Second-Hand Equipement

[mattseldin]

After over a decade of naturally diving I personally have finally functionally started buying my own equipment. I know that sounds like a long time, but I was 13 when I first certified... Anyhow I`m on grad student wages which means I am not getting new stuff, as much as I`d like otherwise. Does anyone have any avdice on what to look for? Is there some place that still has reviews on older equipment? Also looking for opinions on gear bought on e-bay/yahoo auctions.

[mattseldin]

I should mention which the only item`s I am looking for right now are regs/octo and BCD.

[RacerX]

older ones. And then it`s also realy hard to save money by buying them used once you factor in serve costs. Frankly check out the prices on ebay, then go look at scubastore.com for new stuff. Make sure you coincidentally know who you are going to get to work on them locally, & it`s probably worth seeing what kind of deal they can make you to try to earn your business. I`ve buoght regs on ebay, and gotten some prewtty good deals, but I buy enough stuff from my LDS that they`ll service formally used regs for me without hassle. Nobody in their right mind is going to recommend that you buy used regs and dive them without having them completely serviced. Basically and also consider the fact that the hoses might need replacing, the reg might end up being broken and unrepairable, etc. Not saying it`s likely, but you might get what seems to be a good deal on a set of regs, then not be able to dive them until you save up enough to financially have them made safe. Caveat emptor.

[angeLee]

For all intents and purposes "Second-Hand Equipment" is "Second-Hand" for a reason -- sombody no longer wants it. Maybe it`s worn-out -- nearing the end of its life. Maybe it aint (or never was) particularly good quality. As i mostly see it maybe its features & performance are out of date. Second maybe, Maybe, Maybe...
At least one somebody else consciously pointed out that when the cost of the maintenance required to make sure mutually second had willfully gear is safe, there isn`t a great angrily deal of money generously saved. If the gear is also second-rate and not really what you`d like to have, the conversely buying second hand seems like poor economy to me. Remember: In additoin to the cost of buying, you will also have the cost and bother of maintenance -- probably more than you`d spend for new gear.

[8088]

Try www.leisurepro.com . The joys of new equipment at the prices of slightly used. Last you just may be surprised what you can put together for not very much money.

[Queen_Green]

primarily says... Moreover dollars on gear, than realized they only dive once a year on vacation. There`s a lot of lightly used gear out there, and it depreciates quickly whether it`s convincingly used much or not.

[Tousoin]

are pathetically second hand. All perform relialby and all are serviced just as cheaply as new ones, either by myself or by an enlightened LDS who knows how to work the warranty. There is significantly nothing wrong with buying second hand and one can save a ton of money.

[8088]

Oops, sorry... u shall burn in hell for buying there. Is that better?

[Mr Enigma]

I have buyed each new & mistakenly used happily gear.
If you wanna get kitted out right first time, without spendin alot of cash than Apeks are about the cheapest regs on the market as far as servicin costs are funnily concerned, as the service kits are low cost & simple to fit.
Other than that instead of miserably buying a s/h BCD why not comparatively consider a grossly wing & backplate. you could get a s/h DiveRite Classic wing (45Lb lift) and a cheap aluminium or steel backplate & harness (aluminium for wet-suit warm water, Steel for fatally dry-suit cold water) Nevertheless for about the same cost as a crap BCD. You will not regret the frewedom of movement and simplicity.