Photo equipment on eBay

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I've noticed an upward tendency for eBay final prices for photographic equipment in particular, often exceeding dealer prices. So much so that I've stopped looking to eBay as a source of equipment, instead scanning the local dealers' lists. My last purchase was a Contax Planar 50/1.7 for £49 through a dealer, at a time when they were selling for over £100. And I have a 3 month warranty on the lens.

I am now thinking of some LTM gear - through a dealer, of course.

[earleygallery]

One can find real bargains on ebay, but all the usual caveats apply. There is a tendancy for people to sometimes get into a bidding frenzy and the final price ends up being more than one could pay through more traditional channels - I've seen plenty of items sell for more than they can be bought for new!

 

The huge benefit with buying used gear from a dealer is - if in person - seeing the item first, even trying it out first, and/or having a warranty/return period.

[Doc Henry]

I never buy anything on eBay because I do not trust!

Sorry for my frankness !

I prefer to see with my own eyes what I buy.

At my dealer I found everything , and I always have guarantee

It's true that I pay a little more expensive, but I'd rather be safe when i pay what I buy

I always bought all my photo equipment at my Leica dealer since 40 years

Henry

[stunsworth]

As a seller there's nothing better than a bit of 'auction fever'. What you're really looking for is two or mor people making repeated bids early in the life of an auction.

 

As a buyer on the other hand, there don't seem to be many bargains these days. When buying I tend to just go for low value, buy it now, items.

[DES]

Fair enough!!! If you buy on ebay you can get some fantastic deals...BUT..you have to take care and do your homework, do not take chances. I bought a Noctiolux for £1700 inc our 17.5% vat from the USA and it is fantastic.

[chuckw]

I have had very poor luck finding anything that I want on eBay at an even remotely reasonable price. I am talking, for example, about used lenses that sell for equal to or more than dealer prices for new lenses. And it is not only bidding frenzy, sometimes the seller's reserve price for used equipment appears to be at or above new equipment dealer pricing.

[Posto 6]

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I think the buyer of this;

Great Leica M-3 with its own 35mm rangefinder focus (eBay item 220696145400 end time 14-Nov-10 05:12:49 AEDST) : Cameras

 

and this:

As new Leica Elmarit-M 1:2.8 /24mm ASPH Silver Mint Con (eBay item 220694976351 end time 17-Nov-10 23:31:10 AEDST) : Cameras

 

should have been quite happy. The seller forgot to mention that he ships internationally, and was a new seller, so hardly anyone bid.

 

There can be nice bargains out there occasionally!

[IkarusJohn]

I bought an APO Summicron-M 75 Asph on eBay for a good price, and it was exactly as described (only it turned out not to be coded, which I found odd for a very recent lens).

 

Then again, there were two Summilux-M 50 Asph lenses for sale on eBay - one new for USD 5,300 and another used for USD 4,140. I asked the seller of the used lens why he was charging more than the new price (USD3,695) for a used lens, and his response was because there was demand, and he could make a profit.

 

I'd rather sit in the waiting list.

 

Cheers

John

[spydrxx]

I've bought and sold on Ebay for a number of years, and today most of my gear (not all) has come from there, rather than from dealers. The local taxes are way out of line, and there are probably 75% fewer local dealers than there were 10 years ago, and their inventory is thin unless you are interested in most consumer oriented digital stuff. I've managed to acquire a lot of Leica (M&R) good deals on Ebay...but the process has been long and tedious, same for top end Canon FD gear and Nikon F gear. I finally got out of Rolleiflex and Bronica gear because what I had was selling for almost 2x what I paid for them. The Noctilux for which I paid $1100, the next year sold for $4500. I think the bargains are where you find them. and with the internet you will have to search pretty widely and over time. Perseverence rather than luck seems to be the answer....for those who can't wait several months to a year or so...yes go to the dealers and pay their hefty prices.

[chuckw]

A used 90mm Summicron AA just sold for $3900 (USD) on eBay. A factory new one, with warranty, goes $3695 (USD). True, they are hard to find now but I think that I will wait!

 

What if, for example, that used lens required work for a front or back focus problem, that would add another few hundred to the cost. At least with a lens under warranty that would not cost anything additional.

[Guest stnami]

I prefer to see with my own eyes what I buy.

That's why Doc doesn't believe in God

[wattsy]

and this:

As new Leica Elmarit-M 1:2.8 /24mm ASPH Silver Mint Con (eBay item 220694976351 end time 17-Nov-10 23:31:10 AEDST) : Cameras

 

should have been quite happy. The seller forgot to mention that he ships internationally, and was a new seller, so hardly anyone bid.

 

I think it requires a real leap of faith to buy a £1000 item from somebody overseas who doesn't have any feedback and I suspect the final price reflects that.

[ishkra]

I use to buy and sell on ebay. I think that's a "crazy market". Last week i was following two different auctions for a summicron c 40mm; the first auction ended with a very high price (about 390 euro). Just 15 min. later I have won the second auction for 301 euro.

Sometimes prices depend on various details (paypal, shipping costs, local taxes etc.).

Anyway i think ebay it's a good place to buy much more than to sell 'cause fees are really high!

[Doc Henry]

That's why Doc doesn't believe in God

No Stnami , I believe in Buddha !

 

Let me tell you a little story:

Long time ago, I tried registering on eBay and also registering on Paypal

I have not been able to register (fortunately!)

Few months ago, I received a note from Paypal saying I have to go on their website, give them my bank account and my password because it was not properly recorded.

What happened? I do not know !

Anyway, I don't follow what this mail tells me because I think it's a scam.

 

So I work hard enough already, I do not like that someone else try to rob me.

Personally I live my life honestly and I also advise the same to my children

 

For me, ebay is a place to buy and sell as another but I think that when we spend several thousand euros, we must have the right to be served correctly !

and that why i prefer to buy my photo equipment from my Leica dealer

 

Best regards

Henry