Thoughts about the price of used cams!

Hey guys! I'm in contact with a guy who sells a #2 camalot C4 for 80$ and an #5 camalot C4 for 125$... Both cams were bought in 2010 and slings have been changed in 2015. I think it is a bit overpriced since it's like, 10-15$ less expensive than buying 'em new.

So I juste wanted to have your thoughts about this, if it would be preferable for him to lower his price... I would say yes haha.

 Anyways, cheers, happy climbs and good times out there

I bet you could find both those cams brand new on sale for less than that. Those prices seem awfully steep for used. REI has a number 2 for $74 right now.

You didnt do your homework, you can get brand new for far less.

that guy is ridiculous, mec was blowing out number two's last year for 50. just hold out.

you can the newer, lighter versions of both those cams right now brand new at Alpenglow for $142 code (SPRINGFEVAH)

In general, i absolutly agree that people completely overvalue their used climbing gear.

the buyer and seller is in quebec for everyone else chiming in. 

1.3 CAD = 1 usd, plus outrageous taxes and a smaller market that makes everything more expensive anyway. 

so the number 2 is 64$ without a biner.

Tell that dude to fuck off, you can find much better deals through the forums here

Laurie Dinardowrote:

Hey guys! I'm in contact with a guy who sells a #2 camalot C4 for 80$ and an #5 camalot C4 for 125$... Both cams were bought in 2010 and slings have been changed in 2015. I think it is a bit overpriced since it's like, 10-15$ less expensive than buying 'em new.

So I juste wanted to have your thoughts about this, if it would be preferable for him to lower his price... I would say yes haha.

 Anyways, cheers, happy climbs and good times out there

Lol. Saw those exact same two cams on the Facebook group and my first thought was that it was almost the same price than buying new. Just shop around and you can find almost the same price if not better even with taxe and shipping. If you’re not in a hurry, Sail typically has 25% OFF BD cams around mid-summer. 

Julian H wrote:

never buy used climbing gear. Especially soft goods like slings and harnesses. The worst thing you can buy is climbing shoes 

Why not buy used gear, it’s a great way to start a rack if funds are short.  

Many times people selling stolen gear don't know what it's worth and just take a couple bucks off of whatever the google price is. And they will use like Ebay, Ksl, facebook marketplace, etc. Pretty much every trad climber (at least 90% id imagine) in the US knows about MP, so if they aren't posting it on here there's a reason why..... 

but yeah alot of times people ask for way too much, or say "buyer pays shipping" despite shipping really being a burden of the seller since most new gear has free shipping. Sellers need to remember that they WILL usually sell their gear at a loss, and it's better to drop the price than endlessly bump something they're selling at 90% of retail

That's pretty ridiculous considering totems are only $72 right now at al's!

Dave K wrote:

Just type #2 Camalot C4 into google, select the shopping tab and you'll get a good overview of the current market price.

I wouldn't pay more than $50 for a used one, even if it were pristine.

I know right. I’m trying to negociate the price right now because it’s pretty much ridiculous haha. 

Dave K wrote:

Just type #2 Camalot C4 into google, select the shopping tab and you'll get a good overview of the current market price.

I wouldn't pay more than $50 for a used one, even if it were pristine.

I know right. I’m trying to negociate the price right now because it’s pretty much ridiculous haha. 

Yeah I built a desert rack buying from MP and never payed more than 40 per cam.

Cory Nwrote:

Yeah I built a desert rack buying from MP and never payed more than 40 per cam.

Right. I tried to get the price down at 150$ (CAD) for both cams and he said no. LOL 

Laurie Dinardowrote:

Right. I tried to get the price down at 150$ (CAD) for both cams and he said no. LOL 

dude if it's this much hassle to get a fair price in the first place don't bother conducting business with him in any way

Laurie Dinardowrote:

Right. I tried to get the price down at 150$ (CAD) for both cams and he said no. LOL 

That’s still a crazy price per cam used. May as well spend a little more for new at that point. 

seems like every spring prices go crazy, come fall when 90% of people realize they didn't use anything they bought prices get reasonable again. 

Julian H wrote:

never buy used climbing gear. Especially soft goods like slings and harnesses. The worst thing you can buy is climbing shoes 

I think shoes are GREAT to buy used if you shop for the right thing. Which is typically one of 2 categories:

• Someone who bought the wrong size and for whatever reason can't return (used too much before calling it too small/big etc.)
• Someone who bought shoes, went to the gym a few times, then didn't use them for months/years and figured out it wasn't gonna work out, this climbing thing.

'Bout those prices - meh. EVERYTHING in 20' went wayyyyyy overpriced on most used markets here - outdoor goods, ski stuff, collectibles, houses, country cottage/summer homes, etc. Can't say I'm much surprised.

Laurie Dinardowrote:

Hey guys! I'm in contact with a guy who sells a #2 camalot C4 for 80$ and an #5 camalot C4 for 125$... Both cams were bought in 2010 and slings have been changed in 2015. I think it is a bit overpriced since it's like, 10-15$ less expensive than buying 'em new.

So I juste wanted to have your thoughts about this, if it would be preferable for him to lower his price... I would say yes haha.

 Anyways, cheers, happy climbs and good times out there

i used to work in sales and as a buyer/appraiser in one of the earliest used gear shops around (wilderness exchange in berkeley) during the 90s.  for used gear a basic formula was to buy at somewhere around of 30-40% of original retail (msrp) and sell for somewhere around 60-80% of regular retail.  

things bought used from a private individual (eg craigslist) mostly fall somewhere in between those two ranges, unless they're highly desirable.  usually, paying more than 80% of msrp (even for a new item from a private seller) is not all that great (unless you need it now) because most things can be had new from a shop at that price or cheaper (waiting for the right sale).

remember that his was a basic formula, that could easily go 10% either way on the buying and/or selling side, depending on many factors - chiefly, condition of the item, quality/brand of the item, desirability (something that will sell quickly vs take up shelf space for eons) of the item, mood of the buyer and/or seller, quantity, etc.

obviously, something that has high resale value, is a quality product, is in demand, etc. will fetch a higher price than something that does not fall into that category.  in terms of camalots you can easily get a good deal from rei, backcountry, alpenglow, or a number of other shops when the time is right.