After a three-year hiatus, the Mazamas will resume the annual Used Equipment Sale (UES). Mark your calendars for March 3, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Mazama Mountaineering Center in SE Portland.
As with many activities making a comeback after COVID, this event will be a bit different. The 2023 UES will be run as a fundraiser for the Mazamas and a way to make the purchase of gear more affordable for our BCEP students, Mazama members, and the greater Portland community.
What that means is the Mazamas will not be accepting gear on consignment to sell on behalf of members as the organization has in the past. We understand people looked forward to the UES as a way to make money on their used equipment, and while we hope you will consider making tax-deductible donations to the Mazamas, we understand if you prefer to explore other avenues.
“We believe this change better reflects our mission to inspire everyone to protect and love mountains,” says Interim Executive Director Kaleen Deatherage. “Historically this event raised about $15,000, and the organization would make about $3,000 from it. Given our current fiscal situation and our desire to eliminate barriers to entry to the outdoors, like expensive gear, we felt that recentering the event as a fundraiser for the Mazamas makes sense for this year.”
Please be thinking of used gear and equipment you’d love to pass along.
- Outdoor clothes
- Boots
- Books
- Nordic/Cross Country (XC), telemark skis, randonee and related gear (e.g. boots, poles)
- Climbing gear
- Camping gear (e.g. stoves, water purifiers
- Backpacks
- Tents
- Snowshoes
- Bicycling accesories (e.g. helmets, clothes)
- Car Rack systems
The Mazamas is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and the fair market value of donated items may be tax deductible. We likely will have multiple dates in advance of March 3 for items to be dropped off at the Mazama Mountaineering Center. Stay tuned. The Mazamas will dispose/distribute any items not sold and provide donors with a tax donation receipt.
So if you are selling donations, will you be providing information a report to members who donate gear showing the value it sold at, for tax purposes?
See below.
Hi Linda. As the article mentions, the Mazamas will be providing a receipt. It is up to the donor to put a value on the item based on retail if it is new and fair market value if it is used. For example, if something is worth $100, that is what can be claimed for tax purposes, even if it sells for more.