The "Real Cost" of buying a Used Detector --no warranty -that Good Deal

[rljehart]

Most fellow THers consider the condition of buying used -take word of a machine being in good working condition -i have read of plenty of conflicts on detector condition or fear of not getting the machine at all but here's my spin if your considering a used no warranty machine - added cost -----------
Bought two Used Cortes within days apart a few weeks back (for my son and I )-both were well used and i paid pretty much top dollar for both -one from a dealer and another from a forum member who had the Cortes for a few months and he bought it from a forum dealer also (both are forum dealers --highly respected) -- the one i bought from the forum member after five minutes of using i could tell"wasn't right" target id way off ,scratchy discrimination -notch system was notching out nickels -poor depth [--- i didn't make an issue with the forum member =he claimed it was working correctly and he didn't use it very much --he said he bought it used from the dealer here on this forum ------------i sent it off to Tesoro about 19 shipping -- got a call back from Allen whom is the new repair dept manager - said Rusty told him this Cortes had been opened and tinkered with --every trimmer had to be adjusted back and he replaced some electrical components to get back to OEM spec -which was a 50 dollar charge and plus another 40 for corroded wiring total of 90 bucks -- i went ahead a had them put on a new screen for 25 extra and they done that with new face plate --- Allen said they gave me a break on repairs for "well worn " Cortes and i believe him -Tesoro has a great service dept -detector now performs great (i owned a Cortes before and very familiar with operation)
The 2nd Cortes i bought from a (differant) dealer within a couple of days of the 1st one -- after detecting with a short while --it wasn't right either --had a intermediate short - that cut the detector on and off and target id was off (makes me think the detector was dropped or slammed hard-- who knows)- I am not going the ordeal of paying for repairs or shipping- i just packed it up and sent it back to the dealer =i which he agreed to take it back -- - he told me this makes the 2nd Tesoro recently he had traded that appears to be defective
Also in the past couple of years == bought a Toltec 2 from a forum guy in Tennessee =detector just thrown in a box --no paper or bubble wrap --cracked the meter housing --tapped battery leads ==well used --probably hundreds of hours of use -----claimed it was in almost flawless condition --should have sent back --but i went ahead and sent it to Tesoro repaired it for 65 dollars plus ship cost
Bought a whites 6000 di pro around 180 bucks == it was in great shape but after a month ==the meter would quit working and constant drift -- i just gave it away took the hit
Traded for used Royal Sabre off the forums in January --looked great and personally tested it but after i got hunting with it --within a couple of hours -- it started acting up -off to Tesoro --bad capacitors -retune -50 bucks + shipping
I have bought and traded several detectors over the years and had real good satisfaction on both sides---and most trades /buying on these forums go ------- the issue is -- shipping cost have increased count on 20 bucks to ship your detector --hassle going to the Post Office standing in line --- flat fee for diagnose and standard repairs ---extra cost for intensive repairs ---------as mentioned Tesoro Service is excellent and they will try to repair any machine they ever mfg---with a quick turn around -not to familiar with other Mfgs but from what i have heard --- will not repair out of warranty machines for lack of spare parts(CZs for one) or don't want to do on a timely basis --may take weeks ----or recommend Keith WIlls for repairs for out of warranty work .
Seems like the forums , Ebay , Craigslist will have their share of "dog" detectors --may have been tinkered with , dropped ,got wet or some type of defect that may not be readily noticeable to a dealer (most just air test and go thru functions ) or a buyer --- and your out the cost -- i am not going to buy any used Tesoros especially one with fixed ground balance or target id == i have read postings many times that the present owners open up --( just 4 screws and a few knobs and your inside) --------start turning trimmers --hopefully they got " the right one " to ground /target id to their ground --- the Troy X2 turning the "coin check " trimmer to their liking , Not going to buy any "so called Vintage" old detectors or Discovery treasure modular or stock --most all that i bought t or traded for seemed to have issues -not work it --leave them to the collectors --------- Most of the Newer machines (except Tesoro) are not easy to access internally but really no way on Gods Green Earth am i going to pay big bucks for an out of warranty machine such as Deus, Minelab CXT - on any machine i have consider the outlay dollar risk for repairs -that "good deal" may not be - and have more money tied up far more than its worth
I remember a former dealer about 10 years or so back Ronnie Duggar --Dixie Metal Detectors in Mississippi only would do a trade for your detector if you provided a credit card if a repair was needed -said this was his policy - he got burned with so many defective detectors --(-then he finally gave it up after the Katrina Hurricane --lost his home and all )

 

[still looking 52]

A lot of people out there are rough on anything they own and a metal detector just won't hold up with rough treatment, that's why it's risky buying unseen. Personally without at least a 30 day warranty I wouldn't take a chance on a used detector, that's just my opinion.

