated on this thread, TNet members with solid records here are always dependable.

 

[McKinney_5900]

Thanks for the feedback. I do need to clarify what I meant with starting this thread topic.

I own no machines which came factory sealed, new in the box. Do they work "as intended",,,yes. Do they match the best standard of virgin units bought absolutely new? Nobody really nows how many "lame detectors" folks sell. Jus' cuz a machine functions in every way, doesn't mean it was not orphaned, sold and resold, due to being lack-luster.

JM2C

 

[HighVDI]

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.

Or when someone didn't get the memo that it's actually work to find the goods. Lazy and detecting don't go hand in hand.

Bought a couple machines from Tnet and both were like brand new. Seems like most here value their rep over a couple hundred bucks.....which is nice.

 

[Professor of Engineering]

IMHO, buying used machines is a cost effective way of trying out the newest technology or just to experiment. Last spring, I bought a New (used a few times) Minelab 705 for $ 300 dollars (listed for $375) on Craigs List. I met the owner and we spoke about the machine and why he would want to sell it. He said that he felt self conscious while detecting and just couldn't get over it. I tested the machine and the functionality was perfect.

 

[clv]

I gave up a long time ago worrying about what other people thought what I looked liked, but when they lose their phone or keys in the sand they stop making fun of you

 

[Kurios1]

By now you have more than enough feedback on buying used vs new. I probably can't offer anything others haven't already shared. That being said I prefer to by used for the fact that you can save 50% on low hour like new machines if you search the market continually like I do when hunting for a particular make and model detector. I have purchased three machines brand new. All the used machines I have purchased ALL worked fine and found me good stuff. Craigslist is great as others have said because you can meet the seller and test the machine. E-bay is a bit riskier but, if you are confident the seller's feedback is solid and their reputation is important to them then I have no problem making a purchase there either. Anyone have a used Nokta Impact for sale?

 

[Jack Barlow]

I've had two bad experiences back to back recently with used, so I just bought a new Garrett AT Max. First one, Ebay was a White's Beachhunter ID, when I got it, it would act weird just for a second, and you turned off and on...then fine. Yeah right...used it twice, 3 hours total, now sent in. Then I just tried buying a slightly used AT Max. Asked too many questions I guess...I was asking if everything that came in the original box was included. Too many questions for the seller who was selling it for a 74 year old, who had detecting on his "bucket list," but found the crouching down no fun. So the guy asks me: "What was my ORIGINAL NATIONALITY!!! Say what I wrote him back..."Now I get racial slurs, yet? I was born and raised in Wisconsin. So I said: "Why don't you just cancel my bid."...and he did. Lucky for me, I was only saving a lousy $70 over new. He did me a favor...and then I smiled when he got $10 less the next round selling it!

 

[Peter67]

Like i said, some brands are less or more reliable then others. The one i had a problem with, was just like yours a Teknetics Omega 8000