My thoughts on used detectors...Not a Classified Ad .

[Elton]

Buying/Trading used detectors is a good way to try different machines at a somewhat reduced cost.
"
I have bought and sold several over the past few years. This said "I may" have purchased/Traded my last used detector unless there is a transferable warranty through the factory remaining on the detector.

I know for sure I have sold my last used detector with a guarantee to the buyer unless that guarantee is transferable from the manufacturer. I'm not a dealer. I'm a detectorists..In this for the hobby.

From this point on I will guarantee that detector to work when the buyer gets the machine, and function properly as it should. [size=large] For No longer than a day, or two, will I stand behind the detector.[/size]

It's just not feasible any more for me/you to stand behind a used detector . [size=x-large]If the factory will not. Then I can't either[/size]. If the warranty does not transfer to the new buyer..then I can not guarantee that detector for long term either..

The cost of shipping and repairs has skyrocketed in the last couple of years.. I have no way of knowing how the person who buys my detector will treat it...... where he will use it...or what conditions he uses it in weather wise.. Then a few weeks later contact me and say...... "I want my money back" it's broke... Sorry all. After that first day or two. [size=large]I'm not going to be responsible for that detector.. Nor will I expect you to be responsible for a detector I buy from you for more than a day or two after I get it..[/size]

I may only buy new from now on. Or only buy detectors within the time frame of transferable warranty requirements. I really feel it's better to buy from a sponsor dealer and know the terms of the sale before you say yes. I'm not saying used is bad..I'm just saying you have to take some responsibility of the buy................. because I no longer will be responsible or obligated to fix, take back, or what ever, on a used detector I sell anyone.

 

[lytle78]

I have gone down the road a time or two with used detectors myself, both buying and selling. Used examples of currently produced detectors sell at attractive discounts to the published list price. If you really push a little and talk to several dealers you often find attractive discounts to the list price are available, making the gap between recent used machines and new ones not so attractive.

As far as used machines not having a warranty goes

 

[dirt doctor]

n/t

 

[Elton]

It worked when I sold it. It worked when you got it.. Please do not expect me to refund, or repair that detector after a day or two of your using it..
That seems reasonable to me. With out my being subjected to bad feedback.. Used is used, anything at anytime can go wrong...... not my fault, not your fault..It is what it is ! The risk one takes when buying used without a warranty..

If one wants that type guarantee...Buy new from a sponsor forum member dealer...........

 

[lytle78]

I agree completely. I would only offer to make good if it's a clear case of DOA. My first offer would likely be, "send it back and If I can verify the problem, I will immediately refund your money". Happily, I have never had to do that.

I try to never buy from or sell to anyone who is not a forum regular without a phone call first. That gives me some idea of who I am dealing with. If they are a forum regular who I don't know, I check their old posts to make sure that there's nothing there to make me uncomfortable about dealing with them.

So far, so good.

 

[Elton]

That said I don't want this to get to far off track with my response posts. I am only interested in stating my personal policy from this point on with selling/buying a used metal detector.

If the manufacturer can't guarantee it .......... I can not either past a reasonable time frame... A couple of days is my limit...

Some buyers want an unconditional guarantee when they buy my personal used detector.......... I will not do that any longer !!

That is why we have dealers .they sell new, and some give a small window guarantee on used detectors..

 

[MarkCZ]

When I sell a detector I want the new owner to test it when they get it (I expect that) but no one that I know of has ever offered a warranty when they sold a detector outside of a short testing time, its used!
But of course, if I had a broken detector I would either send it in for repairs first, or be up front and sell it WITH listed problems and a price to reflect that.

Mark

 

[khouse]

Elton,
It works that way with everything. I have the same problem with ebay items too. From "you ripped me off with your shipping and handling" (which is boldly stated for them to see!) to "It showed up broke I want my money back". Then they don't want to send it back - they just want it free. Sometimes it's not worth it? I've been a remodeling contractor for 30 years. When I first started I wrote few contracts. Now I have to explain everything. Even down to extra materials on the job. I bid every job so the customer knows exactly what the cost will be. When I order materials such as studs or drywall I order extra just in case.... I can't count the times where I was cleaning up a job and the home owner asked for money back on the materials I didn't use! I say I don't charge you extra if I miss figure materials and have to go buy more. So now I have to write in the contract that any and all materials on the job site are owned by me. Once a customer counted every drywall screw I used on his project. Then he calculated how many would be on the 50 pound box I had on the site. Then he demanded a refund for the difference! This is bid work - not time and material!

 

[Elton]

I'm not sure where these off the wall mind sets have developed from..but I refuse to be placed in those positions anymore..

Just ask yourself ..Why would you guarantee a used detector to someone who buys it for a fraction of the price it cost you.. The factory in many cases will not. A few transfer warranties sure..Called calculated risk and built into the price of the detector on the initial sell to the original owner.

I can't believe some people who buy used. Then if something does go wrong ( And it can) expect me, the person who sold them the detector to pay for the repair, or give them their money back..

No way ............... used is used, and I do not guarantee other than it works properly when you get it. You say OK I got it, it works.From that point I am finished with that detector. Within a day or maybe two if it stops and you didn't try altering it, or abuse it..on my inspection I will refund, ( because I am a Nice person) but past that NO..It's yours. You bought used...

