Is there such thing as an Ebay bargain?

[Vyvsdad]

Hello all,

 

I'm a wood turner, and every fortnight I go and get a load of timber from my local tree surgeon, but recently they have asked me if I had a chainsaw and if so could I cut the stuff I want myself. Fair enough.

 

So the search begins for a chainsaw. I want some thing pretty big (18 inch bar minimum), and I have always been a husky man. Its not that I have anything against Stihl, Jonsered etc, its just that Husky are what I learnt on, and are the first I look at, and Ebay throws up lots of results.

But, my question is this: Is there such thing as a good chainsaw on ebay, or is the risk of getting a donkey too great?

 

I'm on a pretty tight budget having just brought a new bandsaw, but have found a new Husky 440e with an 18 inch bar that I could stretch to.

 

It will not be used everyday, but quite intensively for 4 hours every two weeks. The tree surgeon comes home with some pretty lumps of wood, hence the decent sized blade.

 

Any help would be great,

 

Thanks in advance.

[chazzer]

I think a husqvarna 262xp would suit you nicely runs a 18 well and i have had a 24 on mine for a short while and it does pull it! but overall these saws are bombproof they do hold there value though!

 

charlie

[bikewoo]

I think with saws you take a risk, eBay is great for a lot of things but unless you can repair/rebuild your saw you could be safer getting one from a local dealer.

[humpo48]

Buying second hand saws on eBay is a risk, you don't know what abuse it has had. Try and by a new one if you can, if you are self employed it's tax deductible. I have seen saws for sale on eBay saying 'hardly used' and looking at the pictures it's not the case, if you know what to look for.

[wyk]

If you can work on saws, EBay is good if you are careful. If not, you may want to check the local small engine shops and see if they have something used they have serviced and can support you with.

[gensetsteve]

Ebay is a disaster for everything, vehicles and chainsaws especially. For cross cutting up big arb waste I would be inclined to get a 660 with 20" blade. You wont feel the weight of the saw for cross cutting and the extra power speeds the job right up. If you can get the vat and tax back buy new or go and see a dealer for a trade in.

[sandspider]

I disagree, partially at least. I've got two cars off Ebay - both in good condition (with minor faults I was aware of) and both at less than market price. I took a long time looking though, and bought locally having seen the goods first.

 

I also bought a chainsaw off eBay. Spear and Jackson, £70 odd inc postage, and it's served me well for my light use. Possibly a bit of luck there though.

 

So yes, you can get good stuff off Ebay, but it's worth doing the research first and take your time. Try and inspect before you buy. And hope you'll be lucky... (Also, watch out for fake saws - no one would want to make a fake S & J chainsaw!)

[chrismechanic]

i would buy new, you will get warranty and peace of mind.

sometimes people put a load of junk on ebay...and you never know what other's have done with/to the saw.

chris

[Boy English]

I think ebay is great, everything that someone wants to sell needs to be advertised somewhere be it good bad or ugly..

 

always view the item first, take some cash if there willing to sell it there and then, if not I view half hour before the end of auction sit in the car to call my girlfriend and get her to bid x amount, pay the man and take it home..

 

always view and pay based on your own judgement of whatever it is and not on what you are told, im not saying they all lie but I trust myself to know what im looking at more than them (its my money not theres) if I don't know enough about what im looking at I take a friend who does that I trust.

 

ebay gives you massive choice, its up to you to decipher whats good and whats not..

 

the only time I beak the look first rule is if its on buy it now and its a third the price it should be and I can afford to loose the money if its a pile of crap.. best of luck

[Stubby]

I used to buy " West Coast " saws off ebay when when it was almost $2 to the £ exchange rate . Must have had 15 or 20 and only one was a duffer . Mostely 385 and 394/95 big saws .