What's this worth?

[LowGear]

Saw this and wondered?

https://honolulu.craigslist.org/big/ele/6757974509.html

[playdiesel]

I used to buy those when they came up for sale in that price range and resell them. Now the market is just about non existent for them, at least in this area.  I would snatch it up if I was looking for a generator but not as a money making scheme

[mobile_bob]

we are going to have to wait till the next economic cycle, that is downturn.

seems like each time gas gets up around 4 bucks a gallon, employment gets tight
and you have other problems with the economy, then folks start worrying and thinking about
how to cut costs and here we go again.

currently with fuel prices so low, economy seemingly banging along on all cylinders, everyone is living
like there is no tomorrow...

for now?  like Playdiesel states, if  you need a generator, it is probably a good deal...
as an investment?  that depends on  how long before the sky falls again, and how long you wanna tie up
you money.

if he is asking 500 and he can demonstrate it runs, and produces power, maybe over a bit less and see how
motivated he is to sell. 

if i could by it for 350 and it ran/generates, and i could clean it up and give it a fresh coat of paint, maybe i could
double my money down the road?  maybe even better given the inability to import these engine's anymore.

bob g

[playdiesel]

Bob,

Yup to all you said plus around here we  have the electric utilities spending LOTS or money clearing trees from the right of ways and other upgrades.  I have been told that is due to the government deciding they can fine utilities if service is interrupted for long periods??   Almost nobody around here is off grid other than the Amish and between the  generally mild weather patterns and all the clearing and upgrades to the  grid my 1115 /15KW set has not been needed  for over 3 years and we live  "in the sticks".

Add together what you said plus our grid upgrades plus  with the good economy people who are concerned about power outages are installing whole house units and the result is portable generators are for sale in abundance around these parts and for not a lot of  money.  Just saw a 5500W box store unit advertised. Never been used, never had gas in it $100

[LowGear]

Thanks for your considerations.  That practical side of "buys" sometimes is forgotten.  When we first moved to the farm I was all excited about installing a backup generator.  As I was shopping for disconnect switches my favorite electrical equipment salesman asked kind of the same questions.  "How often does the power go off?" and "How long are those episodes?".  I decided to live here for six months and see.  We have better service out here 20 miles from town than we had back in the suburbs of Seattle.  So ended my project.

I don't know how interested I was in this unit but just thought $500 seemed low if you were looking at a different life style.