Telescope Reviews: Beginners tips to buying used gear

Many newcomers to the hobby are often overwhelmed by the selection of and the high cost of astro gear. Yes it can be discouraging but there is a way to ease the pain a bit. Granted, one can enter the hobby at a relatively low price, but many upon having done so come down with aperture fever or decide they want to upgrade their eyepieces, add more stuff to their collection or read the refractor/reflector forums and decide upon a different scope or adding to what they have.

Enter the used market. I am an advocate for buying used because, for the number one reason, it adds less stress to the pocket book, and you can virtually buy an item at a set cost, use it for a while, decide you don't like it, and sell it for what you paid for it, let alone the fact that in most cases it is in excellent to like new condition.

There is a lot of good to excellent gear on both CN and Astromart. Not only are you buying from amateur astronomers for the most part, but many times you are able to buy from folks who frequent the forums here on CN.

What do I recommend to buy the most used? Almost everything. I have bought three used scopes and all three have been excellent performers. Not a whole lot can go wrong with a scope sold by a reputable person. Don't get me wrong, things can go wrong so there are some questions one must ask a seller before taking the plunge. For instance, how old is the scope and under what conditions has it been used? Does the seller still have the original manufacturers shipping material and if not, how do they plan on packaging the scope for shipment? The UPS store will do it for a fee. What you don't want is a high cost, delicate piece of equipment shipped in a box with just newspaper protecting it. Try to always buy from someone who lists with photos of what they are selling and try and get as many angles as possible. Scratches, dings, imperfections, coatings, quality of the glass should be disclosed. Knowing previous ownership is always good as well. Last year I purchased a used Genesis which had been owned prior by two CNers who recognized it by it's serial #.

Used eyepieces are probably the best bargain. Try to buy as cheap as possible price wise. However, be aware that the used market is pretty set amongst savvy sellers and in most cases people are just trying to sell their gear and not trying to rip off the buyer. Also, try to avoid buying from someone who is charging for shipping and paypal fees. A smart seller will either factor those costs into the selling price or will absorb them themselves. It behooves a newbie to study the market prior to entering it to become knowledgeable of pricing of different pieces of equipment such as eps.

Something to be particularly fastidious about is when buying a used electronic mount. Many mounts come with problems when they are new so it makes it even more important to get the history behind the mount one is considering prior to buying it used. If it is possible, ask for the chance to actually use it before deciding upon buying. If not, ask plenty of questions and ask for plenty of photos if not many were provided on the sale page. Don't buy blindly. I have bought two mounts and was not happy with either. Hence I have purchased new, but that is my choice and not one I am touting as a must do. Just be cautious when buying electronic mechanical gear.

Buying from the seller...a few tips.

1. Buy from someone you feel comfortable with. Most sellers will have a rating on the two sites mentioned here. Read those ratings and look at what they have bought and sold in the past.
2. Try to buy from someone with more than 5 and preferably 10 positive ratings. Experience with selling is a good thing to have.
3. Ask your questions as I've already explained above.
4. Don't be afraid to bargain. Make an offer on an item within reason. You have studied the market so you have an idea of what an item should sell for. Sometimes folks are selling to get fast cash, or selling to clear stock and are willing to go lower to achieve their goal. Another thing to look for is some sellers will accept paypal, check or money order. If they are unwilling to lower their price, ask them if they would take 3% off if you pay by check or mo because they would have to absorb the 3% if you paid using paypal anyway. I have done this several times and only once did the seller say no. I didn't buy from him. However, keep in mind that paypal speeds the process and guarantees a swift sale process along with insuring the sale.
5. Sometimes you will see an item you are looking for and you just know you have to have it. However, you may be short of funding. Don't be afraid of approaching the seller and asking them if they would be willing to accept payment in installments. I have purchased two $1K+ items this way when my astro funds were a bit short and the experience was great. I met and got to know two fellow hobbiests more closely because we kept in closer contact during the duration of the sale.

Next, don't be afraid of a few nicks and scratches as long as the optics are great. Remember, you are buying used and sometimes you can get a better deal on an item because they have a few dings. However, it has been my experience that most of us in this great hobby, take incredibly good care of our gear because of the investment we have made in it. And, for the most part, gear is pretty much static, not like sporting equipment, boats, cars or airplanes which take abuse and wear and tear.

I almost forgot to mention one of the most important things of buying from the used market...BE PATIENT!! Yup BE PATIENT!!!

There is quite a large turnover of astro gear so when you have decided on something you want but can't find it, give it a week or two and keep your eyes on the market before deciding to buy new because soon it will show up.

A word about ebay. Having over 1500 transactions there with half being selling, I do not recommend buying used gear from there. Many times things are being sold by second or third party interests and hence there is no known history of the item. I have seen scams as well so please try to stick to the astro specific sites.

Finally, go out and use it. The whole idea is to have fun while taking in the wonders of the night sky.

This hasn't been a comprehensive report and more can probably be added. However, I hope it is a good start for any beginner wishing to purchase through the used market.

Clear skies to everyone!

--------------------
Dan

20" f/5 Obsession
Antares 1529
TV102
Various Naglers, Ethos, UO Orthos and TV Plossls

The Off Fisher Lane Irregulars

Edited by cuzimthedad (11/14/08 01:27 PM)