Used pc parts are way less sketchy than people pretend.
Posted by Hopeful_Soil_4864@reddit | buildapc | View on Reddit | 107 comments
I used to avoid used PC parts completely because online discussions made it sound like every secondhand GPU was abused beyond repair. Now most of my builds have at least a few used parts and Ive barely had issues. Feels like a normal seller upgrading their setup is sometimes more trustworthy than random refurbished warehouse listings.
Ebay is the place where I buy my used parts. Only annoying part is researching listings online. Half the good deals disappear while you are still comparing photos and descriptions trying to make sure the card wasnt dragged through a war zone. At this point Im pretty comfortable buying used GPUs.
What parts are people still avoiding used?
fray_bentos11@reddit
You are correct. You just need a bit of common sense. Ignore low quality listings with few details. You can tell when you are buying from someone who cares about their former hardware.
NagoGmo@reddit
Almost my entire current rig is second hand, it's been bulletproof for 4+ years
MooseTek@reddit
Yes, I have purchased used before and always check the sellers history very carefully. I found two pc parts vendors I purchased used mobos from and had no problems. I purchased a used GPU from one private seller and has. No problem, but then another private seller sold me a 3080 and shipped me some shit GPU and tried to scam me for more money to ship me the correct GPU. Ebay got me my money back for that. I also ordered a mixed box of new And used Aquacomputer components and scored big on that. Just had to renew a couple of licences.
serose04@reddit
I'd never buy used PSU. The only part that can theoretically fry your entire PC? No thank you, I want that 10 years warranty and as much certainty the part is ok.
Everything else I'm fine with buying used.
Seqenenre77@reddit
I've been building and repairing PCs for about six years and have seen a fair number of PSU failures. None of them have ever damaged any other components when they died. I know it's possible but, if you're buying decent quality used PSUs they will have a bunch of protections to prevent damage to other components. Better a good quality used PSU than a cheap new one.
randylush@reddit
Everyone has different risk tolerance. I have only used used PSUs ever, and never had a problem, and I'm approaching the point where even if a used PSU fried my rig, the money I saved would still have been worth it.
KIgaming@reddit
how many psus are you buying to save so much money lol
Littledickbigspoon@reddit
Right?!! Like a psu isn’t that expensive compared to other components why risk it, while all it takes is 1 bad psu to lose all your savings. How much have u saved and how many pcs have u built?
randylush@reddit
I’ve build 3 PC’s in the past 5 years (two serves and one gaming PC). I’ve only used free PSUs that I’ve found. I’ve spend maybe $500 on parts in the past 5 years.
cosmicspongecake@reddit
PSU really isn't expensive. And with my mental framework of dividing the price by years of warranty, it's pocket change per month
jumbospoiler@reddit
PSUs fail without warning though, even new ones. Used is fine if it's from a reputable brand and not ancient, but that warranty peace of mind actually matters here unlike other parts.
Mexcol@reddit
The used PSU I bought turned like 11 years old the other day rip
Jacktheforkie@reddit
Aren’t PSUs generally not stupidly expensive?
noburdennyc@reddit
Not until they figure out a way to put ram into them.
captainstormy@reddit
Why would you put that out there and give them ideas?!
Jacktheforkie@reddit
Lol
m4tic@reddit
Or for that matter I wouldn't buy from anyone that labels the CPU as just i7 or i9 with no further detail.
ICC-u@reddit
Got a 3 year old AIO and that thing is so corroded I don't think I can save it :(
TheSchneid@reddit
Last time I listed a mobo cpu combo on eBay I made it really clear I built the pc, was only selling this cus I’d upgraded, that I couldn’t find the cpu cover but would ship the mobo with cpu installed to prevent any issues there, posted a screenshot of a cinebench run, just made it very obvious you weren’t buying from a dummy
Breadabix@reddit
I avoid used as i use my pc a lot everyday, and in the time ive had 2 cpus and gpus one of my friends who uses his pc less than me has had 3 cpus and 4 gpus, with his 4th already being a bit wonky. He bought his all from reputable sources and still they go wrong much quicker than my new parts
iceseayoupee@reddit
You just need common sense and little bit of tech literacy and used parts market is just a breeze for you
screwdriverfan@reddit
I bpught rx 580 4gb that was used for cryptomining. The gpu is now like 8, 9 years old. Still works.
dragonblade_94@reddit
'Consumable' parts like HDD's / SSD's are probably the big one, since they have fairly defined lifespans measured by their read/write cycles. Unless you need something on the cheap, new is the wayto go here.
