hire or buy second hand?

[oddbob]

Hello, I need a theodolite, laser level and maybe some sort of machine control (for the digger) for a project due to take around 3 months which starts in a few weeks time. I am trying to weigh up the costs associated with buying used survey equipment compared to survey equipment hire.

Some of the large and well-known hire sheds seem to be rather expensive and wont negotiate or better upon their "weekly prices". I don't want to buy used equipment from eBay because frankly I don't trust those people.

Can anyone recommend where to buy these types of instruments from - used or ex-hire - OR any cheap places I could hire decent equipment from?

 

[merlin50]

"from eBay because frankly I don't trust those people."
well i am one of those people and i only sell very good tools to keep up my good feedback, any junk ends up at the auction.

 

[oddbob]

"from eBay because frankly I don't trust those people."
well i am one of those people and i only sell very good tools to keep up my good feedback, any junk ends up at the auction.

Apologies, I didn't mean to offend; I know lots of sellers are good people but we are talking about high value items here and there are a lot of dodgy folks about on ebay for this type of gear - if you get me?

 

[merlin50]

if its faulty get your money back, simples, if its knocked off then that is the only way to get it cheap

 

[merlin50]

or

 

[^woody^]

I don't know what theodolite you need or if indeed it is a theodolite or just an optical level, but prices can vary a great deal depending on what you want.

Ebay sellers are either companies with good offers or people who have bought the equipment for a one-off job (eg self build) and are then selling the stuff on. If not a proper business seller, then you need to do more checks/enquiries to make sure that the instrument has not been abused and is out of alignment - but you can normally fish the info out and a duff instrument is rare

It depends on how much you really need the equipment - daily use or a day here and there, and if a lot of use do you need the back up of a hire centre for quick replacement if needed?

If you google for " surveying supplies " then you can get some idea of equipment and prices and then compare on ebay. There are a couple of cheap suppliers who should pop up in the list

Don't forget tripods, staffs, poles, receivers and targets etc