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Buying a used tanning bed would be like buying any other product or appliance that has been used before, such as a used car or a used stair lift. One definite advantage is obviously the lesser cost of the used item. But there are pitfalls whenever you chose to purchase a second hand product. For example, when you buy a used stair lift, you may discover that the lift mechanism creates a disturbing and ominous sound. And when you buy a used car, you may find out that there are parts that you need to replace. Thus, when you buy a second hand tanning bed, what would you end up with?

To avoid unprecedented problems, you must buy second hand tanning beds the way you would buy a used car. You must know the model, the year it was manufactured, and the features. Though tanning beds are fairly recent technological products, the older models are considered less safe than the new ones. This is because some of the lamps in older models of tanning beds emit the type A ultraviolet radiation (UV-A). This type of radiation has been known to cause skin cancer and other similar diseases. Thus, the new models have lamps that produce only type B ultraviolet radiation (UV-B). This type of radiation is not entirely safe, but it is not the primary cause of skin cancer.

Check the features of the used tanning bed. Do these still work properly? A malfunctioning feature is not a good sign. You may ask a specific question, such as 'Can the lamps and acrylic sheets be removed and changed easily?' If the owner confesses that he's selling the tanning bed because the bulb is difficult to replace, then start making a graceful exit. That could mean UV ray health risk.

Another thing that you should find out is the reason why the tanning bed is being sold by its owner. If the reason is a timer that has stopped working, or a bulb that does not turn on, move on and consider another tanning bed. If the reason is that the owner is bankrupt or moving to another country, then the tanning bed could be working fine. Now all you need to see is the warranty.

Companies that sell tanning beds offer two kinds of warranty. The first is for a limited amount of time (about a year), but it has greater coverage. The second is a limited warranty, but it is for a lifetime. This means that a tanning bed would always have a warranty, even if it is already used. If the owner tells you that the warranty for the tanning bed has expired, the product is most probably defective.

Some users of tanning beds claim that the price of new tanning beds is not much higher than that of second hand ones. The price depends on the brand and model.