Posted: 6/7/2013 10:12:30 PM EDT
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Is there a reliable/trustworthy online source for used HAM gear?
BTW - taking the Technician exam Tuesday morning, so I am a bit new at this. |
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Good luck!
Try this thread http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_10_22/607149_Online_retail_vendors_list_.html be sure to read the reviews on eham.net before you buy |
| I buy used gear from Craigslist and ebay, I just use eHam as the previous posted suggested to read up on items I am considering. Ham's are usually pretty straight up when they sell gear they want to gt rid of. I have about 13 radios and just over half of them have been purchased used and are a mix of current models and non-current models.. |
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Minus my $100 Wouxun HT's and a Kenwood TM281 the rest of my gear came from here:
http://swap.qth.com/index.php good luck! |
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Seems like ebay is were people sell there junk.
these are good sites... http://swap.qth.com/ http://forums.qrz.com/forumdisplay.php?7-Ham-Radio-Gear-For-Sale Believe it or not, I've had the best luck right here on ARFCOM http://www.ar15.com/forums/f_7/139_Electronics___Misc.html This ar15 group is a great bunch 
dealers that have good used gear... http://hamstation.com/shopping/index.php?category=7&main_page=pricelist http://www.mtcradio.com/ http://www.randl.com/shop/catalog/used.php http://www.universal-radio.com/alert.html |
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Such as? " Are there any issues, or problems with this radio ? " I like to look the seller directly in the eye when I ask. If his eyes drop away and I hear mumble, or worse, " uh...this is from a silent key estate, I powered it up and I think it's uh ok" I walk I've only been disappointed once. I bought a TS-50 in " excellent condition" when I un-boxed it, I saw MUD on the case. MUD I love 4x4's...but if you can't clean it up with a fucking toothbrush, WTF 
worse, is soon as it warmed up, the receive would drop out. 
After a phone call, he apologized and gave me a full refund. |
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I quit looking at used.
I know there are some deals out there, but the rest of it is like at 90% of the cost of new. So I've been buying new. The prediction is during the next few years, we'll have more sk's than we can shake a stick at and that will create a glut of used gear. |
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Is there a reliable/trustworthy online source for used HAM gear? BTW - taking the Technician exam Tuesday morning, so I am a bit new at this. Used is Used. Theres not much guaranteed. This is the reason I rarely buy used radios unless I know the previous owner. The other reason I dont buy used is because most hams will charge you 80-90% of the original cost anyway, so you are better of buying a new one. |
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Is there a reliable/trustworthy online source for used HAM gear? BTW - taking the Technician exam Tuesday morning, so I am a bit new at this. Used is Used. Theres not much guaranteed. This is the reason I rarely buy used radios unless I know the previous owner. The other reason I dont buy used is because most hams will charge you 80-90% of the original cost anyway, so you are better of buying a new one. dont you know that those scratches are love marks, which make the radio worth more? 
not to mention all the DX it has on it, which increases the value 1% per country per band. |
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Is there a reliable/trustworthy online source for used HAM gear? BTW - taking the Technician exam Tuesday morning, so I am a bit new at this. Used is Used. Theres not much guaranteed. This is the reason I rarely buy used radios unless I know the previous owner. The other reason I dont buy used is because most hams will charge you 80-90% of the original cost anyway, so you are better of buying a new one. dont you know that those scratches are love marks, which make the radio worth more?
not to mention all the DX it has on it, which increases the value 1% per country per band. Yeah don't get me started on idiot hams who want near retail for used gear.
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yeah...for some reason QRZ is full of idiots who ask full price for used gear.
but there are others who know better. Last year I sold a TS-480SAT with both filters for $700 shipped ( here on ARFCOM EE) recently I sold an FT-857D for $650 shipped. ( QTH) I just bought a kenwood TS-480HX for $760 shipped, also from an ARFCOMMER. http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_10_22/666083_.html&page=1 there are deals to be had, you jut have to look. |
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here's a used one
950+21 shipping= 971 USED NIB delivered $974. Buy used. Save $3! Lotta that goin' around these days. |
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I've bought a used radio online once. Found a Icom F221 for sale for a good price and grabbed it. Had to reflash it since the previous shop turned the data out off but no big deal. Use it on a daily basis. Trying to find a TK-981 at a good price but eventually I'll find one.
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| i looked for a couple of years around here and finally just gave up. you can buy a new radio with full warranty for usually not a great deal more than people want for used. i haven't found any good deals on used gear around here and this is one thing i won't buy without seeing it first. the very nature of the hobby leads to people tinkering with them. |
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here's a used one 950+21 shipping= 971 USED NIB delivered $974. Buy used. Save $3! Lotta that goin' around these days. Would be afraid of losing that in the Digital or Multi Camo! |
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I have had success buying used radios from R and L Electronics... They test used radios and represent their condition accurately.
I also have friends that have bought used from Universal Radio and are happy with their purchases. For me personally fleabay and hamfests have been about 50/50 but if the price is right I still buy there for items I can't find elsewhere. Edit: just bought a TS-830 gold label online... we will see how this one turns out 
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