Is the used market drying up?
Aug 20, 2021 11:26:08 #
I think recently more people have discovered sites like B&H and Adorama, and are using places like that to trade in their equipment rather than Craigslist. Also, (per my recent post), I think phone cameras are becoming so efficient and popular that a lot of "not so much enthusiasts", are settling for having that convenience in their pocket rather than buying a real camera, sad but a sign of the times.
Aug 20, 2021 11:33:49 #
One thought, prices for a lot of used stuff seems high to me, personally, rarely am I going to pay 2/3's the price of a new camera for an older model used one (Just an example). People can now easy search Ebay etc. and feel things are worth more than they are, at least to me. Then for many, if they can get what they feel right, do they just put it back in the closet?
We had a restaurant close nearby more than a decade ago, it sat till it rotted away. I asked locals why, answer, owners wanted more than it was worth (way more) and refused to sell! West Virginia is having the same thing with what they call Zombie homes, wrecks some want, but owners won't sell.
Finally, for many, dealing with putting on Ebay, setting up account, packing, shipping, etc. may just be more trouble than it's worth unless you have a lot to sell.
Just some random thoughs.
We had a restaurant close nearby more than a decade ago, it sat till it rotted away. I asked locals why, answer, owners wanted more than it was worth (way more) and refused to sell! West Virginia is having the same thing with what they call Zombie homes, wrecks some want, but owners won't sell.
Finally, for many, dealing with putting on Ebay, setting up account, packing, shipping, etc. may just be more trouble than it's worth unless you have a lot to sell.
Just some random thoughs.
Aug 20, 2021 12:01:19 #
User ID wrote:
Many moons ago our shop staff generally referred to Leicas as the “dead father in law cameras”.
I think the deaths of fathers in law was bringing to market more cameras than the factory !
I think the deaths of fathers in law was bringing to market more cameras than the factory !
There are amazing numbers of cameras sitting in closets in almost-new condition.
A high school friend of mine's father was a heart surgeon. He had the Corvette, the mountain house in NC, the beach house in SC... So he had to have a camera kit to match his ego, too. He bought two Nikon F2s and six Nikkor prime lenses. When he died, many years later, his daughter found his kit in the front hall closet of their home. It had some expired film and the receipt for the film and cameras and lenses. She never even knew he owned the stuff! It was all in perfect shape. Apparently, he had taken a short photography course, exposed a few rolls of film that "did not come out well," and gave up on serious SLR photography!
Aug 20, 2021 13:22:29 #
kenArchi
Loc: Seal Beach, CA
Sensors, are outdated. Processors outdated. Glass outdated.
Adaptors for old glass add weight and length( I don't understand why to do this).
Adaptors for old glass add weight and length( I don't understand why to do this).
Aug 20, 2021 13:29:59 #
kenArchi wrote:
Sensors, are outdated. Processors outdated. Glass outdated.
Adaptors for old glass add weight and length( I don't understand why to do this).
Adaptors for old glass add weight and length( I don't understand why to do this).
Huh?
The latest processors and sensors are going into mirrorless cameras. The newest, most advanced lens designs are for mirrorless systems. Adapters give us options we’ve never had before.
I don’t see your point.
Aug 20, 2021 13:36:12 #
larryepage
Loc: North Texas area
kenArchi wrote:
Sensors, are outdated. Processors outdated. Glass outdated.
Adaptors for old glass add weight and length( I don't understand why to do this).
Adaptors for old glass add weight and length( I don't understand why to do this).
How do you know when a sensor is "outdated?"
I still have a D300 and a D300s that capture beautiful 12 MP images as long as I understand and work within their capabilities. And sometimes 12 MP is exactly right. Plus, I'd much rather use one of those cameras when working in a hazardous environment like a manufacturing plant. I had one lens, the 18-70mm DX zoom, that I considered a pretty poor example of a lens. All of my other original lenses continue to serve quite well on my latest camera bodies.
The same goes for all of the hulabaloo over AF. I seem to do fine with the autofocus in both of those cameras. While some of the advances provide benefits that are meaningful, most simply enable "lazy photography." I'd never try to use either camera for night sky photography, but that limitation does not make either camera outdated.
