Adcom GFA-555 II for $300 deal or no deal?

[Tmac83]

So here is the deal:D, I have the high bid on GFA-555 II on ebay for $300. Chances are good I won't get it for $300 (what its at now), but I may. The pics weren't that good, but I talked to the seller who is some kind of custom installer. He took two 555's out of this guy's house who didn't want them in his new house and is selling them for the guy. (I assume he was running them bridged as monoblocks). I am/was a little nervous, as I promised myself I wouldn't buy gear on ebay anymore. Talked to the seller a little more and asked him to look inside to check for leaky caps. He has agreed to do so and said if I win the auction and he looks and the caps are leaking he will cancel the deal. He also guaranteed it not to be DOA. Deal or no deal? Did I cover my bases well enough?

TC

[EchoWars]

The caps (eight small ones, not the large power supply caps) need to be replaced regardless of what they look like. On a 555 or 555II, they are a disaster waiting to happen...once the electrolyte soaks into the PC board, you've got a very serious problem on your hands.

That said, 555's and 555II's normally sell for a bit under $400. Bid to where you're comfortable.