Tomcat5133 Loc: Gladwyne PA

I saw the chart that new sales of the big guys Canon, Nikon, Sony etc. are now 10% of what they
were 10 years ago. I have resold my gear for years. Great ebay rating good resell pricing and responsive service.
I switched from Sony to Fuji and now have the XT3 and a few lens. Frankly loved my Nikon's and Sony's etc.
But the quality, specs, lens are really outstanding. And the strategy to keep the camera
with upgrades for years.
That said returning to the companies like MPB, KEH etc. are now
lowballing quotes for good camera's and lens. ebay is loaded with many of the same len's and camera's
and so many to choose from. Pricing way down. One group offered me a little over $500 bucks for Sony 70 200 F4 Zoom still sells new for $1400, not a G lens but a very good lens in perfect condition. My Sony a7s II not used for production and clean was quoted at about $1000. This is a home run camera. $800 Sony quality lens offered $250 $300.
I realized over time things changes and products change value. I am OK waiting it out on ebay my
good rating to find buyers. Hope everyone is well and safe and I hope this post doesn't bring a firestorm
I was a Nikon guy for years and years. Loved being a part of this evolution since I was in my 20's.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

What eventually becomes "old" technology, no one will want.

Want a flip-phone instead of your smart phone?

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

If your camera has 24MP, who cares how old it is? And, the camera never cares how old your lens is.

SonyA580 Loc: FL in the winter & MN in the summer

Nothing wrong with an older camera IF you can get service, parts, etc.

BebuLamar

I have a flip phone and not a smart phone. It's not very cheap either as I paid $260 for it recently.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

See ebay, KEH as discussed above. In the highly unlikely event a problem develops, buy another if fixing is not an option.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Wow, my wife finally broke down and replaced her flip-phone.
Messaging was too cumbersome for work. And they said it will no longer be supported soon.

I do like having maps on my phone when traveling though.

traderjohn Loc: New York City

"waiting it out" For what?? The cell phone and that age group, for the most part much younger who have and use it for everything and do not go on about "the film years," are not going to wake up and think they are missing something regarding taking pictures on their cell phone. I think that ship has sailed.

RGreenway Loc: Morristown, New Jersey

I've noticed the same thing, lowballing to make more profit on used gear? If you are a Leica shooter, the Leica Stores in various locations appear to be paying a more fair quote for used Leica gear. They are not being greedy like others. Also noticed that B&H offered a bit more then KEH for an item recently.

cmc4214 Loc: S.W. Pennsylvania

YES!!

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

Come on folks. It's a tough time in retailing, just like in many other businesses. A fundamental rule of success is to "buy low and sell high." You all do it yourselves when buying and selling. A second fundamental rule us to keep customers fundamentally unhappy or insecure with what they have now so that they will keep buying. Why do you think there are so many "home improvement" channels with so many different shows? It's to make certain you are dissatisfied with your current home, at least as it is today so that you will pay someone to remodel it or else just move to a new one.

Why do you think there is so much promotion around new camera designs, which are fundamentally much less costly to manufacture, but which sell at such a price premium?

The manufacturers and sellers, even the fundamentally honest ones, have almost all of you exactly where they want you. And this forum is one of their most effective tools. I'm not saying that there's anything fundamentally evil or even unexpected with that. But you all might be a little bit happier if you just stop, take a breath, and do a little more thinking for yourselves.

RGreenway Loc: Morristown, New Jersey

OK, but a 100% mark up over what they offer for used gear seems like more than it was in the past. Some resellers are happy with a 25% mark up. That seems to be the issue for me, coupled with perhaps less demand for camera gear in general makes used gear less valuable.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

If you buy a lens for $2000 and sell it a year later, you might expect to get about $500 for it. Most folks THINK their used gear is worth more than it is. When a customer buys that new lens, he gets a 5 year factory warranty, when bought used, a factory warrantee no longer exists. If the lens is grey, many mfrs will not even look at it. ALL these factors, and more go into used lens pricing. Personally, I do buy some lenses used, as long as they are proven direct imports and not so old parts are no longer available. All of my go-to lenses were purchased new from an authorized dealer. Best of luck with whatever you choose to do.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

leftj Loc: Texas

"seems like" are the operative words here. I suggest you try to run a used camera gear business with all the expenses that go along with it and see if you make an acceptable profit selling the gear with a 25% mark up.