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When buying a used tanning bed, you should
approach the purchase in the same way that you would approach buying any
other used appliance, such as a washer, car, or stair lift.
While a tanning bed might not cost as much as a car,
you’ll want to avoid the pitfalls in purchasing equipment secondhand.
For example, soon after purchasing a used car, you might discover that
it makes a disturbing and ominous sound somewhere under the hood and
some expensive parts need replacing. When you buy a used tanning bed,
what could end up as an unexpected expense?
Just as in buying a used car, to avoid problems, first know the model of
the tanning bed, the year in which it was manufactured, and its
features. Although tanning beds are fairly recent inventions, the
technology has evolved rapidly, and older models are considered less
safe than newer ones. The lamps in older models emit type A (UVA)
ultraviolet radiation which is known to cause skin cancer and other
diseases. New models have lamps that emit type B (UVB) ultraviolet
radiation that, while not entirely safe, is less prone to damaging the
skin.
Check the features of the used tanning bed and make sure they all work
properly. A feature that malfunctions or only works with difficulty is
not a good sign. If you ask a specific question such as “Is it easy to
change the lamps and acrylic sheets?” and the owner confesses that it’s
difficult, start making a graceful exit, as that could indicate a UV ray
health risk. If he says it’s easy, but you have your doubts, ask him to
show you how to replace them.
Ask why the owner is selling the tanning bed. If the reason is that the
timer has stopped working or a bulb doesn’t not turn on, move on and
look for another tanning bed. If the reason is that the owner bought it
for his wife as a birthday present and she rarely uses it, or he is
going bankrupt and must sell everything, or he’s moving to another
country and can’t take it, then chances are that the tanning bed is
working fine. Next, ask to see the warranty.
Two kinds of warranties are offered by companies that sell tanning beds.
The first is a limited warranty, usually for a year. While limited, the
coverage is greater than that of the second kind of warranty, which is
for a lifetime. Whether new or used, a tanning bed should always have a
warranty. If the owner says that the warranty has expired, it is
probably defective.
Some tanning bed users claim that the price of a new tanning bed is not
much higher than that of a secondhand bed, but this depends on the brand
and model.
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