Every surfer at some point will sell his or her board, it’s a way of raising funds for that next board, while simultaneously servicing demand for surfers who don’t want/need to spend top dollar on a newbie. You don’t need to be a gift of the gab sales slimebag to shift it, but there are some tips for making a sale quicker and more likely.

1. Price right

Be realistic about the asking price. Generally, it’ll be a wee bit less than the same board in a shop. Any board sold at a beach or carpark usually goes for less still. Ask a touch more than you’re willing to take, so that you have room to be bargained down.

2. Fix

Sort out all the dings so she’s ready to surf. Knowing that you’re selling a decent, watertight board will make you a much more genuine, caring owner/vendor and less like a crack addict that just swiped it off a roof rack.

3. So fresh so clean

Clean the board spotless. Who is ever going to want an old dirty dog with black wax? Scrape it, clean it, then re-wax it to hide the pressure dings.

4. Don’t lie (much)

Don’t make up a ridiculous yarn like you don’t want to sell but have to to buy your little brother a walking stick following his accident when he got hit by a drunk school bus driver. People see through that nonsense. just admit you fancy something else, or that it’s too thin/thick etc.

5. Cry

Do tell them about that life changing wave you had on the board and get a faraway look in your eye. If you can manage a tear, well then game on.

6. Accessorize

Put the fins in, even if they’re some old black plastic basic ones. Not only does it look better, it gives you a great selling point to talk about. ‘Hey! It’s got fins… I’m throwing them in for free!’

7. But

If it is a magic board and not yet dead, DON’T SELL IT. Go hungry, go naked, miss child support payments, make sacrifices. Life is too short and magic boards are too seldom come by to be selling them for a measly couple hundred quid.

Hang in there.
– DB