Ebay comments for welder purchase?

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Howdy Everyone!  I am looking for experiences and comments from folks who've purchased, or known of people who've purchased welders off of Ebay.  The packages/setups I'm looking at are between 4,000 - 9,000 new.  Multi process, single phase, CC/CV wire feeder combo, maybee with AC too arc stabilizer and waveform controls.  I know, I want it all, and don't nead it... am keeping with miller or Lincoln with MK push pull setup in there somewhere maybee.  I;m working at setting up my metals shop. All comments would be greatly appreciated!  Thanks!  Brian Lee  Sparkeee24!
Reply:I purchased a Lincoln Precision Tig off of ebay with no problems at all. - $100 cheaper than any local place could sell it for at their bottom dollar. I am careful on ebay. I make sure to see if they are legit first. - if they are selling other items, if they accept pay pal, etc.....People that get burned on ebay don't use any common sense!
Reply:I use ebay all the time for welding purchases.  I havent bought stuff in that price range, but, my experiences have been good.  Most of the sellers of new equip also have another storefront off e-bay like a website or even a brick-and-mortar business.  Some are just sales reps that drop-ship from the factory and, as such, often times  offer free shipping (a big deal for a few hundred pounds of equip).  Paypal is good, but also check their feedback and contact the members that bought stuff to find out thier experiences.  Make sure you are getting new and not re-furbs 'cause the warrantees sometimes differ quite a bit.Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:Howdy again!  I just saw a Miller XMT 304 mig runner package a year old, with the 22A feeder, and it went for about 1850$.   I did not place bid on it for 3 reasons.  The persons acount had very little "history"; The pictures shown were straight out of the catalog, and not from the actual used welder; and the picture had a 60 series wire feeder on it, and not a 22A feeder on it.   Did I miss out on saving about 4 grand +/- ?  Or did I just saver myself a scam?   What's the best way to tell?  If nothing else, I will see another good deal within a week or two.   Thanks for the help folks!  Brian Lee  Sparkeee24
Reply:If one doubts a seller on ebay, but really must bid on an item, then it's probably wise to ask the seller if he's willing to use an escrow service before actually placing the bid.  Escrow services are handy tools for anything more than a couple hundred dollars.
Reply:Howdy!  Thanks for the idea!  But, due to lack of experience in these things, how does an escrow work?  And for my ebay purchases in particular?  Thanks!  Brian Lee  Sparkeee24
Reply:That sounds kinda average to high for that package, used without pictures.  You can get used s-22a's for less than $400 on a fairly regular basis, new for $800-1200 right now.  I've seen used 304 xmt's sell for around $1000, but it also varies.  Some days you have someone bidding that REALLY WANTS IT and other days they arent there becasue they just bought one.  There are scams out there and histories are important.  I have never gone beyond using paypal.  It is supposed to have some pretty strong protections against fraud, but that doesnt mean I wont be taken.  I just havent...yet.  BTW, there is another xmt on ebay right now at $325.  http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...ory=46413&rd=1New prices are not really a good starting point for evaluating the price of a used machine.  Remember the laws of supply and demand are still in effect.  These machines pop up on ebay regularly.  People who are in a hurry often times pay more.  People who can afford to shop often pay less.  Search ebay on a regular basis, put welders you like on your watch list and gather info on final sale prices and condition over a month or so.  This is a better way to get to know the market (at least the on-line market) for your welder of choice.  Most of all, use this information to set your maximum price and dont come off of it, unless there are really compelling reasons (e.g., more equipment that you REALLY need comes with it).  There is nothing so irritating as buying something and then seeing the same thing for much less the next day.  So, when and if you eventually buy, stay away from ebay for a month or so, cause I bet dollars to donuts you will see a better deal soon after that will cause a blood vessel in your eye to just pop.Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:Wow! I might have been wrong about these welders.  I just looked again and was shocked at the prices used.  I promise, i have seen some go for around a grand, but that must have been then and this, obviously, is now.Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:You might also try www.welding supply.com or www.weldingmart.com for package or individual deals on equipment.  They are very close and sometimes lower in price than what you may find on ebay.A few of my toys !LinuxMintManjaroMiller Roughneck 2E Lincoln WeldPak 100HTP MTS 160 Chicago Electric 80amp Inverter   Victor O/A
Reply:Howdy!  Thanks for all the great Ideas folks!  I have been watching ebay for about 2 weeks now, and I have allready seen similar items in similar shape go for quite different prices.  The wait a month and get a feel for the market, is a great Idea!  (It also allows me to save up a lil more for better selection of equipment   From what I have seen, the going price is around 1200-1600 for the 300-350 model multiprocess inverters. machine only.  I allready have all the cables, stingers, tig torch, ground clamp, tweco connectors and such.  I have been acquiring them slowly through the local dealers, at good rates too while getting info about all the machines I have been interested in.  There is a machine listed, for 1,800 starting bid, and it hasn't had any bids for 2 sessions now.  It is in excellent shape, and is the primary machine that I would like to have.  How should I go about "the technique" of getting this machine on ebay and not paying that 1800?  I would be happy with 1400 on it.  It is a V-350 Pro advanced process model Lincoln.   I have been waiting to see if anyone else bids on it, and then when it ends this time, I was going to send him an email, asking if he would sell it for 1400, since there have been no bidders on it.  I feel it is being sold through a reputable account.  Thanks for all the great ideas!  Brian Lee  Sparkeee24 P.S.   How did I miss that XMT 350 in my search?
Reply:Ebay policy prohibits off-line trades for things appearing on e-bay...but...a lot of folks have disclaimers about reserving the right to sell locally.  This is just a way of selling off line, even if someone spotted it on ebay.  With that said...Just remember that offering to buy outside of ebay has its risks, the biggest is the lack of arbitration (getting your money back if it's a fraudulent listing) and the inability to give your opinion via feedback.  However, I have made off-ebay offers and gotten good stuff.  You could send him an e-mail saying that if he will put a buy-it-now (or best-offer button) for 1400 you will buy it immediately and use a money order (takes longer but he doesnt have to eat the 3.5% charge).  Every time he lists the item he has to pay a little.  Selling it off ebay saves him a little and not using paypal will also save a little (maybe a lot).  But each thing you avoid carries risk.  You are just trading a lower price for higher risk.  The safest low price idea is you offer to buy-it-now or do a best offer on ebay with a money order through the post office.  You guarantee that he gets the money and that you get a recipt for sending it.  Ebay still gets a cut, but you get the arbitration and feedback option.  Would the rest of y'all agree with this assessment?Last edited by smithboy; 07-25-2005 at 11:04 AM.Reason: grammerSmithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.