Used Equipment Purchasing Advice!

When you can’t afford the new stuff….

Have you checked out the latest and greatest HD Cameras out on the market? Have you checked out the price tag on those? Need to build a two camera switching system for the price of just one camera? You will probably have to forgo most new equipment and try to find it used. But where do you start?

Once you’ve figured out the kind of equipment you need there are many sources around the country that can help you in your quest for building the video system God wants for your ministry. Through personal contacts in your community, and through the web, you can find and make purchases of equipment that can suit your needs. This article is written under the assumption you already know what you need, but need some help finding out where to get it.

If Jesus were physically around today, He would tell us video ministry directors to go and make video disciples in television stations, production companies, and with Universities and local cable stations throughout your community. This brings up the first place to find used equipment. You never know when a production company or station is upgrading to new equipment, or even going bankrupt. By being out in your community, not only spreading the Good News, you’ll never know when somebody has some equipment they’re not using, or they’re looking for an end of the year tax break. In my experience, God has surprised me with some gifts of new or slightly used equipment that fit right into what I needed. It only happened because of bonds and relationships I formed with people outside of the four walls of the church. The downside is there is some junk, and I mean heavy old junk, that people are looking to off-load. Take what you can get, and evaluate what you can use, and if you have to throw it away, you can practice your 50-pound boat anchor toss into your resident garbage can.

Also through this community, it is very wise for you to become friendly with those who do repairs on video equipment. Finding a great repair technician is like finding a great mechanic for your car, there are plenty of people out there who do it, but do you trust them? As you find used equipment, you can bring it in and have them check it over to let you know if it’s a wise purchase, or a potential money pit. A warning about these new friends, most often times they are also resellers of used equipment, and every time you’re in there, they could persuade you to buy things you may not necessarily need. It’s best that you make a plan for equipment you need and try to stick with it.

Using the web to find used equipment can be quite scary at first. As you look for companies on the web, take time to look through their inventory lists, and note if there’s a date on the site of last time it was updated. I was excited a few times to locate the equipment I was looking for, only to find that the site hasn’t been touched for two years! As you find companies that have what you need, pick up the phone and talk to somebody there about it. Ask them about their return policies, how much it will cost to ship, will they insure it, can you have them send the equipment so you can have somebody you trust check it out? Most companies have a thirty day return policy, so you can have time to play with it a while and see if it will suit your needs. Also as you talk to the person, make sure you’re comfortable with them, are they trying to push you for more than you need? There are plenty of places on the net to buy equipment, so don’t be afraid to call around. Ask for a list of past clients that have purchased from them. Are there any churches or ministries on that list? Call them and find out why they purchased from that company.

Another huge database of used equipment on the web is Ebay. On their website it says “caveat emptor” meaning buyer beware. Yes, there are people who are looking to get rid of junk and take your (or your church’s) money. More often then not, there are plenty of people like you and me just trying to get rid of some equipment and make some money. I have had a grand total of two buying experiences over Ebay, so this does not make me an Ebay auction professional. However, I bought an almost new camera for $8000 less than retail, and it had 15 hours of use on it! The other purchase was a set of flight cases to house all of my equipment. Both times I was very scared about the purchase, but throughout the process I was talking to the seller, making sure they were legitimate. Check out the seller’s rating, have they sold other equipment, do they have any negative comments from other buyers? It takes time to go through the thousands of items, but you never know when you’ll stumble across something that you really need, like a hundred BNC connectors for 10 bucks!

Chances are, as you find the equipment you need you’ll have few problems with them. Equipment such as switchers, CCU’s, routers, and test equipment are very dependable and have few things that will go wrong. Older tape decks and cameras on the other hand, have many delicate parts that wear down over years of use. Out of the equipment that I have purchased, the cameras are the only technical problems I’ve had. It seems that as broadcast cameras grow older, the little capacitors that hold the color on the electronic boards enjoy giving out causing me great fits and a few gray hairs in my goatee. If I had it to do over again, I would have bought some newer cameras to begin with. So, as you are budgeting and looking for equipment, spend a little more money and be very cautious of equipment that has chances of costing you big money in repairs, leaving you with bigger bills than you and your ministry expected, and often times without working equipment.

Coming back once again to community, check out other churches in your area that are doing what you want to do. Often times the best help you’ll get is from fellow brothers and sisters in the faith who probably have been in the situation you’re in now. And you’ll never know when they’re even trying to make room for newer equipment.

The final and most important piece of advice is to pray. It’s an obvious solution to all challenges we face, but unfortunately we can get caught up in the “me” factor of this, and forget that He is in control. God can provide equipment, personnel, solutions, and maybe even some money, if we’re faithful to Him with what He’s given to us, and when it’s within His will.