Episode 11 Topic – Selling Your Camera Gear
In Episode 11, Matt and Brian Matiash talk about selling your photography gear. We all like to upgrade from time to time and unfortunately the longer you keep your old cameras and lenses the less valuable they become. In this episode Matt and Brian talk about some tips for selling your gear to get the most profit as well as avoid a scam.
How to Listen/Watch
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The podcast is NOT intended to be visual in any way, so all you’re doing is watching the two of us talk and nothing else. But if that’s the way you prefer it, feel free. Personally, podcasts are something I listen to when I have nothing else to do, or to keep me busy while doing something else – so I never watch them.
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PRO TIP: I typically listen to podcasts on my phone while driving or in the gym. And I usually set most podcasts to 1.25x – 1.5x speed to get through it faster.
Since this IS NOT A TRAINING tutorial, and it’s just us talking, I think you can speed us up and get through it faster so feel free to give it a try. I can’t help you find that setting, but again… most podcast apps have it, so poke around. If you can use Lightroom and Photoshop I have no doubt you can figure out how to use a podcast app ?
I love teaching and photography... In that order. I feel that enjoying photography, and photo editing can get WAY too complicated. So my personal mission (and favorite thing to do), is to create education that simplifies the process of taking great photos, and how to edit them to get the results you’ve always wanted.
most police departments will allow you to meet there to exchange money/merchandise.
Great Info. Learned a lot.
This is great. I too live in FL, Ormond Beach and our local police station has a pick up area right there at the station to make the exchange. I have used it and had an officer walk out and speak to me, he said the area is monitored inside via a camera system. Made me feel safe. Definitely will put the buyer on notice no shenanigans allowed 🙂 Thanks for all the great info.
can you talk some time about advantage of electronic shutter vs the other kind? Other than not actuating (is that a word?) the shutter? I’m confused.
Thank you for this info about selling equipment.
Ive used eBay for photo gear and Craigslist for a car and both worked out with no problems. Sorry these guys had problems, but it was fine. I sold a 21year old car to person looking for a car for his son. He was happy with his purchase, and i was glad my car was going to a good home. I’ve also sold Leica’s with no problem. I have a separate checking account for PayPal transactions which I suggest you set up. Of course you have to be careful and take the advise these guys are telling you.
Thanks Brian and Matt, you made some very good points re buying and selling. In our photoclub we do have a word of mouth buy and sell opportunity, Our club is very small. I really liked the comment about keeping the boxes…that is me…and I also did the family/friend thing…don’t really recommend it…nothing bad…just uncomfortable! Great podcast…I have lots of catching up to do. Cheers Sheila
Matt, you gotta get that Sony mirrorless out of the image….LOL! Good to get to know Brian!
Thanks Matt for sharing the link to your Podcast…I am always interested in listening to photo related subjects…looks like I have a few to catch-up on…today was my first listen. Keep up the good work!
I have used KEH with no problems.
Mike fort myers
Matt and Brian, thanks for this Podcast. I’ve used MPB and a local camera shop with success. The local camera shop is Colonial Photo and Hobby in Orlando who have been around since the 1950s. I like to use the local shop to buy new bodies and lenses and trade in older gear. It takes some of the bite away of the cost for new gear, immediate, and I like supporting the local shop. They are nice people and fair and honest to deal with. Unless there are sales either way, the costs for new gear are identical. I can get a quote for my used gear in a few minutes at the shop and I have online quotes from K&H and MPB for my reference. The quotes for selling/trading my gear at the shop have been close enough to not sweat the difference especially considering security issues and hassles.
Matt and Brian,
Thank you both for an insightful podcast. You bring up many good points. As a seller, one thing I have generally done when selling camera bodies and lenses, is to send the item to Camera Professional Services (CPS) for cleaning and inspection immediately before listing. I’m sure Sony and Nikon have similar programs. After I completed the sale of my Canon 5D Mark IV on eBay, the buyer commented that he wanted to buy the 5DMkIV from the Canon Refurbished website, but they were never in stock. He felt more comfortable purchasing from me in part because of the CPS cleaning and inspection.
Why did you not mention MPB as a share and reputable buyer/seller?
I’m lucky, there’s a camera store in Youngstown, Ohio that’s relatively close to where I live. They have representatives from the top camera companies come in and do a “We Buy Your Camera Gear” and it usually runs for several days. I’ve brought camera gear there and they’ve gave me a halfway decent deal. You can take cash or use it for credit towards purchasing anything in the store.
I also use MPB online and get decent deals there too.
I’ve not sold any of my gear local, there’re no photographers in my area that I know of who’re looking to buy camera gear.
I have traded in cameras and lenses with KEH and MPB. Their prices are adequate for me and the process for sending and receiving equipment is simple and fast. Moreover, the condition of the equipment they have for sale is as advertised. I continue to have confidence in both of these sources.
Thanks for putting together this guide. I’m about to sell some gear so it was a big help.
