View Full Version : buying used equipment
Swobee
10-21-2009, 08:25 AM
OK, I admit it... I'm a tightwad to the nth degree. It's a gene passed down from my father - he was a champ at finding a bargain. When I go to an auction, I go to legally 'steal' things, not pay more than full price as I see some folks do. Now for the dilemma - anyone have advice to help set reasonable prices for used bee keeping equipment? I have an opportunity to look at some Dadant items, etc. from a fellow getting out of the business for health reasons. I don't want to insult him in any way, so I was thinking of letting or making him set asking prices if possible then maybe haggle a little if I feel it's needed. The items vary in age from new-ish to being from the 80's or older.
My question is - if you're looking at 10, 20 or even 30 year old equipment, how can one legitimately come up with a price? We all know that most metals have more than doubled in the last 3-4 years. We also know a 30 year old tank or extractor is probably built fairly heavily, but also has 30 yeares of use. Tanks expereince minimal wear & tear, but extractors may need bearings, controls, etc.
Any suggestions for starting if I am the one put on the spot to make an offer instead of the seller? New price less depreciation? Some of the stuff is filthy and some is pristine in appearance. I don't have to travel very far which is also worth a little something. Does anyone have access to an old Dadant catalog from say 1985, 1995 or 2005 for comparisons? Thanks!
J-Bees
10-21-2009, 08:55 AM
the old fellow that was helping me with anyquestion I had moved into his daughters home and sold all but 3 hives. At the sale his eqpment sold for CHEAP CHEAP a buck bought him out no one wanted anything, "I was not there" forgot all about the sale date but when I ask his daughter about it she said he was happy with the way the sale turned out:
rainesridgefarm
10-21-2009, 08:58 AM
I would start at 50% of current value and go from there up or down. Like you stated if it looks great and you really need it then you will pay more. Some times the best thing to do is take some pictures go home and look it all up. add up the prices then do your 50% discount and offer that. 100 good old deep boxes at 3 each sounds cheap to the seller but I will give you $300 for all of them sounds great.
good luck and buyer beware.
Swobee
10-21-2009, 09:14 AM
I would start at 50% of current value and go from there up or down. Like you stated if it looks great and you really need it then you will pay more. Some times the best thing to do is take some pictures go home and look it all up. add up the prices then do your 50% discount and offer that. 100 good old deep boxes at 3 each sounds cheap to the seller but I will give you $300 for all of them sounds great.
good luck and buyer beware.
Your last comment says it all! Thanks - I assume you're talking 50% of current pricing. Well I'm thinking more like 15-25% (remember the 'cheapskate gene'), but we have to start somewhere. One problem is there's always stuff you don't want or will probably never use to deal with. I can also look to maybe selling some of the excess or unwanted items at an association meeting or other source.
Beekeeper's hubby
10-21-2009, 10:09 AM
OK, I admit it... I'm a tightwad to the nth degree. It's a gene passed down from my father - he was a champ at finding a bargain.
It must be something about Kansas. I thought I was a tightwad untill I visited my relatives there.
I've seen truckloads go dirty cheap at auctions. Probably why I seldom see bee equipment in auctions.
MAXANT
10-21-2009, 11:46 AM
I would think you can really find some "sweet" deals in the midwest.
Well built, solid equipment regardless of the manufacturer should get a decent amount of money. Things to look for are lead solder, rust, and pitting. Dadant has always put out good solid products.
HOWEVER....if you are like me, offer low low low and work your way up from there.
Nothing wrong with asking!
Good Luck!
Those old controls are pretty reliable. Run it if possible. I picked up a Dadant 20 frame extractor 4 or 5 years ago in good shape, probably 15-20 years old, for $400. They aren't common down here, but not as much market either. That thing will out last me.
Swobee
10-23-2009, 08:26 AM
Well, that was a wasted trip last night! Long story short: a guy bought a ramshackle house in a tiny town with a population of about 20 people for $5,000. He wanted the lots the shack and outbuilding sit on and actually planned to raze the house. The old house was a honey house for an old bee keeper who moved away 17 to 20 years ago, leaving everything behind. After all those years, the old bee keeper finally decided to sell the property. He told the buyer he had some "bee stuff" in the house worth maybe $1,000 - $2,000. The buyer doesn't want the bee equipment and only wants to sell it as a package deal. Meanwhile, he wisely looked up new prices for the Dadant & Maxant products he 'inherited' with the little shack. I also did some research and estimate there to be about $11,00 to $12,000 worth of items if one were to pay full 2009 catalog prices. He only wants $10,000 for it all.
So this brings us to some obstacles to overcome if the stuff is to fall into the hands of a deserving beekeeper (such as us). #1- paying almost 90% of new catalog prices for 30-40 year old equipment is not in my game plan no matter what shape it's in. #2- when they last harvested and it came time to clean up... they didn't. The clarifier, pump, extractor, a tank, etc. have 17-20 year old honey set up in it. #3- the rotating shafts are seized, nothing that should turn wants to turn, etc. due to the corrosive nature of honey and it's crystallized condition. #4- we didn't get the chance to run anything electrical for those reasons nor have any idea what internal conditions really are for any of the equipment with moving parts. The only thing we all agreed on was the hundreds of supers and brood wooden boxes sitting outside were not even worth wasting a match on to burn them - rotten, termites, etc. We want no part of messing with that stuff. Now, if he was to sell the stuff at an attractively low price, I'd consider hauling the truckload of wooden ware off just to be nice.
I could see this resulting in a winter-long project to get the equipment up & running, if we're lucky. This seller has no idea that I happen to know what he paid for it and admitedly, that is really not relevant. If you stumble into a bargain and can sell it for a profit, that is capitolism at its finest and I can't fault him for that. We thanked him for his time and left things open for discussion. Any of you guys out there know a real sucker that I can turn loose on this seller?
StevenG
10-23-2009, 10:46 AM
Now why would you want to turn a "real sucker loose of this fellow?" :no:
Sounds like the seller needs some educating. What was his reaction to the disastrous condition of the equipment? That would be interesting. :scratch:
StevenG
10-23-2009, 10:48 AM
Sorry, just had another thought... I'll wager the longer it sits unsold, the more reasonable he becomes in his pricing....
Swobee
10-23-2009, 11:00 AM
It would take a real sucker to buy at that price level and he never really reacted much to the condition. He mentioned something like 'this stuff should clean up OK...' I have to admit this is a set up we'd like to have and there were a few bonus things there, like drip trays on casters, two barrel screens, some hive tools, etc. There was an outbuilding with a hugh assortment of unassembled frames. Only problem with them was termites had riddled the packaging and some of the frame lumber was nibbled upon. Probably usable, but still, I'd look at a box like that as a bonus find not a purchase.