refurbished Big Buddies

[3littlemonsters]

Perhaps this should be posted in the equipment section but has anyone had any experience with the refurbished Big Buddies? I always see stacks of them this time of year and at $119, I'm tempted to get one. I think the price has also come down in recent years so a brand new one might be an option as well... but...if there are that many refurbished units what is that telling me? I have a used little buddy that seems to work fine but would like to step up...(and yes I have 2 sunflowers that are pretty hard to beat) Any input would be appreciated!

[GIANT1]

Have had a refurbished Big Buddie for 3 yrs and not one problem

[KJMinion]

I always see stacks of them this time of year and at $119, I'm tempted to get one. I think the price has also come down in recent years so a brand new one might be an option as well...

Is it $119 for a refurbished one??? I think you can get a brand new one at Fleet Farm for about the same price.

[going4it]

If you watch sales they will even have brand new ones for $99. Think the last time they had that price was last week.

[leech~~]

I picked one up at Cabelas a few years ago and the thing leaked the first time I tried it. So I brought it back.

[kfk]

$119 must be new price. I bought a refurbished Big Buddy for $80 from Cabela's earlier this fall. It's been good so far.

[outkast7222]

I have a refurb bought 5 years ago couldn't tell it from a new one and works just like the day I got it.

[Rebeleye]

If you watch sales they will even have brand new ones for $99. Think the last time they had that price was last week.

X2

[Sonicrunch]

I wish I could get my POS big buddy refurbished.

[3littlemonsters]

Yea, You're right, I wasn't really paying too much attention on the price but have seen them in all the price ranges listed. I guess just like anything...you might get a lemon once in a while, although sometimes I think it's related to how well you take care of it. It's down there on my wish list right after a 7-11 # tank and a (newer) GPS.

Thanks & have a great season.

[Captain Happy]

Bought one a couple of months ago from the C for 85 bucks or so, the igniter is shot after just trying it out, will start with a bic lighter, haven't tried it out on the lake yet

[Rost]

I just bought a Buddy heather (refurbished) for $67 at my local bait shop. Works great so far.

[tramiot]

I purchased a refurb at the ice show in Williston this fall. When I did a mock setup in the garage before the ice was thick enough, everything worked great, but when I went on the ice for the first time it wouldn't spark to start the pilot. Luckily we had some matches to start the pilot. After it warmed up (this was during the -10 to -20 days a couple weekends ago), we bumped the Buddy when landing a fish resulting in the Buddy's safety features shutting itself off. Now with the warm heater, the starter worked as it should. I wouldn't think the igniter would be affected by the cold, but that seemed to be the case (fluke or not).

[candiru]

Why are there so many refurbished ones out there?

[3littlemonsters]

Thats what I am wondering, I know they can be touchy with any drafts blowing the flame out and the safety feature I've heard can be a pain also.

The one and only reason I am considering it is that it can be placed right up against the fabric of the portable when the kids come with and I'll set up both portables. Im not keen on the idea of them using a sunflower.

I can't tell if people love 'em or hate 'em.

[tsande00]

A lot of people use the incorrect style hose which gums up the units. I have a feeling this contributes to a lot of the refurbs floating around.

[Sonicrunch]

A lot of people use the incorrect style hose which gums up the units. I have a feeling this contributes to a lot of the refurbs floating around.

Plus a lot of the first ones were troublesome.

[ozzie]

I bought one must be 5 years ago if not 6 and as long as I take care of mine by changing the filter every year and when turning the heater off buring up the propane in the hose by leaving the heater on and shuting off the propane my heater works great. Like mentioned I think there was a batch of heaters that had issues but some of the issues were user error also. I wouldn't fish without a buddy heater and I won't fish in a house with a sunflower heater because of the Carbon Monoxide. In fact I almost gave up ice fishing when I started because I got sick everytime I would go ice fishing and then the buddy heaters came out and to me they were a game changer!!!! Good Luck