BebuLamar

Which are the 3 cameras they have as loaners?

TreborLow

I and some of my friends, under similar conditions, have donated our "stuff" to schools teaching photography and film photography in particular. Still feel good about it! I know the teacher of one such program (in south Florida) and he even repairs mechanical cameras for his students.

BebuLamar

I collect about 50 or so computer power cords but as I used them for other uses I ran out of them now. I would keep the soundblaster from the 90's as well as video card from that period too. Over the past 10 years I have had to use them. They saved the day some time.

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

Post it on UHH and give us first shot at it

Fredrick Loc: Former NYC, now San Francisco Bay Area

wrangler5 Loc: Missouri

When I went from film to digital in 2000, I got rid of my film camera bodies, and all lenses except the Nikons (went to a Nikon DSLR). Also sold off all of my darkroom equipment. Mostly used ebay and got decent prices. I always shipped by Priority Mail, for which you can get free boxes and print postage labels at home. Enlarger lenses and film carriers sold well, but it took me 2 years to find somebody who would take my Beseler 45 enlarger - for free - and even then I had to deliver it.

A few years ago, when I went from Nikon digital to micro 4/3 and sold off my DSLR equipment, I found that ebay has instituted what appears to be a mandatory right of a buyer to return things, for any reason or no reason, and you have to pay return shipping in a fashion that notifies ebay when you receive the package. You then have 3 days to refund the purchase price or ebay will do it and charge your PayPal account. In the one experience I had with this process, I saw no way to object if what you got back was damaged compared to what you sent, or even some different item. I have not sold anything on ebay since.

Cheapshot Loc: California.

Like wise here.

MrPhotog

Particularly the books. High school libraries seem to have limited resources for buying new books.

You might get more value as a tax deduction than selling, but that depends on your tax situation.

RKL349 Loc: Connecticut

Had a similar experience with Adorama. Talked about one number over the phone, offered me considerably lower amounts once I sent them gear. You can do better with MPB, KEH, and Used Photo Pro.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

No matter where and how you sell your unwanted gear and books, you are gonna need an organized and categorized list.

40 years is a long time so you may have some older or vintage gear that appeals to specific markets of users and collectors. You will have to assign a price to each item or kit.

There are at least 2 Facebook groups that are dedicated to large and medium format film photography. There are folks there that use, buy, sell and restore this kind of equipment. One site is dedicated to Graflex cameras. This may give you a good potential market if you have any of the aforementioned gear.

There are also groups dedicated to film photograhy- there's always mention of darkroom equipment on those sites.

There are many cameras that are considered collectable or user/collectable.

Books on photography also need to be listed and categorized.

My suggestion is to make up the lists and have several copies printed out and ready for online publishing. Post the list on this forum (There are buy and sell sections, You can also send the list to all the usual dealers and see who will offer the best prices for individual pieces or the lot. Send the list to local camera clubs or schools offer courses in photography.

If you could manage to hold on to the gear until the pandemic is over you m, high consider someof the photography flea markets held by camer clubs and professional photograher's associations. The great a table for the day and equipment goes quickly. I have made some interesting buys at these functions and have sold of gear that was no longer in regular service.

If you post your list on UHH, I'm sure it will generate some interest and perhaps some more specific advice.

It tells a little more effort but private selling will most likely yield more sales. When you set your prices, also factor in the cost of packaging and shipping for out-of-town customers. Usually, some good-corrugated cardboard carton and a roll of bubble wrap and strong packing tape will do the job. You may want to set up a Pay-Pal account if you don't presentlyhave one o consider familiarizing yourself withte the banking transfer (Email) setup thatis available through your bank.

Good luck!

frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.

How about the local camera club, library, schools.

Bob Werre

I recently closed up my studio due to age, the virus and to some degree my health too. So I was able to sell some items to local photographers but was forced to rent a storage unit plus moving critical items to the house. I still want to continue to serve some clients and shoot for my self. So besides studio and camera gear, I have office furniture too--then don't mention all the weird things that we all gather over the years. As has been mentioned Craigs list is slow but many items are heavy and don't suit Ebay very well. For instance I have a 9' camera stand probably between 2-3 hundred pounds. Luckily I sold my large format stuff and darkroom years ago. The big problem is that people indicate they're going to stop by but just never seen to arrive, Also some want photos of the items, but I'm not about to drag the stuff out then replace for that to happen.

David C.

Offer an inventory and your desired pricing, to all of us at this site. David C.

bwmarkus

I donated significant hard cover books to a local university library (pre-covid). I gave awa y most of the rest to prepare for a move.

Looking back, I gave away too much... but moving is hell (lot of work on the one hand), but a gift (on the other), as it forces you to de-clutter. Making such decisions about equipment you have used over the years and are attached to are hard, however. Good luck!

Judy795

When the parents passed in the early 20teens, I also had to get rid of the in-laws stuff and my fathers stuff. I stopped being sad and was just angry that they hadn’t downsized themselves.
We retired and moved in 2014. I gave good film cameras to high school students, the saxophone to the high school, the fiction books (hundreds) to the Smith College Book Sale, the professional books (hundreds) to someone who needed to get recertification.
Furniture went to friends or charities.
I never want my kids to have to go thru so much for us. I really limit the stuff I buy now, with this in mind.