This minimalist guide will provide a few things to consider when evaluating the purchase of a used emergency parachute. Are you looking for a parachute you can rely upon for emergency bail outs, but don't want to spend alot of money on a new one, don't want to risk your life on a used one in poor condition, or don't want to overpay for a good used one?

1. Consult an expert: Before I continue: the best thing to do is talk to someone who is an expert in parachutes, typically a FAA certificated master rigger. Find one near you through the Parachute Industry Association or the FAA. If there isn't one near you, I've read many great articles in EAA Sport Aerobatics by Master Rigger Allen Silver. Not an EAA member? Perform an internet search for Silver Parachutes and you'll find his web site with several excellent articles.
2. Estimating worth: Many experts I consulted say a parachute should be seen as having a total 20 year useful life. Also, a good used parachute is estimated to be worth about $20 per years of remaining useful life.
   
   • As an example, in 2007, you have a reputable friend who is selling his parachute, manufactured in 2001. Without a pre-buy inspection by a master rigger, you could reasonable offer your friend $280, which is $20 times the 14 years of remaining useful life. Any more money spent might be overpaying.
3. Use good sense: Purchasing anything on eBay has its risk, but buying a parachute, sight unseen, to save your life in an emergency would be foolhardy. You could mitigate the risk, if you live close to the seller and can personally have the parachute inspected by a master rigger, who will understand what to look for, the log entries that are kept with the parachute, the quality of the canopy, and the reliability of the entire rig. A master rigger can also estimate what the parachute should cost (sometimes the $20/years of remaining useful life can be bumped up a bit, say for an excellently cared for 1 year old parachute).

At one point, I looked at buying, on eBay, two decent looking emergency parachutes, rigged with the standard harness I prefer. I even contacted the seller, who seemed upstanding and willing to let me inspect the parachutes. The only reason I didn't bid was that the auction price had gone way beyond the $20/years of remaining useful life rule of thumb, at which point, buying a new parachute, or waiting for another good used one for sale, makes better sense.