Trade-In Values: What a joke

[flybub]

I have been playing Cleveland CG4's the last 2 years and have been testing different irons for about 5 months. Not really serious about buying irons yet, but just seeing what's out there. I was at the local Dicks yesterday and I noticed the TaylorMade Tour Burners were marked down to $499 so I asked one of the sales reps if I could hit a few. Grabbed a 7 iron and hit 10 balls, what a nice feeling club that is. The feeling of the TM compared to the Cleveland is so much more balanced through the swing and the contact was crisp and clean. I couldn't believe it. I just happened to have my Clevelands in my truck so I asked the sales rep what the trade in value of the CG4's was...He told me $91.00. I about came unglued. Needless to say I did not leave with the TM's. I came home and jumped on the PGA value guide and entered the CG4's, sure enough $91.00. I traded a set of Callaway X-14's in last year for a Callaway 5 wood and the X-14's are still rated at a higher value than the CG4's ($115 to $91). No real point to the story just a little frustrated because I was sure after I hit the 5th ball with the Tour Burners those irons were going home with me.

[denver_nuggs_15]

It's so ridiculous that the trade in values are so low. Stores may follow the PGA guide online for trade-in, but very few that I see follow the PGA guide for selling price of the same club. They just jack up the price in most cases.
Your irons are older, but $91? I would check on ebay to see what they are going for. You may be able to get more money.

[Big_M]

Not really suprising since new, but dated irons are available everywhere on the cheap. Not to mention, who wants to buy used irons?

Just my opinion, but Cleveland irons are superior to TM anyways. TM irons always "look" terrible... R7tp's didn't feel too bad, but the comparable Cleveland (CG reds) were a nicer overall club and looked much better.

The Burner irons look hideous to me.

[chriskzoo]

Not really suprising since new, but dated irons are available everywhere on the cheap. Not to mention, who wants to buy used irons?

I'll agree on the graphics, but I just got the TM Tour Preferred and that club looks as good as any at address (which is all that matters).

As for used clubs - sorry, they depreciate as quickly as used cars and video games. Here's your general guide based on a golf show I was just at: New: MSRP - $899, but in general you an get them for $550-600 in my experience (at least on ebay) Last year's model new - $399 2-3 years old, new - $250 My brother got a set of 2006 Big Bertha irons for $270 brand new - which was a bargain over the 2008 ones' at $430, which really just have a new badge on the back and very slight change in the back cavity (they look exactly the exact same at address). Realize that someone that buys your irons then has to sit on that $91, maybe put new grips on, and would probably be lucky to get $150 for them.

[Quinn07]

Not really suprising since new, but dated irons are available everywhere on the cheap.

I agree...with e-bay and all the other online traders it's so easy to find what you are looking for cheap.

[Snake]

That's really not surprising. It's no different than trading in your car when you buy a new one. That's just the way trading in works. Check what CG4s are going for on ebay. You could probably sell them yourself and get 2x the trade in value and then get the TMs for about $300.

[flybub]

Like I said, no real point to the post just a little bit frustrated. I've had 2 bad experiences with paypal where my credit card has been hacked so I am done with ebay and online purchases for awhile. If I can't pay cash in hand for it I won't buy it. As far as the cosmetics of the Burners go I agree that the CG4's look better, but the feel of the Burner in the swing is better than the CG4's. I guess I'll have to beat my buddies with the CG4's again this year :)

[MackJL06]

Why can't golf stores just understand that I want to get more money back than I paid for them? Do they think they are running a business or something? Kidding of course, but I have been a bit worried about buying clubs on ebay....read a bunch about counterfit clubs hitting the market and makes me second guess my Nike CCI's about everytime I see them.

As for a used club market...I think if stores just marketed used clubs instead of these starter sets by wilson or something...we'd have a lot more golfers continuing to try and get better at the game, rather than play 1 summer and have a nice set of dust collectors in the closet. We can all say that it's not the equipment that makes the man, but some of the drivers in those starter sets make walmart drivers feel like a luxury item!

