Reels Depreciating in value

[bulldog1935]

Not fair assumptions - I'm not wealthy - my kids are grown.  But I know how to make my hobbies work for me.  And I put the time into it - especially with speculating, e.g., antique fly reels (not something I do now), it required time, repair skills, establishing a reputation, being plugged in to a community of interest.   Good photography helps.  The kind of opportunities that came up on ebay 20 years ago (especially seeing through bad photography) don't exist there anymore. 

This c. 2000 limited, serialized run of Hardy St. George with brass foot and ebonite grasp are worth more than the spendier reels that followed from Alnwick over the next decade.  These were supplied in wholesale only to cane-rod builders - knowing to snag one from JD Wagner and let it appreciate in value was key.  

 

Looking at something like Ted Godfrey's reel and recognizing what it was at $450 - it was too good to be true, and now they sell new for $2000.   I can name several contemporary conventional-frame fly reels selling for the same then that won't bring you $450 today - being able to recognize the difference is important.  

People who had the ability to add Kineya and Trutta reels from Japan made the same kind of profit.  An item doubling your purchase price in 4 or 5 years is not inflation - it's knowing what to buy and when to buy - and especially, what not to buy.   Also knowing what and when to sell, if your interests lead you that way.  

I'll be retired in a few years, and probably start clipping coupons - but I'll go into it with the tackle I want to fish.  

 

adding a ps - I'll lay odds that Shimano worm-drive spinners from '18 through '21 will retain their value better and also last longer than Shimano spinners made before or since.  My data for this, the mechanism design changed in '18 Stella.  They kept the same drive parts in '22 Stella, but increased the spindle length and spool pitch, because they knew the '18 Stella series was over-designed, and they could push it harder.  Most parts on the newer series will also work on the older series, giving 10-years parts-support life.  

 

[ATA]

Since I have hobby of buying used gear in bulk from fisherman who want to reel , I have some experience about selling reels. I always have Shimano reels go so fast within a day of listing if you just sell it less than $20 of price. I honestly never sold a Shimano that I purchased but I sold all my Abus and kept only two toro beast because we don't have a similar reel in Shimano line up except traX which is 400 size is equal to toro beast which is 300 size and also lower profile. In my idea most people buying Abu or kastking or lets for saving money or for design. Otherwise people might only buy Shimano and Daiwa. Thats purely my idea and I don't wish to upset anyone. I respect everyone choice and I am happy for what they happy with. I often save money to buy high end Shimano reel and I think it is worth the waiting in long run. When I start fishing in year 2015 after my devorce I bought a metanium dc 15, I can tell you I catch 100s of bass or other fish with it and today it is working like first day. I remember I had purchased couple of Abus sometime and in first year I needed to send them for service and they had to even change one of them and give me other one. That was it, I learned my lesson and I have about 50 or more Shimano reels mostly DC and I never tried other brands anymore.

Please note my abus that I had issue with were high end Abu reels (spinning and casting) Almost same price of Shimano reels.

[Jar11591]

I know this is an old thread but I have trouble wrapping my head around this one. If you are already considering getting rid of a reel by contemplating its resale value before even making a purchase, why not just not make the purchase? That way got both things you wanted: to not have the reel and to have all the money you would have spent on it in your pocket still. 
 

[J Francho]

Resale only enters my mind when o decide to realign my gear, or some opportunity presents itself where I can pass a great deal on to my fellow anglers. Years ago I was able to get a pile of E series Shimanos on the cheap and sold all but three. 
 

One of my other passions is drums. I was mercilessly chastised on a drums forum for removing the logos from cymbals, as it devalues them. I think it's funny and totally mental that a logo somehow makes you better player, lol. Or that the cymbals that I'm actually using to make music. I don't think I once contemplated the value of someone's instrument while appreciating the artful sounds coming from it. 
 

Same goes for when I set the hook on a good one. 

[FrnkNsteen]

13 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

Not fair assumptions - I'm not wealthy - my kids are grown.  But I know how to make my hobbies work for me.  And I put the time into it - especially with speculating, e.g., antique fly reels (not something I do now), it required time, repair skills, establishing a reputation, being plugged in to a community of interest.   Good photography helps.  The kind of opportunities that came up on ebay 20 years ago (especially seeing through bad photography) don't exist there anymore. 

Looking at something like Ted Godfrey's reel and recognizing what it was at $450 - it was too good to be true, and now they sell new for $2000.   I can name several contemporary conventional-frame fly reels selling for the same then that won't bring you $450 today - being able to recognize the difference is important.  

People who had the ability to add Kineya and Trutta reels from Japan made the same kind of profit.  An item doubling your purchase price in 4 or 5 years is not inflation - it's knowing what to buy and when to buy - and especially, what not to buy.   Also knowing what and when to sell, if your interests lead you that way.  

I'll be retired in a few years, and probably start clipping coupons - but I'll go into it with the tackle I want to fish.  

 

adding a ps - I'll lay odds that Shimano worm-drive spinners from '18 through '21 will retain their value better and also last longer than Shimano spinners made before or since.  My data for this,  The mechanism design changed in '18 Stella.  They kept the same drive parts in '22 Stella, but increased the spindle length and spool pitch, because they knew the '18 Stella series was over-designed, and they could push it harder.  Most parts on the newer series will also work on the older series, giving 10-years parts-support life.  

 

You're a kinder gent than I @bulldog1935. Very patient response to a post I found rather rude!

 

For the record, I have always appreciated the help and information that you have always provided!

