9 Tips for Finding the Best Ski Deals on Facebook Marketplace

Facebook Marketplace is the wild west. Need a Yankee hat with no brim? You’re probably covered. What about a Ziploc bag filled with air from 2019? Someone out there is selling that, too. 

Strange finds aren’t necessarily the platform’s bread and butter, though. That title instead goes to the broad category of mostly normal used stuff, including ski gear. From skis that need a new home to bib pants with a patch or two, Facebook Marketplace offers deals well below the retail rate. And in a sport as expensive as skiing, that stock is more than worth investigating. 

These are a few tips to help you make the most of your time in the sometimes bizarre digital bazaar. 

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1. See the Gear in Person

“Gently used” can mean more than one thing. Do the skis you want to buy have some minor scuffs? Or is there a poorly repaired core shot that could make them fall apart the second they get wet? 

Do some sleuthing to find out.

Meet with the seller in person, and give the skis a more than a cursory glance. Try flexing the skis. Look closely at the bases and edges. Check the number of holes they have from binding re-mounts. While you’ll likely be paying well below retail, there’s no reason to waste a few hundred dollars on broken skis.

If you’re unfamiliar with how to assess used skis, you could phone a more knowledgeable friend for advice. 

2. Watch Out for Ancient Gear

Yes, those skis from 1997 might be cheap, but that doesn’t mean they work. Ski design has come a long way since the 90s. Newer gear is easier and more fun to use. Plus, it’s less of a headache to maintain. 

Bindings are the real thing to watch out for, though. Manufacturers eventually stop guaranteeing their older binding models are safe for use—or stop indemnifying them, in industry parlance. After that point, most reputable ski shops won’t work on or adjust them for liability reasons. While tracking down which bindings are or aren’t indemnified can be tricky, this Reddit thread has a trove of current information as a jumping-off point. Ever in doubt? Go to your local ski shop.

As a general rule, though, if the bindings look too old, they probably are too old, and you should pass. Although you could buy newer bindings to go with your discounted, used skis as a workaround, that still involves saving some money. 

3. Do Some Bargaining

Facebook Marketplace isn’t a ski shop with static prices. Sellers desperate to get rid of their old gear could be amenable to some counteroffers. Rather than paying exactly what they’re asking for, see if they’ll go lower. Try 25% off. Maybe they’ll take it, maybe they’ll meet you in the middle, or maybe they’ll respond with the classic retort, “No lowballs, I know what I have.” Regardless of the outcome, it doesn’t hurt to ask.

4. Be Nice

On the flip side, be nice. And no, requesting $350 off $400 used skis doesn’t count. Get too uppity, and you might develop a reputation in your local area. Pursue win-win situations. They offload the gear they want gone; you snag a deal. Haggling too aggressively might get in the way of this outcome, and could make a seller turn away altogether. 

5. Watch Out for Scammers

Like almost every place on the internet, Facebook Marketplace has scammers. Don’t fall for their schemes. A previous tip—seeing items in person whenever possible—applies here (video chat may work as an alternative). Facebook also recommends keeping Marketplace communications on its platform. Heading to WhatsApp or starting a text chain makes scams more difficult to track, according to Facebook. Beware of phishing scams, too. If the seller is asking for any personal information or login credentials, it’s time to get out of there.

6. Take Your Time

If you log into Facebook Marketplace and find the exact skis you’re looking for at a handsome price right away, you should consider also buying a lottery ticket. Most won’t have the same luck. Thrifting, in general, is typically a labor of love, involving checking and re-checking Facebook Marketplace until something turns up that you want.

So, instead of running yourself ragged with an hours-long Facebook Marketplace binge, pick a time each week to gather intel. Hidden gems should start to turn up as the days and weeks pass. Good things come to those who wait.

7. Try Searching in Wealthier Areas

This goes without saying, but people in wealthier neighborhoods or cities are more likely to own and regularly offload ski gear. They may also have a slightly different relationship with money than the rest of us. $200? $1,000? When you’re truly loaded, it doesn’t make much of a difference. Now, don’t go out of your way to sneak deals past people who don’t know any better, but if there’s a brand new pair of skis with bindings on Facebook Marketplace listed for $150, there’s no need to look a gift horse in the mouth. 

8. Survey the Field

Facebook Marketplace is an obvious place to score used ski gear. It’s hardly the only post-retail market, though. Loads of online storefronts sell everything from used skis to helmets and bindings. These are a few worth checking out. 

• Steep & Cheap
• Worn Wear
• Craigslist
• Geartrade
• ReGear

9. Just Buy Last Year’s Skis

The steepest discounts may be found on used gear marketplaces, but major retailers like evo.com and backcountry.com tend to offer lower prices on current equipment as summer approaches. This is a careful dance—wait too long, and the most popular sizes might sell out—but it comes with a big advantage: you can avoid the risks and pitfalls of buying used skis or bindings.

Related: The Best Ways to Dry Ski Gear Fast, According to Real Skiers