Buying Blind

[studboyraceco]

Hey All,
I searched for awhile and couldn't find the info I need. I'm considering buying an sj that's well out of driving distance so the deal would have to go down sight unseen, and I know from experience pictures don't always tell the whole story (drove 8 hours EACH way with a buddy who was going to buy a ski that looked clean in pictures only to find impact damage and a HOLE in the hood!)

Basically, I just want to know what steps to take and what questions to ask to make sure I'm getting the deal I expect, and how do deals typically go down when buying something in the forums?

Thanks to everyone in advance!

 

[suva]

Make sure to ask specifically about EVERYTHING that could be damaged, and if someone says something is a little scratched, cracked, etc have them take pictures of the specific area(s) so you can judge for youself. If you go to look at a ski and they lied about the condition/title or whatever beat them to a pulp for wasting your time and money, jerks like that need to be taught manually.

 

[JetManiac]

I drove from orlando to long island to buy my ski. I asked for lots of pics. I blew them up and looked everything over first. I knew the overall condition before I left. Ask lots of questions...

 

[doitone]

You live in Michigan, Theres water every where! I would hold out and find a ski locally. I personally would not buy a ski for some random joe, especially if I had not rode or seen the ski in person! But thats just my 2 cents!

 

[SkiNaked]

Buying a ski you have not seen is a crapshoot. Sometime you win, sometime you crap out.

 

[Borderguy]

Just a thought, why not post up and see if someone else from the site that lives close by could go check it out for you. Definately cant hurt. Still a crapshoot if they are in on it with the seller, but better than nothin.

 

[superrob750]

Here are 2 in MI
http://www.x-h2o.com/threads/58252
http://www.x-h2o.com/threads/58174

 

[QuickMick]

Im in Texas, I bought my ski from Alabama from a fellow X member. There was pleanty of other X members that had saw and even ridden the ski and everyone agreed the ski was in great shape.

deal gone well. I believe it was about a 4 or 5 member effort to get the ski delivered to my house.

 

[smoofers]

I bought my SN off of craigslist and only saw 4 crappy pictures, but I talked with the owner quite a bit on the phone and pretty much new exactly what I was getting. Granted, I only paid $450 for it so I was pleased no matter what...

 

[blaster800]

heres another ski local to you http://www.x-h2o.com/threads/57558

 

[kevbo]

Never pay too much for a used ski unless your sure its perfect. In the past it was easy to find used standups with very little use. Now with the lack of new production and the popularity of barrel rolls its hard to find an old ski thats not garbage. You need to be able to do a tap test on the hull, especially if its been painted. Always figure in an engine overhaul because most older skis will have rusty cranks.

 

[Mile9c1]

Expect problems.