Night Vision Thermal monocular -resale value

[shurt]

I sorta know the answer to this question "you're asking too much money", but I'm a little disappointed in the resale value of my Flir LS 64 monocular. I hate to give it away since I know how much money I paid for it. So my question: is it because the advancements in technology? Are there better thermal options? Is it this way with all thermals?

Welcome to the club?

 

[ballistic1]

I believe you are correct in your assessment.
Technology moves quickly..

In the Thermal game, you'd best be prepared to pay to play so to speak..
Much like computer evolution, prices come down as product development advances.

 

[TheGerman]

It doesn't help that things like the Breach have since shown up. Technology moves.

There's also this weird fucking phenomena I can't understand where the second you buy something, people want to give you 70% of its value even if brand new in the box, yet those same idiots would also pay retail for it directly from a store.

 

[Mr_Happyface]

Yeah bruh, get back to me when you own a FLIR M18 Recon in 640.

 

[shurt]

Yeah bruh, get back to me when you own a FLIR M18 Recon in 640.

Sorry bruh .... don't have deep pockets for that!

 

[Dthomas3523]

It doesn't help that things like the Breach have since shown up. Technology moves.

There's also this weird fucking phenomena I can't understand where the second you buy something, people want to give you 70% of its value even if brand new in the box, yet those same idiots would also pay retail for it directly from a store.

For me, it depends on the item. If it’s something that will cost me 3k new, I can save $300 if I buy it from someone LNIB at 90% retail. That’s worth it.

If it’s something that costs me $800, then saving $90 at 90% doesn’t really excite me. I’d probably want to give 70-80% of retail in that situation.

Not to mention I have to trust someone I don’t know that it’s new in box (unless it’s still sealed).


To the OP, it sucks, but the minute you buy something (especially something where rapidly evolving technology is involved), you’re going to take a fairly substantial loss on resale.

 

[Dthomas3523]

Derp.....$80 at 90%. Cause math is hard.

 

[deersniper]

It doesn't help that things like the Breach have since shown up. Technology moves.

There's also this weird fucking phenomena I can't understand where the second you buy something, people want to give you 70% of its value even if brand new in the box, yet those same idiots would also pay retail for it directly from a store.

Idiots?
A store you can lean on if something goes wrong.
Private party not so much.
And a store has a reputation to worry about.

And yeah expect to take a bath on thermal if it is a few years old
I would think it would sell better in the fall versus now.

 

[CBDR]

Tell me about it. My Zeus is now my primary means of scanning. Switched to the PVS-30 for shooting & never looked back. Dam good scanning device.

 

[benzy2]

But let’s look at that device. Flir has trash CS and they don’t honor second owner for the warranty. It’s a few years old, and while nice, electronics tend to have a shorter lifespan than a lot of things. The internal battery may or may not still be good, which won’t be a cheap fix. The breach, if you can deal with 320 res, is much more compact and helmet mountable. Honestly, there is just nothing that appealing to that monocular, especially when some of the newer 640 weapons mountable options are going for at or less than what the LS 64 is going new. If you get more than 50% of your money back it would be a good deal. I had the same thing with an ATN Otis-x. It’s was a fantastic unit with multiple lenses but I knew my realistic sell point would be no more than half what I spent.

I don’t think you’ll see monocular that can’t be either helmet or weapon mounted hold much resale value in the future. Too many people want to not carry the thing that having a mounting option is going to be a big chunk of resale, IMO.

 

[wigwamitus]

My strategy on selling almost anything is to determine my "I'd rather keep it than sell it price" ... and then try to guess the market price It should sell at. I then start with the price set to the market price, and then depending on how much of a hurry I'm in, I drop the price every 2 weeks or so, until it either sells, or I get to the "I'd rather keep it than sell it Price".
I'd say 80% or so of my crap sells within those parameters, about 20% I get to keep. But that gives me a chance to rethink the "I'd rather keep it than sell it" Price, so I'm ready for the next attempt.

 

[softcock]

What is the thermal uncooled Core module life expectancy ?
How old is that particular model ? ( year manufactured )
Is the used model your purchasing still factory serviceable ? . or has it been surpassed by newer models that that company is concentrating there attentions to in service and updates .
.

 

[CBDR]

Wig, your philosophy on keep it or sell is a very good formula. I on the other hand have taken a beating on not so much the thermal side of the house but optics in general. Think I should adopt the keep it mind set. Currently setting on two Swaro's Z3 & a Z6 that I refuse to take a beating on.

 

[texasleftychef]

I think everybody needs to look at this differently. Before I got more into shooting and thermal more specifically I was into golf clubs. This area is like a poor mans version of the shooting sports arena. A really expensive purchase there might be 500 on a new club or shaft. Value there degrades super quickly as the product cycle is faster.

I think if you buy new you have to look at it as being yours for forever and that it is indeed that Holy Grail you have been looking for and expect that it’s going to be part of you forever or close to it. Those willing to do so also shoulder the the burden of having something that is worth very little even on the short run to others. Thermal like all electronics is a short term cycle.

Ultimately unless it’s some sort of classic like a S&B PM II it’s going to devalue quickly. And on the thermal game it just doesn’t really exist.

 

[wigwamitus]

... I on the other hand have taken a beating ...

Yup. I call "the beating" part ... "rent" ... and sometimes the "rent" is high !!

 

[CBDR]

Very well put. Guilty as charged, always chasing the next best thing. Those are traits not all of us are willing to own up to. Self examination of our spending habits / desires often yield less than favorable results. As of 2016 I have curbed my spending to ONE maybe TWO items a year. The more disciplined approach has left me with less remorse. 2018 should prove interesting.