Selling tank and equip...advice on pricing needed

[jmhart]

Pretty soon I'm going to be looking to sell my 30g + stand + 17w All-Glass light + some cleaning equip + some chemicals....basically, everything a beginner needs except a heater, and possibly a filter *.

What I'm wondering is what I should ask for it. We're looking for a little bit of a high number here, cause I'll but it on craigslist, and then someone will talk me down. I was thinking "$100 obo" if I include a filter. If I don't include a filter, "$75 obo". Thoughts?

Next question:If I decide to include a filter, should I include my Whisper PF-60 or my Penquin 330. Both are rated the same. I've had the Whisper forever, and aside from a little bit of an algae problem inside the filter(don't think I can blame the filter), I've never had any problems. I just got the Penquin 6 months ago used. No complaints so far, but it doesn't have the track record with me that the Whisper has.

If I sell the filter, am I going to regret it later, or if I keep it will it just be junk lying around?

Basically, I'm selling what this guy has, except mine actually is a 30g, not a 29, and he's asking $290 for the packagemg:

 

[Plecosterone]

Buy low, Sell high.
I always ask as much as I can, but not enough to not get any response.
The idea is to sell it for as much as you can get BUT sell it.
It really depends on how much you want to sell it and how much you need the money but $100.oo obo doesn't sound unreasonable but then again I live in Canada and everything costs more up here.

 

[jmhart]

If I sell it for $100, I'll use that money to purchase an ADA 60-P. If I sell it for $150 or more, that money will go to a pressurized CO@ system. Maybe I'll ask like $190 obo. As I started thinking about it, I can "clean out" a lot more stuff, and make the package seem really juicy to a beginner. I mean, it will be really juicy to a beginner, but after a year they won't use the stuff any more than I do.

 

[SpockthePuffer]

If you have a wooden stand I would go for a little bit higher, maybe 150? Wooden stands alone cost 100$ If no one replies you can always go lower but its best to start out high. I see 30 gallon tanks for a ton of money on CL sometimes.
Best thing to do is make sure you take pictures. I'm always wary of people advertising tanks with no pictures, they are always very dirty and icky. Even though it can be cleaned people don't want to bother with that.
Make sure you say it can hold water too, thats always important

 

[jmhart]

Thanks for the reminder about pictures. I think, after I remove all the stuff that's not being sold with it, I'll take a picture while there is water still in it, just to show it holds water. A picture of "all the neat stuff" that comes with it will also help.

Here's pushing for $200...."come on, baby needs a new co2 system"

 

[jm1212]

it really depends on the stand you've got.

if its a solid, real-wood stand, then you could probably ask for more than if you had a particle board stand.

 

[jmhart]

Yeah, it's MDF with oak laminate, $200 might be out of reach, but after looking on CL around here, I don't think "$200 obo" is out of reach.

 

[Reddog80p]

$200 sounds real high to me. I often look in classifieds or on CL for good deals. I've gotten a 55 w/ stand and filter for $100 bucks. Some ppl wont even call you/email you if the tank isn't around the $1/gallon price. I think @ $100 you would sell the tank, keep the filter put it on another tank. A backup will save you, I run 2 filters on all my tanks. You can also cycle the filter and include it in the sale for a resonable price.

 

[kj5kb]

Jeffrey...what would YOU pay for it? Then add bargaining room...say 20-30%.

IMHO, these help the sale:
--Complete system, nothing to add except water, fish and maybe gravel
( I wouldn't buy a heater just to sell it tho, unless you find one on sale)
--CLEAN, no limescale stains, no water spots, not dusty, etc. this includes the lights/filters, etc too.
--ready to move; empty, dry, accessories in one or two boxes, NOT loose inside the tank.
--no dirty filter media! at least 1 clean,new set of media in the filter...or none at all.

I like my whisper 60 too, simple, cheap, but it works well. I think I'd let the penguin go with it, and buy a whisper 40 or 60 for the next tank...only one media to buy.

I think you were right on target with the pricing...maybe $100-120'ish with filter if it's pristine.

I'd omit the obo, seems that haggling is alive and well among craigslist buyers, so the person may already be planning to offer you less for it.

You can always edit the ad in a week or two and lower the price if you get no hits.