Best place to sell Antique cameras?

singram · Jan 21, 2016

2016 is the year I simplify....I am thinning out all of my photography gear this year. It has been a long time coming, I have collected multiple formats, have duplicates galore and plenty of antique cameras as well.

Most of my antique cameras are shelf sitters - nice examples of days of yore, but due to condition (dry lubricant, frail bellows, film format no longer available) are just good looking conversation pieces rather than fully functioning photography equipment.

I put a trio of old Kodak folders in the Apug classifieds, but I am hesitant to continue. I was wondering if there was a better outlet to sell my nice old conversation pieces? I will continue to list some of the functioning popular format cameras I have, however.

Thanks,
Steve

PS. I shop at a half a dozen antique stores in the area, and photo gear is not moving. I see the same box cameras and 35mm gear over several months. Same as Craigslist. I see the antique film stuff on the site week after week. I would like a broader online outlet, and a place where people know to go for antique camera purchases.

Ian Grant · Jan 21, 2016

Depends what they are.

I buy and restore cameras but also do restorations for other people, however it's all items that sell and people want.

The average person wouldn't buy a film camera at an antique shop, unless the owner specialised. I had a conversation about this 10 days ago with an antiques dealer, we have a lot of charity shops here in the UK and the owner told me he took all their cameras from them and passed them on to another charity looking for cameras as they just couldn't sell them.

That doesn't mean those cameras won't sell it's just they weren't in the right market place, or they were asking too much.

There's a lot of old folders around but most people only want to pay reasonable money for the better ones that can be used, and a camera I paid £5 ($7.50) sold here for $100 so it;s a very strange market, mine was mint with flaky paint the one that sold well used

Ian

alanrockwood · Jan 21, 2016

Ebay. It's the closest thing to a large market that is more or less favorable for sellers. I say "favorable" in the sense that prices tend to run on the high side, sometimes higher than "retail" but not always.

Sirius Glass · Jan 21, 2016

APUG, Large Format Photography Forum, and eBay.

benjiboy · Jan 22, 2016

There's always the trash bin.

Ian Grant · Jan 22, 2016

benjiboy said:
There's always the trash bin.

One canny Manchester retailer occasionally gives away free cameras when you buy off him, these are usually the very cheapest fixed focus point and shoot type, I've had flashes as well. Why ? It's easy, if not he has to pay to have them taken away, here in the UK we pay for rubbish collection from commercial property and it's expensive.

But you make a good point Ben there's many old cameras, film and digital, that no-one really wants. Ebay is very hit and miss unless you place a reserve or a BIN price unless you're selling items that will sell..

Ian

Denverdad · Jan 24, 2016

Another possibility is Etsy.com.

Jeff

fotch · Jan 24, 2016

I have a question about eBay. Its been a long time since I purchase or sold anything at the site. Is snipping still being used?

Ian Grant · Jan 24, 2016

fotch said:
I have a question about eBay. Its been a long time since I purchase or sold anything at the site. Is snipping still being used?

Of course.

Ian

Sirius Glass · Jan 24, 2016

fotch said:
I have a question about eBay. Its been a long time since I purchase or sold anything at the site. Is snipping still being used?

Of course, by me.

Theo Sulphate · Jan 24, 2016

benjiboy said:
There's always the trash bin.

Ouch. There are a few cameras I've been given that I won't allow into the house, but I couldn't throw a camera into the trash.

fotch said:
I have a question about eBay. Its been a long time since I purchase or sold anything at the site. Is snipping still being used?

Sniping is alive and well. I used to do it for a few things I just had to have, placing an insanely high bid in the last second. However, even though I know the philosophy behind the proxy bidding method eBay uses and why it's not smart to bid early, I've gotten into the habit of just deciding the maximum I'm willing to pay and just throwing that single bid out there. Yes, I know it can cost more that way. Win ok, lose ok.

removed account4 · Jan 24, 2016

the web is full of bottom feeders,
good luck gettng a fair price for your stuff.

Gabrioladude · Jan 24, 2016

If you are on FaceBook there are a number of groups there that are interested in Vintage cameras where you see "for sale" ads posted. One is "Vintage Camera Collectors" and another is "Film Cameras - Swap, Buy & Sell"

Sirius Glass · Jan 24, 2016

Theo Sulphate said:
Sniping is alive and well. I used to do it for a few things I just had to have, placing an insanely high bid in the last second. However, even though I know the philosophy behind the proxy bidding method eBay uses and why it's not smart to bid early, I've gotten into the habit of just deciding the maximum I'm willing to pay and just throwing that single bid out there. Yes, I know it can cost more that way. Win ok, lose ok.

