Is there a market....

[Chad Bman]

For used grills? As in - pick up a grill, clean it up, get it in working order, and sell it?
Reason I ask, there's a few locally that seem to be like good contenders for just that.
Examples -

Genesis Gold - Natural gas - all SS under the hood - includes cover - asking $125

Here's a 12ish year old Summit (propane) with a rotisserie (needs mounting bracket)
Grill is free, but you need to take/dispose of a wooden pallet & an 8" diameter aluminum pole from his pool cover

A 3 burner Spirit including cover for $50 (needs bars & drip pan)

Genesis Silver - with cover - $50

A 3 burner red head for $65, but no pics.

And that's just what's posted on Craigslist now. The other day there was a Q200 with a stand & cover, stored indoors, very little use asking $100

 

[Don Fry]

Maybe I am too cynical in my older age, but I don’t think there is. Even though they would get a far superior product getting a refurbished Weber, most American consumers would rather take that same amount of money and buy something new even though it is of lesser quality. Take a walk through Lowes or Home Depot and see how many gas grills are priced in the $200 or less range. That is what you would be competing against. JMHO.

 

[Frank H]

I would agree....the only one I'd take a chance on is the free one. Fix up the grill , sell the al pole for scrap and cut the pallet up and burn it. You might come out ahead.

 

[Tim K]

Chad, get on CL, go to Raleigh area, and type in weber. There is a guy called the grill doctor that does exactly what you're thinking about doing. I don't know how many he sells, but over the summer, he always seemed to have several listed. He seemed a little proud of his grills, (having restored some myself, and knowing time and money involved) I would say, if you didn't price the grills too high, there definitely is a market for rehabbing used webers.
Good luck,
Tim

 

[Phil Perrin]

I'm betting that you could sell them on CL. While I don't have room for anymore grills,I often go on there just to see what's available.
And selling the pole as scrap would help offset the cost of fuel and any rehab the grills might need. Or at least buy you some "rehab juice"!

 

[Jeff Brown (KY)]

I think there is a market for them but would the profit margin be worth the time and effort involved.

 

[RichPB (richlife)]

Chad, get on CL, go to Raleigh area, and type in weber. There is a guy called the grill doctor that does exactly what you're thinking about doing. I don't know how many he sells, but over the summer, he always seemed to have several listed. He seemed a little proud of his grills, (having restored some myself, and knowing time and money involved) I would say, if you didn't price the grills too high, there definitely is a market for rehabbing used webers.
Good luck,
Tim

Yes. I know John and he restored Webers and resold them for a long time. Many or most of his "finds" were discards, so the only costs were his materials and effort. His outright purchases were few and very selective in order to get that profit magin. He built up a cache of parts from those that really couldn't be restored and also resold parts like grates and rotisseries. And restoring grills was not his only source of income.

John recently decided to get out of the restoration business -- more of a "retirement" I think. If you want to get in touch with him, joint The BBQ Source ( http://www.bbqsource-forums.com/invboard/index.php ) and PM him at "jowilker". (The BBQ Source is my only "other" grilling/smoking forum.)

Rich

 

[Chad Bman]

After further review, I'm not (nor my wife is) really interested in my back yard turning into a Weber graveyard. lol
I'll still keep an eye open for good candidates, but rehab them as gifts/low budget builds for friends/family.

PS - the free Summit (with the wooden pallet & aluminum pole) was nabbed by the first person who responded. I was second in line...

 

[LMichaels]

Boy you missed a GOOD one. I have that same grill. I figured I had to go to confession when I snagged it for $50. Than to top it off I snagged a brand new side burner (still in factory box) for $50. I also snagged a like new sky blue lid, and other assorted parts for just $25 (even a nice NG manifold).

 

[lee m]

I think you made the right choice. There is probably a market for it but it would be a small one. It would take someone who knew what they were getting with Weber and even then I would think it would peak in spring/summer.

 

[Jerry N.]

I'll still keep an eye open for good candidates, but rehab them as gifts/low budget builds for friends/family.

That's basically what I have done. I wanted to give my two son-in-laws a grill - basically a house warming gift. I went out a found a couple of grills and fixed/cleaned them up. I kept each one around $200. After doing so, I was disappointed that I didn't do that for myself. I paid more for my S-320 than both of those grills and I would have been happy with either. Had I been able to get the grills for free, I would have done even better. So to answer your question, which I think you've correctly figured out, unless you're going to get into this fully, it would be hard to make much money on this. Having a Weber graveyard would be a key component of making money. On the other hand, having a project going on a regular basis and making a hobby of it wouldn't be a bad idea or way to go. You wouldn't make much money but if you were selective in your acquisitions (good free units are out there), you could have a hobby that puts a little change in your pocket once in awhile. As you said and I did, it can also be a great way to give a nice gift at a discounted price.