19 replies to this topic

[budgie]

yes im a newbie, BUT prior to buying.......
1) had lots of chats to everyone (instructors, riggers, fellow jumpers) at the dz until Im sure they were sick of me
2) spoke to a range of dealers locally and offshore
3) tried a range of (student) mains at the dz (230-170)
4) got approval from the CI for the size
5) bought a container that was built to allow me to downsize one size of main when i eventually get better

Result - got a schmick new rig, at a good price, that I can sell the new main in a year or two for a reasonable price and buy the smaller size to fit

its just that fellow jumpers at the dz have been asking about my gear and I want to reccomend what I did but............... some comments seem to indicate ive made a mistake buying new first.........but others say the decision is mostly financial (once you know what you actually want, and its right)...........................have i? and why? I dont want to encourage others to do it in that case.................................

[Mongtrix]

budgie, on 09 February 2011 - 02:41 PM, said:

some comments seem to indicate ive made a mistake buying new first.........but others say the decision is mostly financial (once you know what you actually want, and its right)...........................have i? and why? I dont want to encourage others to do it in that case.................................

No, it's an entirely personal decision. I felt the same way about it you apparently did, and got a new container for a whole list of reasons I can't be bothered to list right now. Others feel differently and go with second hand gear. Money is obviously a big factor either way.  

The main thing is to have safe gear and to be happy jumping it. How much you paid for it is not as important as that IMO.

[Mickymillions]

Well I guess it allcomes down to you and what you want, if you want brand new and can afford itthen why the hell not. The main reason I see people don’t recommend brand newfor a newbie’s first rig is the cost factor and the fact you will more likelydownsize more frequently at the start of your career then the end (ie. First 500– 1000 jumps).

However if you know whatyou want and understand that you may want to downsize in 200 jumps or so andmay lose a small amount of money on the canopy then I see no problem in that.As long as you can afford it then there is no real downside as you will havehad brand new gear and when you do look to sell the whole rig or parts of youwill then be putting new’ish gear out there that other people starting topurchase their own gear can get at slightly cheaper than brand new and you won’tlose too much on it depending on the amount of time/jumps you have put on it.Also depending on the size you ended up going with most canopies in the biggersizes will move quickly as there is always new people looking for bigger gearfor their first set up.

At the end of the dayeveryone will have an opinion on this and some will say that newbie’s shouldn’tbuy brand new for their first gear and that it’s a waste of money and otherswill say it’s fine. In my very uneducated opinion you should just do that thehell you want within your budget. If you can afford new do it and if you canonly afford 2^nd hand gear (in date of course) then do that, eitherway just enjoy the shit out of it and don’t let anybody get in your head andtell you otherwise.

Lastly when it arrivesand you decide to run around the house naked with your rig on be sure thecurtains are closed, there are a lot of weirdos out there

[swoopgaz]

with the ridiculous prices people want for their old gear in Australia, sometimes buying new is better. For example a 15 year old rig with only 400 jumps for example is just not worth $4000.

[hcsvader]

Someone has to buy new gear, and yes you may buy new gear again in a couple of years. Some people say its a waste of money buying larger gear because you might want to sell it after a couple of years and there isn't a big market for larger gear. There may not be a big market for larger gear but there isn't that much large gear out there. I was helping my dad build a second hand rig this year and we had a horrible time finding used gear in good condition. We looked for about 3 months trying to find a 230 main that wasn't beat up old student gear.

[Phielix]

If you can afford new, i see no reason.  I bought secondhand because of the financial issues, and if a new jumper asks me, i generally recommend second hand. BUT if you can afford new, go for it, if anything, when you decide to downsize, you might be helping some guy out that cant afford to buy new and is looking for the size you are selling.

[cantstandya]

budgie, on 09 February 2011 - 02:41 PM, said:

yes im a newbie, BUT prior to buying.......
1) had lots of chats to everyone (instructors, riggers, fellow jumpers) at the dz until Im sure they were sick of me
2) spoke to a range of dealers locally and offshore
3) tried a range of (student) mains at the dz (230-170)
4) got approval from the CI for the size
5) bought a container that was built to allow me to downsize one size of main when i eventually get better

Result - got a schmick new rig, at a good price, that I can sell the new main in a year or two for a reasonable price and buy the smaller size to fit

its just that fellow jumpers at the dz have been asking about my gear and I want to reccomend what I did but............... some comments seem to indicate ive made a mistake buying new first.........but others say the decision is mostly financial (once you know what you actually want, and its right)...........................have i? and why? I dont want to encourage others to do it in that case.................................

Yep+ 1 for what those above said. I'm in the process of putting together my first rig and have decided to buy a new container, contrary to the advice of everyone I spoke to who said 'don't buy new gear'. My logic was that I will be putting a main in that is the absolute minimum recommended for my experience level/weight (w/DZSO approval). I can also downsize should I choose to do so down the track. By the time I'm done with this container, it will be a few years old at least and still in good nick to pass on to someone else. I couldn't make sense of the prices being asked for containers with a DOM that is close to 15 years old, when for a few hundred more, I could get a brand new container. I'm still going for a second hand main/res/cypress, with the plan to progressively replace these items new, as and when required.

To answer your question directly: in my opinion, as long as the gear is safe, it's an economic decision based on personal circumstances such as budget, and good research regarding deals that are out there with a strong aussie dollar. Sharing your experience with others buying new gear will only be one of the many things they consider, so why not give them your advice.

Enjoy the new gear!

Adam.