I think the three main takeaways I got were: don’t overprice the product, be cautious and good photos of the goods. Cheers Tim
Matt,
First podcast listened to. Excellent! I did not hear you mention KEH or stores like it, or were you referring to it as the same as a local “camera store.”
Solid advice, although my experience with eBay has been good. Over the years I’ve sold camera bodies, lenses and accessories, always using the auction mode with a reserve price set. I always stay in the eBay environment, paying all appropriate fees and have never had a problem. Taking photos does take a little extra time, but the selling price differential is worth it.
Another reputable place to sell is KEH in Georgia. On the used purchase side, I’ve had good experience at mpb.com. The two items I’ve purchased were as advertised and at a fair price.
Best to sell or buy if from an individual meet them at their bank and test the equipment and get paid cash on the spot.
What are the pros and cons of selling to a place like KEH or MPB?
My experience with Adorama was horrendous! It took them 2 weeks to give me a quote, which was a joke. They claimed all 4 lenses had fungus inside. 2 weeks later, I fonally received the items back. MPB.com paid me almost twice the amount! Unfortunately, the amount I received was reduced by about $30, because a month had transpired since they gave me the quote. I will never do business with Adorama again!
I stopped using Adorama years ago. After spending many, many thousands of dollars on photography gear from them, I was on a photo trip in New York and had a minor problem with my Canon 5D. All I wanted to do was to talk to a tech there to see if they could confirm my suspicions were correct. They wouldn’t give me the time of day, even after looking up my account! I switched to B&H and never spent another nickel at Adorama.
I had a bad experience with Adorama and will only deal with B&H. I sent a camera which is in brand new condition and had absolutely no scratch and worked perfectly. I only wanted to sell it since I was buying a mirrorless camera. They said it had scratches and the lens was fogged, etc. and offered me pittance. I later got a very good value for this from MPB.
This was very good. I had no idea that Fred Miranda was still around. Used that site a fair amount in the 2000’s.
Last few years I’ve used a combo of B&H, KEH and MPB. I know I’m paying a premium and not getting as much when selling but the peace of mind is worth it for me.
And I keep the boxes also.
Greatest podcast with lots of practical important tips if buying used. Great suggestion to bring your camera and test used lens with your camera. I would recommend doing this even at a camera store. It has saved me some well earned money.
Johnson photo. Ty 70. Lakewood Ranch FkDavid
thank you both! This is great for anything you want to sell in 2024. I have a few vintage Rollei cameras and accessories I need to sell. I will check out fredmeranda and see if this is something they will help me find a new home for
Hi Matt: Just an FYI : A good buy and sell option for used gear: Looking Glass Camera in Berkeley Ca. is a rare find, a true old fashioned camera store run and staffed by experienced photographic enthusiasts. They sell and buy used cameras and lenses and offer prices based upon whether you are cashing out or trading up to something new. They are fil and digital and have a wet darkroom for rent . They also plan to restart a rental option. I have done business with them for over 30 years and they have survived the online decimation of traditional camera stores by great service and becoming part of the photography community.
I second Brian’s comments on Fred Miranda, multiple deals over 20 years -never a disappointment on either end of the deals
I almost was scammed twice, once a person wanted to payment method a I did not want (Wester Union?) as I requested PayPal. The scammer e-mail PayPal payment receipts but when I logged in no such transaction was recorded. Another person (said was in Texas) wanted me to ship to FL. Research the person and ship to location were bogus (the real person did not match the buyer information). I did sell a 2X tele-converter, the buyer was somewhat aggressive to make the purchase (Sony 2X was hard to get at the time). That went great, got the money up front. It was sent to an high end condo and was not signed by the buyer, but the buyer said he was out of town (exec at an airline). In the end it went well.
that was really helpful!
Mercari is another ebay type sales app .. I like it better, the seller doesn’t get paid until the buyer receives the product and rates it. i have been selling/buying on there for a couple years, never had a problem. Its the Macy’s of ebay lol
ive not sold camera gear, but have bought and sold electronics and physical media.
I have good luck with with JPI in Bradenton FL
They do not sell outright but often having a company that will buy your gear from time to time.
I’ve had good luck with Johnson PhotoImaging (JPI) in Bradenton FL. They have a rep come in once ever quarter.
Back in the days of film it was commonly stated that cameras are just light proof boxes in which we put the film. If that was ever true it certainly isn’t in these digital days. There are so many cameras with so many features you have to decide on it can be daunting. It seems that camera bodies are like cel phones – outdated as soon as you walk out the door. I have always stayed with one brand and purchased the best lenses money could buy for that brand/mount and they carry forward to updated models very well. Dealers have to offer you about half what you might get elsewhere because they are in business to make money and have to carry it in stock until they manage to sell it. I guess the advantage of going to a dealer is that it is done and gone in one easy step and you don’t have to do all the work and expense of marketing it and dealing with potential customers and shipping.
I don’t know Steve. I still shoot with my Sony a1 which is 3 years old and it’s still the best camera I’ve ever held. 3 years in Camera years is a long time and it’s held up perfectly. I can’t imagine what they’ll do to beat it if they come out with another version, though I know they will somehow 🙂