BH trading in

[wenrob]

So I started thinking that I have cameras, lenses etc that are just sitting around collecting dust. Somewhere I saw someone mention packing up all their gear and trading it in at BH. Has anyone else done this? Can you give me you experiences? I don't know how close I'd get to my goal but I'm thinking it may be worth it to submit appraisal forms. Also, I have two Camcorders that use tape and a film zoom Pentax (top of the line in it's day) all in good working order. Are they even worth submitting?
Any help/thoughts would be great.

 

[dr_zero]

So I started thinking that I have cameras, lenses etc that are just sitting around collecting dust. Somewhere I saw someone mention packing up all their gear and trading it in at BH. Has anyone else done this? Can you give me you experiences? I don't know how close I'd get to my goal but I'm thinking it may be worth it to submit appraisal forms. Also, I have two Camcorders that use tape and a film zoom Pentax (top of the line in it's day) all in good working order. Are they even worth submitting?
Any help/thoughts would be great.

Not B&H but another shop they have a form you fill out and it makes you an offer and for the my Nikon 8008s they offered $2.50 so I passed, I figured if I really wanted to sell it for more I could put it on Ebay.

I checked today and it was 8.44

 

[Experiment_626]

for the my Nikon 8008s they offered $2.50 so I passed, I figured if I really wanted to sell it for more I could put it on Ebay.

Are you kidding? They really offered $2.50 for an N8008s?

No question -- you could get many times that for it on eBay if it's in good shape. Within the last month I sold an N2020 with a crappy Sigma zoom (not all Sigma lenses are crappy, but this particular specimen wasn't very good) and a small Nikon speedlight for nearly $100. And I'd imagine an 8008s would have more appeal than a 2020.

If you have equipment you'd like to liquidate, eBay is a much better bet. A dealer is going to offer you less than they think they can get reselling it. If you go to eBay, you cut out the middle man. Just do your homework before you list it.

SSB

 

[wenrob]

My problem with ebay is that I have little to no experience with it. (I've bought maybe three things in 5-6 years.) I have zero reputation so I'm worried I wouldn't get any more then if trading in. Is that the wrong way to think?

 

[dr_zero]

Are you kidding? They really offered $2.50 for an N8008s?

No question -- you could get many times that for it on eBay if it's in good shape. Within the last month I sold an N2020 with a crappy Sigma zoom (not all Sigma lenses are crappy, but this particular specimen wasn't very good) and a small Nikon speedlight for nearly $100. And I'd imagine an 8008s would have more appeal than a 2020.

If you have equipment you'd like to liquidate, eBay is a much better bet. A dealer is going to offer you less than they think they can get reselling it. If you go to eBay, you cut out the middle man. Just do your homework before you list it.

SSB

No it wasnt B&H (I like B&H) it was www.usedcamerabuyer.c*m and to be fair today they offered 8.44 Still I declined the offer.

I think I might have been watching that N2020! Was that you!

In a way I wish that Disboards had a exchange set up where you could list items you wanted to sell.
They would not have to be affiliated with the sale other than let someone post they were selling or looking for an item.
On the military forums we have an equipment exchange section where you can clean your closet or replace some lost kit you might need. The feed back is left in a sub board so others can see who is legit and who to avoid.
No fees and generally you know the people you are dealing

 

[dr_zero]

My problem with ebay is that I have little to no experience with it. (I've bought maybe three things in 5-6 years.) I have zero reputation so I'm worried I wouldn't get any more then if trading in. Is that the wrong way to think?

Every seller on ebay started with a 0 rating and worked their way up so dont let that worry you and if its the price you are worried about then set the start higher or add a reserve for what you want out of it.

 

[Experiment_626]

Every seller on ebay started with a 0 rating and worked their way up so dont let that worry you and if its the price you are worried about then set the start higher or add a reserve for what you want out of it.

Yes -- and do your homework. You can do a search of completed listings similar to what you have to sell. That way, you can see the prices equipment like yours is actually bringing. If you're even more careful, you can check out those that didn't sell and determine some of the mistakes those sellers may have made. Inaccurate, incomplete or just plain nonexistent descriptions, poor photos (or no photos at all), unrealistically high shipping costs, and high starting bids are common mistakes, especially for new sellers who did not do their homework. Thus armed with knowledge, you can avoid those pitfalls.

As for whether that was my N2020 -- good question! It was a camera body, a 70-200 (or 210 -- not sure) Sigma zoom, an SB-18 Speedlight, a UV filter, and a bag to hold it all.

I bought that outfit because it included a Nikkor (how is that pronounced, anyway? "Nick-ore" or "nigh-core"?) 50 mm 1.8 AF lens. I paid something like $70 for the whole thing -- which is less than I would have paid for the lens alone. I got it, kept the lens I wanted, and gave the rest a thorough cleaning. I took new, better photos of everything, and then sold it for more than I paid originally.