I also agree with another commenter that PSU's should probably lean towards new as well.
VeeTeeF@reddit
I typically ONLY buy used enterprise drives for mass storage. I'll buy new SSD's if the price is right. I've owned A LOT of hard drives and almost every drive that died on me was brand new or close to it (I say as I'm knocking on wood). If you properly backup your files you end up buying at least twice as much storage space as you actually need, so saving $50-$100+ per drive adds up fast.
dragonblade_94@reddit
Completely fair; if you are properly backing up then overall risk is minimal. The issue is aways trying to convince people to actually do that :')
I'm personally skeptical of the used market due to the glut of SMART-wiped and straight-up counterfeit drives I've personally seen through work (a lot of which are enterprise).
ServerMonky@reddit
Hilariously, I pretty much only buy used enterprise hard drives - they typically last forever, and when your terrabyte count is in the triple digits, it's a significant savings.
I don't think I'd buy consumer drives used though
sixincomefigure@reddit
To look at it the other way, they're the only PC part that actually actively tracks and reports their remaining lifespan. You have no idea how that CPU or GPU was treated but a SSD will report every single relevant measure for you to assess before you buy. You can also be assured that they haven't been overclocked, overvolted or otherwise fucked around with.
I just bought a used SSD with 5% use. No worries.
dragonblade_94@reddit
While SMART data on HDD's/SSD's are incredibly handy, it's important to note that they are not fool proof. With the right software, anyone can wipe or re-write SMART to give the impression of a healthy drive.
There's actually been a pretty big kerfuffle over the last couple years of tons of such drives saturating the new & used markets.
Sephurik@reddit
I would never sell these or anything but I would sometimes look nervously at my 1TB HDD from my first build in like 2008 that was still functioning fine when I left it out of my newest rebuild. Same with my 180GB OCZ vertex 4 SSD I got in like early 2012 I think.
WorthChain5182@reddit
I still avoid used power supplies but GPUs and CPUs feel pretty safe now if the seller has decent feedback.Ebays been solid for me overalll. I usualy cross check listings with ubuyfirst these days because it’s easier spotting fair prices without opening 30 tabs. But in general once u get used to used parts and find out that its not worth buying the same product for 50% more you will never use new.
VeeTeeF@reddit
I don't think I've ever bought a new power supply😂. But I've been buying used electronics for 20+ years so I'm not as concerned as most people.
definitlyitsbutter@reddit
Power supply i am fine in several cases.
First one for tinkering can be a older model and used with a paperclip switch and only driving a bunch of fans for example.
Second i would buy a brand name high quality PSU used if it is not a too old model. Like a bequiet 12 Series now that 13 has launched.
Ckbaggins@reddit
Just purchased an old GPU from a boot sale, It's a Gigabyte RX570 4gb, didn't expect much but it works perfectly fine and my daughter can play Roblox with enhanced graphics.....best £1 I've spent 🤣
XiTzCriZx@reddit
The only issue with buying used is fighting the bots when trying to get a good deal. Even with email alerts there are listings bought within 30 seconds of being posted (unless it's broken ofc).
I've been trying to get a cheap GPU for 2 months and I constantly see cards go up for cheap, then a week or two later the exact same card (they even use the old seller's pictures) shows up for nearly double the price.
manohar_18@reddit
Honestly the only parts I still avoid buying used are PSUs and heavily-used SSDs.
GPUs are way less scary than Reddit makes them sound if you buy from someone who actually explains their setup and has normal photos instead of blurry cave pics. Most sellers are just upgrading.
I’ve had more issues with “refurbished” marketplace sellers than random gamers selling a card they used for 2 years.
Also agree on the research part. The worst feeling is spending 30 minutes comparing listings and then watching the good one disappear instantly. At some point I started using AI tools to summarize listing details/specs faster because checking model differences manually gets exhausting.
captainstormy@reddit
I won't buy a used PSU. For a HDD or SSD I wanna see some smart data for it but I'll buy them .
Aside from that I'll buy anything used for the right price.
Xaldarino@reddit
I personally buy broken GPU's where people have listed GPUs dirt cheap as "broken/notworking/junk" and they tend to be incredible easy to fix. For example I bought a Titan X a few years ago where the lister stated "Code 43" , was only $50, turned out it was a corrupted driver not failed VRAM.
it's not limited to just GPU's, monitors are a great 2nd hand purchase!
blazerMFT@reddit
5 rigs at home, multiple rigs for customers, all built using 80% used parts.