 

[After-1-]

That puts a bad taste in buying not being local,like 52 said ,need a warranty or return policy------ IN the 70s I needed a head for my 240z.bought one 40 miles away from a junk yard --I was told it check out good ---take it to get valves and seat reground ----get a call that all the valves seats were loose,call the junk yard, he says BS. OK, I take it back to the junk yard,carry the head on my shoulder and my hatchet in my other hand,put them both on the counter, Tell him I want my money back ---- walk out with my money and hatchet ---- I like to trust people and I will buy used -------------after1----------

 

[lytle78]

20 - 30 year old machines are often troublesome. The sellers may or may not have enough knowledge to correctly judge whether they are operating correctly. Whitws and Tesoro machines can be fixed - usually cheaply. Orphan machines - those with no existing company to back them are another situation. I got burned on a series of Compass detectors.

First Texas and Garrett are known for reasonable repair charges, but tin the case of First Texas, the discontinued Fisher machines have limited support due to parts non-availability.

Minelab also has an "end of life" type policy on their older machines. Current machines are repairable, but their parts cost is extremely high and modern surface mount circuit boards are usuallyunrepairable. New boatds cost many hundreds of $ each.

I will only buy older machines from Whites or Tesoro and then only if they are real bargains. Current machines from any maker other than Minlab are fine by me, but always realize that you might have to invest a couple of hundred $ more than the purchase price.

 

[detectin4fun]

Thanks for posting your experience with the used market of detectors. A good warning for us searching for a dream machine If the seller is in the salesman mode his item is golden and in mint condition, your trade in is just rust and he already has too many of that model. I had found a CL AT Gold with a nearly new Garrot Carrot for a good price. Called and he said he would meet me nearby within an hour and I was the first caller. The "mint" detector was covered in dried mud and looked like it had spent a good deal of time in the water. There were no headphones, box, papers or any of the original included items. The carrot had been sold separately already if there was one. I brought along some of my finds with me to check the operation. I air tested the unit and it sounded odd and scratchy and did not seem to be able to detect all the items I tried. He had a great story of why he was selling and all his amazing finds he had made with it. We tried a parking lot island it sounded off indicating a surface find but we didn't find anything. Too much of the purchase was not as advertised and my instincts were telling me it would be a bad purchase. I thanked him for his time and said politely I had to pass. Like a buy here pay here car lots the salesman seller knows you want something that is priced out of your comfortable reach and to have it you will compromise your best judgement and take a chance of buying wrong to have your dream machine.
I'm glad I passed on this dream machine purchase that would had likely become a money pit nightmare.
Thanks for the reminder of buyer beware.

 

[bootyhoundpa]

Ive been fortunate with the 3 used units ive purchased both on and off the forums... one of them being a whites 5900 di pro which wouldn't power up at the yard sale i was at, but for 50 bucks i couldnt pass it up...i got it working 5 minutes after i got it home and still use it... as far as the meter issue you had with your di pro i can tell you from experience that the meter is extremely sensetive to static electricity..... i wiped the dust off my meter with my finger while hunting and the meter got all kinda crazy because unbeknownst to me it loaded up with static.... it wasnt until a few minutes later when i wiped the meter clean with my finger only this time instead of wiping side to side i wiped up and down and it must have destatic ed as the meter began working perfectly again... also the battery packs in the di pros go bad about every 10 years or so but i will take 5 dollar repair anyday over having to mail unit back to the factory... seems as though most people are happy with the transactions if the feeback page is any barometer of satisfaction but buying used certainly is a gamble like you say sometimes the issues take a while to notice.... well anyway best of luck on your next used purchase and this was an interesting read....

 

[7centsworth]

I have bought Around 9 used detectors off the forums over the years and never had an issue. All have been good detectors.