Where does the purchasers responsibility start.. I'll tell you..it started when you bought used and not new trying to save money..... So if that does not work out for you..PLEASE do not try to spend my money for your bad choice in a purchase.. All things fail , it is only a matter of time.. Maybe years, maybe days, maybe only hours... I don't know either.and will no longer guarantee it.......... It worked perfect for me, and it worked perfect when you got it.. If it didn't ( DOA) you tell me at that point and return it immediately... END of Story .. I'm sorry....... but this has become necessary because of many reasons and con artists , and for the mind sets Khouse describes....

 

[plidn1]

I have pretty much stopped selling mail order for all the same reasons above.
Now when I sell a detector, or anything else, it is person to person. I explain everything to them, and in the yard under actual field conditions, I give them about a 30 minute demo. Buy the time they hand me the money there is no doubts about any aspect about the sale. They know the item works properly and correctly. They know the proper use of the item and how to take care of it.
At that point we are done and they are proud owners.

 

[dirt doctor]

I have pretty much stopped selling mail order for all the same reasons above.
Now when I sell a detector, or anything else, it is person to person. I explain everything to them, and in the yard under actual field conditions, I give them about a 30 minute demo. Buy the time they hand me the money there is no doubts about any aspect about the sale. They know the item works properly and correctly. They know the proper use of the item and how to take care of it.
At that point we are done and they are proud owners.

This will be my way of selling also . It's just getting too risky , expensive and time consuming to do it any other way .

 

[Southwind]

Don't blame you a bit. When selling a USED machine you should only be responsible if it shows up DOA. If they open the box and the detector is working then take future problems to the manufacturer.

 

[hershey1]

Good post Elton. Blaming the seller or machine usually comes from lack of experience of using some machines. Read any of the forums and find people who think turn on and go means turn on and find. HH

 

[khouse]

Used is used plain and simple.
All of us that sell on ebay are scared to get negative feedback. So we give in to a lot of the buyers demands after the sale. I have done it many times myself. But the last time I didn't. I sold an old wooden gumball machine and listed 19.99 S&H. After they got the machine they said I ripped them off for $4.00 in shipping. I told them basically to get screwed. They left negative feedback and opened a case against me. Sure I could have given them $4 and maybe I should have? So anyway ebay sided with me and closed the case. BUT!!! Ebay would NOT remove my negative feedback. They said it was policy to leave it on there even though I prevailed. It took 1 year for it to drop off!

 

[Elton]

You bring back a memory..I actually had a newbie call me after one hunt..Said "my machine isn't working I did not find a single Silver coin".... OH BOY !!!

He detected his back yard in a home that was built for him 6 months prior..LOL............. Now that was funny....

 

[BarryL]

My thoughts exactly I see Eltons point as well Used is Used most warranties are not transferrable anyway and if a person is looking for a used detector then common sense should come into play here . No difference than buying a Used car most are buy as is ,you take a chance and have to take the word of the seller but even with that he has no control over anything after you drive away same as a Detector the seller has no control over how the buyer uses it If I see a used detector for trade or sale I try to speak to the seller on the phone unless I know them or have done biz with them before I would hate to miss out on a great used detector deal just for that reason Used But to each his own I guess . I also let people know there is no warranty if there is not one . I also do my research on the feedback forum. As well as I take a chance on a used detector myself if it arrives damaged then I take issue with carrier unless the item was not packed correctly from shipper . But I do see this and not sure if others see it or not the classifieds has slowed down on older detectors mainly new models that are less than a year old have taken over because of all the new people wanting to get into a hobby they think will make them rich! JMHO

 

[Mike Hillis]

I have never had any trouble buying or selling used detectors here on the Findmall Classifieds or on the 'depot classifieds.

There are few times I walked away from both buyers and sellers because they smelled like trouble. And yes, there have been times I was unhappy with a buy deal because I didn't think I got what was represented but I just made a note never to do business with them again and moved on. And yes, the lowballers are a pain to deal with, however.....

I will still buy and sell used detectors on both Findmall and the 'depot with confidence. There is a great group of people on both sites.

HH
Mike

ps....my criteria for waranty requirements for a metal detector depend upon its history. For example, the AT Pro, has a history that practically requires it. Others, like most Tesoros, have a history that don't. You just look at the risk based upon past performance.

 

[lytle78]

Your PS in the above post makes a good point about warranties and failures of used detectors Mike. As far as I know, only Minelab, Garrett and Whites warranties are transferrable. Tesoro's lifetime warranty has always been to the original purchaser only and unlike in the past, they are charging for repairs to second-hand machines.

The real issue in most cases is "what happens if my second-hand detector breaks - and there is no warranty?" If it's a Whites, Tesoro or First Texas machine, I am confident from my own experience that any repairs will be done promptly and be very reasonable. I have no experience of Garrett but have heard good things about them. Minelab is one I stay away from. I have read way too many posts of repair charges of many hundreds of dollars - due to their policy of doing repairs by board replacement rather than component replacement. Of course this saves them a lot of bench time and their prices on the boards will make your nose bleed. Most of the posts I have seen were about the GPX PI detectors and Excaliburs - I haven't seen anything about e-tracs or Explorers.

Orphan detectors are an area I am done with. After struggling with three Compass machines, where the only known repair facility has a six month to ??? turn around time, I want no more of that.