I have a hard rule, PSU, cooler (especially AIOs) and case fans should be new, everything else is fair game, all you need to do is ask the right questions and check/test components properly.
JfreakingR@reddit
I am a year into building my own rigs, and updating/upgrading them. I have ONLY dealt in preowned, facebook marketplace parts. I have had the best experiences. One guy even let me (un-prompted mind you) to pay over time. Dude lives a state away and doesn't know me from a hole in the ground. I didn't even NEED the MOBO. It was just better than my current one was. I can't imagine that I am just that "blessed". I have found that doing this is a passion and passionate people like to share and commune with others who share it! That's my experience anyway.
IbanezCharlie@reddit
Same way with guitar I've found. I've bought guitars from people used and had really great experiences. One guy had me come into his practice space and hooked the guitar up to his whole setup and let me play for like 45 minutes before deciding to buy from him.
Sometimes it's about sharing something your passionate about with someone like minded
s_leep@reddit
The only things I won't buy used are PSUs, and that's mostly because they're relatively cheap, and I want the warranty on it. Otherwise, if I can get a good deal on something, I'll take it. Hell, my current PC is mostly second hand stuff. The only new things I got for it are the PSU, the SSD (because it was cheaper to get a new SATA SSD than buying used at that point in time), and the case, mostly because I had very specific size requirements and strongly dislike see through cases. And even then, it was on sale because the box was damaged, but there was absolutely no damage to the case itself. In total, for the new parts, I paid what, 125€? (35 case + 40 SSD + 50 PSU).
Total-Championship80@reddit
I don't know what other people are buying, but I picked up 32gb ddr4 for a fair price and it's working just fine at rated speed.
Silent_Chemistry8576@reddit
Used parts and someone's random get rid of PC(s) or parts laying around sometimes are the best deals.
That's how I come across stuff for myself and family members. Last year 7900xtx was my secondhand purchase it is the red devil edition the chonker. My backup parts for am4 are secondhand including the two mobos and 1 5900x.
Common sense, looking things over, checking what else someone sells, gut feeling and taking chances are what you have to do.
MaxNerd115@reddit
I just brought a brand new PC and am about to start cannibalising and selling components from my old PC. I can't resell the whole PC because the processor is so outdated it can't even run Windows 11. But the ram, hard drive, graphics card, fans and case are all still working perfectly and still hold up to modern demands.
I went through the trouble of transferring and deleting all my files and games, uninstall'ing the apps and optional programs and resetting the whole PC back to factory settings before taking it apart.
theSkareqro@reddit
Here are the parts I've bought used before
PSU, CPU, CPU cooler (not including AIO), motherboard, ram, GPU (this is the most), fans
Parts not bought used
Casing, SSD, HDD
Saved a ton of money and none died whilst in use.
Little_Day55@reddit
Yeah same here used to think every used gpu on ebay was mined to death but most of the cards ive bought ended up being completely fine. Biggest thing is just catching the good listings before flippers do.
LawfuI@reddit
In all likelihood even a car that was intensively mined on will last a good half a decade if not more, until you decide to upgrade again.
penguinpower81@reddit
I wouldn't think mining is really bad for a card. It's constant temperature would save it from heating and cooling cycles that are hard on solder joints. And most are undervolting the cards to save on power. I bought a 1070 that was used for 3 or more years in an ethereum mining and it worked great for me. I had it for 5 years and just sold it. Inspect and replace fans if needed. Repasted and new thermal pads.
HubbaMaBubba@reddit
Mining can cause VRAM degradation, that's the main thing to be careful of.
ICC-u@reddit
IF it was continuously overheated, if someone wanted it to last they would have cooled it sufficiently
aj1203@reddit
No the hivemind says mined cards are bad. Conform or get downvored
Dzov@reddit
Meanwhile, I seem to have an iffy card eighty percent of the time buying brand new.
rooofle@reddit
Years ago I saw a new-ish 280x that was used for light mining for 2 months on a deep discount, so I bought it since it looked very clean and I needed something okay for gaming. That card ended up lasting me 6 1/2 years which is a good run for a card I spent $125 on, could still run everything pretty good even before it died.
