Many people think about buying a used Cricut machine instead of buying new at the high retail price that ranges from $300 to $500 depending on the machine you are looking for. You can find used machines online on sites like eBay, Kijiji and CraigsList, they come up when crafters decide to upgrade to the next model. Usually there are good deals to be made and the machines are in perfectly acceptable conditions, but here are some things to think about as you shop online.
First of all you need to be sure the machine does not have any defects. Of course the seller in the description will not have mentioned any but it is worth asking them directly about the machine’s true condition. If they still state the machine is in good condition ask for a short term warranty. Just something like a month so that you can verify when it gets to you what condition it is in and then have an avenue of returning it if they were not honest. If they are willing to give such a warranty this in itself says the condition must be acceptable.
As well as thinking about the actual machine you need to think about the accessories. When you buy these machines new you get certain things with them, a basic cartridge, a cutting mat, blade and cutting housing, manual, cord and USB cable. Are those things being included and if they are not will the cost of you having to buy them elsewhere make the price of the machine not worth it. If they are included what condition are they in; there is little point in being sent a blade that needs replacing or a mat that is no longer sticky.
Now if you decide to buy it you need to check shipping costs. If it is local that is not a problem but otherwise you need to be happy with how much the shipping and handling is going to be. You might also want to ask the seller for shipping insurance. It is not that expensive and will mean if there is any damage incurred during transportation you are covered. Carrier services like UPS, Post Office, and Fed Ex all offer it.
Hopefully you will save some money and end up with a Cricut machine that is in good working condition so that you can get crafting without the pain of cutting by hand. Do give positive feedback about the seller if it all works out as they may sell other Cricut products in the future so other buyers will know this is a trustworthy seller.