What is the price point for a bag of used gear?

[Chug]

I have learned much from lurking on these boards. I am sure there are many of you out there that can advise me.

I have been a warm water vacation diver for 8 years and have always rented gear. This past year I really got the diving bug and want to assemble my own kit. A guy a work found out I was in the market for some scuba gear and approached me about buying his. He says he has it all: BC, complete reg, computer, tank, weights, etc and everything is in a rolling bag. He said he bought it about 15 years ago and it is just taking up space in his garage. The wife and kids ended his diving career. He said it was in the middle of the price range when he bought it new. It was lightly used and is in good condition. He is in a position of trust at work, so I take him at his word. When I asked him the brand, he said he thought it might be US Divers. We have not talked price.

I have read countless posts on buying used equipment. What I want to know is the price point for a bag of used gear. I am pretty sure he just wants to get rid of the stuff. When he gives me his number, what should I expect and what should I counter?

Thanks for your input

Chug

 

[NudeDiver]

It depends a lot on what the gear actually is. But at 15 years old, even if in excellent condition - I'm guessing a lot less than perhaps you or he are thinking. One thing to keep in mind is that you should absolutely have the regs serviced. For a 1st, second, and octo, that can easily be $150+. Here are some prices from my LDS:

OH Labor any brand each stage $32
First Stage Kit (Most Reg) $35
Second Stage Kit (Most Reg) $25
First Stage Kit (Sherwood) $20
Second Stage Kit (Sherwood) $18
Scubapro First Stage Kit $35
Scubapro Second Stage Kit $29
Scubapro Air II Kit $29
Poseidon First Stage Kit $45
Poseidon Second Stage Kit $29
Regulator Diagnostic $29

You should keep this in mind, and point it out, when making your offer.

You might want to have a shop give the BC a look too, since it's so old. That's more money.

If he has any kind of dive computer in there (15 years old, so I doubt it), it's worthless.

Mask/fins/snorkel - if they fit - i'd offer up to $40.

BC - if it fits - maybe up to $100 AT MOST.

General rule in negotiations over price - whomever throws out the first number has the disadvantage (this is true for whomever draws first in a gunfight too). So, ask him what he wants. Based on that, decide what to do. You can point out the cost of having the gear serviced/inspected, etc - and then make an offer.

Were it me - if everything were great condition, etc. etc. - I don't think I would offer more than $300 at the outside - considering the age. Even if it is in excellent condition, 15 years is OLD. I have to think that ideas and designs have improved since then

Recently - I got the following for $200:
34 pounds of soft weights (which I valued at about $70 - about $2/lb)
10 year old Sherwood Magnum Blizzard 1st, 2nd and octo
DUI Weight Harness System/40 (sold it for $52)
Scuba Pro JET Fins (size large) [FOR SALE: $40]
Underwater Kinetics 400 Light (never used) [FOR SALE: $40]
Weight belt
some misc. small odds and ends

 

[redacted]

It depends a lot on what the gear actually is. But at 15 years old, even if in excellent condition - I'm guessing a lot less than perhaps you or he are thinking. One thing to keep in mind is that you should absolutely have the regs serviced. For a 1st, second, and octo, that can easily be $150+. Here are some prices from my LDS:


Quote:
OH Labor any brand each stage $32
First Stage Kit (Most Reg) $35
Second Stage Kit (Most Reg) $25
First Stage Kit (Sherwood) $20
Second Stage Kit (Sherwood) $18
Scubapro First Stage Kit $35
Scubapro Second Stage Kit $29
Scubapro Air II Kit $29
Poseidon First Stage Kit $45
Poseidon Second Stage Kit $29
Regulator Diagnostic $29



You should keep this in mind, and point it out, when making your offer.

You might want to have a shop give the BC a look too, since it's so old. That's more money.

If he has any kind of dive computer in there (15 years old, so I doubt it), it's worthless.

Mask/fins/snorkel - if they fit - i'd offer up to $40.

BC - if it fits - maybe up to $100 AT MOST.

General rule in negotiations over price - whomever throws out the first number has the disadvantage (this is true for whomever draws first in a gunfight too). So, ask him what he wants. Based on that, decide what to do. You can point out the cost of having the gear serviced/inspected, etc - and then make an offer.

Were it me - if everything were great condition, etc. etc. - I don't think I would offer more than $300 at the outside - considering the age. Even if it is in excellent condition, 15 years is OLD. I have to think that ideas and designs have improved since then

Recently - I got the following for $200:
34 pounds of soft weights (which I valued at about $70 - about $2/lb)
10 year old Sherwood Magnum Blizzard 1st, 2nd and octo
DUI Weight Harness System/40 (sold it for $50)
Scuba Pro JET Fins (size large)
Underwater Kinetics 400 Light (never used)
Weight belt
some misc. small odds and ends

Nudediver - Your LDS is ripping you off badly. I would guess he is marking up parts at least 200 % where the more standard markup is 100 %. The biggest improvement in regulators in the last 15 years is probably the attractiveness of the plastic face plate.

