People are really shy about buying used chains. Unless they say 'STIHL' on them, and offered on eBay. Then they sometimes go for more than retail (once shipping is figured in).
Good market for buyers / scroungers. Bad for sellers. I have gotten some really good deals because I can sharpen, repair, and resize my own chains. Many buyers need the exact pitch/gauge/drive link count, and expect them to be sharp and ready-t0-go for less money than they would pay for a local shop to grind their used chains.
Best options:
- sort the chains at least by pitch and gauge;
- see if you can group some by 'natural' similarities (loop length, brand, full/semi chisel, kickback affiliation, etc.) and condition;
- offer the best chains in lots of 3 to 6 chains (for most users) here in the 'Chainsaw Ads', other sites in their 'Trading Post' forums, on eBay (if you sell there), etc. Just be clear whether they need to be sharpened, and include good photos of the actual chains;
- group less desirable (damaged links, heavily used, less common sizes / types, etc.) in larger 'bargain bundles' (e.g. 'lot of random length 3/8 low profile, reduced kickback chains') at a price where someone willing to put some effort into it could come out with a really good deal after some labor (and take them off your hands);
- put any trashed, or really worn out chains in your metals recycling;
- submit any interesting 'project chains' to Philbert's Chain Challenge thread (it's been slow there lately).
JMHO
Philbert
