There are plenty of options for selling your used Trimble survey equipment. Some require more or less work than others, and some provide more value for your gear and time. So, let's look at the top 7 ways you can sell your used land survey or 3D grade control equipment to help determine which is the best for you.
1. Sell Your Used Trimble Survey Equipment To Positioning Solutions
The Positioning Solutions is in the business of buying and selling quality pre-owned Trimble equipment. Whether you want to sell outright or trade-in toward newer equipment, our online Sell/Trade process is designed to help you get money for your equipment quickly and easily.If you have used Trimble optical instruments or GPS products that are under 10 years old, we are interested in buying it.
Simply provide details on our Sell/Trade form, or give us a call and you'll receive a preliminary offer typically within the hour (during normal business hours).
If you agree to our offer, we'll email you a FREE shipping label, so you can box everything up and send it on its way to us. We provide quick payment by check, wire transfer or PayPal - your choice.
If you have a large inventory - we'll come to you. We'll inspect your equipment on site and make you an offer that day, then pack everything up and transport it ourselves.
What we buy:
We buy used Trimble, Spectra Precision and some Leica products designed for land survey, construction and mining. GPS, GNSS, GIS and total stations manufactured within the last 10 years and in good condition. Primarily, our customers are looking for survey-grade instruments and GPS systems.
2. Sell to Your Competition:
For maximum value it can be worth contacting your local competition, especially if you know they use the same or similar equipment. Actually, if option 1 (sell to us) doesn't work for you, this is the option we recommended the most. The benefits are obvious, especially if you have a small inventory of equipment, say 1 or 2 crews. You can probably spend a couple days online gathering phone numbers and figuring out who their equipment manager is, but it's time well spent - as you will likely get the maximum value for your used gear. Some buyers may want to "cherry pick" from your inventory, and if that works for you, there's a good market for parts and components on eBay.
3. Sell or Trade to Your Local Dealership:
If you're looking to upgrade to the latest technology and prefer the "easy button" trading your gear into your local dealership may be a good choice for you, but at the expense of getting the most value. The truth is that most dealerships do not have a formal trade-in program and instead rely on factory sponsored promotions. This means that your not going to get what your equipment is worth - rather just a fixed amount of discount that they are willing to extend - which of course depends on how much your new equipment purchase is worth.
Few dealers will buy used survey equipment outright from you. This is primarily because the are focused on selling new and simply don't have a strong understanding of the used market. Also, dealerships purchase inventory at discounted prices from the factory on new and refurbished gear, making it less attractive for them to buy used from you.
Some dealers might offer consignment options, which almost never work. Most dealers that take consignments, only list your gear on their website, which at best gets local customer traffic and therefore can take months before an interested buyer comes along. Typical fees will run you between 20% and 30% for their consignment service.
4. Sell to a Pawn Shop:
One of the quickest ways to turn your used survey equipment into cash is to find a local pawnshop. The advantage here is the convenience of selling locally and completing a transaction the same day. However, most shops lack the expertise to understand what your equipment is worth and their business model makes them unable or unwilling to give you the amount you want.
5. Sell on Craigslist:
Online classifieds give you a free platform to list your equipment. Just upload some photos, write a description and set your price. Craigslist is no doubt a great place to sell equipment because usually you're selling to another user who understands what the value of your equipment is. But because it's local, selling locally can take more time - and more effort than you expected.
Expect low-ball offers, hagglers and tire-kickers and be on high-alert for scammers. Only deal locally and never transact with cash unless you meet at your bank and deposit funds immediately. If your taking PayPal, make sure you provide the buyer with a detailed invoice with "as-is" clearly stated on the invoice.
6. Sell on a Land Survey / Construction Forum
There are several land survey forums which offer classified sections to sell your equipment. Like craigslist you are usually communicating directly with another user who understands the value of your equipment. Most forum users have ratings and you can see if they successfully purchased or sold on that forum in the past, which helps rule out the scammers. Land survey forums can be a good place for getting the most value, but like craigslist, this process can take more time and effort than you originally expected.
If your buyer isn't local, make sure to use a reputable shipping carrier with tracking, delivery signature and insurance, like UPS or FedEx. Always insure your shipment and if using PayPal - only ship to verified addresses and make sure you follow all of PayPal's guidelines for seller protection. Remember - PayPal takes 3% from the seller (you).
7. Sell on eBay
eBay allows you to reach a pool of buyers that spans the globe. You'll have to deal with eBay selling rules and cover their 10% fee once your equipment sells, but in exchange, you get great visibility and a better chance that your equipment sells at a fair price.
Often, buyers are more inclined to purchase from trusted sellers with good ratings. This isn't to say that you can't sell with poor or few ratings, but if you don't sell often or you're selling for the first time, there's a chance that you could be missing out on some buyers willing to spend a little more for confidence and security. Additionally, eBay likes sellers to offer buyers 30 day returns. You can opt for "no returns" but if you've never sold before and lack feedback, many buyers will avoid your listing.
We recommend that you take a lot of pictures and be very thorough in your description. Buyers don't always read everything that you've written, but it's a good insurance policy in the event the buyer demands a refund. eBay will review your listing and use your description as their guide of determining the outcome.
As with any online forum or marketplace, If your buyer isn't local, make sure to use a reputable shipping carrier with tracking, delivery signature and insurance, like UPS or FedEx. Always insure your shipment and if using PayPal - only ship to verified addresses and make sure you follow all of PayPal's guidelines for seller protection. Remember - eBay chargers 10% and PayPal takes an additional 3% from the seller, so plan on fees around 13% plus the cost of shipping.