Sell whole or part them out

[461saw]

Hey everyone.
I first want to thank you all for always providing great feedback on anything related to chainsaws. I have been benefiting from this forum for years. I am a chainsaw collector and currently have a rather large collection. Through my years of collecting I have a lot of saws that are not complete, most came from buying large lots through different suppliers. My question is regarding the parts. I am running out of space and need to start unloading alot of these saws. Most of the saws I own are pro grade. Parts are expensive and getting harder to find. Do I sell the saws complete or sell each part individually. I have seen some part saws bring 3-350$ on eBay. I’m hoping some members here can offer guidance. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. For example. Lots of parts mainly for 360/361/361/044/046/460/440/441/066/660/661

 

[Franny K]

Parts are expensive and getting harder to find.

Lots of parts mainly for 360/361/361/044/046/460/440/441/066/660/661

Are you familiar with the aftermarket parts for a bunch of those models I quoted?

 

[461saw]

Are you familiar with the aftermarket parts for a bunch of those models I quoted?

I’m not very familiar with those parts. I wasn’t sure if it’s easier to sell as a whole saw for parts or turn this into a little part time gig and sell each part individually. Always wondering which would be more lucrative. I see people paying crazy money for a saw that doesn’t work, just not sure it’s work the extra work. Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[altatim]

Selling these things is a long-term commitment. Everything will sell, but how fast and for how much is always a gamble. If you want to sell online through places like the bay, you might get more money but you also have to deal with a lot of potentially tough customers. Almost better to sell for the best you can in the largest quantities you can unless you want to do it as a part time job.

 

[irhunter]

I'd say, pick two saws...any two. Sell one whole, and one in parts, on Ebay...and, decide which you like doing.

There are plenty of sellers on Ebay who seem to like doing one approach or the other.

On the other hand, my impression is that, selling on Ebay is considered by many to be a Royal PIA. Fees, policies, buyers.

Roy

 

[irhunter]

And, while you're at it, try selling two (one whole, one not) on this site!

 

[461saw]

I'd say, pick two saws...any two. Sell one whole, and one in parts, on Ebay...and, decide which you like doing.

There are plenty of sellers on Ebay who seem to like doing one approach or the other.

On the other hand, my impression is that, selling on Ebay is considered by many to be a Royal PIA. Fees, policies, buyers.

Roy

I appreciate the feedback. Thats a good idea and worth trying. I’m starting to get overwhelmed with saws that might only need a couple things to get them going, just don’t have the time. I have a very flexible job and could easily turn this into a side gig. I’m also a hoarder and most of the saws I have are pro grade saws that are hard to replace. I guess I wanted to hear it from others that have more knowledge than I do on this type of stuff. I see a lot of sellers on eBay parting out and selling each item. It’s shocking the kind of money these parts are bringing. I know this might be a hard question to answer, does it benefit me to wait and see where the market is headed with these older saws? I have noticed a drop in value on a lot of saws recently. I could be wrong also. Thanks again.

 

[david newbie]

I’ve sold both parts and parts saws. It’s a lot of fuss and work to sell parts, although you might make more money. Plus, it’s a very sad situation to end. A potentially useful saw’s life

 

[wcorey]

I'm somewhat in the same situation but have been putting off doing anything about it hoping to have more time as I wind down into retirement.
I unfortunately seem to find it easier and more fun accumulating saws rather than dispersing them...
Getting overwhelmed by the shear volume I have and at the same time struggling to maintain interest in it as a hobby, particularly since what was a fairly active gtg/social scene has pretty much disappeared here in the northeast since covid.

I have quite a few saws apart in boxes that were acquired complete and I disassembled to go over and found the need for small stuff like seals, bearings, carb kits, etc, then eventually I forget what's needed and there they still sit. Learned after some time not to do that and just leave them whole until I'm committed to seeing it through, lol. Then given enough time I forget the status of many of the whole saws...