A little extra effort is often worth the time and trouble. How often do we get paid a net gain to buy a lens?

SSB

 

[dr_zero]

Yes -- and do your homework. You can do a search of completed listings similar to what you have to sell. That way, you can see the prices equipment like yours is actually bringing. If you're even more careful, you can check out those that didn't sell and determine some of the mistakes those sellers may have made. Inaccurate, incomplete or just plain nonexistent descriptions, poor photos (or no photos at all), unrealistically high shipping costs, and high starting bids are common mistakes, especially for new sellers who did not do their homework. Thus armed with knowledge, you can avoid those pitfalls.

As for whether that was my N2020 -- good question! It was a camera body, a 70-200 (or 210 -- not sure) Sigma zoom, an SB-18 Speedlight, a UV filter, and a bag to hold it all.

I bought that outfit because it included a Nikkor (how is that pronounced, anyway? "Nick-ore" or "nigh-core"?) 50 mm 1.8 AF lens. I paid something like $70 for the whole thing -- which is less than I would have paid for the lens alone. I got it, kept the lens I wanted, and gave the rest a thorough cleaning. I took new, better photos of everything, and then sold it for more than I paid originally.

A little extra effort is often worth the time and trouble. How often do we get paid a net gain to buy a lens?

SSB

LOL you are so right!

I do the same thing kinda like flipping a house now flipping cameras LOL

 

[wenrob]

I think I'm going to give it a try. So pretty much do a search of what it is I'm selling and see what it did or didn't sell for? How do you determine shipping?

 

[dmccarty]

I went and sold ALL of my film cameras to a local shop last spring just before our last WDW trip. I even sold my Cannon T70 and lensese. Did not get much for it.

The N70 did not get much either. I did get some cash for the F100. I forgot the prices but I thought it was fair. I had looked at B&H for used prices and else where so I knew what price the shop would be asking to retail the camera.

It was enough to cover a portion of a big new camera bag, when do we ever have enough bags, an SB800 and a 50 f1.4. Lesson learned was to get rid of stuff if you want to get the most money back.

I try to shop at local camera's stores. I know that is not possible for everyone since they don't have a camera store. The guy I used to buy my gear from closed down a few years ago. It was a small local chain that had great service and mail order prices. I miss them. But we have another store not as close that does buy used. They also have mail order prices.

Just bought a D200 about 18 months ago. Figured I had waited long enough to get a DSLR and that the technology had matured enough so that I would not want to buy up any time soon. The D300 came out soon there after. Nice but nice enough to make me buy up. Then the D700! Woo Hoo!

But $3K!!!!

The prices are dropping.....

I think next winter, after getting tax money back, and before our next WDW trip I'll be selling the D200 and getting the D700.

The D200 is a great camera but the extra ISO on the D700 is a big deal and would really help taking photos that the D200 just cant do.

Later,
Dan

 

[dr_zero]

I think I'm going to give it a try. So pretty much do a search of what it is I'm selling and see what it did or didn't sell for? How do you determine shipping?

That and look at their description and was it a decent pic? Did they bother to get the dust off before they took the pic? Those all figure into the price theirs sold for.
If you want don't forget you can set a reserve so if that $100 flash only get $24 in bids you don't lose out.

Come up with a weight of the item and there are shipping calculators that will do the rest for ya!

After getting burned I now only take Paypal or Bidpay no money orders, checks etc.
Send the item with delivery confirmation its worth the cost to see it was delivered and I would recommend either paying the insurance ( a buck or two) or require it and put in the shipping cost. Reason is you ship in good shape the person gets it and the lens is broke off you both are covered or is its "Lost" by the postal system.

 

[thomas998]

I haven't tried BH... I did try adorama once... will never do that again. I sent them two vintage Leica kits that included cameras, lenses, and all manner of attachements.... Their offer was equal to what I could have gotten for just one of the lenses on ebay... When I balked at that they tried to get me to trade them for a new camera... I simply said no thanks just send them back (as they had agreed to do before I sent them to them)... it took almost 2 months for them to get sent back to me, and not packed nearly as well as I had packed them when I sent them in.

If you have anything you want more than garage sale prices for I think I would start with craigslist and then maybe use ebay.... shoot it might make more sense to donate the stuff to good will and take a tax write off.

 

[wenrob]

Thanks so much for your help guys!
Having a look around, the lenses I'm thinking of putting up are getting more then I thought they would so that is encouraging. I was thinking maybe I'll start with smaller stuff first, like brand new clothes my little ones haven't worn (they just don't grow fast like my eldest did) and figurines type stuff to build my reputation. I'm not concerned with making a lot for those and it will help me get a feel for things.

 

[maccagerl]

After getting burned I now only take Paypal or Bidpay no money orders, checks etc.

