Remember a couple of years ago when I asked for opinions on lawnmowers, and I ended up obeying the wife and got a Toro powered-drive one? Well, I still haven’t gotten rid of the two 5.5 (or is it 6?) hp Craftsman mowers in the shed.
So here’s the deal: I had the mowers maintained annually. Since I bought the Toro they haven’t been started. I want to put them on Craigslist, saying that they haven’t been started in three years and will need to be serviced. Both come with rear-end bags for the clippings. One has never been used, and the other has been used only once (maybe twice). When the bags are not used, they’re mulching mowers. At least one of them has a new blade. I think they were $135 new, but a cursory look showed that currently, similar mowers (they go by displacement now instead of horsepower) are nearly $200. Around here, annual servicing costs about $50 for the tune-up, cleaning the carburetor, etc.
So: In Your Humble Opinion, how much should I ask for them? I was thinking $60 each, or $100 for the pair.
I also have a Craftsman reel mower that’s been used two or three times. Very nice, but I tend to let the grass get too high and power mowers are better. What should I ask for that?
If you’re asking my advice, give them to somebody who has a need for them but can’t afford to buy one. Ask around, most people know someone who is having trouble making ends meet.
Unless, of course, you need the money yourself and don’t have it.
There’s a woman down the street we say hello to frequently. Mrs. L.A. suggested she might like the reel mower to replace the one she has (if it needs replacing). I know she’s not exactly rolling in dough. The guy I take the mowers to for maintenance says he donates mowers to needy families. I have no way of verifying that.
But for the purposes of Craigslist, what would you pay for a used mower?
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If I was you, it’d keep one if them for when that Toro fails to start. My current lawnmower is a Toro “Guaranteed to start” and that mother fucking piece of shit never starts.
Buying a used mower that has not been started in 3 years is effectively a buying pig in a poke. Locally I can get a used push mower in good working condition for $100 from a guy who refurbishes them and stands behind his work. I don’t think I would be tempted at all by a Craigslist ad for non-working mowers, even at 2 for $100. It’s just not worth the gamble.
Anecdatum point:
4 years ago I bought a good condition 18" reel mower for $20. Picked it up in a neighbouring town. It retails for $179 new.
Maybe $25 each? I think there are a lot of used mowers out there. Ones that haven’t been started may seem less attractive.
How about you mow your lawn one with each of them then sell them as working mowers?