Buying used consoles: Do or Dont?

[Bells]

My Zazzle store is slowly walking ( near-zero advertising will do that for ya) but i already made some easy $50 there over a few months, and i was planning on taking that money and use it for my own geeky consuption

I had my eyes on getting me a PSP. Sure, right now i dont have the cash for a brand new one... maybe in a couple of months... but a used one isnt so far in the realm of possibility. I also was looking for a used one at Ebay. because, a store one, will cost me an extra 80% in taxes when it reaches the post office here... and a used one, sent as a personal parcel has a much higer chance of flying under that radar... plus, im using paypal.

So, it's a 2 part thread question... what's your experience with Garage sale like purchases? Buying used is worth it?

And what's your way to indentify a good deal?

[Kim]

Depends. I got my PSP, which I have yet to actually use, from a friend with practically a "when you feel like paying for it" sticker attached to it.

Depends on the system. Generally, for newer systems I'd advised trying to get it new, or at least from an actual retail outlet, though for anything N64 and older, go for shit. Thought that's much more obvious than I'd like to admit.

[katiuska]

I also was looking for a used one at Ebay.

That's what I did and it seems to have worked out this far. I dunno, I'm not terribly savvy, but I think I based my criteria on whether or not the seller a) had a strong buyer satisfaction record b) was willing to answer any questions, c) had an explicit return policy beyond "have eBay take care of it," and d) had a convincing product page (I have no idea how I judged this, actually). There were also a lot of PSPs with various (apparently fixable) issues, but I figured that if I was going to buy the thing, I might as well get one that wasn't already broken.

I had a hell of a time bidding for it, though. I think I went through like 5 different auctions before I was finally able to outbid everyone.

[EVILNess]

I have nothing against used, but you need to make sure there is a warranty before you buy.

[Seil]

Dude, do I have to dig out my old thrift store threads?

I've never owned a new PSP. However, I've owned three used ones, and they've all worked great.

[Mr.Bookworm]

Dude, do I have to dig out my old thrift store threads?

I've never owned a new PSP. However, I've owned three used ones, and they've all worked great.

I think the fact that you've gone through three says something.

But, yeah. As Ness said, never buy unless there's a warranty and/or whoever is doing it has an explicit return policy.

[Seil]

I think the fact that you've gone through three says something.

First one I dropped, second one I gave away because the local pawn shop had a slim.

[Bells]

And what about pricing? what would be a safe deal? 10~30% off store price?

Y'know... i was looking for a Dreamcast too (nostalgia kicked in big time... plus Power Stone and Shen Mue) but the portability of a PSP sounded better as the DS just dosent have that many games for me. Even though an older ds model should probably be stupid cheap right now...

[bluestarultor]

I have to admit the only system I got used was my PS1, which is still in perfect working order despite being one of the older, plastic-geared models.


Aside from that, I find Ebay to be full of idiots who end up screwing you because they don't actually know what they have and assume optimistically, and assholes who know damn well what they have and are plain out to screw you. I've also found that feedback is no indicator of this, because I got cheated out of $20 on FFX because the bastard just plain didn't send it for over a month, by which point the system dropped my ability to say so in a review. He had a ton of positive feedback from a lot of older users and I frankly have no idea where it came from.

Might I also mention that he claimed to have sent the package on everything from Labor Day to Sundays?

Then there are people like my mom who simply don't call them on their crap because they paid for pretty jewelry and really don't care if it turns out to be glass or some crap because they figure it was cheaper than they'd get elsewhere, anyway. It drives me NUTS when she does that, because green paste antique watch != emerald antique watch. She's also gotten frankly crappy blue topaz marketed as aquamarine and rings that were severely undersized and other such crap, but she never makes a fuss about it.


In short, I've just plain been taught not to trust Ebay.

But in the cases I DO use it, I look for honesty in advertising. If you want a PSP, go for the one they say has a few dead pixels or the cosmetic crack, or whatever other defects there are. People who claim to be selling a pristine unit not in original packaging are a bigger risk because it's more likely they're hiding defects the fewer they have listed. Also, accurate pics are a must. If they don't have a pic of the product they're claiming to sell, you're at greater risk. So if the pic doesn't have the crack they claim the unit has, stay away. A return policy and other concerns previously listed are also a big plus.