Putting a Value on Used Gear

[mgaillar 0]

As a skydiver in the market for a used rig, how does one go about pricing used gear? I have seen Cypress Calculators that will value the unit based on it's DOM. Is there any similar tools, tables, or resources to be had that will give me a clue as to what I should be paying for a particular piece of gear, e.g., container, reserve, main, etc?
Obviously, condition of the gear is critical, but if a rig is in relatively good shape, how does value break down on the gear. Manufacturer, DOM, number of jumps...I know the info, just not how to apply a value.
Any insight would be greatly appreciated!
Matt
http://www.skydiveorange.com

[mwthomsen 0]

Matt,
I think it all depends on what you are willing to pay and what you are willing to give up. I sold a mirage, cypress and pd canopies used less than 200 jumps for $4300 usd. I got a limited response from DZ.com everyone wanted it at a cheaper price, but when I put it out at the DZ it sold that week. It would be nice to say that gear depreciates at a certain rate, but ultimately the owner and yourself have to determine what value the specific set-up brings.
Talk to your rigger.
Mike

[skybytch 273]

Good questions.... I've never seen a table, tool, etc. for gear other than Cypres'. Alot depends on how bad the seller wants to get rid of it!
The following is of course only my opinions.... I price and sell quite a bit of used gear at work.
Mains - Brand name, overall popularity and cost new play a part - a Spectre with 100 jumps is probably going to sell for more than a Triathlon with the same number jumps, a Sabre2 with 100 jumps is going to sell for more than a Sabre with 100 jumps, which will likely sell for more than a Hornet with 100 jumps. I've heard some people say deduct $1-$5 per jump but this isn't always a reliable guide; one canopy with 100 jumps on it may have been much better cared for than another with the same number of jumps on it, one may have patches and the other be in like new condition. A zp main is worth more than an equivalent condition/jump number all F111 main.
Reserves - Cost new and number of jumps are most important - a PD reserve is going to sell for more than a Tempo; any reserve with no jumps on it is going to be worth more than the same brand/model/size with 3 jumps on it. Date of manufacture can be important with some brands; older Tempos are not as well reinforced as newer ones, Raven DashM reserves manufactured prior to April 1999 currently have a service bulletion out on them.
Containers - Again, brand popularity and cost new will play a role. A Javelin/Mirage/Vector will sell for more than a Racer/Reflex/Dolphin. DOM is important - older containers are not particularly "freefly friendly", therefore they sell for less than a newer container, even if they have the same number of jumps on them.
Now you're even more confused!! pull and flare,
lisa
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[jayhfx 0]

good question u posed there. I have always told people to do a search on-line for the different components. Just because someone may have a safire with 150 jumps on it and they want say 1000.00 if you find 5 others around the same jumps for under that then the current value will be an average of them all. I have found it always works well when trying to find out if your getting bang for your buck.
later
jay

[mgaillar 0]

Thanks to you all. I understand there are many variables to consider. Your feedback is greatly appreciated!!
Lisa...care to take a stab at what an average cost for a Javelin J5 with a Sabre 210 main, PD 218R and Cypress should fetch? All equipment is DOM 94 and lets assume approx. 400 jumps on container/Main, Zero jumps on reserve, no Cypress fires, and total condition is good. ;)
Again, thanks for feedback! Heading to the Search in February and trying to get all my ducks in a row.
Matt
http://www.skydiveorange.com

[PhreeZone 20]

I'd say your looking at about $2100-2500 depending if there has been a reline on the Sabre and if the 8 year check has been done yet on the Cypres.
I want to touch the sky, I want to fly so high ~ Sonique

[skybytch 273]

Assuming good to excellent condition on everything, hard cutaway housings on the container, batteries current on the Cypres and 4 year done long ago (remember that the 8 year will be due this year) and recent reline on the Sabre, I'd agree with phree - $2500 would be very fair, less than that would be a really good price. If the Cypres needs batteries deduct $75-100, if the main needs a reline deduct $200-300, if the colors are ugly deduct at will! j/k on that last one....
You're going to the Search? I'm sooooo jealous!!! pull and flare,
lisa
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[Geoff 0]

Here's my (fairly unhelpful) observation on the value of used skydiving gear:
There are many millions of used cars, and so for any given model / age / colour there is a balance of supply and demand, and a well-established 'value'. Cars will generally change hands for predictable prices.
OTOH, skydiving gear is a very small market. The level of supply / demand for a particular size / model / colour is often very low.
If a buyer is lucky enough to find exactly what they want, they may be prepared to pay a relatively high price. If it's only almost what they want and the seller is in a hurry to sell, then they might pay a much lower price.
In other words, I'm simply saying that prices vary a lot. I doubt the tables you're talking about exist, and if they did they'd be no more than a very rough guide.
As a buyer, if you're prepared to be flexible and take some time shopping around, you can get some real bargains. If you 'must have' a certain size, brand, colour, you're likely to pay a lot more.
So my advice: be flexible, and ask experienced jumpers what any particluar piece of gear is 'worth'. But ultimately it's worth what you're prepared to pay.
Hope that's at least some help.
Geoff

[mgaillar 0]

Wow! I am impressed with the both of your "ballpark" figures! The gear in question has an asking price of $2500...I am hoping to shave off a couple hundred. Cypress had it's 8-yr check and batteries replaced a couple of months ago. I think the main actually has less than 200J's. The container/harness is in excellent shape with the exception of the toggle stow pockets (?) on the harness (torn). I'll be sure to get my rigger to give it a once over.
Thanks again to all of you, particularly Phree and Lisa! As a relatively new skydiver (and an anal consumer) it is nice to get your insight. It gives me a comfortable feeling knowing that the asking price is in the ballpark.
Blue skies!
Matt
http://www.skydiveorange.com

[SpeedRacer 1]

mgailler,
check your Private Messages
Speed Racer
"My God! It's full of stars!"

[hisgoofyness 0]

where might i find the cypres calculators
hisgoofyness
its a bird, its a plane, no wait, its one goofy s.o.b.

[mgaillar 0]

I pulled this off another thread....
http:// http://www.poxon.org/Craig/Skydive/Tools/cypresvaluer.asp
http://www.skydiveorange.com

[PhreeZone 20]

http://www.poxon.org/Craig/Skydive/Tools/cypresvaluer.asp
This one should work when you click on it
I want to touch the sky, I want to fly so high ~ Sonique

[mgaillar 0]

LOL....thanks Phree...just spent a good 15 minutes trying to figure out how to "properly" post a link. Back to the drawing board, huh?
Matt
http://www.skydiveorange.com

[hisgoofyness 0]

thanks guys
that will be of great use
hisgoofyness
its a bird, its a plane, no wait, its one goofy s.o.b.