pls help me price pair of 120 steel hp tanks

The value of anything is what someone is willing to pay for it. Don't ask
what someone thinks it is worth. Ask what they will pay for it. A dive
shop usually not buy any used equipment but tanks. They can't sell used
equipment at any kind of reasonable mark-up, so used equipment has no value
to them. Tanks, however, are more of a commodity item. They might sell
them or keep them for personal use or for rental/class use.

For a more direct answer to your question: Dive shops generally buy
equipment at about one-half of the suggested retail price. This means that
the value of most equipment will not usually exceed half of retail and is
usually less. Tanks, however, have very little mark-up, if any, so they
retain a higher resale value.
--

Safe diving,

Dale Bennett
Captain Dale's, Inc.
Enterprise Marine, Inc., Dive Charters

"AKCrum" <akcrum@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:bd098cc8.0410081232.7356cf9b@posting.google.c om...
> I have a bunch of scuba equipment I've decided to sell. It's about
> time, I haven't dived for about 6 years. Everything I've got should be
> in great shape, I treated it well when I used it and I've stored it
> well since then.
>
> I wrote to a few local scuba shops to get an idea of their interest
> and 1st responses indicated that the strongest interest was in my
> steel tanks.
>
> I have both a pair of 80s and a pair of 120s. All described similarly:
> used with air (not nitrox), DIN valves, low usage, minimal scratches,
> last inspection good thru 11/96, DOT-E9791-3500-TP5250 7-94.
>
> I'd like opinions on fair market price for these tanks so that I can
> arrive at an asking price. Of course, 80s and 120s would be priced
> separately. Anyone?
>
> Thanks in advance.

On 8 Oct 2004 13:32:43 -0700, akcrum@hotmail.com (AKCrum) wrote:
>I'd like opinions on fair market price for these tanks so that I can
>arrive at an asking price. Of course, 80s and 120s would be priced
>separately. Anyone?

What kind of 80's. Aluminum, OK, but what maker/model/ and year?
Same for the 120's.

The main problem is that as I understand it, you have nothing but scrap.
If the hydros are not current and they do not have a current VIP, then
that's all they are. No matter how pretty they look or how little used,
there is no guarantee that any cylinder will ever pass the next inspection.

So if you want to sell them and get what they are worth (and the steels are worth
a LOT (250+), then you have to get them hydroed and VIP'd.

safe diving,

bullshark

akcrum@hotmail.com (AKCrum) wrote in message
> I have a bunch of scuba equipment I've decided to sell. It's about
> time, I haven't dived for about 6 years. Everything I've got should be
> in great shape
>SNIP<
>fair market price for these tanks so that I can

I may be interested in your 120's, if you'd like to contact me by
email at dcalderbankATchesireDOTnet to give me more specifics (all of
the numbers on the tanks will help).

Otherwise, here's some info.

Over the past 8 years, I've bought about 20 HP steel tanks here within
a hundred miles of the NE US coast. I've sold 11 of them (I like
having a "fleet" of 9 or so because some of my dive/camping trips are
to locations without fill stations).

They have all been Pressed Steel tanks with the older leaning-back
Genesis-type valves (my preference). They were branded by
Sherwood/Genesis, Dacor, and some others (DiveRite, with a different
valve). I've found they are quick and easy to sell (within a couple
weeks), within a 100 mile radius, with buyer pick-up (no shipping). I
often offer to deliver, if it's on the way to the dive site, which
helps. I'm speaking of private sales, not wholesale to dive shops.

It helps to have some time left on the hydro, but, if not, you should
expect to reduce the price proportionally (subtract roughly $20 to
$40). I don't worry about a HP tank failing a hydro, at least in my
experience with 10 to 15 year-old HP steels; however, that's a
guarantee that should be made, of course. You can also simplify the
issue by getting it done before selling; might bring a slightly higher
price, too. Current visual isn't very important to most buyers, but
you should guarantee it will pass.

Here's what I've found to be market price for HP steel tanks within
hydro (a year or more left, at least):

HP 80's will sell quickly at $130 each.

HP 100's will sell quickly at $150 each. These are the most popular.

Hp 120's will sell quickly at $175 each. These are pretty scarce and
can bring a higher price, if you're will to wait.

Pairs sell better. Orphans sell slower.

Minimal internal rust is a big plus. (I tumble mine before selling.)

At $20 to $30 higher, the tanks will tank substantially longer to
sell.

On eBay, they seem to sell for higher prices, even with the expected
high shipping cost.

They definitely can be sold without hydro or vis, but it just raises
concerns and lowers the price.

As was mentioned, selling used tanks for roughly half of the current
new price is the typical market price, at least around here, where
there are quite a few divers. New prices for such tanks here are about
$230, $280, and $320, respectively, if I remember correctly.

HTH.