TheSchneid@reddit
I mined on a 3070 for like 2-3 years with nice hash and it now remains on 24/7 in an htpc/plex box/nas build in my living room
LawfuI@reddit
Gpus are usually very durable. They will Outlast the setup and end up being thrown away in perfectly good condition most of the time just because they are old and dated.
Most of the time you'll have a perfectly working GPU as long as it wasn't sold because it had problems.
MaineMan1234@reddit
Graphics cards from quality manufacturers can last a LONG time. I still have a perfectly functional EVGA 980ti that I bought in 2015 so I could play the Witcher 3 on higher settings. Still going strong!
Eyezotope@reddit
If these kids could read theyd be very upset...
Seriously...dont fuck this up for us ,
dnelsonn@reddit
I’ve rarely bought used pc components but my current cpu is a used 7800X3D that I bought from a local guy off FB marketplace. Got it for a good price at the time and after meeting up with him and chatting for a bit it was clear he was just another pc builder like me and had just upgraded to the 9800X3D.
I think the only thing I wouldn’t buy used is a PSU, since I’d rather have a manu warranty attached to that and peace of mind with how critical of a component it is.
Ordinary-Meaning-61@reddit
Ebay is fine. Just avoid items where the seller uses a stock photo instead of a real pics of the item.
When people talk about sketchy used parts, they're probably talking about Facebook marketplace.
Stopher@reddit
I’ve always managed to sell my old gpu when upgrading. Those people got a deal and it took the sting out of the upgrade price.
RedHatter271@reddit
You're probably right. However my last build used a "refurbished" motherboard, I think it was from newegg, and I've had nothing but problems. It has degraded rapidly through out the years. It's currently about 5 years old and only one RAM slot is functional among several other issues.
I might consider a used GPU or CPU but I'm never buying a used motherboard again.
Day_BY_DAY4@reddit
Got a 5070ti from eBay for 850 just a few weeks ago. It is in great condition and I just finished my first pc build. I’d say it was worth the risk
KyshSlayer@reddit
But what if the part comes broken?
acewing905@reddit
This also heavily depends on where you live
Talsol@reddit
if you don't know what you're doing as a first time builder - the headache of working with used parts that you're unsure if they work or not is a massive pain.
Warcraft_Fan@reddit
I've bought used parts without any issues. The biggest risk would be used hard drives, but Enterprise drives usually lasts a damn long time even if it's over 40,000 hours old. Used SSD should be fine, under normal condition as OS drive that is SLC and MLC, you'd need to have used it 24/7 for over 5 years to start seeing degradation. I do skip TLC and QLC, those are cheap for a reason, slower writes and shorter average lifespan.
PSU that is A and B tier usually are fine for many more years but I'd stick it in non critical stuff like media player.
The only one I avoid outright are used keyboard and mouse. Not every seller takes the time to really clean those and if what I see at Goodwill is any indication, used keyboard on eBay probably has about half a pound of Doritos crumbs, Cheetos dusts, and pubes. I'd need to inspect them before I buy them so local sales only.
LiliaBlossom@reddit
I bought my old 1080 Ti used, it was nearly 2 years old when I got it in 2019. It still works. I just wanted something new :) Generally hardware is super longliving if people take care of it. I used to work in a PC manufacturing facility as an uni student, and I got so many spare parts that were used back then. I used them in rigs for family and friends and they mostly still work, an HDD aside.
mister_newbie@reddit
I'll never buy a used PSU
Emblazoned1@reddit
As long as your smart about it it's a wonderful way to build on the cheap. I was considering buying a 50 series gpu brand new just to say I did but I'll probably just try to snag a 40 series on ebay or marketplace. Buying from Ebay is incredibly safe because you always have the ebay claims process and paypal should you choose to pay with that.
BrewingHeavyWeather@reddit
Used GPUs were much more a problem when they from were small-scale crypto minerss, that were commonly left outside, and/or they were flashed with unstable 3rd-party crypto-farm-optimized firmwares.
Most used video cards in the midrange are from small PC shops, and people doing upgrades, like from a RX 9070 to a Geforce 5070 Ti or higher that they really wanted to begin with.
OTOH, prices seem to be kind of high, IMO. Like, why would you pay $700 for a used card that retails for $750-800, and is regularly in stock? Same thing's going on with SSDs. Saving 10-20% doesn't seem worth it, to me.
