Esglow

Hello- I am looking to buy used equipment to add to my mix. I have found the extact units I am looking for, but I wanted to see if anyone could help me with a checklist of things I should ask before purchasing and what is the best way to pay for the equipment like paypal, credit card, check etc...

Here's what I have gathered for my checklist...
1. Pictures of equipment on
2. Serial #'s- Orignal purchase paperwork (if they still have)
3. Hours on bed- (maybe have them take a pic of it?)
4. Any major repairs that may have done (trusting they are honest*)
5. Last time lamps and arylics have been changed

Anything else? Thanks in advance everyone!

1 more thing- any preferred shipping companies and advice?!

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Erica/Love My Tan

Robert K

Most importantly deal with a real company with a good reputation.

Pictures do not tell you anything!

Always figure on needing new lamps.

__________________
Robert Klem
Superior UV Technologies
(888) 526-7712 x77
robertk@superioruv.com

Esglow

Thank you :p

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Erica/Love My Tan

Esglow

I am checking out your company's site now!

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Erica/Love My Tan

sunsally

Tips:

1. If you can, go see the equipment in person BEFORE purchase

2. If you can, buy close to you (so you can see and so fewer shipping issues)

3. Unless you know what you are doing, if you are buying more than just a pretty basic base bed or standup --- strongly consider buying equipment from someone who can also install it.

4. Don't "just" look at a price. For example - is it a salon owner selling? Do they know anything about breaking it down and palletizing it to ship safely? Will they stand behind it if something gets damaged in shipping?

5. If it is a "used bed broker" --- do they actually know anything about servicing beds - or just pick them up and re-sell them??


You get what you pay for. If you know ALL about equipment, can disassemble, clean, re-lamp, assemble ---- more options to you. If you are a salon owner who probably SHOULD be buying new where they will hold your hand - but you want to save some $$, then make sure you are buying someone with a reputation you can check out first!

Black Sun

Ditto Robert and SunSally...

Too many stories over the years of buyers getting burned. I strongly suggest staying away from 'brokers'. They may have a pretty site, pictures of nice beds, and talk a good game. In reality, you are being 'matched' with a seller. Having any recourse, and it is often needed, is not there. The 'broker' takes no responsability, the seller long gone. The buyer is usually left with a pallet of parts.

There are too, well a few, major players and distys still around. They all have re-sales and are a safer bet to deal with. Some with short term warranties, shipping, and set-up.
And financing if needed.

Robert K is good
Brian Oshman, here under Sun Doctors, as well..

Heartland Tan...Four Seasons...PCTAN/PC Marketing..Future Industries..
Good Luck!

Esglow

Thanks everyone for your help! All good advice that i will be using!!

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Erica/Love My Tan

sunsally

As for your list --- unless you are buying from the original salon owner themselves, most won't have this much detail (the original purchase paperwork, last time repairs done,...). And all that isn't really that important.

Pics & hours --- this can suggest something about "condition", although I'd be more interested in having someone just describe ("normal wear and tear", "could use a bottom acrylic", etc) since one pic of a bed from across the room isn't going to say much anyway. What you REALLY want to know as a salon owner is:

"If I add this bed to my salon, after it is installed and cleaned up, is it going to look pretty good to my customers - and is it going to perform?"

That has more to do with the specific brand/model of equipment you are buying than anything else. Remember - you are buying USED. So you have to expect there will be some scuffs/scratches -- just like there is on the equipment sitting in your salon today. Customers don't care or notice that stuff. So you just need it to be in "good" condition --- or else buy new if what you want is new.

Also - I agree with Robert K -- PLAN on putting in new lamps, that you MIGHT have to replace an acrylic sooner rather than later, etc. That is part of the price difference in buying used vs. new too. If the bed(s) you buy happen to have lamps that still have some life on them, or have acrylics that look brand spankin' new - bonus! :-)

What you really want is:
a. Are you going to get the bed out of it's current location and into my location safely, with all the parts intact and where they belong?

b. If something doesn't light up at install, will you cover it, or if it was sold "as is", will you at least help me trouble shoot it to get it repaired?

c. If I want, will you deliver & install it for me? And if so, do you have techs who know what they are doing, who will treat my salon respectfully (not banging up walls, etc) and before they leave, walk me through basic features/maintenance of the unit so I feel comfortable?


Remember (for everyone considering buying used equipment) - you get what you pay for. So if what a buyer is looking for is 100% warranty, no hassles, I don't have to do anything, it looks perfect --- bite the bullet and buy new. If a buyer is looking to save a bunch of money, buy used, but plan on doing a quick clean up when it gets delivered, putting in new lamps, finding the manual for the bed on-line, etc. Both options work - it just depends which sounds like a better fit for you as a buyer.

kookyguy

It's Sunsally! Huggles

megatanman

The 2 main things that would concern me is how big the room was the unit occupied,how much voltage they have going to it and how frequently they were used.I have seen a lot of newer beds with lower hours that have baked internals.

A unit that is 2-3 years old with low hours is probably working on the original acrylics while a unit with 4-5 years may have had them replaced.