Diving equipment appraisal experience?

[pwl4476]

I'm not sure where to post this, so will start it here and a moderator can move it, if need be.

I'm involved in a divorce. My wife had my dive gear appraised. The appraisal was done by Joel D. Silverstein, Scuba Training and Technology, Inc., Tech Diving Limited.

Has anyone else had any experience with Mr. Silverstein as an appraiser in a similar setting? If so, is anyone willing to share what opinions the court had on the accuracy of the appraisal?

Any feedback that you can provide on an appraisal by Mr. Silverstein is appreciated.

You may contact me by PM.

Thanks,

PWL4476

 

[tursiops]

I'm not touching this! I know divorces, and I know courts, and I know Joel. Joel knows scuba equipment, the others don't. The way you've asked your question makes it plain that you feel he has overvalued your equipment. I'm stunned you would come on ScubaBoard asking for this info. Why don't you just go get an independent appraisal?

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

 

[pwl4476]

Seems like you know everything. Why would you be surprised that I asked this question? It's valid. I think that I kept the question very neutral. How else would I ask this question to make it more neutral?

I think you're just assuming my intent because I asked the question.

I pose the question again as I have posted it above to any that are willing to communicate on the subject.

Thanks,

pwl4476

 

[fisheater]

Some free legal advice from a (recovering) divorce attorney:

DON'T FIGHT!

It'll cost you a bunch of money, not get the results you intend and generally add to whatever has poisoned your relationship with your wife. Get it over with as quickly as possible, with as little hassle as possible and move on with your life.

The above advice is quintupled if you have any kids.

Good luck.

 

[tridacna]

I'm not touching this! I know divorces, and I know courts, and I know Joel. Joel knows scuba equipment, the others don't. The way you've asked your question makes it plain that you feel he has overvalued your equipment. I'm stunned you would come on ScubaBoard asking for this info. Why don't you just go get an independent appraisal?

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

Too funny! You say that you're not to to touch this. Then off you go...

 

[scubafanatic]

I think Joel is a stand up guy, a legitimate participant in the scube industry, so it's hard to see why his apprasal would be questionable, although it's certainly reasonable for you to have asked. I know when it comes to valuing things like vehicles, it's important to distinguish between wholesale vs retail pricing, and to adjust pricing to the local cost of living (prices on the east and west coasts are higher than in the midwest of the country, for example, so make sure to adjust pricing per your location, and not get wholesale vs retail pricing confused.

 

[tursiops]

Your best advice was given to you on another forum (I've seen your question on three different forums now...). If you don't like the appraisal that was done, get your own. That's how it works. All appraisals will lean toward satisfying the client, so be a client.

 

[Doc]

SCUBA gear becomes of minimal worth the moment you cross the dive shop's threshold on the way out, even out of Tech Dive.

This contradicts "conventional wisdom" as held by travelers who insist on carrying-on their SCUBA gear into the airplane cabin lest some baggage handler steal it.

Some antique stuff, it's worth a few bucks.

Check eBay Advanced Search, "completed items", en eBay, veritas.

 

[DLM]

I'm not sure where to post this, so will start it here and a moderator can move it, if need be.

I'm involved in a divorce. My wife had my dive gear appraised. The appraisal was done by Joel D. Silverstein, Scuba Training and Technology, Inc., Tech Diving Limited.

Has anyone else had any experience with Mr. Silverstein as an appraiser in a similar setting? If so, is anyone willing to share what opinions the court had on the accuracy of the appraisal?

Any feedback that you can provide on an appraisal by Mr. Silverstein is appreciated.

You may contact me by PM.

Thanks,

PWL4476

Been there done that . Your best defense against what you believe is a inflated appraisal is to let her keep the gear , put it over there were she pays for it and see if it's worth what she thinks it is!

 

[Jim Lapenta]

I also know Joel and he knows his stuff. Still there is the question of whether the appraisal is for insurance, resale, or just to set a value for trade in. I could look at the gear and if it's something I really like may give you a top dollar estimate based on that and 20 other people you talked to could say it's high. The next 20 would say it's low.

Without knowing what kind of gear it is your question has no chance of getting a decent answer from anyone who has not looked at it. Basic recreational gear like a jacket BC and yoke reg might fetch 50% of it's value in excellent shape if it's even touched water.
Tech gear a little more. Maybe. I have done appraisals and base my values on a number of factors.
Could I even resell it?
What is it going for on ebay or other on line site? Cause if I ask say $100 and they can buy it all day on ebay for 75 do you think they will?
So in reality to me it's worth maybe 50. Likely less as I need to figure in if I'm getting it serviced before the sale, figure in shipping, etc.
What is it's replacement cost for insurance purposes? And is it for equal value?
What does it cost new?
What is it worth to you?
What is the estimate based on?
Gotta figure I'm going to give you 30% of what I can reasonably expect to sell it for.
Being as it's property involved in a divorce that can always be replaced and having been there twice I'd say walk away and forget about it.
Last one I walked out with a duffle bag and not much else. Best thing I ever did.
It's stuff, stuff can be replaced. If you have to pay for it say screw it and let her keep it.
If it has to be sold and the proceeds divided take a dollar and be happy that it and she are gone.
And get a lawyer to check on the appraisal and have your own done.
But you take a risk of them giving you one higher than Joel did and then you're even more screwed.
Dive gear is not like gold. Gold has a set price and would be hard to say that an ounce is only worth $100 when it's selling for $1400 on any site. Dive gear is something else.
And the big question, why did she even get it done? Why was it somewhere she could even get her hands on it?
Shoulda been in your truck, apt, motel, tent or at a friends house.
If she's the vindictive type be glad she got it appraised instead of putting it out for scrap.

---------- Post added February 9th, 2014 at 06:36 PM ----------

If this is your rebreather just tell them it's known as a black box of death. That should affect the judgment. Added that after seeing your last posts before this where you stated you went CCR.