austinmplocher Posted March 14, 2018 Report Share Posted March 14, 2018 Have you guys ever successfully had someone do a gear appraisal for you? I've got a pretty big spreadsheet of gear, mixers/recorders, booms, wireless, etc. I'd like appraised and haven't had any luck going thru the expected channels here in NY, Gotham and Pro Sound. Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Toline Posted March 14, 2018 Report Share Posted March 14, 2018 I would suggest totaling the new replacement costs of everything and work from there, assuming it's for insurance coverage. There are many variables to be considered such as age, condition, used market prices, analog or digital, etc, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronFilm Posted March 15, 2018 Report Share Posted March 15, 2018 8 hours ago, Eric Toline said: I would suggest totaling the new replacement costs of everything and work from there, assuming it's for insurance coverage. Even if it is older gear such as say a 552 or original MixPre or Lectro 200 series?! Some of those are not even sold any longer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Toline Posted March 15, 2018 Report Share Posted March 15, 2018 1 hour ago, IronFilm said: Even if it is older gear such as say a 552 or original MixPre or Lectro 200 series?! Some of those are not even sold any longer. In that case check the used gear listings on dealers websites or Ebay and see what they are selling for. Just because they are no longer made does not mean they don't have a value. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonG Posted March 16, 2018 Report Share Posted March 16, 2018 I'd say looking at consignment prices or prices on our WTB/FS section may help. Usually people have a good idea of what is selling for what price because they are active in the community, and buy/sell fairly regularly, so most people wouldn't need appraisal service. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
austinmplocher Posted March 16, 2018 Author Report Share Posted March 16, 2018 I think I've been misunderstood. Sure, I'd do fine selling off a piece of gear. A couple mixers and I are going into business together and need to accurately be able to acknowledge the assets we're bringing in. We've got a large spreadsheet with four tabs of long gear lists. We'd like to avoid sifting through the WTB/FS section or eBay to assess each and figured a retailer, especially one with a used section, would have the tools to do this better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Toline Posted March 16, 2018 Report Share Posted March 16, 2018 12 minutes ago, austinmplocher said: I think I've been misunderstood. Sure, I'd do fine selling off a piece of gear. A couple mixers and I are going into business together and need to accurately be able to acknowledge the assets we're bringing in. We've got a large spreadsheet with four tabs of long gear lists. We'd like to avoid sifting through the WTB/FS section or eBay to assess each and figured a retailer, especially one with a used section, would have the tools to do this better. Ok, try this. Everyone make a list of the new cost of all their gear then deduct 25% for wear & tear, age, etc. That should put you in the ballpark. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
austinmplocher Posted March 16, 2018 Author Report Share Posted March 16, 2018 Thanks Eric. We've done that for the sake of projections, but, we're looking for a more detailed version. Maybe that's not as achievable as we'd thought? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Toline Posted March 16, 2018 Report Share Posted March 16, 2018 15 minutes ago, austinmplocher said: Thanks Eric. We've done that for the sake of projections, but, we're looking for a more detailed version. Maybe that's not as achievable as we'd thought? I'm out of suggestions. IMO I think you're over complicating the issue. Good luck on finding a solution that works for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Constantin Posted March 16, 2018 Report Share Posted March 16, 2018 If you can’t find the prices online, your best bet maybe to sit everyone around a table and lookat every piece of gear and settle on a value through discussion. That way nobody can complain about something being over-/undervalued, because you all basically appraised it yourselves and everyone agreed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Blankenship Posted March 19, 2018 Report Share Posted March 19, 2018 Talk to your insurance agent and determine value based on what the coverage includes. Is it replacement value or depreciated value? Respectfully, if none of the principles in this venture know how to value assets, you're likely getting in over your collective heads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
austinmplocher Posted March 20, 2018 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2018 Depreciated value. I think there's some forum lost-in-translation happening here or something. We're competent in assessing our values. I thought it was pretty clear in my OP that my intention was to ask if anyone had had a gear appraisal done and for feedback on the experience. I guess not. Constantin, certainly agree with your input. Though laborious with 500+ items, this may be our best bet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonMoore Posted March 20, 2018 Report Share Posted March 20, 2018 Thanks for looking into this, Austin. I thought I remembered Rich Topham at Pro Sound doing appraisals back in the day. I'm not sure what he charged, but I imagine it was pretty reasonable. The goal here is finding an objective 3rd party to appraise gear based off a list that has purchase dates and current cosmetic condition, to value a the equipment portion of a company's value (as well as accurate insurance reasons). Self appraisal isn't necessarily objective. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ronmac Posted March 20, 2018 Report Share Posted March 20, 2018 9 minutes ago, jonmoore said: Self appraisal isn't necessarily objective. Not to pee in your cereal, but if you and your partners can't be objective in the many, many business decisions you will be faced with...