Skydive Buy & Sell+ List your gearHow to buy used skydiving gear safely
Most used gear sales go fine. These habits help make that the usual outcome.
Before you commit
- Ask for clear photos, serial numbers and dates of manufacture
- Ask for paperwork and maintenance records
- Check that the components are approved to be used together
- Ask about deployments, repairs and modifications
- Compare the price with similar listings
Inspect before you pay
Arrange an inspection by a certified parachute rigger, ideally at a drop zone. If a seller refuses, or rushes you, walk away.
Buying from far away
Have the seller ship the gear to a rigger you trust, not to you. The rigger checks it and holds it until the deal is done. Before anything ships, agree with the seller and the rigger on when the money is sent and who pays shipping if the gear does not pass. A seller who will not ship to a rigger is a red flag. Find a verified rigger who holds gear for shipped sales.
Red flags
- A price that looks too good to be true
- A seller who will not meet or will not let you inspect the gear
- Pressure to pay in unusual ways before you see it
- Stories that change, or labels and serial numbers that are missing or removed
Paying and shipping
Skydive Buy & Sell never handles payments or shipping. Decide how you will pay and exchange the gear in a way that protects you both, and keep records. Be careful with wire transfers and with sending money to people you have not met.
If something looks wrong
Serial numbers and labels help identify a rig. Check them against USPA's stolen gear reports and search the serial number online. If a listing looks suspicious, use the report button on the listing so a moderator can look, and check with your drop zone.
How Skydive Buy & Sell helps
- Browsing is free. Create a free account to see full details, ask questions, and make offers.
- Moderators check new members' listings before they go live, and verified riggers and trusted members can take down a listing that looks unsafe.
- Buyers and sellers deal directly. We never handle payments or shipping.
- Reputation comes from confirmed sales, reviews, and vouches from jumpers who know you, and every member agrees to a community pledge of honesty and personal accountability.
Related guides
Check a sellerUsed skydiving gearScam warning signsRig inspectionUsed reserve canopiesSelling
This page is general information, not professional advice. Always have used gear inspected by a certified parachute rigger before you use it. Skydive Buy & Sell is an independent site and is not affiliated with any manufacturer or skydiving organization.