[GDWindowpane]

My new theory on buying new clubs on ebay, if the deal appears too good to be true, they're probably counterfeit.

I learned my lesson, if I ever consider buying again on EBay I'll ask for up close pictures of the clubs, get serial numbers to confirm with manufacturer and make sure the auction has the PayPal Buyer Protection.

During my hard lesson learned last week, PayPal really stepped up and protected me... Should be getting full refund this week. Of course I lost $15 for shipping the clubs back but I'll chalk that one up as experience...

[HytrewQasdfg]

The best deal on golf clubs (and a lot of other things like musical instruments and cars) is to buy used.

As far as ebay, I consider it too much a risk on new equipment. I'm rather buy last year's model from a local dealer (or known dealer like TGW) than try and score a deal on a new club on ebay.

Although, I'll have to say bluntly the best "deal" for most golfers is to have a custom set built from components, but that is another story.

[Stacey_E]

To the OP, two things were working against you.

#1 the PGA guide, it lowballs golfers out of their money and helps the retailers increase their profit on used trade ins.
#2 Cleveland clubs just don't hold their value very well.

I bought a set of cherry used CG2s at Christmas '07 for $200. They were $800 when they came out a couple of years before that. They are great irons, but I currently am trying to sell them since the trade in for them is rediculously low. On the flipside, I bought a Cleveland Launcher 460 in great shape a few weeks ago for $50. So you win some you loose some. But if you buy new irons and try to trade them, you always loose, A LOT.

I'm lucky that I have a local retailer that sells a lot of clubs both new and used. His used selection is almost as big as his new stock. He gives the best trade in value hands down I have ever seen. Example: Last week I traded in a Big Bertha '04 fairway wood and a Titleist 250.08 wedge. Had he went with the PGA trade-in value, the HIGHEST trade-in would have been $21.73 and $29.76. He gave me $50 each trade in (twice the PGA value) for clubs that were in good shape but not perfect. He'll still make a profit and he's made a customer for while as well. Big kudos to Golf Unlimited in Kingsport, TN!

[goblue107501]

I tried 'trading in' a couple of times and both times it was a joke. At one store I wanted to trade a couple of fairway woods for one. The new one I wanted was $150 and they told me that I could get $15 for each of my old ones (both of which I sold for $75 each later on). I didn't expect an even trade, I would have been happy with $50 each and then $50 out of pocket. Then they told me they will only trade club for club, meaning that I couldn't combine the total to buy one club.

Now I have an old bag in the garage that I keep all of my old stuff. I just keep my ears open and ask around to sell them. I got rid of a bunch of stuff to someone who was just starting out and then bought new irons. I would rather have backups then just give them away for nothing.

[-BAMA-]

Big kudos to Golf Unlimited in Kingsport, TN!

looks like im gonna have to pay them a visit....

[Big Padrigo]

I've actually had a pretty good experience recently with trade-ins. I traded my G5 irons, a hyrbid and a lob wedge (still in wrapper) and got $300 towards my new I-10s, I was pretty happy with that. If I didn't have the new lob wedge, which my wife won in a competition, probably wouldn't have got what I did.

[microcrayfish]

You're always going to get a bum deal when you trade in. Keep in mind that the store then has to try and on sell them and try and make a profit so they're never going to give you the same price you could get selling them privately. You're usually better off selling them yourself on ebay or something and using the money you make towards new clubs.

[meenman]

This is why I never bothered to trade in my old irons.

I gave them to my brother as a birthday gift (they had only been used a year).

This way he gets something that would cost him alot more than I would spend on his birthday and I dont have to feel rooked trading them in.

[sosinsurr]

Doesn't the trade in value guide go off of what the clubs are going for on eBay? Just curious for those that say to check eBay.

But yes, the trade in guide is a joke. I had a SC Newport 2 that was in perfect condition...I took it in to humor myself with what they'd give me...75 bucks LOL RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGHT

[Doctorfro]

You can do well to sell your stuff on ebay. I never consider trying to trade in. Buying on ebay? Just be careful. Pay attention to reputation and make sure the verbage on the auctions make sense.