Opinions on selling: As a kit or parts?

photomat- · Apr 20, 2010

Hello All,

I am going to be sacrificing my Bronica SQ-B, 120 Back and 80mm PS lens in order to raise the cash for an 80mm Planar for my Hasselblad. I am interested in hearing opinions as to whether I should sell as a kit or sell the individual pieces. They would likely go on *Bay. The body and back are in Excellent condition with little wear. The lens was a BGN from KEH in good condition save for a ding in the front filter ring. Everything works nicely and have been using it the last 6 months or so. What do you think?

Thanks for any insight provided,

Matt.

jp80874 · Apr 20, 2010

Matt,

If you have prices in mind you might first try selling here and on the LF Forum. You need to be a member on the LFF thirty days before you can access the classified section. The Range Finder Forum also offers similar advantages. It does not matter that what you are trying to sell is neither LF nor RF, both forums allow the sale of cameras to people who are often interested in more than one type of camera. At these locations you can offer the individual items and then offer a package price for the whole kit. If you are hoping for auction fever to take your prices up then eBay works better. The sense I get from several years of reading those forums is that you have a lower chance of being scammed on the forms than eBay.

Good luck.

John Powers

David A. Goldfarb · Apr 20, 2010

It used to be that you could buy a kit on eBay and break it up and sell it for more money, but I think that's less true than it was in the past unless it's a large kit with some unusual items that will sell at a high price individually, but maybe will get a lower price as part of a kit, because the market for a more expensive kit is smaller than the market for one nice piece.

In this case, I don't think it would be worth the trouble. Just about anyone who has a camera like this already has a normal lens. Bronicas are also great for people who want to try their first medium format camera, so a basic kit is better for that market. Some people will buy an extra back or a body as a spare if they already have a few backs, but I think that even if you sell the pieces for more than the kit, it's not going to be enough of a difference to justify dealing with three transactions, three buyers, three shipments, etc.

mgb74 · Apr 20, 2010

I too think you're better off selling as a kit. But if you do decide to sell as pieces, I would sell the lens first, the body 2nd, and then finally the back. With the rationale that the back is the easiest item to sell on it's own and the lens the most difficult.

Christopher Walrath · Apr 20, 2010

Selling as a kit is quicker but will bring less money. Selling indivual components will take more time but generally create more revenue. Weigh one against the other and act accordingly. ;p

MattKing · Apr 20, 2010

Do you like dealing with eBay listing fees/maintenance, PayPal/banks, packing and UPS/FedEx/the Post Office, possibility of difficult buyers?

It seems to me that your particular kit doesn't include anything that anyone might buy the kit in order to get just one component, so conversely, there doesn't seem to be any particular benefit to splitting it up.

yurihuta · Apr 20, 2010

sell as a kit

I have noticed a resurgence in interest on film and specifically in medium format film gear in the last year or so. So, with more and more people looking for their first medium format film experience, I would sell as a kit. One stop shopping for your first foray into medium format film photography.

You don't mention a prism/finder though. I suspect you have one but just did not mention it. If you actually don't have one, I would suggest picking one up to complete your 'kit' and make it more attractive for someone who is new to all this.

elekm · Apr 20, 2010

I would sell as a kit. When I wanted to buy a medium format camera, I was irked by sellers who parceled out everything piece by piece: Body, lens, back, lens hood, lens cap, strap, etc. I wanted a complete camera.

You'll also get to keep more of your money by selling here, as eBay takes a lot in various fees, including a percentage of the sale price + PayPal fees.

photomat- · Apr 20, 2010

Thanks for the input guys. My only concern was the dinged lens dragging down the value of the other two items. Also, it seems like WLF's, which I have, go for silly money on their own. Why is that? Seems universal though, sell as a kit. Elekm, had not considered the higher fees from selling the parts.

Christopher Walrath · Apr 20, 2010

Don't sweat it. As long as the filter ring threads aren't almost sawed in half and as long as you are clear with the buyer on what they're getting, shouldn't be an issue for a perspective first timer.

John Koehrer · Apr 20, 2010

I imagine they go for silly money because every camera come with one and now, it's become lost.
If you have more than one WLF it would be worth a bit, but a body without one is not going to bring top dollar.

photomat- · May 5, 2010

I ended up listing as a kit. We will see how it goes

BobD · May 5, 2010

photomat- said:
The lens was a BGN from KEH in good condition save for a ding in the front filter ring.

Will the lens still accept a filter? If not, you won't get much for the lens
individually nor as a kit which includes this lens. If it won't accept a
filter I would sell everything separately. A flaw like that is a deal killer
for many buyers.

photomat- · May 5, 2010

What do you think? I had an Electro 35 with a bigger ding than that and the filter would still go on. It never bothered me when I got it as I am not a big filter user.

BobD · May 5, 2010

^ Maybe, maybe not. The only way to know is by trying to mount a filter.

I know it may seem trivial but, if you plan to sell on eBay, you're competing
with all the other SQs and lots of shoppers will disregard yours if it has any
sort of functional flaw.

Sirius Glass · May 5, 2010

photomat- said:
What do you think? I had an Electro 35 with a bigger ding than that and the filter would still go on. It never bothered me when I got it as I am not a big filter user.

That is easy enough for a repairman to fix and it is not that expensive to do.

If someone is just starting out, they look for a kit. If the buyer has the camera, then they want to pick up only what they need.

Steve

photomat- · May 5, 2010

Sirius Glass said:
That is easy enough for a repairman to fix and it is not that expensive to do.

I had wondered about that, never got round to getting it looked at though. I will pass it on to the buyer.

nsurit · May 5, 2010

Generally, I like to buy kits and sell component pieces. I know you already made your decision. Had you broken the kit down into pieces, you might haved eneded up not finding a buyer for the lens. When buying I like to figure out which pieces I know will sell and paying less for the kit than that number. I sometimes end up with stuff that I don't want or need. This is one vote for sell pieces, buy kits. I've often bought kits just to get one or two pieces I wanted. Bill Barber

photomat- · May 5, 2010

I usually buy separate pieces myself to spread the cost which I know can be a false economy. I did well with my Hasselblad setup, in the same condition I would have paid around $1k for what I got. In pieces, it cost a little over $800. I find certain used gear sellers price some pieces differently. For example, KEH seems to have good prices on lenses but their prices for 500CM bodies are higher than elsewhere. Ditto for 120 backs.

I can imagine buying a kit for certain pieces and selling what you don't need could work out quite well.

canonman · May 7, 2010

mgb74 said:
I too think you're better off selling as a kit. But if you do decide to sell as pieces, I would sell the lens first, the body 2nd, and then finally the back. With the rationale that the back is the easiest item to sell on it's own and the lens the most difficult.

I aggree with this statement! And I am an experienced Bay-seller - I financed all my several 'blads, lenses, mamiyas, Leicas, Hexars ( and three old vespa scooters), a lab and so on buy just buying and selling. Wioth your kit in mind you won't get that much more - if you would have some more backs and lenses it would be worth splitting up.

Opinions on selling: As a kit or parts?

photomat-

jp80874

David A. Goldfarb

Moderator

mgb74

Christopher Walrath

MattKing

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yurihuta

elekm

photomat-

Christopher Walrath

John Koehrer

photomat-

BobD

photomat-

BobD

Sirius Glass

photomat-

nsurit

photomat-

canonman

Opinions on selling: As a kit or parts?

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