I'm also very much wondering how the development of battery saws as well as all the cheap chicom knock off stuff will effect the desirability of used older gas saws going forward and whether delaying another few years is a good idea. To compound things even more, saws are just part of the same issue, there's also all the other hobby's I accumulate stuff around and go in and out of over time, various vehicles/motorcycles for just one example.

As already said here, there's no one answer as to selling stuff, everything has tradeoffs.
Whole saws locally is easiest but obviously a limited market, I could saturate the local market and likely even the collective ope forums overnight, lol.
Whole running saws online seems to attract a lot of scammers but also brings a decent return $ wise. Can be time consuming chasing down parts and flakey issues on marginal runners though.
Whole non runners is easy and safer as far as people/idiots/scammers being able to say the saw doesn't run right or won't start but not the best $ return.
Parts is where you typically get the best overall return but is a pain with so many transactions and you get stuck with a lot of misc stuff that just doesn't move.
Selling in large lots is easiest of all but very limited market and you take a real beating on $ return.

From my experience watching others go through this, there's a sequence. Basically cherry pick the good/desirable/easy stuff first as individual sales, then eventually sell in larger and larger lots/piles toward the end. Then accumulate more because you can't help it and start the whole sequence over again, lol.

Side note, I've noticed a trend where ebay sellers more or less sell runners as non runners seemingly to avoid dealing with idiots and scammers, that seems telling...
"Runs but selling as a parts saw..."

 

[461saw]

I'm somewhat in the same situation but have been putting off doing anything about it hoping to have more time as I wind down into retirement.
I unfortunately seem to find it easier and more fun accumulating saws rather than dispersing them...
Getting overwhelmed by the shear volume I have and at the same time struggling to maintain interest in it as a hobby, particularly since what was a fairly active gtg/social scene has pretty much disappeared here in the northeast since covid.

I have quite a few saws apart in boxes that were acquired complete and I disassembled to go over and found the need for small stuff like seals, bearings, carb kits, etc, then eventually I forget what's needed and there they still sit. Learned after some time not to do that and just leave them whole until I'm committed to seeing it through, lol. Then given enough time I forget the status of many of the whole saws...

I'm also very much wondering how the development of battery saws as well as all the cheap chicom knock off stuff will effect the desirability of used older gas saws going forward and whether delaying another few years is a good idea. To compound things even more, saws are just part of the same issue, there's also all the other hobby's I accumulate stuff around and go in and out of over time, various vehicles/motorcycles for just one example.

As already said here, there's no one answer as to selling stuff, everything has tradeoffs.
Whole saws locally is easiest but obviously a limited market, I could saturate the local market and likely even the collective ope forums overnight, lol.
Whole running saws online seems to attract a lot of scammers but also brings a decent return $ wise. Can be time consuming chasing down parts and flakey issues on marginal runners though.
Whole non runners is easy and safer as far as people/idiots/scammers being able to say the saw doesn't run right or won't start but not the best $ return.
Parts is where you typically get the best overall return but is a pain with so many transactions and you get stuck with a lot of misc stuff that just doesn't move.
Selling in large lots is easiest of all but very limited market and you take a real beating on $ return.

From my experience watching others go through this, there's a sequence. Basically cherry pick the good/desirable/easy stuff first as individual sales, then eventually sell in larger and larger lots/piles toward the end. Then accumulate more because you can't help it and start the whole sequence over again, lol.

Side note, I've noticed a trend where ebay sellers more or less sell runners as non runners seemingly to avoid dealing with idiots and scammers, that seems telling...
"Runs but selling as a parts saw..."

Thank you for taking the time and providing the specifics, that very helpful. I was concerned with alot of the stuff you mentioned. I don’t want to deal with people saying this isn’t working or it’s in back condition when selling online. I like the idea of selling the machine as a whole parts unit. I need to give more thought to this and start somehow where cause I am running out of space. I have my collector saws that are not for sale and I have my parts collection that is ready for the highest bidder. Haha. I appreciate everyone’s feedback and will keep everyone posted.