What Sells: Skis & Snowboards
Skiing & Snowboarding
All types of gear for downhill and cross-country skiing and snowboarding are sold
online, including skis, snowboards, boots, bindings, goggles and jackets. Autumn
is when the buyers are out in force; items sold later in the season or during spring
and summer often sell for less money.
What Sells
Top-selling brands include:
Generally, older “straight skis” are no longer in demand, regardless of condition.
Research Resources
ABC of Skiing website has a glossary, photos and descriptions of equipment, and
more. Visit the website at http://www.abc-of-skiing.com/.
Cable sports channel EXPN has a snowboard glossary. Visit the website at http://expn.go.com/glossary/snb/.
Vintage Ski World has photos and historical information about antique skis and collectibles.
Visit the website at http://www.vintageskiworld.com/.
Condition
Look for these signs of wear and tear:
- Scratches and gouges
- Dull or jagged metal edges (burrs)
- Cracks, split and warped wood
- Rust
- Missing parts
Ask the owner how the item was stored and when it was last tuned (waxed/sharpened).
Be sure to determine if skis and boots are DIN compliant. DIN — Deutsche Industrie
Normen (German industrial standards organization) sets standards for many things,
among them alpine ski binding release settings and boot soles. (One DIN standard
relates to the shape of boots as they fit into bindings.) The term “DIN” is typically
used to refer to the binding release values when relating to alpine skiing. Absence
of compliance will adversely affect demand for the equipment from ski enthusiasts.
Key Details
Include these details in your listing:
- Brand
- Model name/number
- Type of item
- Brand names of accessories (bindings, etc.)
- Size
- Age (if known)
Storage and Shipping
Skis and snowboards can be costly to ship, due to their size and shape.
If a hard fiberglass case is available, use it to store and ship gear. If a soft
cloth case is provided, use it to store the gear.
For shipment of gear with bindings attached, you will need to have a custom box
or crate made to protect items during shipment. It’s best to determine the packing
and shipping method in advance and to include an estimate of the total shipping
and handling cost in your listing.
For skis and boards without bindings and poles use a sturdy cardboard box either
custom made to fit or fashion one out of two or more boxes.
For boots, bindings, goggles and related accessories and equipment, wrap each item
in bubble wrap and place it in a sturdy cardboard box for shipment.