Chug - as far as value, start with no more than 50% of new cost if everything is perfect and ready to dive. A better figure might be 25% to 33% of MSRP assuming you will spend another $100 to $125 to have the gear serviced before you use it.

 

[Garrobo]

Before I'd buy a bunch of 15 year old gear I'd go on Ebay and look around. There's lots of stuff for sale which was bought recently at bargain prices. Lots of people get the diving bug and immediately decide that they aren't cut out for it, lose interests or, like your friend, can't afford it after all and will sell their stuff to the high bidder.

 

[driftwood]

At 15 years old, the first thing I would do is to see if you can still get parts for the reg. Right now Ebay is not a bad option. I just watched a Zeagle Ranger BC go for $70 with shipping.

 

[tomboyy]

guess nobody on here seen the stainless steel back plate with rigging AND lumbar pad that I recently let go of on E-bay for $51.00.... jeessshhh I lost alot of money on that deal

 

[redacted]

guess nobody on here seen the stainless steel back plate with rigging AND lumbar pad that I recently let go of on E-bay for $51.00.... jeessshhh I lost alot of money on that deal

Actually, $51 sounds fair but a bit on the high side to me. New SS plates can be had for $90. $25 worth of webbing and HW. But I see no value in a lumbar pad and you are probably looking at it as a $50 cost.

That's probably why my $40 snipeswipe never made it.

 

[NudeDiver]

Chug - as far as value, start with no more than 50% of new cost if everything is perfect and ready to dive.

That might be true for gear that's 0-2 years old. But 15 years old??? Start at 25% of MSRP AT MOST.

If you're willing to pay 50% of MSRP, you can get much newer gear - and improve your parts availability situation in the process.

 

[Reg Braithwaite]

A guy a work found out I was in the market for some scuba gear and approached me about buying his. He says he has it all: BC, complete reg, computer, tank, weights, etc and everything is in a rolling bag.

I would almost certainly pass on such a deal regardless of the price. This isn't a choice between buying or owning your water heater. Having your own gear is not just about saving money on rental fees, it's about customizing your choices for yourself.

I will go out on a limb and attempt to read your mind over the Internet. The reason you are even faintly considering this is that you don't know that much about equipment. If you did, you would already know what it is worth and would be talking about buying his kit for this piece and that piece and you plan to sell the rest.

So.

My advice is to tell him you need to do some research and you will get back to him. And then invest some time reading books, searching the internet, shopping at dive stores and asking questions of other divers. Backplate+Wing or BCD? Stiff fins, soft fins, split fins? Computer or Bottom Timer? Dry suit or wet? Donate primary or Octo? And so forth.

When you know the answers to all these questions independently, you should examine his gear. Your first decision will be whether any of it fits with your plan for yourself. Then and only then should you worry about the price.

I would say the same thing to a friend who came up to me and said "Scuba Shop XXX has a great bundle deal for $$$, is it worth it?" My first concern would be that my friend doesn't know what she wants yet, so what difference does it make if the deal is market value or not. Only after she knows enough to know that Scuba Shop XXX's deal fits her needs will the price matter.

Also, I speak from experience. When I was ready to buy, I found lots of deals. And every shop was hurrying me to buy on the spot. But I held off and did a little research. I discovered that even though I'm a recreational diver, I wanted a wing and not a jacket BCD. I believed it would help my trim. Then I looked around and found one shop with a bundle deal on a wing + harness + computer.

i would be seriously unhappy if I had to put a BCD up for sale when I discovered that I wanted a wing and harness.

 

[redacted]

That might be true for gear that's 0-2 years old. But 15 years old??? Start at 25% of MSRP AT MOST.

If you're willing to pay 50% of MSRP, you can get much newer gear - and improve your parts availability situation in the process.

My favorite regs are 25 to 35 years old. In "like new" condition, some can still bring close to what they sold for new in the 70s, or more. In really good shape, 50% of their cost is not a bad price.

0 - 2 year old used regs have no clear advantage over 15 year old used regs. They are, for the most part, the same technology and design; both used and none have transferable warranties. So then it gets down to just what regulator are we talking about. Condition being equal, I suspect a 15 year old Scubapro G250 will command a higher price than a 2 year old one. But, I guess that is why Scubapro is now making the G250V.

I guess I just don't see the added value of "newer" that you apparently see.