Buying and selling
Chris Mulcahy
cspaced@gmail.com
Buying and selling helicopters is a large part of our hobby. Although there is nothing better than opening a box with a new model inside, there is plenty to be said for getting a good deal on a used one.
Selling a model can be equally satisfying, and brings its own set of challenges. I’ve purchased and sold many models throughout the years, and I thought I would share what I have learned along the way.
Many people consider buying a used RC helicopter a risky gamble—you just never know what you will end up with. If you are smart about it, however, you should come out of the deal with what you expected.
There are two ways to buy a used model. The first is in person, and is generally the better way. Nothing equals being able to touch the model you are interested in buying. You also have the seller’s undivided attention, and you can quiz him or her about the model.
Useful questions to ask might be, “How many flights do you think it has had?” or “Has it ever been crashed?” A more obvious question would be, “Is there anything wrong with it?”
Seeing the model in person gives you the chance to inspect it from nose to tail. Does the main gear show any sign of excessive wear? Do the servos move back and forth without skipping any teeth? Do the head and tail turn freely? Does the swashplate travel freely? Basically, does everything that is supposed to move do so, and everything that is not supposed to move stay put?
Often, the seller will offer to demonstrate it for you so that you can see it in action. You can inspect every nut and gear, and be sure that what you are buying is exactly what is being advertised.
Where can you buy and sell models in person? Fly-ins are great places to start. I don’t think I’ve ever been to a fly-in where there wasn’t a model for sale. It’s usually a laid-back atmosphere, and deals can be struck without any pressure. I prefer this setting for buying and/or selling a model, because both parties are usually knowledgeable about the deal at hand.
Another great place to buy and/or sell a model is at a local swap meet. Many RC clubs organize swap meets throughout the year, and it can be a great place to either increase or decrease your fleet. You can check with local RC clubs to find out where and when the swap meets occur.
They are generally held at some sort of large public facility such as an indoor gym, and they usually draw decent crowds. Tables are crammed in the space from wall to wall, and will likely need to be booked in advance (they sell out quickly).
You never know what you will find at a swap meet. Sometimes it will be the little gem you are looking for, but much of the time it will be something that isn’t worth much
of anything to anyone. You take the good with the bad, and sift through until you find what you are looking for. It’s also a great opportunity to catch up with flying buddies, and maybe meet some friends along the way.
Buying and Selling Online
I’ve always had great success buying and selling online, but it can be something of a minefield sometimes when trying to navigate through the inevitable scams. A good place to start is a public auction website, such as eBay. There are pros and cons to using such a site. The pros are that you can get a fairly good feel for bidders or sellers based on the kind of feedback that they’ve received. The more positive bids they have, the more at rest your mind will be. If potential buyers or sellers have negative feedback, it’s probably a safe bet to steer clear of them.
The downside for these types of websites is that they will charge you for selling your items through them, and depending on the price, that can be a big chunk of change. Additional fees will be incurred if you use an online payment site, so you must take all of these charges into account ahead of time.
The alternative is to directly target the RC community by using the free services offered by many of the online forums. It is important to note that, unlike the big auction sites that charge for their services, you will have little recourse if the deal goes awry on the RC forums, so you need to shop smart. The forums will sometimes have some sort of feedback system too, so this is the first thing to check.
If I am buying something, I will ask for the seller’s telephone number so that we can discuss it in person. If there is anything particular I want to see on the model, but can’t see in photos, I will ask for a better photo of that particular part. It may feel like you are harassing the seller, but it’s usually no trouble for them if you are seriously interested in the model.
Go with your gut feeling. Don’t feel pressured to get a smoking deal if it doesn’t feel right—there will always be another!
The same rings true for selling a model online. Be prepared for the usual bartering. People will always offer you far less than you are asking, and you will get a lot of “tire kickers” who ask quite a few questions and then disappear. Your target buyer will be the person who knows exactly what he or she is looking at and what it is worth.
How do you figure out what it is worth? Browse the forums for similar models and see what they are selling for. You can always pose the question to your peers on the forums for pricing advice. Be specific about your payment terms. Online payment forms usually include PayPal or a money order.
After a deal has been struck, take care to correctly package the model. With helicopters, you can remove the boom and main rotor head to reduce the shipping box size. Make sure everything is protected and wrapped sufficiently before placing it into the shipping box, and add some padding to ensure it doesn’t shift. Taking a little care during packaging will go a long way for your buyer.
You can use online shipping sites to estimate your shipping cost based on the size and weight of your package. This is good to do ahead of time so that you can figure in your shipping costs when placing your ad.
Buying and selling can be enjoyable and rewarding. You merely have to keep your wits about you and do your research. Good luck!
SOURCES:
International Radio Controlled Helicopter Association (IRCHA)
www.ircha.org
