Purchased used Kessil light - Would You Guys Be Happy With This?

[Fish Fan]

“I replied right away and asked for a pic, and he did post one, and I mean it seemed OK to me in the photos”

Do you have the photo he/she posted? Does it look anything like what you received?

Post in thread 'used high end equipment'
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/used-high-end-equipment.1078576/post-12973404

I’ve purchased something like 8 or 9 of these Kessils from the 80’s to the 160’s, to these 360’s, fresh and saltwater versions, and I have two of the newer X series - all purchased used from here and from eBay. Absolutely none of them look anything like this light even after I’ve now been using some of them for years.

 

[Coral Your World]

Post in thread 'used high end equipment'
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/used-high-end-equipment.1078576/post-12973404

I’ve purchased something like 8 or 9 of these Kessils from the 80’s to the 160’s, to these 360’s, fresh and saltwater versions, and I have two of the newer X series - all purchased used from here and from eBay. Absolutely none of them look anything like this light even after I’ve now been using some of them for years.

I’ve sold plenty of stuff on R2R. I clean everything thoroughly and send about a dozen pictures top, bottom, left, right, center, plugged in, plugged out, out of the shipping box, in the shipping box without packaging, with packaging, the sealed shipping box without label, with label. I don’t think most sellers take that approach, but as a buyer, you should 100% be asking for this. If the seller doesn’t want to send you what you need to get comfortable with what you’re buying, don’t buy.

I have little patience for goofy sellers like this TBH. From the pic he/she posted, you can tell that the mount is missing a screw and looks like complete horse crap. I would never have bought that based just on seeing that. That one’s probably on you IMO.

As for the light, you can’t tell condition from the pic because it’s on. I would have asked for 30 more pics of the light before buying but based on what was shipped to you, I’d be ticked. Even if that was sold as used/fair condition that thing looks terrible.

If I was in your shoes, I’d give the seller 48 hours to offer a solution satisfactory to you. After that, I’d let PayPal know and let them try to take care of it.

If you don’t go that route, I’d definitely open the light up and give it a thorough clean before use.

 

[BigMikeFlipz]

I'm a professional reseller, and can tell you 99% of people expect "Used" to be well cared for and cleaned unless something is well documented as to the condition. That looks like it was used to scrap mud out of a gutter. I'd 100% contact them for a full refund, and if they don't offer it, I'd file the complaint with Paypal as well as with the admins. That is very poor quality and I personally wouldn't have paid much for it in hopes to recondition it.

 

[Fish Fan]

I’ve sold plenty of stuff on R2R. I clean everything thoroughly and send about a dozen pictures top, bottom, left, right, center, plugged in, plugged out, out of the shipping box, in the shipping box without packaging, with packaging, the sealed shipping box without label, with label. I don’t think most sellers take that approach, but as a buyer, you should 100% be asking for this. If the seller doesn’t want to send you what you need to get comfortable with what you’re buying, don’t buy.

I have little patience for goofy sellers like this TBH. From the pic he/she posted, you can tell that the mount is missing a screw and looks like complete horse crap. I would never have bought that based just on seeing that. That one’s probably on you IMO.

As for the light, you can’t tell condition from the pic because it’s on. I would have asked for 30 more pics of the light before buying but based on what was shipped to you, I’d be ticked. Even if that was sold as used/fair condition that thing looks terrible.

If I was in your shoes, I’d give the seller 48 hours to offer a solution satisfactory to you. After that, I’d let PayPal know and let them try to take care of it.

If you don’t go that route, I’d definitely open the light up and give it a thorough clean before use.

Thank you for your reply. I see many of your points, I absolutely do, that’s why I asked here.

I agree with your selling style, I do the same myself. You’re right, I should have asked for more pics, I just saw that it works, and after years of doing this I’ve never had this happen. And especially not here at R2R where I’ve mostly dealt with very cool “fish people”.

I don’t believe for one minute that the light is only three years old, and the seller told me it was. I mean, someone said before it looked like he ran the light in a hamster cage. I thought maybe a wood shop? I have other Kessil lights all purchased used, and even after I’ve been using them they don’t look anywhere near what this light looked like.

 

[Fish Fan]

I'm a professional reseller, and can tell you 99% of people expect "Used" to be well cared for and cleaned unless something is well documented as to the condition. That looks like it was used to scrap mud out of a gutter. I'd 100% contact them for a full refund, and if they don't offer it, I'd file the complaint with Paypal as well as with the admins. That is very poor quality and I personally wouldn't have paid much for it in hopes to recondition it.

I used to be, I used to be an eBay Power Seller back when that was a thing somewhere around 2005 or so. I still buy and sell a fair amount casually now, never had this happen, nor would I do this to someone. Thank you for your reply and suggestions!

 

[Coral Your World]

Thank you for your reply. I see many of your points, I absolutely do, that’s why I asked here.

I agree with your selling style, I do the same myself. You’re right, I should have asked for more pics, I just saw that it works, and after years of doing this I’ve never had this happen. And especially not here at R2R where I’ve mostly dealt with very cool “fish people”.