 

[Mega]

Must admit in all the years that i have been detecting and buying from Ebay,dealers and private sales and including from abroad i have never ever had any trouble with any thing detector related,and trust me i have a serious amount of detecting equipment,the only detector that i have ever sold was a new Troy X5 as that was the only detector that i could not get on with,someone offered me a deal that only lost me peanuts,so i grab the deal and run like hell.Nothing wrong with the detector it just hated the way it performed.

Pinpointers also never had any problems with them either,does my detecting equipment get used the answer is it most certainly does,one example my DFX possibly one of the 1st 6 machine into the UK when they came out,has had well over a 1000 hours on the clock and still performs the same as the day that i bought it and also looks in mint condition as well,never been back for service or repair and still one of my all time favourites.

Of course its not nice to hear that folks have problems with anything detector related but i must be one of the real lucky ones,one buying criteria that i have always stood by and that is never buy anything 'new' detector related until its a minimum of 12 months old,the main reason to see if any major design faults occur and yes major faults to appear,this has saved me from buying white elephants or lemons many times over.

 

[WIHawker]

I have bought 6 used machines. One from a rummage sale, one from Craigslist, one from a dealer, one from ebay and 2 from forums. Never had a issue. They all worked fine. The machines At Pro, GTI 2500, CTX 3030, F70, Ace 350, and a Silver umax.

 

[Sven]

Expect a problem to arise with a vintage detector. They may all work but, could still have problems a few minutes into operation.
Bad caps are common, they dry out with age and from non-use. A broken wire from a solder joint, they used pretty stiff wires.
I had a Whites 6000 that arrived in the mail back in 2005, guaranteed working, it didn't work properly at all, sent it back to the seller,
he refused to accept the parcel it came back. I opened the box, turned it on it worked perfect. I also heard something roll around inside.
I unscrewed the case cover and found a rivet head that came off the case at some point. It must have shorted out a circuit so it would not work
for me at first. It must have dislodged during shipping back so the detector worked perfect.

I stopped buying vintage machines the past year, as most appear to work, seller thinks they do, in fact they don't. 50% or more had issues, most I could fix.
The rest saved for parts.

Folks like to tinker to try and improve a detector without having a clue what they are doing, when they screw up they sell quickly as "working last time I turned it on.."
Big clue something is amiss. Could work in your favor if paid by paypal, seller does not want it back and may offer you a big partial refund if you keep it. At that point,
if it costs you out of pocket money to get it fixed, your still ahead with a factory repaired unit, good as new.

A lot of ebay sellers are clueless, they are selling something the bought at a garage sale, estate sale, given to them....they turn it on makes a sound, makes a sound when passing a wrench across the coil.
Must work right....LOL. They didn't try ground balancing, disc controls.... but, it makes sounds. Good enough to list as working. Again, if its crap when it arrives, bargain with the seller so the sale is in your favor.
You know those guys selling a questionable detector are sweating bullets until several days after the buyer gets it, hoping the buyer doesn't notice the issue. Best to check the detector fully when it arrives.

Some people care for their detectors like they are precision instruments to keep them in minty looking, operating condition. Others use them as construction tools and care for them the same way, dirty, thrown in the back of the truck.............Then you get owners that fit in between those two types but, who can be careless and clumsy--oops it slipped out the car door, ..

 

[rljehart]

n/t

 

[skookum]

Hi,
I´ve never bought a brand new detector, BUT I´ve also never bought one that I couldn´t try out first.
So far this has panned out - knock on wood.
Would you buy a used car without taking it for a test drive ??
I reckon not, so why treat a detector differently ??
hh
skookum

 

[roadapple]

Well many of the regulars on this forum are very good people , that take care of their equipment and when I see them selling a detector, well I know they will treat others in the same manor in which they themselves would want to receive one . So you can just trust them or by new and don't look back at what prices are for used. All of my present detectors have had previous owners and all of mine are as if brand new purchased from across the nation. Even now I clean all my equipment after each and every use as they did as well and everything looks like new showroom condition. Its the way some of us are wired I guess, but those are the guys you want to buy from.

 

[Mike Hillis]

Most of my detecting buy and try has been used units. Never had any major issues, praise the Lord. I have gotten several Tesoro's that were tinkered with but its no big deal reseting a Tesoro ground balance or notch width, or tones.

I just make sure I get pictures so my expectations are properly set.

HH
Mike