American Science And Surplus Geneva Il

Getting Started With American Science And Surplus Geneva Il

The place is basically a massive warehouse on the industrial side of Geneva, off Route 38, that sells everything from decommissioned lab equipment to military gear to optics. If you are looking for a specific item, your best move is to call ahead. Their website inventory is notoriously out of date, and what shows as in stock online might have been sold months ago. I wasted an entire weekend trip down there once because the site listed a Thermo Fisher centrifuge that was long gone. They will tell you if something is actually available when you pick up the phone, and that saves you the drive. The physical store is organized into rough sections, but do not expect catalog-level organization. Shelves are stacked with things like spectrophotometers, micromanipulators, fume hoods, chain saws, and old Soviet-era optics. Prices are generally fair for used gear, though you will find better deals if you shop on a Tuesday morning instead of Saturday afternoon when the crowds hit. The staff knows a fair amount about the equipment they carry, but do not expect them to troubleshoot a circuit board for you. They sell the unit; they do not service it. I once needed a specific model of Agilent pH meter for a small water testing setup. The listing said refurbished. When I got there, the display was cracked and the probe port was stripped. I asked about it, and the guy behind the counter shrugged and pointed to a box of meters in the back that hadn't been pulled yet. I picked through three more units before finding one that actually worked. That is just how it goes with surplus buying. You inspect what you are getting.

How To Buy From Them Effectively

Start by checking their website, but treat that list as a starting point, not a guarantee. Call the store directly to confirm availability. If they have what you need, ask about condition grading. They usually categorize items as new old stock, refurbished, or for parts only. Refurbished means someone cleaned it and ran a basic function check. It does not mean it has been recalibrated or comes with a meaningful warranty. When you go in person, bring a multimeter if you are looking at electronic equipment. Bring a flashlight. The warehouse lighting is fluorescent and unforgiving. Check serial numbers against the manufacturer database when possible, especially for anything with laser or radiation components. Some items may have restricted resale depending on their original certification. Payment is accepted by card and cash. They do not price match, and they do not hold items without payment. If you see something you want, buy it. Other customers are walking the same aisles.

Online Purchasing And Shipping

Their website handles orders, but shipping costs on heavy equipment add up fast. A used fume hood can cost more in freight than the unit itself if you are not in the Chicago area. I have seen people pay over four hundred dollars in shipping for a piece of equipment that was listed at six hundred. Factor that in before you click checkout. They do offer local pickup at the Geneva warehouse, which is the smarter move for anything over fifty pounds. Online returns are accepted within a window, but restocking fees apply, and you typically cover return shipping. Read the return policy on the product page before you buy. Some third-party sellers on their platform have different terms than the company directly.

Common Pitfalls

One thing most first-time buyers miss is calibration. Just because a piece of laboratory equipment turns on does not mean it is accurate. A spectrophotometer that reads correctly at one wavelength might drift at another. If you need precise measurements, budget for recalibration or plan to verify readings against a known standard before committing to a purchase. NIST-traceable calibration for even basic equipment runs anywhere from two hundred to eight hundred dollars depending on the instrument. Another issue is missing components. Surge tanks, column adaptors, power cords, and software dongles all get separated in the surplus world. I bought a used HPLC pump once and realized two days later that the solvent reservoir cap was not included. The replacement ran about eighty dollars and required a special tool to install. Always ask for a full parts list when you inquire about used instrumentation.

When To Look Elsewhere

For brand new sealed equipment, you are better off going through a direct distributor. Surplus stores operate on leftover inventory, so selection is random and consistent models disappear quickly. If you need three identical thermal cyclers for a teaching lab, do not bet on finding them at American Science And Surplus. Also, if you need equipment with an active manufacturer warranty, this is not your source. Everything sold here is effectively as-is, with whatever remainder of warranty the original purchaser left behind. If you are in the Chicago northwest suburbs and need used lab or surplus gear, it is worth the trip. Just go in with realistic expectations, call ahead, and bring the right tools to inspect what you are buying.