Why/How used mills hold there value

[tnaz]

Other than a couple fire arms, everything I own has lost value over the years.  Chevy truck with dura-max is valued at half what I paid, 10 year old boat valued at half what I paid for it, tractor 1/2, everything depreciates but not at portable sawmill, Why?

Terry

If "I" buy a new mill tomorrow next week it will be worth 1/2; just my luck!!!

[rjwoelk]

Just got to look at the market and see which one is holding its value, look after it and you will be okay. 

[Magicman]

Yes, WM just like all other sawmills will take an initial "new price" hit, but after that the price will stabilize.  My sawmill is worth as much or more than I paid for it 14 years ago.

[Chuck White]

Since I've had my sawmill, I've done a few upgraded and mods to it, and all of the routing maintenance!

At this point, I would not sell it for what I paid for it (used) back in 2008, as a matter of fact, I would be asking an additional $7,000.00 - $8,000.00 more than I paid for the mill alone and everything I have, sawmill related would go as one package!

[red]

Just good mills properly maintained and cared for. Most vehicles are brutally abused .

[ozarkgem]

I will triple my money on my mill when I sell it. Course I have done a lot of mods to it.

[tnaz]

With what has been said I guess one would be wise to invest in used portable sawmills because with inflation you will always come out ahead. :D

As for my search for a used mill, used are hard to find. 

Thanks for the replies,

Terry

[WV Sawmiller]

tnaz,

   That was a factor when I bought my mill last year knowing it should keep its value. All the others I had checked on when shopping seemed to have held their value well.

   Good used tractors also seem to hold their value well based on what I see the current selling price and comparing to original selling price.

    Of course the one thing that has likely increased in value in the 39 years I have had her is my wife. Then again - I have invested a lot in maintenance, training and such. I even bought her a new mule for our 20th wedding anniversary (I am just too good to that woman!). :D

[4x4American]

I was at the WM dealer a few weeks back and they had a 70 there that looked like it musta been through hell and back.  Looking at it from afar I would have guess it was 6-8 years old.  Nope.  It was a 2014 model year with very little hours.  I wanna say it had maybe under 100 hrs.  And looking at it, the WM tech who was taking care of me said some people don't know the difference between use and abuse.  The guy who owned it must've been an animal.

[Magicman]

Chances are the owner was not the operator/sawyer. 

[tnaz]

WV Sawmiller  :D :D :D

Thanks for all the replies,  and yes its sad to see anything abused.  Farmers around me a very hard on pick-ups.

Terry

[Brucer]

For mills that are only used part-time, the biggest cause of depreciation is age, not engine hours.

What drives the price down is the relative cost of a brand-new mill. New mills will have improved features; some of the optional accessories are now standard; and the price may have come down since you bought yours. Why would someone pay 80% of new price for a used mill, when the new mill has more and better features?

Once the mill has depreciated to a certain point, the price tends to stabilize. It's just far enough below the current "new" price that it will attract the sort of buyers who really want a sawmill but just can't afford/justify the price of a new one.

[hacknchop]

Took my chainsaw in for set up after couple weeks tech says to me what did you do break it in with an axe ;) ;)

[Chop Shop]

When I was looking for a MD, used mobiles from the 70s were selling for as much or more than they cost when new.


A savvy consumer can always find a deal under market value and then depreciation is not a concern.

Most of the equipment I have got I could sell for a profit if I desired.

[longtime lurker]

Unless it's sitting in the weather lightly used equipment - after the initial just left the showroom floor hit - tends to hold value mostly because the price of new ones keeps going up.

And the simple reality is that most mills are very lightly used: they get dragged out on weekends when the weather is nice and chop a log or three then get put back to bed for another week or three. its hard to wear out a machine doing 100 hours a year.