Resale value is probably a better metric, if it's $130 new and $100 second hand while the other one is $100 new and sub-$50 second hand that'll be a fairly good sign that it at least works.
It's still not 100% but it'd at least mean you're going to be out less money in the end if it's a dud for you.
Hah! It's upvoted now but I was really confused by it too tbh and I usually am not; guessing it was either less coherent than I thought and/or someone misread it entirely.
It's still not 100% but it'd at least mean you're going to be out less money in the end if it's a dud for you.