Dave C (please note, the monadnet email address is defunct)

I'm selling PURE TALC on eBay, if anyone is interested. Thanks.

akcrum@hotmail.com (AKCrum) wrote in message news:<bd098cc8.0410081232.7356cf9b@posting.google. com>...
> I have a bunch of scuba equipment I've decided to sell.
>
> I have both a pair of 80s and a pair of 120s. All described similarly:
> used with air (not nitrox), DIN valves, low usage, minimal scratches,
> last inspection good thru 11/96, DOT-E9791-3500-TP5250 7-94.
>
> I'd like opinions on fair market price for these tanks so that I can
> arrive at an asking price. Of course, 80s and 120s would be priced
> separately. Anyone?

Correction to my current email address: should be
dcalderbankATcheshireDOTnet

Spelled it right that time.

I see you've included the pertinent numbers stamped on the tanks. I
might be interested in buying them. Shoot me an email if you'd like to
discuss.

Thanks,

Dave C (please note: the monadnet address is defunct, use
dcalderbankATcheshireDOTnet)

I'm selling PURE TALC on eBay, if anyone is interested.

I have a bunch of scuba equipment I've decided to sell. It's about
time, I haven't dived for about 6 years. Everything I've got should be
in great shape, I treated it well when I used it and I've stored it
well since then.

I wrote to a few local scuba shops to get an idea of their interest
and 1st responses indicated that the strongest interest was in my
steel tanks.

I have both a pair of 80s and a pair of 120s. All described similarly:
used with air (not nitrox), DIN valves, low usage, minimal scratches,
last inspection good thru 11/96, DOT-E9791-3500-TP5250 7-94.

I'd like opinions on fair market price for these tanks so that I can
arrive at an asking price. Of course, 80s and 120s would be priced
separately. Anyone?

Thanks in advance.

The value of anything is what someone is willing to pay for it. Don't ask
what someone thinks it is worth. Ask what they will pay for it. A dive
shop usually not buy any used equipment but tanks. They can't sell used
equipment at any kind of reasonable mark-up, so used equipment has no value
to them. Tanks, however, are more of a commodity item. They might sell
them or keep them for personal use or for rental/class use.

For a more direct answer to your question: Dive shops generally buy
equipment at about one-half of the suggested retail price. This means that
the value of most equipment will not usually exceed half of retail and is
usually less. Tanks, however, have very little mark-up, if any, so they
retain a higher resale value.
--

Safe diving,

Dale Bennett
Captain Dale's, Inc.
Enterprise Marine, Inc., Dive Charters

"AKCrum" <akcrum@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:bd098cc8.0410081232.7356cf9b@posting.google.c om...
> I have a bunch of scuba equipment I've decided to sell. It's about
> time, I haven't dived for about 6 years. Everything I've got should be
> in great shape, I treated it well when I used it and I've stored it
> well since then.
>
> I wrote to a few local scuba shops to get an idea of their interest
> and 1st responses indicated that the strongest interest was in my
> steel tanks.
>
> I have both a pair of 80s and a pair of 120s. All described similarly:
> used with air (not nitrox), DIN valves, low usage, minimal scratches,
> last inspection good thru 11/96, DOT-E9791-3500-TP5250 7-94.
>
> I'd like opinions on fair market price for these tanks so that I can
> arrive at an asking price. Of course, 80s and 120s would be priced
> separately. Anyone?
>
> Thanks in advance.

On 8 Oct 2004 13:32:43 -0700, akcrum@hotmail.com (AKCrum) wrote:
>I'd like opinions on fair market price for these tanks so that I can
>arrive at an asking price. Of course, 80s and 120s would be priced
>separately. Anyone?

What kind of 80's. Aluminum, OK, but what maker/model/ and year?
Same for the 120's.

The main problem is that as I understand it, you have nothing but scrap.
If the hydros are not current and they do not have a current VIP, then
that's all they are. No matter how pretty they look or how little used,
there is no guarantee that any cylinder will ever pass the next inspection.

So if you want to sell them and get what they are worth (and the steels are worth
a LOT (250+), then you have to get them hydroed and VIP'd.

safe diving,

bullshark

akcrum@hotmail.com (AKCrum) wrote in message news:<bd098cc8.0410081232.7356cf9b@posting.google. com>...
> I have a bunch of scuba equipment I've decided to sell.
>
> I have both a pair of 80s and a pair of 120s. All described similarly:
> used with air (not nitrox), DIN valves, low usage, minimal scratches,
> last inspection good thru 11/96, DOT-E9791-3500-TP5250 7-94.
>
> I'd like opinions on fair market price for these tanks so that I can
> arrive at an asking price. Of course, 80s and 120s would be priced
> separately. Anyone?

Correction to my current email address: should be
dcalderbankATcheshireDOTnet

Spelled it right that time.

I see you've included the pertinent numbers stamped on the tanks. I
might be interested in buying them. Shoot me an email if you'd like to
discuss.

Thanks,

Dave C (please note: the monadnet address is defunct, use
dcalderbankATcheshireDOTnet)

I'm selling PURE TALC on eBay, if anyone is interested.