Thoughts on Buying used Gear

[Flawedatdesign]

I'm thrifty well okay I'm down right cheap. I have a local store that takes trad ins from time to time. Most of the time things are cheaper by half if not less for used gear. Now I have had 2 bad experiences with a IVP D3 which went nuts and started firing on it's own and the B&M swapped it out for a istick 100W which they have back at the shop for the 510 connector is bad. I can't complain as they take the stuff back and refund or offer to fix it. I have bought 2 used tanks dirt cheap O rings were good and with a new coil after sterilizing with hot water and some High Proof stuff out of a mason jar .

Also while on the topic is there any place out there that deals in refurb stuff. I hope to have access this weekend to the classifieds. I have a tinkering fetish and an outdated degree in electronics . So I'd like to try my hand at dabbling in APV repairs lol

 

[englishmick]

Used is fine. The only thing I would be reluctant about is mods with built in batteries, because there's no reliable way of telling how much life is left in the battery. Everything else you can see if it's working.

 

[Flawedatdesign]

That was kinda of my thinking. I try to research before I buy to see what types of problems folks have with them.

 

[Ryedan]

I'm thrifty well okay I'm down right cheap. I have a local store that takes trad ins from time to time. Most of the time things are cheaper by half if not less for used gear. Now I have had 2 bad experiences with a IVP D3 which went nuts and started firing on it's own and the B&M swapped it out for a Istick 100W which they have back at the shop for the 510 connector is bad. I can't complain as they take the stuff back and refund or offer to fix it. I have bought 2 used tanks dirt cheap O rings were good and with a new coil after sterilizing with hot water and some High Proof stuff out of a mason jar .

Also while on the topic is there any place out there that deals in refurb stuff. I hope to have access this weekend to the classifieds. I have a tinkering fetish and an outdated degree in electronics . So I'd like to try my hand at dabbling in APV repairs lol

I've bought both mods and attys used and not regretted it. Mods are easy, attys I clean in alcohol before using.

If you want to tinker and dabble in APV repairs, IMO getting some used is the way to go. If you are reasonably mechanically inclined and can also solder you are ahead of the game and can probably handle anything that may need to be repaired or modified.

Best of luck with it Flawedatdesign

 

[gadgetkeith]

mods with internal batteries are mainly treated as disposables when the battery dies of old age .

there are so many different size lipos used in the rc model world i am sure if you are technicaly minded and researched you could find the ones needed for some mods.

i would guess that some mods are designed and built around available batteries and others may have special packs made specific for that mod etc .

as you say you have some electrical background check out the chip specs if you cant find the exact battery pack and need to use a different size pack with same spec just rebuild into a different case if pack is slightly larger .

good luck @Flawedatdesign

 

[Flawedatdesign]

Now to just find the stuff to start playing lol

 

[Canadian_Vaper]

I'm thrifty well okay I'm down right cheap. I have a local store that takes trad ins from time to time. Most of the time things are cheaper by half if not less for used gear. Now I have had 2 bad experiences with a IVP D3 which went nuts and started firing on it's own and the B&M swapped it out for a Istick 100W which they have back at the shop for the 510 connector is bad. I can't complain as they take the stuff back and refund or offer to fix it. I have bought 2 used tanks dirt cheap O rings were good and with a new coil after sterilizing with hot water and some High Proof stuff out of a mason jar .

Also while on the topic is there any place out there that deals in refurb stuff. I hope to have access this weekend to the classifieds. I have a tinkering fetish and an outdated degree in electronics . So I'd like to try my hand at dabbling in APV repairs lol

Picked up a iStick 40w TC used once when I broke my mod and I was broke, it was on a local classifieds, buddy bought it and upgraded a few days later and the store wouldn't take returns, it was like brand new..

will probably never find another deal like that sadly Still have it although I've beaten it to crap now, sits beside my bed for my nitecap vape

 

[Flawedatdesign]

Yeah just finished up placing a few CL ads looking for stuff with problems. Like I say it will keep me from having idle hands

 

[WillieB69]

I'd be cool with most mech mods. You'd really have to beat those things silly in order for them not to work.
Regulated mods would be a bit trickier unless you're really into electronics.
I'd have to see the atty or the tank before I said yes or no.

 

[Bad Ninja]

I'm thrifty well okay I'm down right cheap. I have a local store that takes trad ins from time to time. Most of the time things are cheaper by half if not less for used gear. Now I have had 2 bad experiences with a IVP D3 which went nuts and started firing on it's own and the B&M swapped it out for a Istick 100W which they have back at the shop for the 510 connector is bad. I can't complain as they take the stuff back and refund or offer to fix it. I have bought 2 used tanks dirt cheap O rings were good and with a new coil after sterilizing with hot water and some High Proof stuff out of a mason jar .

Also while on the topic is there any place out there that deals in refurb stuff. I hope to have access this weekend to the classifieds. I have a tinkering fetish and an outdated degree in electronics . So I'd like to try my hand at dabbling in APV repairs lol

Go for it!
I used to repair mechs for 3 local shops. Mostly mechs, usually box mods.
I avoided regulated mods when possible.
I would re solder a loose wire or connection on an regulated apv, but for the most part I would avoid avoid the electronics.
Most are disposable. The replacement boards plus labor, cost almost as much as a new mod.
It was fun and I learned a lot .


I stopped because my local shops aren't trustworthy, and are ran by idiots who have no clue how to operate a legit business.

 

[WillieB69]

I stopped because my local shops aren't trustworthy, and are ran by idiots who have no clue how to operate a legit business.

But..... But..... EVERYBODY wants a 0.1 resistance atty on a dual battery, unregulated mod!

Do you even cloud, bro?

 

[subwayaznm]

I agree with many of the above. RTA, RDA, Sub - ohm Tanks & even Metal Drip Tips. But I would not purchase Mods Used

 

[Bad Ninja]

But..... But..... EVERYBODY wants a 0.1 resistance atty on a dual battery, unregulated mod!

Do you even cloud, bro?

I didn't build coils or repair builds.
I replaced pins and parts, solved mystery problems, straightened bent stuff, replaced MOSFETs and soldered loose wires etc.

I stopped because business 101 is apparently only taught in an alien language because none of these idiots had a clue.

Out of the three stores I used to help out, only is still open.

 

[sorrynomore]

Our local vape shop had a Dark Horse RDA where one of the negative posts was loose so he gave it to me.I brought it home pulled out the post made a tiny shim outta tinfoil.With a little force I was able to get the post back in....It now isn't loose anymore and works! I've shelved it as I kinda have a prefrence to RTAs,it's now a backup.