Milford Cargo Barrier Price advice?

[Grench]

OK, so with some other forum member's help I was able to get two Milford barriers a few months back. I have two FZJ80s, mine and my wife's.

Her initial reaction was, "No way in hell you're putting that in my truck."

My response was, "Let me get the one for mine installed then you can look it over and see if you change your mind."

Well, her opinion hasn't changed.

So, now I'm at a conundrum. What should I do with the 2nd one?

Obviously I should sell it. Shipping these = $$$. I've already paid a lot of shipping on it just to get it to Omaha. These things are unobtainum inside the US - and have been for many years now. The last time I saw a price on one was $500+shipping - and that was 3+ years ago.

So, if I list it in MudBay, I need to put a price on it - but what is a fair price to ask? Should I post it up to Ebay and subject myself to the hassles and scammers just to max out the $?

This is a new in box never opened full height Milford 80 series cargo barrier imported from Queensland Australia and now located in Omaha, NE.

Looking for advice on how to deal with it. This is not an ad for sale, please do not PM me offers - this is just asking for advice on whether I should put it on MudBay or Ebay and what I should ask for it. There hasn't been a new in box one for sale in a long long time. I'm not out to extort money for it - but I don't want to give it away either.

So, any advice?

 

[CreeperSleeper]

Sounds like that is just way too much to deal with... Just ship it to me and I'll dispose of it for ya.

 

[ontheroof]

I bought mine for $130 off of craigslist. Even with the shipping of $109 via fedex, it was still worth it. I have watched them from time to time and the 300ish range is what I have always seen the used one's go for. This way, the price plus shipping keeps it at the $500 mark. Most places will ship these no problem (Like I said, ups and fedex were both willing to do the full barrier) and all he did was cut two boxes to make one. Make sense?

 

[Ebag333]

You can also ship via Amtrak.

Shipping via rail especially is getting cheap these days compared to the price of shipping via truck.

 

[SOCALFJ]

Yeah these barriers are like gold. I've been wanting one forever, but like you said they're basically unavailable here in the USA anymore. Is it a half barrier or full barrier? I would just sell it for what you paid + half the shipping. So how'd you get yours here? You bought them down under and had them shipped? That must of cost a small fortune, especially for two of them.

 

[Grench]

Yeah these barriers are like gold. I've been wanting one forever, but like you said they're basically unavailable here in the USA anymore. Is it a half barrier or full barrier? I would just sell it for what you paid + half the shipping. So how'd you get yours here? You bought them down under and had them shipped? That must of cost a small fortune, especially for two of them.

It is a full height barrier.

I was patient and got lucky. I heard from a guy who knew a guy who was shipping back a truck - then was brazen enough to ask if I could chip in a bit on the container shipping to have him bring back 3 items. Two full height Milford barriers and one ARB folding portable tree (land anchor). I then figured out the location that he was loading the container from (a wrecking yard?) and where the nearest ARB dealer was at. I gave them a call and made the purchase - and paid for delivery from the shop back to where the container was being loaded at. After the parts got back to the US, I then paid for freight fees to send them here from the coast.

I bought two barriers because I thought I might use two - and was fairly confident I could sell the 2nd one if the wife said no.

So, luck, patience and $$$$ got all three bits here. Mine is installed. The wife said no on her's. So... The underlying question is do I put up a price on ih8mud to cover my costs with low hassles or do I let greed rule and put it on Ebay - and get the hassles inherent in doing anything on there? Or something in between?

Back of the envelope says I have just under $600 into it. My gut tells me I should be able to get $750+shipping or so on Ebay - but I obviously loath having to do that.

I have seen the used ones sell without mounting hardware here - but when was the last time anyone sold one new in the original unopened box with original mounting hardware, stickers and the little window breaker hammer?

I'll keep pondering it and taking suggestions. If I do decide to post it up here, that at least opens MudShip as well. If I do it here, should this list in "For Sale - Parts" or in "Mud Bay" since it isn't a Toyota part?

Thanks again - and sorry about the chatty nature of this thread.

