There are some items that-no matter how good they look or how much the seller assures you they're in top shape- wind up being a bad buy.
For me it's been downtube shifters.
Quite a few online outlets have opened offering decent buys on new 6-9 speed downtube shifters and it's the way I've begun going.
I even bought out the Gilmores stock of sun tour stuff (Loose Screws is closing )BECAUSE it was new.
Wondering what the sore spot is for others who've purchased used.