Kinetic_Strike@reddit
I wouldn't buy used PSUs, generally avoid keyboards/mice, and generally stay away from used drives. Though now Crucial is gone, so besides the small pile I stocked up on, I have no idea what I'll be buying in the future. :/
saurion1@reddit
I've only bought a secondhand GPU once, a RTX 3070 TUF OC. Paid $300 for it back in 2023 and it's been rock solid ever since. Looks brand new and temps are good (low to mid 60's with a oc+uv), so I didn't even bother repasting. I usually don't bother with other used parts since for some reason my local sellers think they can charge 90% of what the brand new equivalent costs, but for the right price I would buy pretty much everything used except HDD/SSD and PSUs.
Blue-150@reddit
My first several pc upgrades 20 years ago were used from eBay. Different parts carry different risk levels like a PSU vs a GPU, but I didn't buy a new GPU until 2019.
Rakhsev@reddit
Only ever had issues with GPU fans, and sticks of RAM. Other than that, most computer parts are quite resilient. If it works and you don't mess it up while keeping it cool enough, no reason it should not serve you a long time.
OrangeTuono@reddit
Sample size of one, but I had an "open box" RTX 3060 from Newegg deform and fail after a little over a year.
ReadyAimTranspire@reddit
Sadly I've completely ditched NewEgg, after their acquisition they turned into a garbage seller.
I haven't personally been burned, I was in between builds when they went downhill but started hearing all of the news about them becoming scammy. I used to buy all my PC stuff from NewEgg, sucks that they bottomed out so hard.
OrangeTuono@reddit
I've always built my PC's from Newegg components in the past. This was my first time with a bad experience.
bp1976@reddit
Ive had decent experiences with newegg, although I usually only buy new stuff and if it's new in the box and messed up that would be a manufacturer problem anyway.
I did buy my current laptop from them refurbished and it has been fine.
HeadOfMax@reddit
It's the same with major appliances and cars.
You have to know a bit to know what to look for and what to avoid but it's great.
My Bosch dishwasher cost me $30 3 years ago on marketplace.
I can't remember the last time I bought a new computer part. I just got a 38" LG ultra wide for $100.
definitlyitsbutter@reddit
I am with you, that used is not sketchy if common sense is used. I would go for all parts used (even PSU if a brand one and not too old).
GPU depends on era and price. I would use a mined gpu if i am fine with losing the money.
What i avoid or usually dont buy used are laptop batteries (meh lifetime) , micro SD cards/usb sticks (unsure about lifetime/fakes), fans (arctic are too cheap new), and well... Software. Got burned too often on sketchy windows keys or office keycards....
MysticSushiTV@reddit
I've always avoided used but now that I'm looking to make some old parts into a second PC for streaming/media encoding, I'm tempted to go used for an SSD, but I have no clue if an SSD is something that should never be used. But prices for even 1TB are crazy rn.
The market has been considering buying a cheap 256gb used SSD for boot and then get an HDD for storage for VODs/raw video storage.
studio_eq@reddit
Y’all buy new parts?
128G@reddit
Personally, its been a mixed bag, but overall, my general experince has been positive.
I bought 32GB of DDR4 for $50 last year, RMA'd it in January for $25 and got myself a brand new set of 2x16 for $75.
OttawaDog@reddit
IMO, scams are more of an issue than poor condition.
errorsniper@reddit
As with anything used it all depends on luck.
Its not inherently good or bad. You roll the dice every time you buy online. You could be lucky or unlucky its as simple as that.
poofyhairguy@reddit
Depends. Recent 3080 I bought used went bad on me not longer after I got it, but I have never had an issue with a used CPU.
Ythem@reddit
Never been afraid or concerned of second hand parts, as long as you trust your gut feeling.
WizardMoose@reddit
I don't think that its because people think its sketchy. Just that people feel better buying new, especially if they're looking for something that is going to cost them a good amount of money.
I've bought used CPUs, GPUs, RAM kits, Motherboards....just about everything besides cases and power supplies. And I always think about "please work, please work".
ASEdouard@reddit
Bought used GPUs multiple times and generally had card that worked perfectly as they should.
DoubleFaulty1@reddit
I got a good deal on a GPU on eBay 3 years ago. It was from an Alienware prebuilt and that gave me confidence it wasn’t heavily used in a miner or what have you. Test benchmarks were also included.
bored1492@reddit
Oh yeah, I've done used parts for a long time now. No problems with anything. One time a guy did try to sell me a CPU and just gave me the box. He played dumb when I looked inside and saw literally nothing. Made my drive 25 minutes for nothing.
Liesthroughisteeth@reddit
As you generally here about the poor experiences of people rather than their good experiences.
