Re: Anybody use Ebay for equipment?

Steve,
What Tom & Bill said… When using E-Bay, know what the item costs new at the store like Tom said. I set a policy of paying no more than 50% of the new value (or thereabouts) figuring if I’m going to pay more than that I’ll buy full price without hassle (risk) at a store/source where I know the warranty and service will be no risk. You can set your own limit based on how you perceive the risk and value of service & warranty.

I think if you see a particular name brand stove at Dicks (or any other store) that has the same model number as one you see at other specialty stores it’s probably of the same quality. What I have seen is similar models with different model numbers made by a manufacturer but one is made in china and the other US. My belief is that if the brand & model name are the same, then they are the same. I don’t think that different qualities are manufactured for discount stores; the savings coming from negotiated volume buying and I think the same goes for hiking/climbing. If the item has no brand name on it but looks like one from a brand name, you’re on your own. My assumption is that it’s low quality copy that won’t hold up like the name brand.

Cheers
ag