Vent: blew $310 on a used laser level that was dead on arrival

Bought a used rotary laser level off a guy on Craigslist back in March for $310, thinking I was being smart since a new one runs close to $900. Got it home to my place near Sacramento and the thing wouldn't self-level at all, just spun and blinked a red light at me. Took it to a repair place and they told me the sensor inside was shot and the fix would run about $400, more than I paid for the whole unit. The seller stopped answering texts the second I mentioned the problem, which I guess I should have seen coming. Should have tested it in his driveway before handing over cash, but he was in a hurry and I was too. Back when I first got into site work, everybody bought from the same two rental yards and you at least had a paper trail if something was junk. So now I'm out $310 and stuck borrowing the crew's old manual level. Has anyone had luck buying used survey gear, or is that market just full of lemons?