A big caveat if you use paypal- ( and I think Ebay now makes it so you cannot ask for any other type of payment in your ebay listing)- be SURE to read the paypal seller protection policy VERY carefully and do EXACTLY what it says (in terms of delivery confirmation, sending to the address verified in paypal, etc) when you send your item to the buyer .
If you don't follow their rules, the buyer can notify paypal that they never received the item, and Paypal will take back your money and give it back to the buyer.
Unfortunately there are many unscrupulous people that use ebay to defraud the honest buyers and sellers- so be very careful who you sell to and follow the rules to protect yourself!
Good luck!
( And personally, I would try Craigslist first!)

 

[pjacobi]

A little while ago, I consider selling a lens, worth $200 on E-bay and upgrading to a better lens. That was until I read about "charge-back scams". This means that I must risk *both* loosing the lens and a loss of $200.00 chargeback. There are ways to minimize this risk, but it cannot be totally eliminated with PayPal.

Charge-back scammer target particularly electronic and photographic equipment sales becuase these items can be easily be re-sold for cash.

E-bay works just fine for selling old junk in the attic, as was originally intended. However, E-bay is very risky for someone like me attempting to sell valuable equipment with little or no E-bay experience.


-Paul

 

[wenrob]

Oy, you guys are freaking me out! Couldn't I ask for signed delivery confirmation?
I'm not going to start with my 'good stuff' first. I think I will start with hard back books, DVDs, figurines that kind of thing. It won't make me rich but it'll get me started.

edited to add: Just checked out Craigs List (believe or not I've never even looked at it) seems pretty freakin' SCARY to me. It's all on the honor system from what I can tell. I saw a 'Nikon D90' w/grip (of course the pic was blurry) for 175.00 that was "used as a back up." It's been out for what two weeks? Obviously a scam. Then you have the issue of someone clocking you over the head and taking your stuff or worse. Definitely would have to have the Hubby with me.

 

[maccagerl]

That's exactly the kind of mistake people make with Paypal, opening up the loophole for a chargeback. It's not enough to just ask for signed delivery confirmation. You must follow their rules exactly in order to be protected.
Ebay has really gone downhill for sellers with all the new changes. You are not even allowed to give the buyers poor feedback anymore- you can only give them good feedback or no feedback.
Just be very careful, that is all.
At least with Craig's list you can see who you are dealing wtih and get paid in cash. Of course, you would take the same reasonable care you would take with any stranger at your home- have somebody else there, do the transaction on the front steps or meet in a public place.
I've sold things on ebay and craigslist, and only had one incident on ebay where I lost money- I had sent money via paypal for a small item. The person never sent the item. I opened a dispute and won, meaning that I would get my money back. Well, the seller had no more money left in their paypal account, so I never did get my money back. Luckily it was a very small amount of money that I lost - but it happens!

Oy, you guys are freaking me out! Couldn't I ask for signed delivery confirmation?
I'm not going to start with my 'good stuff' first. I think I will start with hard back books, DVDs, figurines that kind of thing. It won't make me rich but it'll get me started.

edited to add: Just checked out Craigs List (believe or not I've never even looked at it) seems pretty freakin' SCARY to me. It's all on the honor system from what I can tell. I saw a 'Nikon D90' w/grip (of course the pic was blurry) for 175.00 that was "used as a back up." It's been out for what two weeks? Obviously a scam. Then you have the issue of someone clocking you over the head and taking your stuff or worse. Definitely would have to have the Hubby with me.

 

[Groucho]

Another option is to look for a forum with a buy/sell area that specializes in the kind of camera/lens/accessory you're trying to sell. I know there's at least a Pentax one and a general manual focus one, I can only assume similar places exist for other brands. The Pentax one is very busy and things often sell within mere minutes of posting.

I generally have pretty good luck with eBay. As long as you buy from a seller with decent feedback, you're in good shape; and if you're selling, you can usually do well if you bother to take good photos of what you're selling and put in a complete and honest description.

If you have no eBay feedback, you should maybe spend a little time buying a few odds and ends (to get good buyer feedback) and sell a few cheap things. You don't need massive transactions, just some here and there. I'm up to 109 feedbacks (100% positive) after quite a few years of using eBay. That's really not all that much activity over the time I've been there but easily enough to be a pretty trustworthy seller. I think you'd want at least 10-15 before selling anything valuable.

 

[Experiment_626]

[regarding eBay] if you're selling, you can usually do well if you bother to take good photos of what you're selling and put in a complete and honest description.

Yep -- solid advice there!

SSB

 

[Boo Bear]

Your best bet would be to first... go to www.keh.com and appraise your own items to find out their true approximate value. Then sell them on ebay or offer then on craigslist. I work for a camera retailer and I can honestly say that we'll offer less than half of what we'll re-sell it for, which won't be much to begin with. Good luck!