 

[PhrogsPhorever]

Throw it up on Mudbay for what you want for it, it'll sell for what someone will pay for it If it goes to a fellow mudder, super. If no-one bites, E-bay it.

If you throw it up on Mud bay, I, along with others might be interested

 

[NLXTACY]

This is so a chat item...post it on MudBay and give your fellow cruisers a shot at it.

Just remember Kruiser Karma when pricing it.

 

[C6H12O6]

Any other options out there? Sorry for the hi-jack, but this is in tech...

I've thought about building some kind of barrier using the high-test web strap the trucking companies use to strap stuff to flatbeds. Similar to the yellow stuff tow straps are made of. Not sure it would work. Might be a pain to see through and the bright yellow would be a bit of a distraction. Hmmm...

 

[NLXTACY]

Any other options out there? Sorry for the hi-jack, but this is in tech...

I've thought about building some kind of barrier using the high-test web strap the trucking companies use to strap stuff to flatbeds. Similar to the yellow stuff tow straps are made of. Not sure it would work. Might be a pain to see through and the bright yellow would be a bit of a distraction. Hmmm...

Yup, here ya go:
https://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/225015-80-series-cargo-barrier-net.html

 

[sundaypunch]

I have been looking for a Milford for a long time with no luck. I am holding out for the 1/2 height version. I don't understand why a Cruiser shop doesn't import some of these. It seems like they would be able to sell them given the demand.

In the meantime I am using the above cargo net. It works great but I would still like the peace of mind of a steel barrier.

 

[sleeoffroad]

I would not loose money on it. They are unobtainium and the right person will pay the right price for it. You did the work to get it, might as well get paid for it.

 

[Grench]

This is so a chat item...post it on MudBay and give your fellow cruisers a shot at it.

Just remember Kruiser Karma when pricing it.

I realize the chatty nature - but as parts for aging cruisers get more rare, this type of, "How do I price this part nobody can get?" question is going to come up more. If it weren't for the people I met on ih8mud - I would never have been able to get the parts here. So, yes, I'm trying to include the Karma in the calculation.

Any other options out there? Sorry for the hi-jack, but this is in tech...

No apologies needed. I don't mind a bit.

I have been looking for a Milford for a long time with no luck. I am holding out for the 1/2 height version.

I had considered the 1/2 height version - but then I discovered a few drawbacks. Keep in mind that the purpose of the barrier is to hold stuff back and keep it from hitting you in the back of the head. They need to be installed right. The 1/2 height barriers require a drawer system of the right height and strength. Also, from what I was able to tell, the 1/2 height barriers are not made to be removable. This last bit clinched it for me since I occasionally use my 80 to haul boards and other long items.

I don't understand why a Cruiser shop doesn't import some of these. It seems like they would be able to sell them given the demand.

I went down that road for more than 2 years. Milford seems to work off of regional distribution agreements - and the regional distributor for the US doesn't seem to be importing the 80 series barrier. There is more to it than that - and I don't know all of the details, but I kept running into that same dead end.

I would not loose money on it. They are unobtainium and the right person will pay the right price for it. You did the work to get it, might as well get paid for it.

I'm planning on covering my $$$ investment, definitely.

Someone will pay the right price for it, but without anything to compare it to - what is the right premium to tack on to it?

If I were doing this as a business and were to price it reflective of the investment and work that went into getting it + 20% margin, I'd have to put it in the $1200+ range, and that strikes me as silly.

Going in the other direction - Although it is new and sealed in box, I have no way to know it's real condition and I'm obviously not set up for returns or exchanges. It has traveled a lot of miles to get to Omaha. My inclination is to sell it as is where is - sealed box, buyer pays shipping. Everything is right as far as I know, but if it isn't they're on their own. Its that or open the box and take pictures of every inch of the thing, isn't it? Either way, I'm not a retailer and can't do returns or exchanges - that merits some discount to any profit margin I would consider.

 

[Ebag333]

If I were doing this as a business and were to price it reflective of the investment and work that went into getting it + 20% margin, I'd have to put it in the $1200+ range, and that strikes me as silly.

