Fletch

I bought my sons Fender Mustang (new) off ebay from a dealer with terrific feedback. It saved me a fortune and is a decent axe.
The thing is, most of the time you`ll probably be ok, if you know exactly what you want. i.e. make, model. However you`ll be fked if the neck is warped or twisted - these guys are not official dealers, so check their refund policy. Most other issues can be resolved/fixed up and you may be better off $$ wise.
The Best option (i reckon) is to buy second hand and try yourself before buying. Not always easy if you live in remote areas with limited sales.
Good luck.

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No Bosses, Just Music