If done properly, buying a used tanning bed is the way to go. One obvious major advantage of buying used over new is the lesser cost of the used item. However, as with any used item (car, stereo etc) there are serious pitfalls whenever you choose to purchase a second hand product.

To avoid problems, you must go at purchasing a used tanning bed much like the way you would buy a used car. You should know the model, features and the year it was manufactured in so you don’t get shafted. Another major factor to keep in mind is that although tanning beds are relatively new technology, the older models are considered to be less safe as they emit the type A ultraviolet radiation (UV-A) which has been linked to cause skin cancer and other similar diseases. New models produce type B ultraviolet radiation (UV-B), which is not 100% safe but is not the primary cause of skin cancer either so you should stick with these.

If possible, try and find out why the owner is selling his/her tanning bed. If it’s because of a malfunctioning feature like a broken timer, or poor bulbs it’s not a good sign. You should ask specific questions such as “Can these lamps and acrylic sheets be removed easily?” If the owner admits that he’s selling the tanning bed because of a faulty bulb system you should thank him/her for their time and be on your way. Any malfunction with the bulbs can be a serious UV ray health risk.