[budgie]

Ta ALL!!
Appreciate the feedback - of course theres pros and cons both ways, and the comparative price of second hand was definitely buggin me.
Doesnt sound like ive stuffed up so thats good news .
See you up there
Cheers
PS, as I was landing the other day at Picton i noticed a large, very attractive box-like object with two engines and enough room for an inflatable in the back.......please, i am praying to the God of all Skyvans, could it be true, is it back, this time for good (tears welling up in the hope that my dreams are to be realised)?

[Tintin]

My decision to buy second hand wasn't really motivated by finances. More by the fact that everyone said I'd get it dirty for the first hundred or so jumps, sliding in and not doing many stand up landings. The funny thing is I did, and after a hundred jumps or so I ordered a new rig and that got filthy too

[tozer]

Tintin, on 10 February 2011 - 09:12 AM, said:

My decision to buy second hand wasn't really motivated by finances. More by the fact that everyone said I'd get it dirty for the first hundred or so jumps, sliding in and not doing many stand up landings. The funny thing is I did, and after a hundred jumps or so I ordered a new rig and that got filthy too

So let me get this straight Tintin...... You actually picked those Colours?
    

[Mongtrix]

Tintin, on 10 February 2011 - 09:12 AM, said:

My decision to buy second hand wasn't really motivated by finances. More by the fact that everyone said I'd get it dirty for the first hundred or so jumps, sliding in and not doing many stand up landings.

I actually wanted to get mine dirty! I did my first off-landing within about 5 jumps of having it, slid in through a field of camel faeces. First thing I did was go and brag stupidly to Rory about how quickly I'd managed to dirty it up. Washed it off that night and it was just as dirty about 2 days later.

I even sprayed Scotchgard on it without thinking when it wasn't fully clean, so I guess some of those stains will never come out now.  

But every stain has its own story (pretty lame stories so far though)

[Gravity7]

Tintin, on 10 February 2011 - 09:12 AM, said:

... everyone said I'd get it dirty for the first hundred or so jumps, sliding in and not doing many stand up landings. The funny thing is I did, and after a hundred jumps or so I ordered a new rig and that got filthy too

Isn't it amazing, the way Instructors and experienced jumpers can read the future?

Here's Joel, jumping his own gear for the first time, the space-time continuum is being stretched to breaking point, and a tiny whisper floats through - "Better keep on eye on this one..."

Heads come up, people move outside, saying "Which one? Oh, don't worry, I see it, that low spinny one hey?"
"Is he setting up for a 1080?" "Hope not"

(dramatic music, fade to black)

[smashleigh]

the problem with the second hand market, in my opinion, in Australia is that it is full of the same old crap gear that has gone from newbie to newbie because they are told they need to buy second hand first. The second hand market is old and tired and needs new life put into it. If you can afford new for your first container go for it. Who cares if you get it dirty, i have 6000 jumps and my rig is still dirty. We need people to buy new gear so when they do want to downsize/ buy new again it's not an old peice of shit going on the second hand market.

[swoopgaz]

oops forgot to log Smashleigh out. Thats my thoughts above

[Phielix]

budgie, on 10 February 2011 - 08:37 AM, said:

PS, as I was landing the other day at Picton i noticed a large, very attractive box-like object with two engines and enough room for an inflatable in the back.......please, i am praying to the God of all Skyvans, could it be true, is it back, this time for good (tears welling up in the hope that my dreams are to be realised)?

The Box is up for sale, and wont be at Picton much longer im afraid. At least thats what i have heard here:

Skyvan is up for sale.....

[Tintin]

tozer, on 10 February 2011 - 09:42 AM, said:

Tintin, on 10 February 2011 - 09:12 AM, said:

My decision to buy second hand wasn't really motivated by finances. More by the fact that everyone said I'd get it dirty for the first hundred or so jumps, sliding in and not doing many stand up landings. The funny thing is I did, and after a hundred jumps or so I ordered a new rig and that got filthy too

So let me get this straight Tintin...... You actually picked those Colours?
    

Yes Paul. I did. And whilst the container colours weren't the most obvious choice for someone that was gonna spud in a lot, at least my canopy stands out like dogs balls (and I can land it... how's that ankle Paul?)

[Luke Oliver]

Way outta line! Moderator, mod thyself!

[budgie]

Phielix, on 10 February 2011 - 02:44 PM, said:

budgie, on 10 February 2011 - 08:37 AM, said:

PS, as I was landing the other day at Picton i noticed a large, very attractive box-like object with two engines and enough room for an inflatable in the back.......please, i am praying to the God of all Skyvans, could it be true, is it back, this time for good (tears welling up in the hope that my dreams are to be realised)?

The Box is up for sale, and wont be at Picton much longer im afraid. At least thats what i have heard here:

Skyvan is up for sale.....

ta....yes, i saw that, and was hoping, against hope, i guess.....
prob shouldnt have raised the matter in this thread.....sori

[krkarl]

I would suggest against it purely from a financial aspect. There is great chance that you may, like many others before you, join the trend of SoFPiDaRF - School of Fast Progress in Downsizing and Radical Flyingin which case you will find yourself 12 months down the track with a container too big for you and your new "can you teach me how to swoop" canopy. In which case you'll be back on the hunt for new gear!

Edited by Terry Wahlen, 29 November 2011 - 06:31 PM.
: I've fixed this and hidden the previous post which was a garbled version of this

[Wingit]

I spent ages looking for a second hand rig that would fit, i gave up and bought new. Plus you can get the latest safety features which imo is a better for a newby. When you come to sell it in a few years, another k or more and you'll have another brand new rig that is made to your specs. At the end of the day it comes down to what you can find for the money you can afford. And obviously is it worth what your paying for it. Enjoy your new rig

Cheers

Steve