I don’t have any of the super cheapo basses, electing to “reward” myself (even as I was just starting my Bass journey last year) with higher priced instruments.
I did however buy a used Ibanez so I could get started on B2B Beginner Bass Lessons | BassBuzz.com while waiting for my Fender J Bass to arrive and totally agree with you @JoshFossgreen about buying a used bass. For the $100 I gave the guy for the Ibanez, he threw in a strap, a 15w amp, and a cable. The amp was/is totally crap and one of the pots is damaged on the bass, but for $100, it plays so I didn’t worry. Besides, I can let my grandkids play it with absolutely no worries about dirty little finger smudges and/or them damaging my higher quality/priced basses – although I am teaching them proper handling technique (clean hands, don’t abuse the instrument, etc. but still letting them have fun).
I am about ready to try Reverb for a bass purchase but haven’t surfed the site enough to find something I can’t live without.
Speaking of, I might try to sell my Schecter on there. I like the bass and love the looks, but I just don’t play it nearly as much as my Fenders or the acoustic Traveler bass which stays right beside my desk and I pick up multiple times a day to play riffs or scales for a few minutes in between conf calls. Anyone interested in a Schecter 4-string, with a hard-shell case, DM me. I might go ahead list it on For sale or trade
Sorry for the long post. 