Ooof! Sigma lenses sure do not hold much resale value.

[Quicklabs]

Was out kicking the tires at KEH to see what they would offer me for my Siggy 30 and the 10-20mm. They are almost new, not a scratch on them and I even have the packing material for the original boxes (OK, I'm a saver). They offered me $350 for both! B&H price for them both is $920. No, thanks. Especially since no matter what I do, I'll keep the D80 as a back up.

The price on the D700 up $50 this week to $2399. Darn. Still on the fence.

 

[annnewjerz]

If you were serious about trying to sell them, I'd list them on Nikonians. I have gotten quotes from KEH on a few Nikon lenses that I have and it was crazy how low the offer was. I went on Nikonians and listed them and got quite a few offers that were close to what I paid for them.

The price on the D700 going up is a sign, get it now while you can!!

 

[boBQuincy]

Regardless of what we think about buying only OEM lenses and accessories, they hold their value much better than aftermarket items. I am not sure that offsets the higher initial price but it is something to consider if you don't keep equipment for a long time.

 

[Quicklabs]

I didn't have enough posts on Nikonians to list. and my trial subscription recently expired. Plus, I don't know if I'm coming or going with this!

If you were serious about trying to sell them, I'd list them on Nikonians. I have gotten quotes from KEH on a few Nikon lenses that I have and it was crazy how low the offer was. I went on Nikonians and listed them and got quite a few offers that were close to what I paid for them.

The price on the D700 going up is a sign, get it now while you can!!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

The problem with KEH is that they are buying in order to resell and are looking at making a profit. You'll be much better off to sell directly via the mentioned Nikonian, Craigslist, Fredmiranda, Ebay etc. I'd bet you could get the majority of your $$'s back.

So, does this mean you're leaning towards FF? I'll point out that if you don't like the FF you could always sell that and probably not lose much in the process - or anything if the price keeps going up! And keeping the D80 gives you the crop sensor. Now where's that nudge icon?!

 

[Code]

You got lowballed, maybe they are heavy on inventory for those lenses at the moment. I certainly don't think that's enough to say that all Sigma lenses lose more than OEM or another brand. When I sold my Oly mount Sigma 30mm I actually got more than I paid because of Sigma's price increase at the time, but I sold it myself.

 

[jann1033]

have you checked what used copies are going for? keh was really low on a lens i was thinking of selling as well, like about $100 less than i know i could have gotten( didn't sell it).adorama claims to give 75% of the value ( although they listed all my stuff over the "value" they quoted to me and sold most of it at the higher than quoted price so i got much closer to 50-60% of what they sold it for) don't know i would go that route again although it's way easier than selling it yourself... craigslist for my city is basically nothing but scams so a waste of time, putting it in the newspaper costs a bit plus you have to worry about crazies
i do think with the camera places though if i ever sell through them again i am listing them as the top ( under demo) category. i stupidly didn't read them first. they valued my stuff as what i said when in reality i should have moved them up higher since most were pristine shape. i think i said excellent and should have been ex+ or higher.

 

[alan]

Might be worth looking at eBay to see what the same lens is going for... then decide whether to try selling them by that route rather than going for a tradein

regards,
/alan

 

[KarenAylwood]

I bought the Sigma 30mm off Ebay and most were going for $390-$320. I got mine for $326 including shipping, and I think it went relatively low because my seller didn't have much feedback (all was positive but he wasn't a big seller so he had no recent sales) and it went off at a weird time.

I'd try ebay or craigslist before selling them for that!

 

[Suburbanmom]

If you decide to sell the 10-20 yourself, give me a call with your price. My widest lens is only 24mm (and on a DX...what's the conversion?) and I'm dying to go wider.

 

[WDWFigment]

Regardless of what we think about buying only OEM lenses and accessories, they hold their value much better than aftermarket items. I am not sure that offsets the higher initial price but it is something to consider if you don't keep equipment for a long time.

I have done a lot of flipping on eBay (buying packages last summer when the live.com cashback for buy it now purchases was 20-35%) and I can tell you without a doubt that this is not true. That KEH offered a low price on Sigma lenses doesn't necessarily prove that OEM lenses hold their values better. In order for that to be true, not only would KEH have to offer proportionately higher amounts for OEM lenses (they don't) but you would also have to experience similar value drop-off in other marketplaces.

I would hazard a guess that eBay is the largest market-economy for lenses in the world, and as such is an appropriate barometer. This doesn't occur on eBay.

 

[jann1033]

Regardless of what we think about buying only OEM lenses and accessories, they hold their value much better than aftermarket items. I am not sure that offsets the higher initial price but it is something to consider if you don't keep equipment for a long time.

actually my tokina fisheye lens sold for a little more than what i paid for it ( they gave me about $30 less than i paid, so to bad it went in adorama's pocket instead of mine ). i think it was only $60+ more for a new copy than what it actually sold for which shocked me ( it was ex+) . and on a canon lens ( also ex +)i tried to sell myself my only offer was less than 2/3 of what i paid for it( i didn't sell it). but the tokina is rated a high 9.7-10 on review sites while the canon is about an 8.5

so imo lens quality, or at least it's perceived quality/popularity, is more important than the brand for resale value. if you have a name brand lens no one wants you aren't going to sell it for squat.