Price guide won't work
It is impossible to do a "blue book" type price guide on saws like can be done on a vehicle or boat. The main reason? If you have 100 cars that have the same amount of mileage and are the same age, the condition on average will be similar because people use vehicles in a similar way. ie, they drive on similar roads, similar speeds and of course maintenance can and will vary but most people change their oil and fix things as they break. Ok, now you have 10 chainsaws that are the same age. 10 different people operated them from the "you need to add oil in the gas too?" guy to the professional that handles and maintains it properly but runs the ####ens out of it making a living. Then most of them are homeowners or firewood cutters that may be skilled in operating them but don't really use them that often so they sit around and get gummed up from disuse.
When you are looking at photos of a saw, about all the data you may have other than cosmetic appearance is the manufacturer and probably the model. Some models have been made for years so the age of the saw is not even likely known.
So value wise, if that model of a saw is still made, the current price is useful for a benchmark. If it is an old model or collectible, then how many are around and how many are getting to the market dictates price as it is the typical supply/demand thing.
Professional model saws will bring a higher price but the chances of it being worn out are higher too. The throwaway models like newer Poulan, Homelite, Craftsman, etc are not usually worth much used because they don't cost much new. I put these saws into the "keep one in the back of your pickup" category.
If you are interested in a particular model of saw, search completed listings on eBay, keep and eye on Craigslist and see what they go for. That will give an idea of whether you are likely paying more or less than the typical sales price. but again, you have to determine the value for the particular saw in question and its value may/will be different than another one of the same model in a different condition.
Start out only buying cheap saws and limit your losses until you get good at assessing the market and saw condition. If you are mechanical, buy them broken for cheap and fix them up. Keep in mind the cost of parts can make it cost more than a new one would have been. The whole used saw thing is a crap shoot but that is some of the excitement in finding good buys or reselling one at a profit. There's plenty of stuff for sale so get in the fray!
thats funny.
