Used canister filters?

[rainbowcharmer]

So I've been browsing E-bay for used eheim canister filters. And I'm wondering - how much value do the Eheim filters hold? Is half-price a good estimate for what I should pay for a used eheim? Or less than that? More than that? Just curious. Seems there's prices all over the board, but many things seem overpriced to me... I figure if I'm going to spend that much I may as well spend the extra 20 or 30 and buy new, etc?

 

[chefjamesscott]

personally I would not buy a used canister from ebay just me though

 

[rainbowcharmer]

See I'm sort of in that boat too, but someone here suggested it so I figured I'd check it out anyhow... But I'm a little overwhelmed at what people want for used filters. What about the "new" ones listed on E-bay? What are the odds they really are new, and still so much cheaper than a new one at, say, liveaquaria?

 

[coach_z]

it appears as if they hold their value pretty well from what i have noticed. so only expect 30-50%off retail for used.

there is a guy who sells brand new marineland c-220's for 100 after shipping on ebay. some food for thought.

-chris

 

[rainbowcharmer]

My curiosity then is how do they sell them new for cheaper than everyone else?

 

[coach_z]

My curiosity then is how do they sell them new for cheaper than everyone else?

cant give you a 100% reason why but here is a good one:

a brick and mortar store needs to rent space, pay electric/gas/utilities, pay tax, pay employees etc etc etc and these expenses add up to a lot of money. a certain percentage markup is needed from their purchase price in order to make a profit on a product. Example: buy product for $100 mark up 50% (30% for costs 20% for profit to cover costs product sold for 150. Retailer makes a whopping 20 bucks on the sale

Ebay retailers are probably working out of their house, no employees, no insurance, rent etcetcetc. they buy a product for 100, mark up 20% sell for 120. Ebay'er makes a whopping 20 bucks on the sale...

 

[DrgRcr]

Coach, I bought my FX5 new off ebay for a fraction of the costof most others($190). I asked myself the same questions about whether it was new and the low price. I was able to go pick it up in south Jersey to save shipping. He gave me the address and it was his store! He had other brand new FX5's on the shelf, normally priced. Mine came right off the same shelf. I just brought in the printout from ebay with the price I paid. He had sold a bunch of them this way.

 

[coach_z]

hmmm...to compete on the internet you need to always have the absolute lowest price, equivalent to the people who dont have large overheads. i guess that seller was pricing for fast turnover and selling purely on volume.?

 

[Riiz]

Or that the aquarium hobby is horribly over-priced. For example take lighting, if its branded for the aquarium trade, expect to pay double over getting the same unit at a hydroponics or hardware store.

 

[toddnbecka]

I buy food, heaters, filters, most fish, just about everything online. Even w/shipping I pay considerably less than the lfs prices. Folks often start their auctions low to save a few $$ on the listing fee; quite often the items will get bid up anyway.