Used · new · resale
Secondhand vs new calculator
A bargain only stays a bargain if it lasts. Compare what each option costs for every year you use it, after selling it on.
Cost per year of use
Secondhand wins
The secondhand one costs $20.00 a year less to own ($30.00 against $50.00).
- Secondhand
- $30.00 a year($180.00 − $60.00 resale) ÷ 4 years
- New
- $50.00 a year($520.00 − $120.00 resale) ÷ 8 years
The secondhand one stays the better deal as long as it lasts more than 2.4 years, or costs no more than $260.00 for 4 years of use.
How the comparison works
For each option, the cost of owning it is the price minus what you expect to sell it for, spread over the years you expect to use it. The one with the lower cost per year of use is the better deal, as long as it does the job equally well.
The break-even shows how long the secondhand one has to last to match the new one, and the most you could pay for it over the years you entered. If it might not last that long, the new one may be the safer buy.
Resale values are your own estimate: look at what similar used items sell for now. Repairs, warranties and delivery costs can be added to the price if they apply.
Questions
What if I won’t sell it at the end?
Put 0 as the resale value. The whole price is then spread over the years of use.
How do I guess how long a used one will last?
Ask the seller about its age and repairs, and check its condition. Then try a cautious and a hopeful number: if secondhand wins either way, the choice is easy.
Does it allow for repairs?
Only if you add them. Put an expected repair cost into the price of whichever option needs it.