Survey equipment Prices

Nate The Surveyor, post: 376299, member: 291 wrote: I just went banging around on ebay, and prices are DOWN!
Look at some of these:
Topcon GTS total station
http://www.ebay.com/itm/TOPCON-GTS-3-1-Total-Station-/182163252734?hash=item2a69c6a5fe:g:ivAAAOSwBnVW-HqA&apos ;"> http://www.ebay.com/itm/TOPCON-GTS-3-1-Total-Station-/182163252734?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/TOPCON-GTS-3-1-Total-Station-/182163252734?hash=item2a69c6a5fe:g:ivAAAOSwBnVW-HqA&apos ;">hash=item2a69c6a5fe:g:ivAAAOSwBnVW-HqA
Sokkia Robot
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sokkia-SRX3X-3-Survey-Robotic-Total-Station-/272265307272?hash=item3f6446e488:g:ciwAAOSwepJXVP7p
RTK 10k
http://www.ebay.com/itm/SOKKIA-GSR2700ISX-RTK-GNSS-GPS-PACKAGE-SURVEYING-TRIMBLE-TOPCON-LEICA-GLONASS-/291711373519?hash=item43eb5a50cf:g:wX0AAOSwP~tW6j38

And, last but not least, an R10 combo with robot, for 55k.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Trimble-IS-Solution-S6-Robotic-Total-Station-R10-GPS-GNSS-RTK-Set-TSC3-/191870964858?hash=item2cac66947a:g:bW4AAOSwcL5XNLKr

And, you can buy an antique transit, for $150-350.
Crazy. And, there are a few idiots that still want big bucks for stuff, that are out of touch, with the economy.

It's just wild.
Nate

Hey Nate where is your home base?

SW Arkansas.

Nate The Surveyor, post: 376327, member: 291 wrote: SW Arkansas.

Just curious because things are booming here in VA. How is it in your neck of the woods?

I cannot keep up.
Thankful.
N

Nate The Surveyor, post: 376345, member: 291 wrote: I cannot keep up.
Thankful.
N

Heck yeah glad to hear it.

I'm not as profitable as some surveyors. Until I am happy, it does not go to the client.
I wind up spending time solving stuff.

N

Nate The Surveyor, post: 376349, member: 291 wrote: I'm not as profitable as some surveyors. Until I am happy, it does not go to the client.
I wind up spending time solving stuff.

N

Profit isn't everything, I was more content when I had 1 or 2 clients that allowed me to work a few days in the field and a few in the office. I made decent money and didn't work all the time. Now I work 60 hrs a week and hardly ever get in the field. I make more money, but at what cost. My favorite jobs and often the less profitable are the ones where I have to solve some boundary issue, put a deed puzzle together and have my survey recorded for the future generations to refer to or question. Maybe when I'm done paying for braces, cars, insurance, college for 3 kids I can get back to the basics.

That GTS-3 is still overpriced, believe it or not.

"Crazy. And, there are a few[hl] idiots [/hl]that still want big bucks for stuff, that are out of touch, with the economy"

Not so sure the sellers are the "idiots". Good ole Bujor has been selling on there for a long time. These are two of my favorites from him:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Theodolite-Wild-T4-Leica-Heerbrugg-Swiss-Old-Proud-Surveyor-/191889920230?hash=item2cad87d0e6:g:knMAAMXQhpdRnjYX&apos ;">Wild T-4 http://www.ebay.com/itm/Kern-Aarau-High-Accuracy-Compass-Made-in-Switzerland-Surveyor-/361584718202?hash=item543020f17a:g:ZI4AAOSw3xJVdgvf&apos ;">Transit Part

The second one is the greatest. Notice the smiley face at the end of his description? Of course you recognize that item as the lower part of what once was a very nice transit. But someone out there may not and bingo Bujor strikes again. Classic example of Caveat Emptor.

As I'm a collector of Wild Heerbrugg instruments, I'd also note 2 other T-4s currently for sale at "big dollar" prices:
(note, Bujor's is incomplete, missing twin horrebow level, accessory tool kit, tripod, battery case, and lighting kit)

From Vermont, mostly complete, (missing accessory tool box, battery case, tripod, and lighting kit): $75,000/ OBO (or best offer)
https://www.bmisurplus.com/products/59064-wild-heerbrugg-theodolite-t4-80959&apos ;">Wild T-4 BMI surplus

From England, (also missing accessory tool box, battery case, tripod, and lighting kit): $28,000 OBO
http://www.ebay.com/itm/WILD-HEERBRUGG-THEODOLITE-T4-LEICA-SWISS-/141980706867&apos ;">Wild T-4 England AGF Survey

I don't know any individual collectors who would be able to purchase these... but if I had to make a claim on a T-4 due to fire, flood, theft or destruction I'd use these values as a starting point to negotiate with the insurance company.

-Nathan

And to think I turned down an offer to buy a T-4 for $2500 twenty years ago!