Help with buying a Used PS3

D

dkkat

CAG Veteran
Hi... I need some advice as to what to look for when buying a used PS3!!

I found someone willing to sell me a used 60 gb Playstation 3 - comes with "one controller, the original box, power cord, and usb charging cable." The PS3 was purchased in December 2006 and is claimed to be in mint shape with one downloaded game off PSN.

The ad had barely any information. Is there anything I should know before I go buy it off the previous user (ie Potential problems)? Are there things I should check when I go see the console (physically or functionally)?

btw I have both an original PSX and a creaky fat PS2. I don't own a lot of games either.. and only really play 5-10 of them (mostly square-enix titles)

Thanks in advance!!!
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Ask if you can test it to be sure it works, and bring a PS2 game to test the backwards compatibility. Don't want to get a 40GB console that's just had the hard drive swapped.
 
is $330 a fair price for the used 60GB launch PS3 or should I go ahead and get an 80GB ($399+tax) at a brick&mortar that comes with the one year warranty instead?
I have read that launch consoles tend to fail (i have read ppl having problems playing MGS4 and having the diodes die).
 
Yeah, $330 is a decent price. If you're not planning on playing many ps2 games it might be a better idea to wait for a $100 pricedrop on the 80gb PS3, as it's much more reliable than the 60gb's were. Dell was selling them for $300 a couple days ago, so this might be hinting at a $300 msrp soon.
 
$330 is a damn good deal for a PS3 w/ Hardware BC. They're only going to get more rare, which means more expensive, and $330 is already less than the other PS3s. Hop on that.

But, make sure it works, obviously. Definitely bring a PS2 game, and make sure you have a PS3 game or Blu-Ray movie on hand to make sure that works too.
 
If you don't need the bc I'd get a new one from dell or else try and get a 80 gb mgs one used. I believe the 60 gb has the highest failure rate. The mgs one, and the new ones are very reliable.
 
I paid $325 for a mint unit, packaging and two games, both Madden 09.

Make sure it's a 60 by checking the remaining HD space.
 
I myself am going to go get a 60 GB from a friends friend for $150 tomorrow after work. Hopefully no problems later on.
 
60GBs have the highest failure rate? Where'd you guys read that?

Anyway, I'd go for the 60GB for $330, sounds like a decent price if you want BC. If you're big on fighters though, don't bother with BC as there's a slight input lag. You guys can argue with me all you want, but it's there. :razz:
 
The PS3 is NOT a perfect system and it has issues, from freezing on games to Blu-Ray drive failures to other situations.

I myself had to e-mail Sony the other day(last day of my one year warranty no less) for warranty service on my 40 gb PS3 since it wasn't reading games as quickly as it did last year.

I figured it was better to send it into Sony for service while it's covered than to end up paying $150(standard flat rate repair fee)to get the system looked at whenever it truly failed and have to pay for shipping costs on TOP of that.

I'd just get a non-BC system if I were you, OP, since you said you don't play that many games that would require it. However, you do need to remember that ALL PS3's play PS1 games out of the box.

But if you DO go through with the deal, check out the site Extreme-mods.com as they have replacement BR lenses for $80-90, since that's the part that normally fails.
 
You should ask him if he had ever sent the system for repair or had it repaired. If the PS3 has ever got the YLOD (yellow light of death due to overheating). You might want to ask him how often the ps3 was used just so you have an idea of how much beating ;) it took. If it's a 60gb from launch, check out the chrome finish, the 20gb are all black. This is to make sure you're not buying a 20gb with a swapped hard drive.

I've also heard that a lot of the launch 60gbs have a high failure rate, luckily my 60gb still works perfectly.
 
Unless they swapped out the model # sticker, the model # for the US 60 gb model is CECHA01.

Look for the sticker on the back or bottom of the system to verify it is a 60 gb.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
bread's done
Back
Top