"Backyarders" and where to buy used equipment

G

GearHead36

Well-Known Member
I learned something from Taryl today. In a recent video, he had a riding mower from a customer who bought it from a "backyarder" as he called them. Which is, someone who flips mowers in their back yard. That mower was a basket case. It needed a LOT of work. It looked like it had been fixed just enough to get it to run just long enough to sell it. I really thought that "backyarders" were a good place to get a used mower, and I've directed buyers toward places like this. Taryl had another mower that came from an auction, and it needed a lot of work, too. I have no delusions about auction machinery, though. My Pro Z came from an auction, and I knew it was a basket case when I bought it.

I won't be sending buyers to "backyarders" any more. I'm not a big fan of OPE dealerships either. I've been burned by them, too. I'm able to fix up machinery, so I don't get burned by hidden problems on OPE. But for people who don't know how to repair OPE, and are looking for a good used machine, where do you guys send them?
 
At least in my area the backyarders and the stuff at the auctions all have the same issues. For what they are selling at and what it takes to repair them are not cost effective. No money left in profit to flip.

Example. JD Z950A sold at auction last month near me. Description was needs new motor. No indication of hours, and battery was dead. But otherwise looked in good shape. Other than engine area was buried in dead material so most likely never been blown out or cleaned. This mower has the Kawasaki FX850 in it. This mower from other auction research is selling for around $4200 in running condition. Sold for $1600.
 
Its the old "buy low sell high" formula. I do as much pre buy testing as possible...cylinder leak down, condition of the deck from the blade side, leaking seals, pulley check, before I make a counter offer. Parts prices have skyrocketed in recent years so I price out parts prior to making a counter offer........I don't fall in love with one nor do I get in a hurry. And......I expect to get burnt about half the time.
 
bartles said:
Its the old "buy low sell high" formula. I do as much pre buy testing as possible...cylinder leak down, condition of the deck from the blade side, leaking seals, pulley check, before I make a counter offer. Parts prices have skyrocketed in recent years so I price out parts prior to making a counter offer........I don't fall in love with one nor do I get in a hurry. And......I expect to get burnt about half the time.
Click to expand...
Seems like in my area lately. It is Mowers that are worth $200 are selling for $200 and still need $600 worth of work.
 
ILENGINE said:
Seems like in my area lately. It is Mowers that are worth $200 are selling for $200 and still need $600 worth of work.
Click to expand...
This would not be bad for a homeowner. $800 for a running rider in good shape... not bad. For a business trying to make a profit, you're not going to see much profit if you're into the machine for $800. I bought a basket case of a CC Pro Z for $2000. I may have overpaid, but it sold new for >$9000, and it was exactly what I wanted. If I were wanting a machine to flip, I would have passed on it.
 
Flea market and backyard sellers along with auctions seldom let you really check out a machine before purchase. If they avoid letting me give it a good test run evaluation, so I walk away.

Too many people are referencing the internet and think they can demand at least 50% of new retail prices and that is insane, especially if it has many hours on it.

The used market has tanked in recent years due to all the bad new ones flooding the market. They are no longer made to be repaired or "saved".

Engineers are designing them to fail faster than ever, and I will stand by that statement.

I have 1980's "flat head" equipment that can still run circle around the modern stuff because it has been maintained.

In our "throw it away society", engineers are feeding he fire.
 
we are in the Looney state. Here they banned any new hydrocarbon engine that is under 25 HP. As a result, there are a plethora of backyarders running around snatching up every thing used for sale, cleaning it, and then flipping it. The only things not selling are the small tractors and older rideable mowers because in a city the lots are generally too small for them. Gasoline is close to $7 a gallon and diesel is in the $8.50 neighborhood - so driving to rural counties to pick up stuff there is too expensive.
 
sgkent said:
we are in the Looney state. Here they banned any new hydrocarbon engine that is under 25 HP. As a result, there are a plethora of backyarders running around snatching up every thing used for sale, cleaning it, and then flipping it. The only things not selling are the small tractors and older rideable mowers because in a city the lots are generally too small for them. Gasoline is close to $7 a gallon and diesel is in the $8.50 neighborhood - so driving to rural counties to pick up stuff there is too expensive.
Click to expand...
There has to be enough profit after buying the equipment, parts cost, and labor to make it worthwhile. Often, low end riding mowers have little profit when buying, repairing and selling. Zero turn mowers and ATVs and UTVs offer more gross profit potential.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top