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Blankenship Posted March 20, 2018 Report Share Posted March 20, 2018 Ok, get it... It sounds like basically you just need an objective third party with the expertise to sign off on your numbers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonMoore Posted March 20, 2018 Report Share Posted March 20, 2018 10 minutes ago, ronmac said: Not to pee in your cereal, but if you and your partners can't be objective in the many, many business decisions you will be faced with...... I was eating cereal when I read this, thanks for the visual ! Hah. You're right. We trust each other enough to properly appraise, but would prefer to hire out this task. And as John said, to have someone sign off on it. 11 minutes ago, John Blankenship said: Ok, get it... It sounds like basically you just need an objective third party with the expertise to sign off on your numbers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ronmac Posted March 20, 2018 Report Share Posted March 20, 2018 Gotcha. What time is lunch? I have several suitable quips ready. Best of luck on your new venture. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Feeley Posted March 20, 2018 Report Share Posted March 20, 2018 On 3/14/2018 at 8:26 AM, austinmplocher said: haven't had any luck going thru the expected channels here in NY, Gotham and Pro Sound. Austin, any idea why they didn't want to do the appraisal? Concerns about liability, just don't want the hassle (even if you paid them for their time at something like their hourly repair rate), or what? Why do you want the appraisal? For insurance purposes, to establish how much $$/gear each person is contributing to the effort? Is the idea that you want a third party to give number that will stand up to scrutiny from insurers? Anyway, perhaps try an out-of-town reseller/rental house? I'm thinking someone like Trew who's big enough to perhaps have enough staff to have the bandwidth to take on the project for the right fee. Or maybe your insurance broker can recommend someone? Sorry I don't have much to offer... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RPSharman Posted March 21, 2018 Report Share Posted March 21, 2018 This is a pretty crazy topic. I think anyone who has been in the business for a while knows the resale value of the gear they have. Just agree to a number on each piece of gear, and move on. I did it when I needed to have a value for my gear. But there are many values. The value as a package. The value as a package for immediate sale. The value of a package for a less urgent sale. The same for each individual item. The problem in your case will be that one of you might have a couple of 211s that are worth $800 total, and another of you might have an SRC that's worth let's say $2800. They do the same thing. If you show up with 211s and turn in good tracks, or your partner shows up with an SRC and turns in good tracks, your rental will be the same. So really those pieces of gear have the same "value" in terms of your business. The best way to handle this, in my opinion, is to split proceeds 3 ways and share the gear your have already (assuming you all have a pretty comprehensive package). New gear acquisitions can be purchased by the company as required to improve the business. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Blankenship Posted March 21, 2018 Report Share Posted March 21, 2018 My advice: each of you make a spreadsheet listing all the gear and best-guess values, then all of you evaluate each other's lists and come to a consensus. If the three of you can't agree on the value of each other's gear, I foresee bigger problems ahead for your partnership. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ze Frias Posted April 28, 2018 Report Share Posted April 28, 2018 On 3/20/2018 at 10:33 AM, jonmoore said: The goal here is finding an objective 3rd party to appraise gear based off a list that has purchase dates and current cosmetic condition, to value a the equipment portion of a company's value (as well as accurate insurance reasons). Self appraisal isn't necessarily objective. Would another sound mixer qualify as an objective 3rd party? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Blankenship Posted April 28, 2018 Report Share Posted April 28, 2018 If you're in the honeymoon phase of your partnership, it should be relatively easy to arrive at a consensus. If you're past the honeymoon phase all bets are off. If the gear is a point of contention, maybe you shouldn't have "community property." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonMoore Posted June 12, 2018 Report Share Posted June 12, 2018 On 4/28/2018 at 8:17 AM, Jose Frias said: Would another sound mixer qualify as an objective 3rd party? Hey Jose. Yes, another sound mixer could count as a 3rd party. If you're interested, we could chat. 😀 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonMoore Posted June 13, 2018 Report Share Posted June 13, 2018 On 3/20/2018 at 10:39 PM, RPSharman said: This is a pretty crazy topic. I think anyone who has been in the business for a while knows the resale value of the gear they have. Just agree to a number on each piece of gear, and move on. I did it when I needed to have a value for my gear. But there are many values. The value as a package. The value as a package for immediate sale. The value of a package for a less urgent sale. The same for each individual item. The problem in your case will be that one of you might have a couple of 211s that are worth $800 total, and another of you might have an SRC that's worth let's say $2800. They do the same thing. If you show up with 211s and turn in good tracks, or your partner shows up with an SRC and turns in good tracks, your rental will be the same. So really those pieces of gear have the same "value" in terms of your business. The best way to handle this, in my opinion, is to split proceeds 3 ways and share the gear your have already (assuming you all have a pretty comprehensive package). New gear acquisitions can be purchased by the company as required to improve the business. Good luck. Thanks for the input. How you've described it is pretty accurate- it comes down to wanting a well assessed price on a used piece of gear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ze Frias Posted June 17, 2018 Report Share Posted June 17, 2018 On 6/12/2018 at 1:14 PM, jonmoore said: Hey Jose. Yes, another sound mixer could count as a 3rd party. If you're interested, we could chat. 😀 Text me, let's talk. I did something similar for my current company. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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