About LabArb

Independent buying guides for secondhand lab equipment.

The problem

Lab equipment is absurdly marked up. A magnetic hotplate stirrer costs $1,500 from Fisher Scientific. The exact same model — used, working perfectly — goes for $80–150 on eBay. An HPLC system costs $40,000 new. A used Agilent 1260 in excellent condition: $4,000.

The problem isn't access to used equipment. eBay, LabX, and surplus dealers have enormous inventory. The problem is knowledge: which brands hold up used, which models to avoid, what to inspect before buying, and where to actually find the right item.

LabArb is that knowledge, organised by equipment type, with live listings attached.

Trust scores

Every brand gets a score (1–10) reflecting how reliable its equipment is after years of use — not how good it is new.

9–10

Premium. Nearly as good used as new. Agilent, Eppendorf, Büchi

7–8

Reliable. Minor maintenance likely. IKA, Thermo, Heidolph

5–6

Decent. More variability. Ohaus, Fisher budget lines

3–4

Risky. Mixed track record. Unknown imports

1–2

Avoid. No-name, no reviews

Where listings come from

Live listings are pulled from eBay UK and US via their official Browse API — filtered to remove parts-only, broken, and irrelevant results. Every equipment page also links directly to specialist dealers:

→LabX — Scientific equipment marketplace

→BioSurplus — Curated biotech and life science gear

→Surplus Solutions — Pharma process equipment

→EquipNet — Global process and pilot-scale equipment

→Heritage Global — Pharma facility liquidation auctions

→GSA Auctions — US government surplus

Affiliate disclosure

LabArb earns a small commission when you click through and buy — primarily via the eBay Partner Network. This is how the site stays free.

Commission doesn't influence recommendations. We score brands on reliability, not margin. We'll always tell you when the cheap used option beats the expensive new one, even when that means a lower commission.

Contact

Corrections, errors, or partnership enquiries: artemis.pool@proton.me

If a price or brand recommendation looks wrong, please say so. Accuracy matters when people are spending real money.