I don’t believe for one minute that the light is only three years old, and the seller told me it was. I mean, someone said before it looked like he ran the light in a hamster cage. I thought maybe a wood shop? I have other Kessil lights all purchased used, and even after I’ve been using them they don’t look anywhere near what this light looked like.

I’ve run lots of lights over the years. Lights that I’ve run 5 years over my tank look brand new, other than the fact that they have 5 years of use on them.

At the end of the day, IMO, it doesn’t matter how long that light was used for. That doesn’t reflect the condition of a used light. That reflects the condition of an abused light. Don’t waste more time soliciting input here, reach out to the seller for a solution. If you don’t get one, call paypal.

 

[Fish Fan]

I’ve run lots of lights over the years. Lights that I’ve run 5 years over my tank look brand new, other than the fact that they have 5 years of use on them.

At the end of the day, IMO, it doesn’t matter how long that light was used for. That doesn’t reflect the condition of a used light. That reflects the condition of an abused light. Don’t waste more time soliciting input here, reach out to the seller for a solution. If you don’t get one, call paypal.

I'm in the process right now ;-)

 

[RoanokeReef]

This is the package I once got from a seller on here, he did refund me and pay return shipping with zero issue. This is the package after I opened the box, this was 2 Neptune WAV pumps. He even forgot to mail the magnets with them. Icing on the cake was the open handle holes

 

[Harpo]

Selling used equipment is a PITA. Good communication and lots of photos is paramount.

 

[Tamberav]

ooof.. well next time you will know to ask for lots of photos.

I am surprised someone would put something like that in a box and ship.

As for the missing hardware, that could be a mistake, I have a kessil on a rimmed tank and I can't use the white part you are talking about or it won't fit. So it is in a baggy in my fish junk labeled kessil. I could see myself accidently forgetting to send that and would hope the seller would contact me about it so I could get the parts to them.

That being said, I always clean everything before shipping and do regular maintenance on my lights.

I think that kessil is worth $100 due to wear and tear from not maintaining it.

 

[Fish Fan]

Thanks guys!

I do agree that the light I received is worth somewhere around $100 as it was (and It looked A LOT worse when I first got it, before I tried to clean it and posted those pics).

In my case, the seller did accept a return for a refund. I did have to shake him down for the refund, and then he was all upset that it looked like PayPal may have double charged him for the refund (they did not). But funny how when it was his money in question he was all over it, yet I had to shake him down to issue the refund.

Yes, this is largely on me because I was too trusting, but I have NEVER had this happen buying used gear from R2R. Usually, I find I'm dealing with a cool "fish guy", who's giving me a great deal, and I didn't give it another thought. Last time for that lol!

 

[Gtinnel]

I buy a lot of equipment on the sale forum too and generally had positive experiences. I wouldn’t be happy if that level of dirt wasn’t disclosed and the picture seems to be taken so that it didn’t show how dirty it was.
I almost bought some MP40s from the same user but didn’t because he would never provide pictures of the magnets, even though he claimed they were in good condition. I may have avoided a hassle.

Glad it all got worked out for you.

 

[Fish Fan]

I buy a lot of equipment on the sale forum too and generally had positive experiences. I wouldn’t be happy if that level of dirt wasn’t disclosed and the picture seems to be taken so that it didn’t show how dirty it was.
I almost bought some MP40s from the same user but didn’t because he would never provide pictures of the magnets, even though he claimed they were in good condition. I may have avoided a hassle.

Glad it all got worked out for you.

Wow, yeah I cannot recommend that seller after my experience lol! Thanks for the reply!

I still love the R2R marketplace, I just purchased two more Kessil lights just today. This seller had MUCH better pics, so I'm hoping for the best ;-)

Thanks again everyone for the replies!

 

[Borat]

This was dug out from some rubbish bin.. its not worth $20 US&A bucks

 

[FishTruck]

I would not have charged someone 175 for that. I would have cleaned it up best I could, and maybe 50 bucks plus shipping.

 

[Fish Fan]

This was dug out from some rubbish bin.. its not worth $20 US&A bucks

You should have seen it before I tried cleaning it!

I would not have charged someone 175 for that. I would have cleaned it up best I could, and maybe 50 bucks plus shipping.

I couldn't agree more lol!

 

[Borat]

I sold my 3 year old lights some time ago for 30% of its retail price

take a look at condition of these:

2x ReefLed 90 + mounting arms - collection from TW9

Selling 2x ReefLed 90s (3 years old) that were run at 90% and were looked after well. The reason for selling is that I relaced these with my new DIY lights...

www.ultimatereef.net

 

[VintageReefer]

The selling pic was intentional deceptive to hide all the caked on dirt and dust.
Glad you got the refund

 

[VintageReefer]

If you still need a light I have a AI Prime 16HD for sale I just didn’t get around to making a thread yet

 

[Crabs McJones]

Again, if you saw what it looked like out of the box today, but my first reaction was that I bought a used light, and this is what I got. But the more I looked and tried to clean it, and then when I saw the mount. I’m leaning towards asking for a full refund, I’d be glad to send it back to the seller at my expense.

Do you need anymore lights? And could you utilize an A360XE? Just curious