anybody know about 2-post hoists?

You can't go wrong with a Rotary brand lift. Make sure all the steel pieces are not bent. Look at the cylinders, if they are real greasy they may have a hydraulic leak. Make sure it is 2 phase 220 and not three phase. And if you can hot wire the motor to make sure motor is good. How old is it and what do they want for it?
We bought one at an auction of a closed dealership a few years back. $1200 for the lift, 10% for the auctioneer
and disassembly. Came to around $1600. We had 2 guys that install lifts professionally install it. I forget how much
they charged, but to me it was worth it to have them install it and experience no headaches.