Who buys used LED walls and video gear?

Mostly other rental and production companies that run the same panel or processor, need more of it, or are adding LED. Matching panels, processors, cases and spare modules sell best together.

How do I know what my used production gear is worth?

It depends on the item, its condition, how current it still is and who needs it right now. Look at what the same item in the same condition is selling for, not at what it cost new.

Is it better to sell gear or keep it as backup?

Keep a sensible amount of spares for the systems you run every week. Gear that only sits as backup for a system you rarely use is usually worth more sold.

Where to sell used AV and production equipment

Used AV, lighting, LED and staging gear can fund what you need next, or sit in the warehouse losing value. Here are the ways to sell it and how to choose between them.

Devon Race

October 27, 20263 min read

Mobile stage with lighting and audio at the Kentuckiana Pride festival

The main places to sell used AV and production equipment are other production and rental companies, online marketplaces built for pro and live event gear, general marketplaces and auctions, and dealers or brokers who buy outright or take trade-ins. Selling direct to another production company usually gets the most for gear that’s still in demand, because they need it working, cased and ready for their next show. Marketplaces reach more buyers but take more of your time. Dealers and auctions are the fastest and usually pay the least.

I sell gear for production companies through my own network, and the same mistakes come up again and again: gear held until it’s a generation behind, listed with no details, or priced from what it cost instead of what it’s worth today.

What should you sell first?

Start with a list, not a hunch. Pull the last year of bookings and look for inventory that rarely leaves the shelf.

Items that haven’t gone out on a show in a long time
Gear your clients no longer ask for since a newer standard took over
Parts of a system you’ve stopped supporting, such as an old console family or panel type
Duplicates bought for one big job that never came back
Anything that costs more in storage, maintenance and repairs than it earns

Selling to other production and rental companies

Other companies are often the best buyers because they know exactly what they’re getting. The likeliest buyers already run the same system and need more of it, are adding a service line, or just landed a job that needs extra quantity.

Sell complete, show-ready packages: matching units with their cases, cables, spares and accessories, tested and labeled. A buyer pays more for something they can put on a truck than for a pile of parts they have to sort out. Reach them through your own contacts, industry associations and a direct call to the companies that run the same gear.

Online marketplaces for pro and live event gear

Marketplaces built for production gear, such as GearSource for live event equipment and Reverb for audio and backline, put your listing in front of buyers who search for exactly that item. General marketplaces like eBay work for smaller, easy-to-ship items.

Expect questions, negotiation and freight to arrange. Listings that sell include clear photos, model numbers, condition, hours or lamp life where it applies, firmware or software versions, and exactly what’s included.

Dealers, brokers, trade-ins and auctions

When speed matters more than price, a dealer or broker who buys outright, or an auction, takes the work off your hands. Trade-ins are worth asking about when you’re buying new gear from the same dealer, because the value goes straight toward the replacement.

How to get a fair price for used gear

Price from what the same item in the same condition is actually selling for now, not from its original cost.
Sell before the next generation arrives. Video, LED and lighting in particular lose value as newer products land.
Clean, test and document everything, and be upfront about faults. Surprises after the sale cost you the buyer and your reputation.
Sell in lots a buyer can use, like a full rig with spares, rather than one unit at a time.
Keep serial numbers and purchase records ready, since serious buyers ask for them.

What to do with the money

Put it toward the inventory your clients actually ask for. Before buying, check how often the new item would really go out, and whether subrenting it is the better call.

Common questions

Who buys used LED walls and video gear?: Mostly other rental and production companies that run the same panel or processor, need more of it, or are adding LED. Matching panels, processors, cases and spare modules sell best together.
How do I know what my used production gear is worth?: It depends on the item, its condition, how current it still is and who needs it right now. Look at what the same item in the same condition is selling for, not at what it cost new.
Is it better to sell gear or keep it as backup?: Keep a sensible amount of spares for the systems you run every week. Gear that only sits as backup for a system you rarely use is usually worth more sold.