"I advise new divers to not buy used gear"

[OMyMyOHellYes]

I saw someone post recently that as a dive master they tell their students to buy new gear instead of used. I have recently figured out the math that renting from my LDS is going to put someone through college while it slowly makes me broke, so I am starting to look around to start my gear collection.

Obviously, I would have my LDS service any used equipment before I trust it, but is there any other reason I am missing someone would suggest buying new for a new diver? (Well other than the DM making a commission from the sale?)

It is not such bad advice. But not such good advice either. I get that everybody on SB is paranoid that they're just giving over their money to Daddy Divebucks, the LDS owner, further enriching that guy that already has more money than he and his kids will ever be able to spend. Economics of operating a dive business aside.....

How many new divers know anything about dive equipment or what they will need or what they won't need or what is good or not?

Just do not go to the deep end of the LDS display and let them tell you that the most 'spensive is the bestest. "And you're betting your life on it, so you NEED the best". Nah. Get current (no pun) equipment from a major name but at the lower to moderate price point. For most all divers (not just noobs) a Scubapro MK11/C370 reg set at $625 is every bit as good and serviceable and will last them just as long as the Scubapro MK25T/S620 Ti at $2,800. And they can spend the rest on a trip for a week of diving. They could also find the MK11/C370 on fleaBay, used (to what extent unknown) for $400, but then find themselves spending $150 for service and replacement of parts (advisable for fleaBay purchases) and have no warranty. They should also insist on the new reg being set up and adjusted as there's rumor (founded or not) that they may not be spec right out of the box but I suppose it COULD happen.....

Unless you're a gear snob (Me: "Hi, I'm OMMOHY and I overspend on shiny scuba gear." Rest of room: "HI, OMMOHY!") I think there's also some good value to be had in some other stuff from say DGX (Deep 6) or HOG for regs at a reasonable price but may not be carried at the LDS.

To echo Brett, there's not much call for new tanks. Ever. If you get a little knowledge up front... What's good, what to avoid, what to look out for. understandd the cost to return an old tank to servicealb condition. But here we go again. Me: "Hi. I'm OMMOHY and I buy way too damn many used scuba tanks. I just can't help myself at $70...." Rest of room: "HI, OMMOHY!"

There are some great deals out there on used equipment if you know what you're doing. Or you may get unapologetically reamed by the guy that WAY overspent on new dive equipment 10 years ago that only saw water twice. And it dry rotted since. I've found most of those guys on fleaBay and Craigslit seem to think that their stuff is what they paid for it new, plus ten years of accrued storage charges.

I buy hard equipment used because I know it and can fix it myself (or learning to). There are some definite no-go re: hard equipment, or discounts to be considered/demanded. Soft stuff, not so much ever.

 

[TMHeimer]

I bought everything used 18 years ago at the shop where I was certified and later DMd. I still use the reg. Replaced the wetsuit 3 years ago and the BC 2 years ago. No problems. Oh, I bought my 4 AL80 tanks from an online ad I saw. They were new in the '90s and pass visual & hydro each time. Now, I don't know about buying reg, BC, suit online. Since I bought these at the LDS I guess it was in their interest to make sure they were OK. The used wetsuit was from the old batch they replace each year for use by new OW students.

 

[Subcooled]

Used cylinders are great, if they have been treated well and inspected.
Used regs are great too. You need to service them, but you do need to service you regs anyway once a year (or two).
Used suits CAN be good (mine was), but they do have a lifespan, so don't buy an OLD suit for A LOT of money.

 

[Bigbella]

Unless you can service them yourselves, I would avoid used regulators, like the Wuhan wet market and the bat-wing soup lunch special -- most everything else, associated with skin diving can be bought second-hand, if so desired.

Often, whatever you potentially "save" on the purchase of used regulators, can be buried in the rebuild; and you can never quite tell what you are for, until it is fully disassembled. Like a crackhead's teeth, it may well end up having the color and texture of candy corn inside — only a minor exaggeration.

I have seen my fair share of useless crap over the years -- and you may well be the proud owner of a Sea Hunt-themed paperweight from eBay on your desk, should you fail to possess the resurrection skills of an @rsingler; that, or even a fabulous, "theft-resistant" restroom key attached to a ruined first stage body (a sizable Dacor, if I recall), had you worked at the shop that I did as a kid, whose sealing surfaces were really no longer sealing surfaces . . .

 

[BoltSnap]

I wouldn't buy used equipment as a new inexperienced diver especially the critical parts; regulator, bc, dive computer. If you buy anything that turns out to a lemon with need to replace expensive part, your savings are almost gone or may have to throw it away. You still have to service the major parts anyways and that adds up very quickly. Other issue is that you won't know if what you are buying is eol/eos equipment or not. You need to be know what you are doing and understand the risks and consequences.

 

[runsongas]

I argue against used regs for most because the servicing costs start degrading the savings too much these days unless if you are getting a set for practically free in which case you still are ahead paying a shop 200+ to service it. better off with some affordable import regs unless if you want to start going DIY.

dgx is so cheap already it doesn't really make sense to try and go with a used bcd outside of a screaming deal on a wing. too many bladder fitting failures on older jacket bcds to be worth the risk.

used shearwater petrels can sort of make sense if the price is good, but the rest are just way too unreliable and unserviceable.

 

[SlugLife]

I saw someone post recently that as a dive master they tell their students to buy new gear instead of used. I have recently figured out the math that renting from my LDS is going to put someone through college while it slowly makes me broke, so I am starting to look around to start my gear collection.

Obviously, I would have my LDS service any used equipment before I trust it, but is there any other reason I am missing someone would suggest buying new for a new diver? (Well other than the DM making a commission from the sale?)

[sarcasm] I advise all students to buy the absolute most expensive new gear possible, so that when they lose interest, I can grab it off the used-market for much cheaper. [/sarcasm]

I'd give the advice a "half truth" rating. There are some risks with used equipment, but if you get it serviced, or have someone who knows what they're doing helping you, there are lots of ways to save money. There is a fairly large learning curve when it comes to used-gear, so it's easy to mistakenly buy stuff that's effectively junk having no idea what you're looking at.

If you're already here on scuba-board, you may be one small step towards understanding used-gear, or knowing where to look for that information.

 

[Marie13]

I saw someone post recently that as a dive master they tell their students to buy new gear instead of used. I have recently figured out the math that renting from my LDS is going to put someone through college while it slowly makes me broke, so I am starting to look around to start my gear collection.

Obviously, I would have my LDS service any used equipment before I trust it, but is there any other reason I am missing someone would suggest buying new for a new diver? (Well other than the DM making a commission from the sale?)

Stuff like wetsuit, fins, and such can be gotten used without worrying too much, as long as the neoprene isn’t so old it’s stiff.

Some dive shops sell their used rental regs. Might be something to look for.

 

[TMHeimer]

I agree about not buying a used reg-- unless you buy it from a reputable shop that'll do right by you if it turns out to be a lemon (well, they'd have worked it over prior to selling it if they are reputable).

 

[Toasterking]

If you're already here on scuba-board, you may be one small step towards understanding used-gear, or knowing where to look for that information.

Right now it is drinking from the firehose trying to digest the amazing amount of accumulated knowledge on the board!