Aug 20, 2021 13:37:32 #
Aug 20, 2021 13:45:19 #
SuperflyTNT wrote:
I think a big part of the problem is the shortage of new gear. The chip shortage has affected everything. Lots of the new gear is on back order and people aren’t selling their old gear until they get the new stuff.
That is likely a valid point. Seems to be true of computer gear too.
Aug 20, 2021 13:46:24 #
CHG_CANON wrote:
Michael Jordon got better in the gym, not in the shoe store.
Yeah but my twins bought a lot of Nike Jordan shoes! He didn’t lift a finger to say, “Cha-Ching!” …except to sign the contract.
Aug 20, 2021 13:48:25 #
CHG_CANON wrote:
I think there's two forces at work: br br 1) The ... (show quote)
In the last 3 years, I bought all my Pentax Takumar lenses to use with adapter on Canon digital using eBay, where I have bought almost all things photographic over the years. I do see mirrorless cameras there and have thought about getting one. I only buy items with 30 day return option, which eBay enforces, and usually I ask questions to see if they know what they are selling, and check their feedback.
One factor in second hand goods today is that people expect to toss what they buy and buy another, rather than keeping things, repairing them, or selling them. When I die, I am sure no relatives would even bother trying to sell my camera stuff on eBay. They would just pile everything up for trash pickup, regardless of condition or value. There are no camera dealers for hundreds of miles (except Walmart and Walgreens).
Aug 20, 2021 16:43:55 #
Chadp wrote:
The used market is actually very hot right now. It’s Craigslist that is dying. Facebook marketplace has taken over as the local way to buy and sell used goods. I still check Craigslist periodically for items for sale from those who haven’t switched to Facebook marketplace. But we have many cameras and lenses for sale on our local Facebook marketplace.
I looked through the rest of the posts to see if anyone else picked up on Chadp’s comment. It’s not the old channels anymore. In addition to FB Marketplace, there’s Next Door Neighborhood and a plethora of neighbor-to-neighbor and/or peer-to-peer sites than are unknown to old f’s like me who once thought CL was the greatest thing since the neighborhood rummage sale, and by god if it was good back in ‘99 why should I change now. I’m not qualified to say whether there are less used items in the market, many other posters have done a commendable job on that aspect. You just have to peel back more layers now.
Mark
Aug 20, 2021 21:03:16 #
For me it is simply that my older body, 1D MkIII, is not worth selling for the little money it would bring. I can still shoot it occasionally if I want and it can take nice photos with good light. My philosophy is to have good gear and not very much of it. A high end body and a half dozen lenses will meet my needs the rest of my life most likely.
Aug 20, 2021 23:15:56 #
Paul Diamond
Loc: Atlanta, GA, USA
Have things changed? Yes. Can you say "Covid-19?"
Since Covid, the used market has 'dried up' to some extent. True in computers, cameras/lenses, telescopes, etc. Sellers are delaying offering their items in a potentially 'down' market. Buyers are finding dramatically fewer quality items available for purchase.
I'm waiting to sell some of my excess inventory until the market is 'better' than it is now. I'm not so desperate that I need to sell something cheaply now vs holding on to it for a few months.
You may find a few sellers 'desperate' to sell now at whatever is the "current market price". Watch carefully, bid carefully, increase your bid with knowledge of when you are bidding/paying too much.
You may win, now. Many sellers are delaying their listings/postings and avoiding anything in this tight market.
Since Covid, the used market has 'dried up' to some extent. True in computers, cameras/lenses, telescopes, etc. Sellers are delaying offering their items in a potentially 'down' market. Buyers are finding dramatically fewer quality items available for purchase.
I'm waiting to sell some of my excess inventory until the market is 'better' than it is now. I'm not so desperate that I need to sell something cheaply now vs holding on to it for a few months.
You may find a few sellers 'desperate' to sell now at whatever is the "current market price". Watch carefully, bid carefully, increase your bid with knowledge of when you are bidding/paying too much.
You may win, now. Many sellers are delaying their listings/postings and avoiding anything in this tight market.
Aug 21, 2021 09:02:01 #
Aug 21, 2021 11:06:08 #
cactuspic
Loc: Dallas, TX
I also think that there have been a bit of a market shift towards away from face to face transactions during Covid. All of my Craigslist transactions involved personal contact, while few of my eBay transactions did.
Irwin
Irwin
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