Body Armor: Used vs. New

I have been looking into some body armor, and I have found that although you can get used armor pretty cheap now, new vests are starting to get really cheap as well.

This company, bulletproofme.com, sells used panels for $30 and $60 for level 2 and 3A vests. If you bought 2 panels, you could make your own carrier and have a level 2 vest for about $60 or level 3A for about $120, or you can buy a new carrier for about $30 extra.

http://www.bulletproofme.com/Bullet_proof_Vests_Catalog.shtml

New carrier for about $30 on ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/POINTBLANK-BODY-ARMOR-BULLETPROOF-VEST-CARRIER-SZ-50-52-/180\596372048?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a0c61f250#ht_2354wt_1139

However, looking on ebay, you can now get used vests for about double the price above, but you can get brand new vests really cheap now also.

Used 2 vest for $110 with shipping:
http://cgi.ebay.com/PACA-BODY-ARMOR-LEVEL-II-POLICE-BULLET-PROOF-VEST-XS-/160503\380675?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item255ebf3ac3#ht_3270wt_1139

New 2A vest for $160 with shipping:
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-GERMAN-KEVLAR-BODY-ARMOR-BULLET-PROOF-VEST-XL-GL-/300501\024223?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item45f741bddf#ht_1088wt_1139

Used 3A vest for $185 with shipping:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ABA-Ballistic-Vest-IIIA-3A-bullet-proof-vest-XL-/22070606981\
6?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item33631b5d38#ht_500wt_1156

New 3A vest for $250 with shipping:
http://cgi.ebay.com/BRAND-NEW-BULLET-PROOF-VEST-BODY-ARMOR-IIIA-3A-/110537427881\?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19bc8b4ba9#ht_2983wt_1139

I guess it depends on your budget. Do you think it is better to buy a new 2 or 2A vest, or would it be better to get a used 3A vest. In my case, I need to get vests for more than one person, so the dollar figures are compounded, but it is getting to the point that the new vests are not that much more than the used ones. I do know at the very least, that you should avoid the Second Chance armor that was sold in Germany and in the U.S. that is not Kevlar. I have also been thinking of buying one of the used panels from bulletproofme.com and inserting it in my laptop backpack that I carry to work, just in case.

Let me know what you think.


-Richard