Classifieds or Retailer?

[Fizzmix]

Hello,

I want to start off by saying that I have met up with a regional representative already to become AV'd. I am currently (patiently) awaiting for it to be applied to my account.

My question is this:

Is it better, in your opinion, to purchase from the classifieds or from a retailer? I'm looking to purchase my first AEG, and have been scouring the canadian retailers for one that appeals to me. Just wondering if I should wait until my AV is applied, or just purchase one from a retailer. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks!

[Steven]

Wait until you're AV'd, that way you can look through both the AV'd retailers and the classifieds.

[Ozone06]

Retailer 100%

Buy new, get something reliable and you're laughing. After you have a rock solid reliable gun then go have fun in the classifieds.

You honestly don't know what the previous owner(s) did with it.

That's my 2 Cents

[lurkingknight]

I have a thing with buying used... sometimes it's hard to trust how used something is, or in other cases, if the seller is honest/not a scammer. That said, if you can get a trustworthy source for used goods, then used is a great option, most of the time it works fine and the seller is just upgrading or moving on. There are also guys that know how to pimp their guns, and i would not hesitate to take one off their hands should they want to sell them (provided it was what I was looking for)

That said, I always try to get new when it's available (within reasonable price) even though airsoft being what it is, and with next to no guarantees or warranties, you know the cosmetics will be new, the internals will be new, and last as long as new internals do. Starting with a clean slate is comforting for me.

edit: I should add that I'm a tinkerer by nature, so if I do buy used, I am more than capable of diagnosing a certain degree of issues and fixing them. I like taking things apart and finding out the how and why, so if/when things break it's not a huge deal, more minor annoyance, unless there's a big repair bill.

[kalnaren]

RETAILER

Unless you do the classified sale face to face and inspect the goods yourself before cash changes hands.

[Grudge]

+1 to that.

I'll only buy used if it is face to face or I know the person selling very well.

Otherwise it is retailer all the way.

[Xtatic]

I bought a VFC Sr16 from a retailer, and then a few months later got a used CA MP5sd2 from the classifieds. I always prefer using the Mp5, as it was fully upgraded internally, with a mosfet, Deans connectors, etc. Though it definitely looks used, it was worth getting. The seller had a good trader rating.
Bottom line: you can find some real gems if you search the classifieds.

[GRIM]

Buy new. 99% of the time a used airsoft fun is junk. Every used gun I've bought needed repairs from some of the most respected users on ASC at that. New is the best, sometimes you have to settle for used because that items is impossible to.get new.

Also I noticed people buy a new gun at $400 use the crap outta it for 2 years and then resell for $400 doesn't make sense to me.

Most of the time new is same price Or in some cases cheaper lol.

[MaciekA]

Buy from a retailer but expect to have to learn to open the gearbox and give your AEG some love soon after depending on three things: quality of gun, luck of the draw, and your personal pattern of wear and tear.

Not even expensive high end guns are perfect and a few people I play with have told me that eventually every AEG has got to be opened up for care and maintenance, if not outright repair -- no matter how new or good it is.

Between my wife and myself we've got 4 AEGs and most of them have had to get some kind of maintenance. I'm finding that the more I jump in and learn how the gearbox works, how to maintain it, the less I worry about whether I've made the perfect choice.

As long as you get something that is relatively compatible with Marui parts, then a major failure from even a worn out used gun might not be the end of the world. You might just have to wait a day or two to get a spare part and you're off to the races again.

That said, with your first AEG you should go with retailers so that you can have some fun before having to maintain or open anything. There are some good retailer deals on the AV forums.

Hope that helps

[vink]

Originally Posted by PMC84X

Buy new. 99% of the time a used airsoft fun is junk. Every used gun I've bought needed repairs from some of the most respected users on ASC at that. New is the best, sometimes you have to settle for used because that items is impossible to.get new.

Also I noticed people buy a new gun at $400 use the crap outta it for 2 years and then resell for $400 doesn't make sense to me.

Most of the time new is same price Or in some cases cheaper lol.

I agree. I find a lot of the stuff on the classfieds don't reflect that they are used. Some times I see stuff thats actually higher than retail. Or worse seller's that keep bumping an item for over a year. But through all that their are some great deals to be found.

[Danke]

I would say for your first AEG/GBB you want to buy new from someone who can remedy things if it arrives DOA.

I've seen a ton of new players vanish after their rifle eats a piston or just stops working. They've got no extra cash, and no experience on how to fix it so they're out. Sometimes for a month, or the season, or even for good.

Once you've been around the block there is a ton of good stuff in the classifieds. Folks getting out with rare AEGs, guys who compulsively buy the latest and greatest and then flip them when something newer shows and more. You just need the street smarts to smell out the good from the bad.

[slink182]

I wouldn't discount the Classified section too quickly. You can come across some real gems there, but you really need to know your stuff. For example, there are those who buy guns as wall-hangers (never seen the field and have maybe been test fired) so those guns are effectively new. There are those who bring in very small quantities of guns who aren't retailers just to flip for some pocket money. There are those who have cared for their guns and put a ton of work into upgrading them for reliability/durability/consistency.

Generally, the quality guns are worth scouring the Classifieds for - G&P, CA, TM, RS, VFC, etc. The less than stellar guns are crapshoots - Krakens, some Echo 1s, for example.

First gun, though, it's recommended to buy new. You can always expand from there.

My SCAR-L was purchased new. My HiCapa was nib from the Classifieds. My M79 was used from the Classifieds, along with a number of other support and weapon attachments.

[SHaKaL]

I normally buy new (Thanks Tom for ruining me ). But from time to time, i buy used when its a good deal, rare item and when the seller has good rating and been on ASC for a couples of years.

I never had any real bad experiences on ASC.

[dougi3000]

When I started several years ago, the prices were astronomical. The only choice was to buy used and learned to deal with defects. As with most things, they are repairable relatively cheap. Getting a $800 gun for $400 used was a great deal. Now things are different, retail prices have closed the gap. But if you are mechanically handy and short on budget, buying used is definitely better than new.


NEW stuff: unscuffed, you get all the parts that you read about in the reviews. untested (May not work out of the box), excellent wallhangers. need to buy all the accessories which run up the bill (mags, batts, BBs, slings, etc)

OLD stuff: usually 20+% cheaper, tested and usually working (unless otherwise noted in the post), tuned for field play, upgraded, crap stock parts were replaced, usually comes with tons of accessories (slings, mags, grips, scopes, batts, BBs), but usually have major paint wear or scars, may be missing stock parts, loose springs.

[Debrief]

Classifieds can also be great for "beginners" packages, i.e. a gun with magazines, batteries, optics, and the occasional gear. They're a great way for new guys to get completely ready to game in one package. If you're buying from a user with a 100% trader rating and is honest and detailed in his posts, you shouldn't have a problem.

The classifieds also have a degree of competitive pricing. Retailers will sometimes have a monopoly on a particular item (i.e. newly released GBBRs), and items on the classifieds tend to be quite cheap in order to attract a sale.