To go to the store and buy that mill with that stand right now in Ontario, with tax is $3050, not $2350
I never include tax in my value ladder. It has nothing to do with the value of the machine and varies by location.
I don't know the exact price of this thing. I merely went by what you said earlier. But that doesn't really matter. Since you are not buying, let's just use the 2350 as an debating benchmark.
The warranty items you all mentioned would come up for the original owner.
Exactly! And then maybe hidden, ignored, and flipped to me, instead of dealing with it!
If you cant inspect the machine when you go check it out well enough to see those issues, how are you going to inspect it when you uncrate it and set it up? Does buying new protect you from this, or does inspecting the machine?
This is THE ISSUE! We just view it differently.
When I buy used I make a list of items to inspect and I try my best to evaluate what it will cost me to fix them - assuming I can. Here is a list I made a while back and shared with others on the forum.
Post in thread 'First milling machine'
https://canadianhobbymetalworkers.com/threads/first-milling-machine.5441/post-80421
Ponder that list a bit and then consider what you might miss.......
When I am spending a lot of money on a used machine, I try to be as thorough as possible because there are literally DOZENS of ways I can get screwed.
I don't need to do that with a new machine. And that is PRECISELY WHY a new machine is worth so much more. The warranty for the first time buyer is usually a year. That's LOTS Of time to use it and find things wrong.
For a second hand machine you have to find it right up front before you pay and either account for it in your offer or walk away. After you pay, you have to pray you didn't miss anything. In my experience having bought a lot of used stuff over the course of my 77 years, you ALWAYS miss stuff.
It's nice to assume the seller is a great guy who will tell you everything that's wrong up front. It's also nice to assume he even knows! But neither one is a good bet.
I think most people with that class of machine start out as newbies and learn as they go. If the machine has bad ways, they don't even know it till the warranty is over. When/if they discover it, they flip it.
I don't want to be the flippee.
Ok, now it's time to make a few generalizations. They are strictly my opinion. I have no idea if they are right.
1. A good deal is any deal where both seller and buyer are happy.
2. Not all deals are good deals.
3. The majority of buyers will not pay more than 75% of new no matter what condition the item is in. Basically, the item loses 25% of its value during the trip home.
4. The majority of sellers don't ask for more than 75% of the new price for like new. They also know it lost value they day they took it home.
5. Not everyone is a member of the majority. You might pay more or want more.
6. But market values (new or used) are not set by individuals, they are set by the majority.
Therefore, I would never pay more than about 75% for used like new. Basically, I recognize that such things have a statistical character. Therefore, there is going to be machines where someone else will pay more than I will. So be it. I don't believe that they are the majority so I don't let that get me fussed. I just know I have to wait for the next opportunity.
Problem with me, buying a lot of used machinery, inspection is like ... you get lucky if you actually see the issue. I.e. it is not easy to account for all issues when inspecting. Heck, original owner may not know... or original owner may be a flipper (!) and may shamelessly hide stuff. What you gonna do, sue him for selling you used junk on Kajiji? I doubt you would win.
I got shot on the foot few times after I inspected an item. There are a lot of ... strange things you only notice after using a machine for a while.
Just a warning about inspections in general. Like house inspections - they may pass and later on you find out strange things!
As to machine value when used, everyone has their own measuring stick - some people will pay almost new price for a bit used stuff - heck Calgary is notorious for people wanting like new prices for used stuff.
I shamelessly agree with all of Tom's points here.