[NOC 1]

On 3/30/2025 at 5:01 AM, Jar11591 said:

I know this is an old thread but I have trouble wrapping my head around this one. If you are already considering getting rid of a reel by contemplating its resale value before even making a purchase, why not just not make the purchase? That way got both things you wanted: to not have the reel and to have all the money you would have spent on it in your pocket still. 
 

Yep, hat is pretty much what I said too. If I buy the reel at all, it's because I want to own that reel.

On 3/30/2025 at 10:22 AM, FrnkNsteen said:

You're a kinder gent than I @bulldog1935. Very patient response to a post I found rather rude!

 

For the record, I have always appreciated the help and information that you have always provided!

I'm so sorry that you think me rude. I'm not sure why you think so. Maybe because I supposed that a guy with an apparently unending supply of amazingly expensive reels might have money? Are we not suppose to refer to money? Not an unreasonable assumption I think.

 

My point was that if I were as well situated as he is, I might look at things differently too. I always enjoy the photos of those reels as much as anybody else. And I did not imply that I don't appreciate the also apparently unending supply of information on just about any reel that comes up and plenty that most of us have never heard of.

 

You folks have a nice day...I'm out.

 

 

[MediumMouthBass]

4 hours ago, NOC 1 said:

I'm so sorry that you think me rude. I'm not sure why you think so. Maybe because I supposed that a guy with an apparently unending supply of amazingly expensive reels might have money? Are we not suppose to refer to money? Not an unreasonable assumption I think.

 

My point was that if I were as well situated as he is, I might look at things differently too. I always enjoy the photos of those reels as much as anybody else. And I did not imply that I don't appreciate the also apparently unending supply of information on just about any reel that comes up and plenty that most of us have never heard of.

 

You folks have a nice day...I'm out.

You are so rude you probably assume the guys who post pictures of their 10 Ferraris in a car group full of people who own Honda Civics are rich too.

 

Im not sure why anyone thinks you are rude. IMO you stated the most logical thought, i mean if someone posts expensive/import rods and reels weekly what do you expect people to think? But on the opposite end, its obvious he likes expensive high end rods and reels. People who arent rich in my experience keep buying and replacing cheap junk over and over again, the few that realize the buy once cry once mentality understand saving up and buying a quality product that will last a lifetime will be cheaper in the long run than spending a lifetime buying junk. He knows what he wants, and buys it, which to me is what i shouldve done when i started. I would have much nicer gear, and had saved alot of cash.

 

But for the OP i wouldnt buy or not buy a reel based off its depreciation, because for 99.98% of the reels most of us buy (aside from collectibles/rare ones, etc) the money you would lose or gain is pocket change comparable to an hour or 2 flipping burgers at a local Mcdonalds. And any profit you make will be taxed, since the IRS is breathing down all of our necks now. Then to add some fuel to the fire, used reels today are all hard to sell, because it doesnt matter what name is on the side of your reel. No one will give you $10-20 less than what they can buy a brand new one for MSRP, let alone get one on sale the same price if not cheaper than what you listed your used reel for. My thoughts are to buy what you like, what you want, and what you can afford.

[bulldog1935]

The difference is not wealth, it's imagination.  

 

[Eric 26]

You all know what they say about assume….it makes an    out of u and me😜 Thank you Benny Hill.

[NOC 1]

11 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

The difference is not wealth, it's imagination.  

 

Yes, your original explanation stated your situation pretty well. But the fact remains that for whatever reason you have the resources to deal in dozens of amazing and expensive rods and reels and I don't.

again, if I had the money I might see it like you do, it would be fun.

 

Reminds me of my brother. He had over 100 rental houses and plenty of hobbies. At one point he built  a 3000 ft building like a  garage to house his collection of 80+ motorcycles. But he swore up and down that none of it had anything to do with having money......whatever, I'd say, but I don't have the money to do that and I make what most think is good money (I'm an engineer).

 

He'd say something to the effect that I would have if i did like he did....LOL...Right, I should have done what Jeff Bezos did too...

 

Anyway, call it as you see it, but keep posting your collection, the photography is good and the collection is special.

 

 

 

 

6 hours ago, Eric 26 said:

You all know what they say about assume….it makes an    out of u and me😜 Thank you Benny Hill.

Whatever.

[F14A-B]

Imo, somethings are better left unsaid..

 

But that’s just me. 😗

[bulldog1935]

I used to work with a fellow staff engineer who said - he's good-looking because his family is rich - rich men get to marry beautiful women.  

So now, I'm not smart, I'm just rich.  My family were red earth farmers in western Tennessee from 1817.  Except for one other cousin, I'm the first member of my family who never worked a barge on the Mississippi.  Except for my older sister, I'm the first member of my family with a college degree - I attended Vanderbilt on a full academic scholarship.  

My dad is only rich in character - ok, good genes this was his 90th birthday weekend - if I have any part of his character, I've done well.  

 

[Eric 26]

44 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

I used to work with a fellow staff engineer who said - he's good-looking because his family is rich - rich men get to marry beautiful women.  

.  

 

Im sure I’m not the only one who is thinking someone better ask my wife what the heck she was thinking 35 years ago as I was never rich or good looking but I got lucky and married a beautiful woman 😃 I sure hope I can have my father’s side when it comes to the gene pool also as my dad is 86 and doing pretty well along with 2 sisters one of which is into her 90’s and is just recently having some health issues.

[king fisher]

I deal with reels the same way I do cars.  By the time I get through using them, they are broken beyond repair, and I may have to pay some one to take them off my hands.  If all the fishing gear I have bought over the years was a good investment, I would have reinvested my fortune more times than I could count.  Instead I keep investing in fishing gear, and what I don't loose outright, I loose in value.  When it comes to fishing, my moto is buy high and sell low.  However the memories are priceless.