dendronepthya
Premium Member
I want to sell my Canon 70-200 and eBay didn't do the job which is somewhat shocking. Is there a decent photography-specific marketplace that most people use?
What is the best site to buy and sell used lenses?
- Thread starter dendronepthya
- Start date
tyoberg
Premium Member
I've sold a bunch of lenses (a dozen'ish) on eBay and have done pretty well with it. Sometimes more than I expected, sometimes a little less. Good photos, good description (condition of optics, moving parts, dust/fungus, exterior), make it end on a Friday (payday). I always start the auction at 99cents and don't have a reserve.
Luiz Rocha
Salty Dog
I still think ebay is the best place, did you run just one auction? Maybe it was a bit overpriced? Did you get any bids at all?
marino420td
Premium Member
+1 to Fredmiranda.com. I have not sold on there but I have purchased quite a few items. Some pretty high priced (for me anyway). I have always had great experiences. Since the members are photographers (or serious hobbyists) they can provide good product images as well as sample pics taken with the item.
I have also had good luck on ebay but I prefer the immediate transaction as opposed to an auction that stretches over several days.
I just bought a 70-200 2.8L IS. Those lenses seem to go fast.
Good luck.
I have also had good luck on ebay but I prefer the immediate transaction as opposed to an auction that stretches over several days.
I just bought a 70-200 2.8L IS. Those lenses seem to go fast.
Good luck.
dendronepthya
Premium Member
Thanks for the suggestions. I'll put it on one of those sites after Thanksgiving. eBay was surprisingly dead. In 1 week, the auction only got 80-something views, though it has 17 watchers. The starting bid was $1500 which I do not think is a high price at all for this lens. Most 70-200 2.8 IS I see get sold between $1650 to $1750.
brent ward
New member
Fredmiranda.com Bought and sold thousands of dollars on there. 
marino420td
Premium Member
I paid $1,450.00 shipped for a very good copy of that lense with a UV date code. Just an FYI
dendronepthya
Premium Member
I'll have to try fredmiranda. My lens is a UW date code (2008).
tyoberg
Premium Member
That opening bid killed it. You have to get them bidding at a price that would be a real steal. An item priced just under market value with zero bids makes people think there must be something wrong with it and it's approached a lot more cautiously than one that's priced to sell and already has a bunch of bids against it.
There are plenty of people that would love to have it, so it won't close way underpriced.
Luiz Rocha
Salty Dog
I agree, the opening bid was way too high. If you cannot think of letting it go below $1500 make an opening bid of $1000 but put a reserve of $1500, it won't sell for less than $1500. People will pay $1600 for another lens that they started bidding at $1100 but won't make an opening bid of $1500... Odd, I know, but that's usually how things work on ebay.
dendronepthya
Premium Member
The reason I was hesitant was because ebay has been slowing down. A few months ago, I sold a 50mm 1.4 and had about 500 views and 80 people watching. This past auction, only had 80 views and 15 people watching. It's entirely possible to start a low auction on a lens and only get 1 bid when there are so few views.
Luiz Rocha
Salty Dog
Slow economy? :strange: I still think that if you don't sell it on ebay, it will be very hard to sell elsewhere...
dendronepthya
Premium Member
I agree. The economy is definitely slowing especially on big ticket items like this.
Jacob D
New member
Start low and use a reserve. I'll usually mention in my listing that I have a reserve but it's set at a fair price, or just below the going price... this usually seems to attract a lot of watchers and bids.
All depends on the target audience. I, for example, never bid on anything that has a reserve set. I know that I'm not the only one.
That's why I like selling on FM. They get a ton of traffic in the buy/sell forum and they're all photographers. You'll have no problem selling it, very quickly, if you set a fair price.
jayray
New member
+1
I am a bit more cautious with reserve auctions... I avoid them unless it is something I relay want, then I usually send a message to the seller to see if it is over my budget.
j
Jacob D
New member
Well, YOU may not bid on reserve auctions, but there are plenty that do! if you want to go down that road; I personally don't buy lenses on eBay... that doesn't mean there is no market for lenses there.
I have only sold 1 lens on eBay. There were almost 50 watching and something like 30+ bids if I recall right. It sold for about $200 more than my reserve. I usually don't use a reserve unless there is a lot of competition.
There seems to be a different going rate depending on where you're shopping/selling. eBay tends to bring in higher prices, but of course there are the fees. CL is a bunch of cheap skates, but no fees. FM seems to be a good balance. I have not bought or sold there (yet) but I browse the B&S forum more often than I should
I have only sold 1 lens on eBay. There were almost 50 watching and something like 30+ bids if I recall right. It sold for about $200 more than my reserve. I usually don't use a reserve unless there is a lot of competition.
There seems to be a different going rate depending on where you're shopping/selling. eBay tends to bring in higher prices, but of course there are the fees. CL is a bunch of cheap skates, but no fees. FM seems to be a good balance. I have not bought or sold there (yet) but I browse the B&S forum more often than I should
Deep Thief
New member
Only advice I can give is to get set up at those forums and start posting. If you try and join and sell a 1600 lens with few to no posts, not many people will buy it as they are afraid you are a scammer. Why do you think they won't let you sell here with less than 50 posts and 90 days into it?
I wouldn't buy that lens from you without some feedback and a decent post count. I am a member of both FM and photography-on-the.net, and both are good avenues to get what you want. POTN is a Canon specific site so the interest will be there. I am not trying to sound like an a**, just trying to be realalistic with you. Good luck. Mark
I wouldn't buy that lens from you without some feedback and a decent post count. I am a member of both FM and photography-on-the.net, and both are good avenues to get what you want. POTN is a Canon specific site so the interest will be there. I am not trying to sound like an a**, just trying to be realalistic with you. Good luck. Mark
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