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Spent $800 on a used scan tool for my shop, but now I wonder if I should have gone with the $1500 new one
I picked up a used Snap-on scanner off a retiring mechanic last spring for $800. Figured it was a good deal since the new ones run over $5000 from the truck. But lately it's been acting up on some newer cars, not reading codes right on a 2023 Ford I had in last Tuesday. Now a buddy of mine says I should have just bought that $1500 Autel tablet new with warranty. The used one did save me money for a while, but now I'm not sure if the hassle is worth it. Has anyone else had good or bad luck buying used diagnostic gear instead of new?
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jenny_lee10d ago
Three Fords with misfires in two weeks would make me question if it's the scanner or just those cars being finicky. @wesleyflores learned the hard way that a bad tool costs you more than just money when the pressure washer let him down. But honestly, are you really losing customers over one slow diagnosis or just second guessing a decent deal?
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wilson.olivia11d ago
and it's like buying a used car honestly, you never really know what you're getting until it's in your driveway and starting to show its quirks. I've seen this pattern a lot, not just with scan tools but with everything from pressure washers to forklifts. Sometimes you save a few hundred bucks upfront but end up paying for it in lost time and frustration when the thing doesn't work right on the jobs that actually pay the bills. Your mileage may vary, but in my experience, that used tool was a good deal until it wasn't. Now it's costing you peace of mind and maybe even customer trust if you can't diagnose something fast.
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fiona_carr2610d ago
Ugh, that's so true! My buddy @wesleyflores bought a used pressure washer off Facebook marketplace, thought he'd scored big time. First real job he used it on, it started spraying water out of every crack except the nozzle. Took him twice as long to finish the driveway and he ended up having to rent one from the hardware store to get it done right. So much for saving that hundred bucks, right?
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