Anybody think this might be worth a go?

[rob w]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/DEWALT-DW788-20in-Scroll-Saw/303941059018?epid=2255350145&hash=item46c44c81ca:g:tnAAAOSwbBtgY4A~

I'm looking for my first saw and want a Dewalt. The guy in the listing above is selling three Dewalts, asking $200 for each. I swapped messages with him and he said that he got them from a high school woodshop class and the on/off switches are broken. As we know Dewalts are susceptible to dust clogging up the on/off switch so my fantasy is that I just pop off the switch and clean it up, de-rust the table and I'm in business.  I was thinking about offering $100. The flip side of the coin is that there could be A LOT more wrong than just the switch and I end up with a yellow boat anchor. 

Worth a try or am I just being a plumb fool about it?

Rob

[preprius]

Do you have a boat?  Do you need another anchor?

ok just adding to April 1st humor. 

I own a Hawk.

[rob w]

4 minutes ago, preprius said:

Do you have a boat?  Do you need another anchor?

ok just adding to April 1st humor. 

I own a Hawk.

Lmao! If it's too good to be true, it probably is, right?!

Edited April 1, 2021 by rob w

[OCtoolguy]

38 minutes ago, rob w said:

Lmao! If it's too good to be true, it probably is, right?!

How old is the ad? How far away? If legit I'd buy all 3 for $500. Or less. Depends on your expertise at haggling. If they all run with only the switches being the problem you might end up with a free saw and money in your pocket. I'd jump all over that deal.

[rob w]

15 minutes ago, octoolguy said:

How old is the ad? How far away? If legit I'd buy all 3 for $500. Or less. Depends on your expertise at haggling. If they all run with only the switches being the problem you might end up with a free saw and money in your pocket. I'd jump all over that deal.

They're in Texas and I'm in California. I tend to think that the switches are the problem since none of the three run and they all probably got dusty in the high school wood shop and were never maintained but who knows really. Free shipping too. I would only get one, I'm not interested in flipping them, just looking for my first saw. It's a nice fantasy but it could be a total waste of money. I've got my eye on another Dewalt locally as well that I can check out in person so that would be my first option. My experience in looking for a Dewalt online (like CL, Offerup, Facebook) is that people want nearly as much as a new saw for their used machines.

Rob

[kmmcrafts]

1 hour ago, rob w said:

They're in Texas and I'm in California. I tend to think that the switches are the problem since none of the three run and they all probably got dusty in the high school wood shop and were never maintained but who knows really. Free shipping too. I would only get one, I'm not interested in flipping them, just looking for my first saw. It's a nice fantasy but it could be a total waste of money. I've got my eye on another Dewalt locally as well that I can check out in person so that would be my first option. My experience in looking for a Dewalt online (like CL, Offerup, Facebook) is that people want nearly as much as a new saw for their used machines.

Rob

That was the case years ago when I was looking to buy a DeWalt.. I ended up waiting until the holiday sales that Grizzly always put on.. I purchased the saw with light and stand for less than those used ones was selling for back then.. If I remember correctly, at the time ( 2007-8) they cost $460 ish new and I got it for $329.99 shipped. run it for 10 years.. rebuilt it once and then needed again and bought the parts.. Then found a great deal on a new in the box Hawk.. on Craigslist, then a month later found a deal on a new in box Excalibur so I sold the DeWalt for $250.. That saw made about $200,000 in inventory / sales so it paid for itself a couple of times I think.

[OCtoolguy]

1 hour ago, rob w said:

They're in Texas and I'm in California. I tend to think that the switches are the problem since none of the three run and they all probably got dusty in the high school wood shop and were never maintained but who knows really. Free shipping too. I would only get one, I'm not interested in flipping them, just looking for my first saw. It's a nice fantasy but it could be a total waste of money. I've got my eye on another Dewalt locally as well that I can check out in person so that would be my first option. My experience in looking for a Dewalt online (like CL, Offerup, Facebook) is that people want nearly as much as a new saw for their used machines.

Rob

That's why I mentioned your haggling ability. I like the game. I'm waiting on a guy who has a Hegner advertised for a very long time and sooner or later, he'll come around. If the seller in Texas is willing to pay the shipping, I might consider that deal. Even just one. I'd have to go for them all.

 

[kywoodmaster]

Two things throw up red flags on me. #1 it says no table. #2 shipping weight is 9 pounds. I think I would pass without being able to see them.

[malar]

I'm confused I went to the description and it said "9 pounds". Then no table do you read that?

[rob w]

Yeah, I asked about the no table thing and he said that he meant to say 'no stand'. He offered to sell all three of them to me for $300. I didn't notice the 9 pounds, don't know what that means. I'm in over my head on this one, will just stick to looking locally or just buy a new Dewalt.

Rob

[amazingkevin]

Sounds fishy

[Scrappile]

My thinking is,,,, your first saw,,, why get something(s) that may cause you problems... Makes it hard to enjoy the hobby.   At $300 for all three, for a persons that has worked a lot on these saw, it might be worth it.  They are going to need some work... and in my view, for someone starting out, enjoy the hobby, don't take chances on saws... Buying used it fine if you can check the saw out first.  There is enough to learn when starting out, with out adding broken saws that may or may not be easy to fix.  Just my opinion... 

[OCtoolguy]

15 minutes ago, Scrappile said:

My thinking is,,,, your first saw,,, why get something(s) that may cause you problems... Makes it hard to enjoy the hobby.   At $300 for all three, for a persons that has worked a lot on these saw, it might be worth it.  They are going to need some work... and in my view, for someone starting out, enjoy the hobby, don't take chances on saws... Buying used it fine if you can check the saw out first.  There is enough to learn when starting out, with out adding broken saws that may or may not be easy to fix.  Just my opinion... 

Paul you're right on this one. After thinking on this one, it does sound hinky. As the old saying goes......

[rob w]

49 minutes ago, Scrappile said:

My thinking is,,,, your first saw,,, why get something(s) that may cause you problems... Makes it hard to enjoy the hobby.   At $300 for all three, for a persons that has worked a lot on these saw, it might be worth it.  They are going to need some work... and in my view, for someone starting out, enjoy the hobby, don't take chances on saws... Buying used it fine if you can check the saw out first.  There is enough to learn when starting out, with out adding broken saws that may or may not be easy to fix.  Just my opinion... 

You are absolutely right on all counts! I'm passing. There are a couple of Hawks that just came up in my area that I can check out in person. 

Rob