Going in the other direction - Although it is new and sealed in box, I have no way to know it's real condition and I'm obviously not set up for returns or exchanges. It has traveled a lot of miles to get to Omaha. My inclination is to sell it as is where is - sealed box, buyer pays shipping. Everything is right as far as I know, but if it isn't they're on their own. Its that or open the box and take pictures of every inch of the thing, isn't it? Either way, I'm not a retailer and can't do returns or exchanges - that merits some discount to any profit margin I would consider.

You're overthinking this. Put it on MUD for a reasonable price to cover your costs plus a reasonable margin, and see what happens. You will get a offer on it, though perhaps not for the price you put it up at.

Things sell for what they sell for. I regularly see OME lift parts regularly being snapped up for (relatively) close to what they sold for new, despite being heavily used and widely availible. For something that's new and not availible you can pretty much set your own price.

Like I said, cover your costs plus a reasonable margin and see what happens. The price can always go down if you are having trouble selling it, but I suspect that even if you put it on there for an outrageous price you will (eventually) sell it. You are not offering this to people buying $1k trucks, adding $500 worth of parts/work, then beating the out of it. You're offering this to people buying $6k-$10k trucks, adding $5k+ worth of parts/work, then beating the out of it (and then bawling like a baby when we scratch it, at least for some of us ).

 

[sundaypunch]

I had considered the 1/2 height version - but then I discovered a few drawbacks. Keep in mind that the purpose of the barrier is to hold stuff back and keep it from hitting you in the back of the head. They need to be installed right. The 1/2 height barriers require a drawer system of the right height and strength. Also, from what I was able to tell, the 1/2 height barriers are not made to be removable. This last bit clinched it for me since I occasionally use my 80 to haul boards and other long items.

Yes, but if you have a drawer system it becomes a non-issue as the full height won't fit.

 

[ontheroof]

Why does someone just get the full length and cut it to half if needed. I plan to do that if I add the drawers as waiting for the half is just a pain when I have one I can rework. I understand there are those who don't like to change things, but to be it seems so simple.

 

[NLXTACY]

Why not just build the drawer setup to butt up against the full size barrier? Why does it half to be a half size going on top of the drawer? If it were me I would still use the full size barrier and if I have access panels on the back of the drawer setup then I would just cut an access hole into the barrier itself to match. Just a could of snips with a set of bolt cutters.

 

[NorCalDoug]

so was the verdict on the price? set a reasonable price + shipping and put it up for sale?

I ask because I also have a full-height unobtainium Milford barrier, new, sealed, in box that I picked up a few years back before they became unavailable in the US.

What did you decide to do Grench?

 

[Grench]

so was the verdict on the price? set a reasonable price + shipping and put it up for sale?

I ask because I also have a full-height unobtainium Milford barrier, new, sealed, in box that I picked up a few years back before they became unavailable in the US.

What did you decide to do Grench?

I decided to sell it - then promptly ended up traveling every week/weekend since. I haven't had time to take pictures of the box and post it up let alone run the numbers through the shipping engines to figure out how much that part will cost.

It has taken a lot of thought to figure out a price - I have a fair amount wrapped up in it in both $$$ and time - but I don't want to be stupid or abusive about it. So, I have decided to split the middle. My plan is to post it up for $800. Not taking a loss on the $$$ outlay, pricing up a bit for the time/effort to get it, pricing back down a bit since I can't provide returns or warranty on it.

Please, nobody PM me offers/etc until AFTER I have it posted up in the classifieds. This thread is about figuring out how to price these and other hard to find items for our 80 series trucks - this is NOT a for sale thread - that will happen in an appropriate forum. Any related PMs before it is listed will be summarily ignored.

I may try to get it posted up this weekend, so we'll see how it goes.

 

[NorCalDoug]

thanks for sharing your thoughts on this Grench.

...well, I think I'll post mine up after yours and sold so as not to directly compete with you...assuming it's sold in a week or so...

I'll likely post mine up next Friday or Saturday (12/11 or 12/12), or after yours is sold, which ever is sooner. It would be nice to have a few extra $$$ for xmas gifts...and I think it would be cool for someone else to find a nice, "new in box", milford under the tree.