How do you price used appliances?

[Connonym]

I've got a 3 year old lawnmower, a Toro with electric start, nice mower. Anyway, they're still selling the exact same model and asking $419 for it. My mower was used 2 summers, second summer was tuned up and blades sharpened and has spent the last year in storage so not used at all. It's in great shape. How do I determine an asking price? I don't want to gouge anyone but I'd like to be sure I don't get screwed by someone low balling me. I'm just not savvy in that regard and I hate to admit it being a devout feminist but in situations involving cars and motors and stuff I feel really intimidated by men.

[casus belli]

1. Your best bet...

is to check for your model on eBay and see what the completed auctions are averaging. That will give a good idea of what to expect and where to start with your pricing, and it's far more reliable than any static numbers you might come across. Once you've figured out a good sell price, decide on an asking price and your lowest sale price and stick to your guns. If you decide your mower is worth 175 bucks, start out asking $200 but don't take any less than $150, etc.

edit: also, unless your mower was winterized before storing it for a year, I wouldn't mention it. While letting a mower sit for a year might seem like a good sales point, it's actually a negative. If not properly stored (oil drained, gas drained, etc) storing it for that long can do some damage.

[Connonym]

3. it was winterized

but maybe I won't mention it

[From The Ashes]

2. If it were my mower...

...given how you've described it, I'd ask for around $300.

[Coyote_Bandit]

4. If I were buying it

I would not pay more than half of the original sales price. Just my rule of thumb for purchasing used equipment of various sorts.

[Connonym]

5. that was sort of my thinking

I'm going to ask for 200 and hope to get 175. One thing I've learned during the awful experience of having my house foreclosed and now trying to sell things I no longer need is that once you get it home all of your expensive crap becomes value-less. I discovered this selling my diamonds and gold, discovered it selling hand carved oak furniture and so on. In some ways I think perhaps I'll end off being more realistic once I finally get my act together. I now realize that happiness doesn't have anything to do with redecorating your living room every couple years or buying $3000 leather sofas. Some stuff I won't scrimp on -- I don't believe in buying cheaply made appliances or cooking stuff but if I have to have the same sofa, same kitchen table, same bed for the rest of my life I can live with that. Who gives a fuck if my furniture is out of fashion? Actually I know a bunch of family and friends who will mock and say it reflects poorly on a woman of my age to have hand me down furniture but I simply no longer give a fuck.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

6. good for you!

Not caring what others think is a big step!

Good cooking pots and equipment are important.