Buying a used robot: what to check before paying
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Buying a used robot: what to check before paying
Use this guide to prepare your questions, then compare the answers with evidence from the actual model and working environment. You can open highlighted robotics terms for a quick explanation.
Imagined robotics concept artwork. It does not show a real installation or an approved manufacturer product.
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A used robot can be worth considering when you can establish what it is, how it has been used and whether you will be able to operate and support it. A low asking price is less helpful if its account access, configuration or condition remains unclear.
Treat the purchase as a set of checks. Resolve the important gaps before payment rather than treating them as problems you can probably fix later.
Establish the exact identity
Ask for the complete model and edition, clear photographs of the relevant identification labels and an itemised list of included accessories. Where a serial number is needed, share it privately through an appropriate channel rather than in a public advert or forum.
Compare the details with the manufacturer's documentation. A box, invoice or app screenshot can help, but no single item should override a mismatch elsewhere. Ask about any hardware replacement or modification that changes the supplied configuration.
If the seller uses a shortened name, ask them to clarify it. “Go2”, for example, identifies a family; the manufacturer's page distinguishes configurations within it. Unitree Go2 model information
Ask for a clear history
Request the purchase date, original purchase evidence where available, reason for sale and a description of normal use. Ask directly about falls, water exposure, transport damage, repairs and modifications.
Separate a seller's statement from supporting records. “Never had a problem” and a dated service report are different types of information. You do not need to accuse the seller of anything to keep that distinction clear.
Missing history does not prove damage. It does mean you know less about what you are buying. Decide whether the price and your tolerance for uncertainty justify continuing.
See the exact unit working
Ask for a live or recent demonstration of the actual robot and supplied controller or app. Follow the manufacturer's operating instructions and use an appropriate controlled area. Do not request stunts or hazardous stress tests as a condition check.
Agree in advance what will be shown: normal startup, the relevant routine, charging behaviour and any displayed errors. Include the accessories you intend to rely on. A video of the same model elsewhere does not establish the condition of the unit for sale.
If you lack the skills to assess the machine, seek a suitable qualified inspection before committing. A routine demonstration cannot rule out every internal fault, and a cosmetic inspection is not a battery-health report.
Resolve accounts, licences and reset procedures
Ask whether the robot is linked to an owner account and how ownership is transferred. Check the manufacturer's process for removing the previous owner's access and setting up your own. Establish whether software licences or paid features transfer with the hardware.
The NCSC recommends using the manufacturer's reset instructions when selling or acquiring second-hand devices and checking continuing support. Apply the relevant process to the exact robot and its associated services. NCSC second-hand device guidance
Do not accept somebody else's password as a substitute for a proper transfer. A factory reset and an account transfer may be separate steps, so obtain confirmation of both where required. Do not collect the seller's personal files or credentials.
Check the parts and support route
Before treating a fault as a cheap fix, identify the exact part and ask a supplier whether it can actually be ordered. Check the applicable revision, any setup requirements and who is permitted or qualified to replace it.
A similar-looking battery, controller or joint is not enough. Nor is a marketplace title claiming broad compatibility. A robot sold as “just needs a battery” still needs a reliable assessment and a supported replacement route.
Ask whether any remaining manufacturer support applies to the unit, location and new owner. Do not assume that a warranty transfers or that a seller's original terms will become yours.
Keep the handover precise
Write down the agreed unit, included items, disclosed faults, price, delivery arrangements and any agreed inspection or return conditions. Keep dated copies of the advert and relevant correspondence.
If the seller is remote, make sure the packing and transport plan follows the applicable guidance for the robot and its battery. Obtain clear photographs of the packed items where useful.
Walk away if a key requirement cannot be established: exact identity, legitimate transfer, safe operation or a workable support route. There will be other robots. An unresolved problem becomes more expensive to negotiate once the money has changed hands.
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