Please ten customers and one will tell one person. Let ten customers down, and they will tell eight others. :)
Thelgow@reddit
What I dont like is the rise in "used" items I order brand new. Antonline screwed me on a PSVR2 with missing parts and finger prints inside it. Claim its new and then no more responses. And Amazon gave me a clearly opened and used RTX 5060. At least the return process was easy.
Destructo-Bear@reddit
Yeah I am even a fan of used PSU. Never had an issue.
AnubianWolf@reddit
I do too, especially when I build on a strict budget. You can tell how old most of them are just by the model number/name. Less than 5 years old? Good enough for me!
AmkiTakk@reddit
Agreed. It's all about properly looking at listings and reviews. My previous CPU was second-hand and worked like a charm, I only replaced it because I needed something beefier but it still works. Current motherboard is also second-hand and has been going strong for years.
I live in Belgium, so I usually get my refurbished stuff on either LDLC or Backmarket, since both sites do their own testing of the refurbished stuff before selling it, and offer at least 2 years warranty. I did get a used capture card on Vinted also, but I looked at the seller's reviews before taking the plunge and it went great.
I'd probably avoid buying second-hand on limited-life parts like SSDs and such. PSUs probably as well.
Cheezewiz239@reddit
Bought all my PC parts used for the last 10 years. Currently rocking a used 7900xtx. Never had issues.
Brxa@reddit
I’ve bought (and sold) a ton of stuff, off ebay, fb marketplace, reddit. Probably 6-7 gpus, a few cpus as well. Not once did I receive a bunk product.
AMPCgame@reddit
As long as you know what to look for in a listing, you can avoid the sketchier stuff. I've bought and sold through eBay, only once did I have to make use of buyers protection for something that got lost in transit. I got a 3090 back in Autumn 2023 for €750, which was an excellent deal at the time, the card was only used a few months and the seller was upgrading to a 4090. It's still going strong today. I got my 12900KF for €250 used, back in 2024, and sold the CPU it replaced for €150 within the week, so I've done quite well from used parts.
Impressive-Remove925@reddit
I’m kinda in the same boat now. Once you buy a few used parts without issues the fear mostly goes away. Ebay has been way better than refurbished sites for me too because normal people upgrading usually take better care of their stuff than warehouses do. I started using ubuyfirst a while back mostly because it lets me filter through new listings faster and catch badly titled posts before everyone else jumps on them. Found a 3080 last year for way under market just because the seller listed it as “gaming card”.
BillionaireBear@reddit
Had one guy ship a bum 12400f from eBay. I told the seller about it and they refunded me no question, no dispute. Had nothing but good experiences, just use your best judgment and ask questions. Amazon has to be the least trustworthy at this point
hextanerf@reddit
I think by now I've bought almost every part of my PC used except the motherboard. Even the PSU is a Corsaire refurb. You just have to be very vigilant and ask questions and photos
Primus_is_OK_I_guess@reddit
Agreed. I hunt for deals on used parts, use them to build PCs, and sell them. I have literally bought hundreds of used parts. The only problem I have ever had was a guy who didn't disclose that he was a chain-smoker and smoked at his desk. Cleaning that 4070 super was a nightmare.
Weekly_Background147@reddit
Yes until now I never had any bad experiences with used parts. Either way even if you cant trust someone thank God you have apps now that you can check first the person you are buying from their feedback seller rate all at the same time, second you can test the hardware or make the person you are buying from send you a video benchmarking etc.
RumbleTheCassette@reddit
I buy a lot of refurbished and open box and haven't had any issues. I also sell all my old parts on eBay and have had only one complaint out of maybe 30-40 parts I've sold, and that was because a GPU got completely mangled in transit.
-UserRemoved-@reddit
Like with anything used, the item condition is dependent on the previous owner. As such, blanket statements on how trustworthy or the reliability of used parts in general are entirely meaningless.
Ebay and many parts swapping platform have terms and services in place to protect both buyers and sellers. It's a necessity if you want to succeed as any market platform.
Some people will suggest to avoid buying a used PSU, and I would tend to agree. Otherwise, I don't see any reason to not buy used if that's something you are comfortable with. Plenty of people buy used, there are entire subreddits for this (/r/hardwareswap, ebay, craigslist, facebook, etc...) If you aren't comfortable buying used, that's fine too.
lazyhustlermusic@reddit
Depends, some people have zero clue and then do dumb things to them