If it is shotgun stuff, then advertising for sale here or trapshooters.com would be good start. In a metro area the size of Richmond you could have some luck on Craigslist. A local sale could be advantageous due to the cost of shipping. Go to a place like Green Top (or search online) and see what it goes for new. Half to two thirds of new price is about what folks get. Just a few thoughts.

 

Here and trapshooters.com worked extremely well for me. Be sure to post pictures is my advice.

 

Scroll down to the "Other Classified Classifieds" forum on this website and just list the items, with the note that the buyer pays the shipping charges.

 

You might post it on the bulletin board at the local gun clubs. A bit old school but then you don't have to deal with shipping.

 

I have bought and sold reloading equipment using the ebay auction process. That might work better for you since you don't know the value of the items. Value is sometimes a function of the quality of the photos included with the ad. I strongly encourage the best photos.

 

Commissioner, all of the advice given is very good, so I will add only one thing: When setting the price, condition is everything. Most people take good care of their equipment and it's in good shape, but quite often I see presses and tools in horrible condition, covered in rust or dust, broken or missing parts, and usually offered at top dollar. Other times the tools are nice and reasonably clean but have been heavily used (like mine).

Since you are acting on behalf of others, be sure to take that into account when pricing it and setting their expectations of how much it may be worth. Also consider that, depending on age and model, some of these tools may be obsolete but of great value to someone who likes them or needs them for parts. For others, they may be worth nothing because they are old and obsolete.

 

Hello: I would suggest E-Bay. Start with a low price and it will find it's own value or maybe a little more. I would weight the item to get an idea of shipping cost or just charge actual shipping. Good luck on your sale. Thanks, Eric

 

Hello: I would suggest E-Bay. Start with a low price and it will find it's own value or maybe a little more. I would weight the item to get an idea of shipping cost or just charge actual shipping. Good luck on your sale. Thanks, Eric

Good points.
When I last sold a press on Ebay, I first took about 20 pictures.
Then I bolted the press to a piece of plywood that fit the whole bottom of a sturdy box. Then I removed anything that I could to reduce the size of the press.
For a Mec you can tie the handle in the down position.
The pieces that were removed were packed in a box that would fit inside the main box around the press. They were packed with stuff to prevent damage in transit.
The press and other items were all surrounded with bubble wrap and air pillows that I had been saving.
I reinforced the box by adding thick cardboard all around the interior walls and then a thick layer on top of the item. All was done to increase the crush resistance of the carton.

You want to pack the item so that it is obvious that you wanted it to get there in great condition. This would be just like you would hope to get something that you had bought.

All of this was then weighed for adding the shipping weight to the listing.
Ebay auto calculates the shipping for you, but does not add any additional costs of insurance or signature required or other surcharges.

If you go to a UPS hub, the shipping is less than if you use The UPS Stores.
You need to research those costs and add the additional fees as part of the handling fee.
I did not and those fees added about $16.

When you go to write up the listing, be sure to point out any flaws in the item so the buyer will not be unhappy about a surprise.

Be sure to crop all photos to eliminate as much stuff that is not the item for sale as possible.
Use a contrasting background in the photos that will make the item Pop in the photos. Do not use a very light colored background because it will cause the photo to be under exposed by the auto metering.

Describe the item completely and be sure to put any Gauge specs in the item title.

Be sure that you start the item for sale at a time that will allow the auction to end at a time that is convenient for folks across the country. I try to make my stuff finish between 7 and 8 pm on the West coast.
Do not be afraid to place a " Buy It Now" price on the item that is more than you might hope and expect to get, as you might be surprised. This allows people that don't want to wait a way to buy and move on. My last sale, took 6 hours from start to sold and paid.

If you will sell international, avoid any place that is not an ally of the US or any place that was in the soviet Bloc. Fraud is rampant there. I only sell to US buyers for that reason.

 

Craigslist fraud is rampant in my area. Quite often buyers meet sellers and take the item(s) for sale at gunpoint or knifepoint. Just a thought to avoid getting robbed......

 

Thanks to everyone for the positive suggestions and recommendations. These thoughts are really helpful in formulating a strategy to deal with this equipment. I appreciate your time and effort.

 

If you sell on Craigslist, you have to set your own price. On eBay, at least in theory, the market will find the price. However, on eBay, if you use the "advanced" setting and search "completed sales" you can get an idea what similar items actually sold for. This will help you get an idea what the item you are considering listing on Craigslist might be worth. I recently bought a 366 on Craigslist and resold it with pricing I gleaned from the eBay advanced/completed listing feature.

 

Hello: One thing I don't like about Craigslist is that someone will know you have reloading equipment so they may think you have guns as well. Something to think about. Thanks, Eric

 

^^Which way do you go with this? Assume since someone will assume you have guns they will try to steal them, or they will be fearful you will use them if they try?

 

^^Which way do you go with this? Assume since someone will assume you have guns they will try to steal them, or they will be fearful you will use them if they try?

Hello: You pick. Thanks, Eric

 

I have bought a number of presses on E-Bay and feel I good a good (not great but good) deal on all. From a buyers point if view:
I would not look twice at a listing that did not have good clear photos.
If someone said "near new condition" then the photos better back that up.
If the description said used but good operable condition and the photos indicated that, my thought was "honest seller."
If the description said "I don't reload, not exactly sure how it works, as is" I lost interest.
People know charge bars are around $15 apiece and powder bushings are $3-4 each. If the press includes several of each be sure to say so and list their sizes.

 

Hello: One thing I don't like about Craigslist is that someone will know you have reloading equipment so they may think you have guns as well. Something to think about. Thanks, Eric

I always meet people for this type of sale in a public/well used parking lot.

Steve

 

Just as easy to rob someone at a public/well used parking lot as anywhere else. Location never determines safety, ever.

 

Locally a couple of the police depts. have suggested people meet in their parking lots, after a couple of rip offs. One I don't remember which even has a couple of parking spaces with cameras reserved for Craig list dealing.
Same reason people no longer are posting death notices in the newspapers, low life's rip the houses off during the funerals.

 

A camera merely records events after the fact. Do you really want to go to the hospital over the sale of used reloading equipment?

 

I still think that reloading should have its own classifieds instead of getting lost in "other".

 

If one of the items is a Hornady 366 in 20 ga. I would be interested.
So one place you should list is here on Shotgunworld.

 

This is a very honorable and nobel effort to help the family. Should you need any help with the photos or posting, please let us know how we may be able to assist. Best wishes in your efforts for the family.

 

Commisioner was kind enough to send me a partial inventory and they are all quality tools on the list.

Much of it is for metallic, but some shotshell, and he said the list was only a sample, there is more.

 

I appreciate everyone's input and efforts on my behalf. It appears that a business associate of the deceased has offered to purchase all of the reloading and bullet casting equipment as a single deal. It looks as though the family is going to take it. There is a lot of scrap lead for bullet casting in the inventory and this needs to be cleaned up. So, a single deal for everything rather than "piece mealing" everything out is good. I am standing by to assist if necessary. But, thank you again I appreciate everyone's interest and time.