I think you will agree with me when I say that finding the best used tanning beds for sale near you is harder than getting a healthy tan. People might be worried about the quality of a second-hand tanning bed. Yeah, there are enough reasons to get worried.
But here is the kicker:
In this article, we will see how to buy an excellent pre-owned tanning bed. I’m damn sure that the tips given in this article will definitely help you to find a quality bed.
Some of you might be in a dilemma- shall I buy a new tanning bed or go with a used one.
Don’t worry! We’re here to help you out. Let us first see some of the best advantages of buying a used bed for tanning.
Table of Contents
Advantages of Used Tanning Beds
We always want everything to be crisp and new, but as for tanning beds, used ones can be more beneficial than you think. Here’s why:
- Used tanning beds will cost a lot cheaper than new ones. The tanning bed prices might be too much for most of us. If you’re on a budget or just can’t straightaway afford to buy a new one, used tanning beds are the best option.
- If you’re thinking of starting up a tanning salon, you might want to consider buying used tanning beds. In a startup with limited resources, what matters is the availability of equipment. Once your business is up and running, you can then choose to buy new ones.
- Tanning beds have great lifespan with excellent price depreciation. A year-old tanning bed will cost you half the price of a new one with almost the same quality. What’s better than buying the same thing for a lower price tag?
- Tanning beds are not like other types of equipment that wear out. Good maintenance requires taking care of the acrylics, changing the tanning lamps and keeping it safe from mineral oils, etc. This means that most of the used tanning beds you buy will be of good value.
- If the used tanning bed is still functioning spick and span after hours and hours of usage, it’s a win-win. With the technologies evolving and competition hitting the bars, not all products are the same as their predecessors. It usually is difficult to find genuine products that have high reliability, but if you find someone who’s willing to sell it to you, don’t miss the opportunity. Value the classic.
The Differences at a Glance
| Used tanning bed | New tanning bed |
| Might not include warranty | Will usually include warranty |
| Lower price | Higher price |
| Suitable for residential use and occasional use | Good for commercial and prolonged use |
| Might have third-party components | Company fitted and genuine components |
| Rarely available (you will have to look for it) | Widely available |
| The acrylics will need replacement | Acrylics should stay put till at least 1,000 hrs |
| Chances are, the product is reliable | You will have to test its reliability |
How to buy Good Old Tanning Beds for Sale near You?
While used tanning beds are preferable to spot and buy, buying the right one is a sophisticated deal. Like you have to look both ways before crossing a street, you have to look around for everything when purchasing a used tanning bed. There are a few things you need to consider.
· How long has it been used for?
It’s common sense to think that the used tanning beds might be in use for quite an amount of time. Before buying it’s your job to ask the seller about the period of its usage. While most tanning beds are used for about 1 year on average before being sold out, the period can go up too.
Here, you should know that any tanning bed used for 1-2 years or less is what you should most prefer. If the period of usage extends beyond 4 years, you might as well skip it. Those tanning beds which are used for longer than 3-4 years will cost you cheaper but will really hurt you in the long term.
It might get tricky here- a cheap one or a quality one. Well, it depends upon you!
· Is the tanning bed commercial or residential?
If you didn’t know the difference before, you should know now. Tanning beds are manufactured as different products depending on whether they’re to be used commercially or residentially. While residential tanning beds are lighter and require less space, commercial tanning beds have options for faster tanning and non-stop usage.
You should ask the seller about the kind of its make and what purpose it has been used for. For what you intend to buy the used tanning bed should also be considered since you might require a commercial tanning bed for your salon or otherwise.
· Are the acrylics intact?
Acrylics are what the make the tanning bed a tanning bed and not a suicide mission. The acrylics are a thin layer of glass between you and the UV tubes. That is all that is keeping you from facing hell. When buying a used tanning bed, always take a look at the acrylics and ask the seller more about it. How the seller has previously used the tanning bed will tell you a lot about the condition of the acrylics.
Using mineral oils and being exposed to dust and dirt degrades acrylics (You can read more about it here: tanning oil for tanning beds. As a matter of fact, most acrylics have an average lifespan of 1,000 hours after which they have to be replaced. Acrylics that have been used up to around this amount of time are not really a problem, but be sure of it before you buy. You can ask the seller to get them replaced before you buy them or quote a lower price based on how used up the acrylics really are. You might want to get them changed urgently after you’ve bought the used tanning bed.
· Are the electrical components stable?
Based on the fact that tanning beds work with electricity and power, this is a major issue you should look for. While most used tanning beds wouldn’t present you with the problem, you should not hesitate to check in detail. Observe the tanning lamps for any flicker or sudden beams.
Ask the seller about the electrical conditions of the place the tanning bed was used at. If their place had continuous electricity outages or voltage issues, there is a high chance that the tanning bed has electrical issues or might develop them later.
· Collect all documentation.
All appliances come with documentation, not just tanning beds. So, before buying check and ask the seller about the documentation. This will not only help you in the long run but also verify that the tanning bed was bought and used on fair terms. If you’re lucky, you may find used tanning beds with the warranty still applicable.
Later, when you have to claim warranty or ask for replacements/repairs, the documentation is the only thing the company will require from you. The documentation will also include a user’s manual which will guide you through every minor and major adjustment you need to make to the machine.
· Bargain on the price.
Since you’re buying a used tanning bed and not a new one, bargaining may be required. As a natural human psyche, we expect more when selling and less when buying. To be legit in your bargain, you have to know the market first. Do your research. Browse online through various sellers and have a good estimate of what they offer for how much.
The seller might quote a price much higher than they expect to receive. To counter that, you have to offer a quote much lower than you expect to pay. It won’t be long before you both agree on a reasonable price.
· Test the machine.
Lastly, try it out before actually bringing it home. Put yourself or someone else inside the bed (in the seller’s presence) and check its’ efficiency, usage and all the things the seller has promised. It’s really difficult to point out any flaws after you’ve bought it to verify it before you do.
If the owner permits, you should try to do at least one tanning session in the tanning bed. You should properly lay on the tanning bed to find how efficient it is. Chances are that the tanning bed is not that efficient and the owner just want to get rid of it. You don’t want to be a victim here.
You can find how to lay on tanning bed here: https://tanninggirl.com/how-to-lay-in-tanning-bed/
While testing the machine, always check the quality of the tanning lamps. If it is more than five years old, you might have to replace the lamps. Remember, the lamps are very costly. But we have an article here on choosing the best and cheap tanning bed bulbs. You should read this if you’re planning to replace the existing tanning bulb.
Conclusion
With all of this information at your disposal, it’s your choice to make. Used tanning beds will be rarely available for buying but if the seller has genuine reasons to sell it, research it. These used tanning beds will be lighter on your budget and save you some extra bucks. Most of the times, you’ll be lucky enough to find a really good deal for good quality products at low prices.
If you’re new to the tanning world or a veteran, both cases are a strong reason you need to look for used tanning beds instead of new ones.
Research, find, bargain and claim that amazing machine. It’s all yours to take.
Happy tanning!
