Questions about selling gear.

[RacerX]

I bought a full rig for Bridgeday 2002, and made two trips to WV and one to the Perrine with it. But I've been thinking about selling the rig because I don't really stay active in the sport.

My question is if I post the rig for sale in the skydiving forums or here, should I have any concerns about who may purchase it? That is, do I need to make any type of buyer-experience judgements? I guess a lot of gear changes hands, but until I came here to look at some of the classifieds, I never really considered this potential issue. There do seem to be several people looking for gear that may not even have a practical amount of skydiving experience.

Any feedback would be helpful. You guys know far more about this than me.

Thanks!

[Scott R]

Ask the person a lot of questions. If you really want to take it a step further ask for some references or their mentor's name/number.
Anyone can get there hands on some gear if there determined enough, all you can do is make a decision to sell to a particular person by what they tell you and how you feel about the transaction.
I have only sold a few things, all but one have been to experienced jumpers. The one item was a container to someone assuring me he was only going to be a bridge day jumper.
Hope this helps
scott

[Mac]

I have refused to sell gear to several people due to their lack of experience (skydiving), I sold a rig to someone who I did not know but he got a reference from a BASEr that I know and respect.

I am very careful when selling gear on who it goes to and will always check out claims and references.

[Nick_D]

I don't know who you bought the rig from originally, but most BASE gear manufacturers will take the rig back from you and sell it on consignment. This way they do the all the screening of potential customers not to mention buyers feel better about getting used gear from the manufacturer . . .

NickD
BASE 194

[RacerX]

These are all good bits of advice. Thanks. I'm really torrn about selling it at all. Not sure what I'm going to do. But there are a fair amount of jumpers at the DZ I used to spend all my time at. I guess I could probably sell it there pretty quickly too.

[Nick_D]

Maybe you should hang on another month or two. Bridge Day's coming soon and that always heats up the used gear market from the skydiving side. It's generally cool to sell a BASE rig to someone who's never BASE jumped "if" they are planning their first jump at Bridge Day, they are attending a BASE gear manufacturer's FJC, or one of the other recognized courses like Tom and Johnny does.

There's also another angle. Come to Bridge Day this year yourself. You can make "one more" before hanging it up (if you wish) then sell the rig to someone who's just made their first BASE jump. You are almost guaranteed top dollar as so many first timers are walking around Saturday night with the BASE fire blazing away in their bellies.

I've done it myself few times, and I know others who never come home from Bridge Day with gear. They always sell it and turn the money into the latest thing . . .

NickD
BASE 194

[RacerX]

Well, I guess I'm going to hold onto it for a little while. I just bought my slot for Bridgeday. Thanks for the advice!

Maybe you should hang on another month or two. Bridge Day's coming soon and that always heats up the used gear market from the skydiving side. It's generally cool to sell a BASE rig to someone who's never BASE jumped "if" they are planning their first jump at Bridge Day, they are attending a BASE gear manufacturer's FJC, or one of the other recognized courses like Tom and Johnny does.

There's also another angle. Come to Bridge Day this year yourself. You can make "one more" before hanging it up (if you wish) then sell the rig to someone who's just made their first BASE jump. You are almost guaranteed top dollar as so many first timers are walking around Saturday night with the BASE fire blazing away in their bellies.

I've done it myself few times, and I know others who never come home from Bridge Day with gear. They always sell it and turn the money into the latest thing . . .

NickD
BASE 194