There’s almost no used electrolysis machines available here, so I’ll have to buy one from another country. I’m hoping to buy one close enough to pick up myself but what would be a safe way of paying if I find a better opportunity further away? Would Paypal get me back my money if if the item never arrives?
Btw, in your opinion, is an Apilus Junior new enough to have a 1 year guarantee on it worth $2000? (That would include the shipping too.)
My Apilus Junior cost 1500 EUR including tax. 8 years old, no warranty. Anyway, a nice work horse. You should be aware that the device dies not have a universal power supply. Machines designed for North American 120 V are not usable here.
Beate
It is my understanding that the rear power port allows one to plug in any computer power supply to it and it should work, but if that is not true, the common adapter kits for tourists would make it work fine
Thanks for your answers Beate and James. I also checked into escrow services as Paypal is not an escrow service.
That is true. It is unproblematic with the newer models (Platinum, Pure) which have universal power supplies as well, but the old machines have specific power supplies for 230 V/50 Hz or for 120 V/60 Hz behind that common plug. Which means that it is unproblematic if You buy a machine somewhere in Europe.
Ok, the seller seems very nice/honest and they are willing to use an escrow service BUT they did not mention anything about a manual. Does anyone know how to get my hands on one, just in case?
My machine came with two booklets, one of them in english, which do not provide more than a rather basic summary of the menus. If these booklets should be missing i might help You out. The operation of the device is more or less self explaining.
Beate
Thank you Beate, that’s would be great. 
By the way, the escrow service I’m planning on using is moneybookers.com - I will report my experience here in case someone else needs that kind of service in the future.
All Apilus products have PDF manuals available, to be emailed, or downloaded and reprinted on your computer. It would be all the information that is in the original, should the seller no longer have that one for you.
I’m glad to hear it James. One of the benefits of sticking with a well-known company, I guess.
My registration with the escrow service was quite simple and the address verification went through the very next day with a telegram but many people have used this (and Paypal) for scamming before, so both of us - buyer and seller - are feeling pretty queasy about using it at the moment.
However my research indicates that any scamming was always done by sellers, not buyers.
Of course I could just buy this from the States but dealing with the customs/electricity issues can be just as cumbersome.
Update:
I can’t believe how nervous I was, even though I was the one who contacted the seller and I picked the payment method! What can I say, the amount was a little stiff for my budget. 
As far as I can tell moneybookers is not much different than paypal, except that they offer an escrow service. Payment went through quickly and the seller sent the package with Fedex priority the very next day. According to tracking number details it should arrive sometime today. I’m very excited!
If everything is the way it’s supposed to be, the money will be released to the seller from the escrow company. The only problem is I’ve no idea how to test that. 
I seem to remember reading about an eggs and salt water experiment. Will see.
I’ve been had.
The machine arrived and it’s NOT an Apilus Junior but an Apilus Cleo Blend 256!
Since this is an Escrow payment I can, theoretically, send it back and the service I used will return my money. Does it work in practice? Given this gross misrepresentation of fact, I don’t even know if the address she’s given me is correct. I’m unwilling to find out unless I have to do it. 
So, IF the machine works I’ll keep it…
Thanks lady, for keeping all the prejudices people have about doing business with southern Europeans alive and well. :mad:
Perhaps you would have been better off having one of your HairTell friends get you a machine here in the states and send it to you.
Which would strongly limit the number of usable machines to those coming with international power supplies.
I guess that used Platinums and Pures (the only Apilus machines with this feature) are rare even in North America.
Absolutely, James! Is that an offer, btw?
I cleaned the Cleo up, plugged everything in, turned it on, made a few simple, nonessential changes on the configuration (seller did include a manual), so that part seems to be working. Beate will very kindly help me check the rest.
Even though I have every right to send it back, I will keep it if it’s fully functional. Especially since I can only get my money if the seller confirms to the escrow service that she received the item in good condition. With my luck the seller is liable to smash the machine with a hammer and claim I did it…
So I guess “escrow” is nothing else but an insurance that you’ll actually receive a package.
ETA: Good reminder Beate, thanks. Next one will probably be a new one, me thinks…
Yes, if a business is actually starting to run, this would be an option. IMO it is wize to start a business with used equipment and let it evolve over time. Ther is much more than the epilator: actually i consider good lighting and good visual equipment more important than high end devices like the Pure (btw., i hope mine will finally arrive tomorrow or saturday…)
Beate
I totally agree with you Beate.
As I have said, a US friend who would help get a machine here, and the conversion kit that travelers buy to use their electronics internationally, one would have no limits on what one could buy. The electrical converter ads only about $50 to $100 USD to the price of the unit.
Yes, I think I know some people who could aid one on such a mission. Some HairTell people have had their machines delivered, tested, and sent on to them with a clene bill of health with the aid of such good HairTellians. 
Thanks very much, James. Good to know.
Beate
BTW: the device turned out to be not very old, fully functional, optically in really good shape and only lightly used. Despite the (inacceptable) misinformation about the type it appears to me at least worth its price. And it is able to do everything taught in the courses offered in Germany and more.
But even my old Junior plays in a completely different league…
That’s correct. I know because she tested both machines on yours truly. An older Junior runs circles around a newer Cleo.
I was not a great test object. I was dehydrated, hormonal, nervous, sensitive and basically a great candidate for M. Bono’s “nut jobs” but she took that in stride. I thought I’d run out of arm hair at some point.
Thank you very much Beate!