You’re tired of heading down to the tanning salon each day, waiting in line, and taking an hour out of your daily routine. So, you’d really like to have a tanning bed in your home. You’ve looked around online, you’ve looked around in local shops, and you just don’t want to spend that much money on a brand new tanning bed. Now what? Should you buy a used tanning bed, or just continue to go to the salon each day? Purchasing a used tanning bed isn’t a problem, but there are a few things that you should know before you purchase one from either an individual or a company.

Remember when you are looking around at used tanning beds that they are no longer under any type of factory or shop warranty. Usually, the owner has had them for several years and has purchased a new one. So, you want to try to find out where the tanning bed was used before you purchase it. Purchasing one from an individual, or one that was owned by an individual, will be a better buy than one that was used in a tanning salon, as these are used hundreds of times a week. And, when the bed begins to burn out, you stand a higher risk for burns and other injuries.

Before you buy a used tanning bed, ask to try out all the features first. Have the salesperson or individual turn on the bed and make sure that all the bulbs work, the timer (if automatic) works, and that the fans work as well. (Make sure that you wear your eye protection when checking out a used tanning bed to ensure that you don’t damage your eyes.) Check all the wiring and outside of the tanning bed for obvious problems, cracks, frays, and other flaws that might cause a hazard to your or your home when you are using it. If you see flaws that would cause a major problem, don’t purchase the tanning bed.

If you do find a used tanning bed that you feel is in great working order and decide to purchase it, a good rule is to replace all the bulbs before you use it. Even if the owner says that they have replaced them all recently, you never know. Burnt out bulbs can cause injuries, burns, and can damage the bed itself if not replaced in a timely manner, so better safe than sorry on this issue.

Keep in mind that if you do purchase a used tanning bed, you will not be able to return it (unless there is a 30-60-90 day warranty from a store). So, if anything does go wrong with your bed, you are stuck with a piece of equipment that you won’t be able to use. To ensure that you aren’t placed in this predicament, make sure that you are able to test out the tanning bed before you purchase it. Just following some common sense rules of thumb when you are searching for a used tanning bed will help you to make the right decision.

And, remember, sometimes it is best just to go ahead and purchase a discount or wholesale new tanning bed than waste money on a used one.