Buying Luxury/Hobby Items Used

[myrdale]

When I say luxury, I am specifically referring to the budgeting category. Specifically moderate to high dollar items that are wants and not needs. In this particular case it is a telescope which I am considering.

I've decided to get into astrophotography. I purchased the mount ($2,200) this past week. I plan to purchase the telescope ($1,600) next month, and then other accessories ($1,000) on into the year.

Today at lunch I saw an add for a used telescope of the exact model I am considering. I haven't contacted the seller yet, so I don't know the exact details of requested price, age of instrument, or exact location (the facebook group is local to this general region, so I am assuming <2hr drive).

My assumption is that I could get it for 50-75% the price of a new unit. Is the price savings worth the potential headaches that come with used equipment?

It is a telescope for my example, but it could be computers, or golf clubs, wood working tools, purses, etc for your case. Do you consider used for your luxury / hobby items that you plan to use for years?

[kork13]

Yep absolutely. I'm fact, I just bought snowboarding gear, most of which is used. Saved me easily 50% of what I'd pay for it all new, and there is still plenty of life in it. Know what to look for in over-used or abused gear, but otherwise I have no qualms going used. If it lasts me 4 years vs 5-6 years, I call that a win.

[ua_guy]

Yes and no. I prefer to buy computers, phones, new, although that rides the line of luxury/necessity. I need a computer and a phone, but I also buy way more than I actually need.

If it was a (relatively) simple hard good, I'd consider used. I think I would consider a used telescope, although I don't know much about them, or their value.

[bjl584]

It definitely depends on what you're buying and how well it was cared for by the previous owner.
If you have a good eye and can try an item out, then I see no issue going used.

[disneysteve]

Absolutely. We have always bought used stuff when it made sense. Something like a computer, no, because those become obsolete very quickly but something like a telescope definitely. For our Disney collection, we’ve bought hundreds of items used over the years.

A couple of years ago my daughter wanted a blu ray player. I picked up a used one for $5 and just had to buy a remote, which I also got used for $8. A new one would certainly have been more than $13.

I bought my wife her sewing machine used on eBay. It was $700. The same model new was about $3,000. Even after spending another $100 to have it serviced we were still way ahead.

Of course the biggest ticket example is cars. We haven’t bought a new car since 1996.

[Fishindude77]

Don't know much about telescopes but quality optics such as binos, spotting scopes and rifle scopes made by the best manufacturers; Leica, Swarovski, Leupold, etc. retain their value very well and a 20-25% discount off new price is a good deal.
There isn't much that can go wrong and they carry lifetime warranty if something does.

Wouldn't scare me to buy something like that used at a reasonable discount.

[myrdale]

Thank you for the feed back!

I figured out, in this case the seller is in North Carolina, so a 12 hour round trip from Georgia. I think I am going to pass. But I am not in a rush to buy so it definitely gives me time to see what else is available in the used market.

[disneysteve]

Thank you for the feed back!

I figured out, in this case the seller is in North Carolina, so a 12 hour round trip from Georgia. I think I am going to pass. But I am not in a rush to buy so it definitely gives me time to see what else is available in the used market.

If you’re looking for used, search eBay and Marketplace. You can set alerts on ebay. Not sure about MP. Then you’ll get notified anytime an item is listed that matches your search criteria.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

If you want to buy used, and want the seller to stand behind the goods, my DH suggests a high end camera shop. When he worked in one decades ago, they resold telescopes and just about anything with fine lenses and precision controls.

[disneysteve]

If you want to buy used, and want the seller to stand behind the goods, my DH suggests a high end camera shop. When he worked in one decades ago, they resold telescopes and just about anything with fine lenses and precision controls.

Good suggestion. And many of them do sell online including on ebay. It doesn't mean you have to physically travel to their shop.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

I bought used musical instruments for the kids. Cheaper than renting and i can resell it. I bought my daughter a flute intermediate for $700 new about $2000. And tenor sax used for $450. New $2000+, renting alone at $70/month plus tax made it stupid to not buy a used in good shape instrument. I will resell it.

I did buy their student instruments new because I couldn't find a deal on it. But with inflation I'll be able to sell both for close to what I paid. Used yamaha student flute I can get the $400 i bought it for. And new student clarinet yamaha $500. But if I get anything it's cheaper than having rented for 2 years for the clarinet and the flute for 2 years but i bought her the intermediate flute and she needs both to not carry back and forth and band teacher? So she can drop the cheap flute when they are marching around, which already happened.

[myrdale]

I bought used musical instruments for the kids.

I definitely agree with this for starting off.

My trumpet in 7th grade was borrowed from a cousin. In 10th grade my parents purchased a new trumpet for about $1,200. Twenty five years later, it is currently sitting in my closet. I might pick it up at most twice a year but I still enjoy it.