Vintage Technics direct drives are a great choice, and you don't need to go super-far up the chain to get a good table, but I agree with others that $300 for any of those is way too much IMO. Unless someone can show me the insides or provide a list of all the things that were done to "service" the unit, then it means nothing, and may even be worse than one that is untouched. I've probably refurbed/restored more than a couple dozen turntables and amps/receivers at this point, and I am nowhere near an expert, but I could tell you exactly what's been done on each one with a parts list, a bag of the old parts, etc. The opportunists have been out in full-force on vintage audio for at least a couple years now, and wiping the dust off a unit or putting an old worn-out cartridge on it is considered "service" to some of them. Be thorough before handing over your hard-earned money.
My suggestion is simply to be patient. Learn about the different Technics models, decide on the features you want, narrow down your list to those models, and wait for the right one to come up. There should be plenty of options in the under $500 range (just maybe not right this second in your area), and if you don't find the right Technics, consider a different brand as there were plenty who made excellent direct drive turntables (JVC, Kenwood, Yamaha, etc.).
Buy it nice or buy it twice. Patience!
