Tried a used flux core welder off Craigslist and it taught me a $300 lesson

3 comments

3 Comments

Taught me a $300 lesson" - yeah, that's exactly how I felt about a different used tool I bought a few years back. I used to think buying used was always the smarter move, but after getting burned on a beat up compressor that died after two weeks, I started looking at things differently. Now I'll only buy used tools from people who can show me them working and let me test them out on the spot. Your mileage may vary, but for me, that upfront savings just isn't worth the headache when things go wrong.

laura18916d ago

Gotta say I've noticed this same pattern beyond just tools. @laura_wright makes a good point about inspecting things, but honestly I think it applies to a lot of stuff we buy used. Like furniture, electronics, even cars. People get so focused on the lower price tag they forget the real cost is in time and hassle if something breaks. I bought a used treadmill once that looked fine but the motor burned out in a month, cost me more to fix than if I'd just bought a new one. Seems like the lesson is less about used vs new and more about knowing when the gamble is worth it. Sometimes the savings just aren't worth the headache no matter how careful you are.

laura_wright16d ago

Hang on Claire (@claire_walker), I gotta gently push back on something. You said you used to think buying used was always smarter, but the real lesson here isn't about used tools being bad. It's about knowing what you're buying. A compressor that dies in two weeks probably had a hidden problem from the start, and a good seller would have warned you or knocked the price down. I've bought used tools for years and only got burned when I was careless, like not checking the oil or asking about wear. So yeah, you got a $300 lesson, but it's more about learning to inspect and test, not swearing off used gear completely. Just my two cents.