You can "I've gotten into the habit of just deciding the maximum I'm willing to pay and just throwing that single bid out there. Yes, I know it can cost more that way. Win ok, lose ok." without sniping software. Sniping software allows one to put the bid in at their leisure at home when they are not allowed to access eBay from work. My friends that are not government employees but work in government offices, cannot access eBay at work so they have to use sniping. Frankly I would much rather use KEH.

darinwc · Feb 12, 2016

So basically, with Ebay you get the largest market for your (vintage) goods. The downside is that they charge 10% (and then you loose another %5 from paypal), and the buyer pretty much wins any dispute.
So if you have inexpensive items you need to sell quickly. put it on ebay for 1$ auction and it will usually sell, whatever it is. If you can be patient, set the minimum price to what you want and sit on it until it sells or not.

The online forums are another good option. Many people check the classified often. You probably wont get a price above retail, but you may not have to spend as much on fees. And the fees you do pay give you warm fuzzy feelings.

Another option for cheap or damaged goods is to just give them away for shipping costs. Someone is bound to take them off your hands or may trade some other cheap and damaged goods for them. =]

xya · Feb 12, 2016

if you care for your ebay reputation, never sell photographic material on ebay. lots of photo buyers are a PITA. unless you have impeccable and recently serviced material, they will always complain, even if you clearly indicated possible faults.

and never agree to send your material to china. several of my friends were cheated, front man buyers from europe bought their expensive material which finally went to china and they were blackmailed to consent to a 50% rebate. those who had their material resent, didn't get what they had sent.

specialized sellers are a good option, it's hassle-free, even if you might get less.

darkosaric · Feb 12, 2016

You need to know where specific cameras sell good. Here in APUG I sell Agfa Clack fast, on USA ebay I sell Yashica point and shoot for a good price, or german ebay nikon F and F2 are having higher price than on USA ebay ... As other already told you - you need to choose: do you want to make nicer profit and wait, or lower profit and it goes fast?

darkosaric · Feb 12, 2016

xya said:
if you care for your ebay reputation, never sell photographic material on ebay. lots of photo buyers are a PITA. unless you have impeccable and recently serviced material, they will always complain, even if you clearly indicated possible faults.

Not once I have give full refund for stuff that I have sold as defect (and were exactly as described). Yes - ebay it tough for selling cameras and lenses.

Jim Noel · Feb 12, 2016

fotch said:
I have a question about eBay. Its been a long time since I purchase or sold anything at the site. Is snipping still being used?

Yes!

Kirks518 · Mar 1, 2016

xya said:
if you care for your ebay reputation, never sell photographic material on ebay. lots of photo buyers are a PITA. unless you have impeccable and recently serviced material, they will always complain, even if you clearly indicated possible faults.

and never agree to send your material to china. several of my friends were cheated, front man buyers from europe bought their expensive material which finally went to china and they were blackmailed to consent to a 50% rebate. those who had their material resent, didn't get what they had sent.

specialized sellers are a good option, it's hassle-free, even if you might get less.

I'd have to disagree with both of these points.

I sell photo stuff (almost 100% photo stuff) on ebay, and find that as long as I check out the item carefully, describe it accurately, and provide enough photos ( at least 11 photos for a lens), nothing comes back to me. In the last year, I've sold 101 items (slow year), and I had one camera come back. It had an undiscovered issue with an odd function that I didn't know about. But, I;ve sold everything from new packaged items to items for parts, and never have a problem. I also use only a Buy It Now format, and I price everything a bit on the high side. My justification is there will not be any surprises for the buyer, and if there is, I'll take it back.

As for selling to China, or any international location, I only use the ebay global shipping program. Once it makes it to Kentucky, I'm clear, and the buyer knows upfront what he has to pay. I have had a number of buyers from Asia that use a consolidator, and this are great for me as well. Once it's delivered to the West Coast, it is considered delivered. It hurts the buyer's time frame for returns, but they save a bunch of money doing it this way.

John_Nikon_F · Mar 2, 2016

Another possibility is Pacific Rim Camera... They frequently will pay top dollar for some items... Sold a well-used F-36 drive to them for my asking price, which was over what I paid for it on eBay.

-J

Best place to sell Antique cameras?

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