question about (film) used camera stores in Tokyo and Hong Kong

David Lyga · Aug 23, 2018

I have watched several youtube videos about used camera stores in both Tokyo and Hong Kong. The videos show actual prices and, translating to US dollars, it becomes rather easy to determine whether or not there is value. Overall, the prices are quite high, although the preservation quality also seems good.

My question is this: no video speaks about actual sales made at these prices. I was wondering how many cameras these stores sell in a week or a month. Certainly, they could not pay their bills if there were no sales, but, I wonder what the actual, current 'market' is in the East for these cameras? Just as importantly, is this 'market' increasing, or decreasing, or staying roughly the same? - David Lyga

CMoore · Aug 23, 2018

Yeah...i have wondered The Same/Similar.
Those pricings are NOT my experience with Buying/Selling on The Forum or on Craigslist and Ebay.
Maybe they have cornered the niche.?
Maybe they sell other stuff.?

David Lyga · Aug 23, 2018

One can honestly wonder whether the real 'market' is in the USA, or elsewhere. Europe, also, interests me. - David Lyga

ericdan · Aug 23, 2018

MAP camera in Shinjuku, Tokyo for example is very expensive. It's always crowded, too. They seem to be making a lot of sales.

film_man · Aug 23, 2018

Used market really depends on supply and demand that is readily available. The European market is more expensive as there are fewer things to go around, however buying from the US/Japan is not cheaper in reality. Beyond the obvious postage costs there are import taxes/duties to pay so the end price may end up more than what is available locally. Even if it is a bit cheaper then you have to wonder whether it is worth the trouble. If, for example, you have to send something back you have already paid the import taxes and these are not refundable.

I believe the Aus/Oz market is very expensive for that same reason, tiny supply there.

BradS · Aug 23, 2018

It is related to why milk cost $8/gallon on Maui and only $4/gallon in Los Angeles.
There is not an opportunity for arbitrage there.

RattyMouse · Aug 23, 2018

David Lyga said:
I have watched several youtube videos about used camera stores in both Tokyo and Hong Kong. The videos show actual prices and, translating to US dollars, it becomes rather easy to determine whether or not there is value. Overall, the prices are quite high, although the preservation quality also seems good.

My question is this: no video speaks about actual sales made at these prices. I was wondering how many cameras these stores sell in a week or a month. Certainly, they could not pay their bills if there were no sales, but, I wonder what the actual, current 'market' is in the East for these cameras? Just as importantly, is this 'market' increasing, or decreasing, or staying roughly the same? - David Lyga

When I lived in Shanghai, I used to frequent the camera mall very often. My favorite used stores had incredible gear, virtually every make and model camera you could ever hope to see. All with fabulous quality, most in near mint condition. Prices were always high, and they would not negotiate. Most stock came from Japan I was told. They did very brisk business.

RattyMouse · Aug 23, 2018

David Lyga said:
One can honestly wonder whether the real 'market' is in the USA, or elsewhere. Europe, also, interests me. - David Lyga

If the stores are operating in Tokyo or Hong Kong, you can be very certain that they are serving a market there.

AgX · Aug 24, 2018

film_man said:
If, for example, you have to send something back you have already paid the import taxes and these are not refundable.

It is refundable in Germany, and thus should be so in all EU. Of course such refund means hassle by providing all the documents.

darkosaric · Aug 24, 2018

When I visited Tokyo last year - I purchased original Nikon F with plain prism, as they are extremely expensive here in Europe, and there I got one is grat condition for ~130 euros. And I got tax free price in the store, as I had "temporary visitor" stamp in my passport.

Chan Tran · Aug 24, 2018

David Lyga said:
I have watched several youtube videos about used camera stores in both Tokyo and Hong Kong. The videos show actual prices and, translating to US dollars, it becomes rather easy to determine whether or not there is value. Overall, the prices are quite high, although the preservation quality also seems good.

My question is this: no video speaks about actual sales made at these prices. I was wondering how many cameras these stores sell in a week or a month. Certainly, they could not pay their bills if there were no sales, but, I wonder what the actual, current 'market' is in the East for these cameras? Just as importantly, is this 'market' increasing, or decreasing, or staying roughly the same? - David Lyga

I don't know but I guess these stores also sell on Ebay. I saw a lot of used cameras from Japan on Ebay and they are mostly in good condition.

Helinophoto · Aug 24, 2018

Euro cameras in Japan used stores are expensive, Japan brands, not so much.

I have never tried to haggle in Tokyo, don't think haggling is a part of their culture.
However, in Sankyo, I got a deal on two pretty moldy and dusty TLR's (one Rolleiflex Automat, one Yashicaflex C).
I was looking at them both and asked the manager a bit about them, and he was clear that they were not very nice cameras and that I should probably be looking at something better.

- But if I really wanted them, I could get the Automat for $25 and the Yaschicaflex for $20. (The Yaschica C is actually in good condition, but was not cleaned, it's top notch now). None of them had a price-tag.
The Rolleiflex Automat has been refurbished by myself with a clean, lube, new ground-glass, self-made mirror and focus adjusted, so it's actually excellent. (only the viewing lens is iffy, the taking lens is super).

So, some deals can be had, but you will never get something of real high value for peanuts.

Google around for Bellamy Hunt's videos, he knows a lot about the marked there and blogs about it a lot

David Lyga · Aug 24, 2018

A plethora of useful information here. Living in the USA, and the northeast part at that, even within this country there are differences in price for particular models. All of this talk is beneficial and revealing. Carry on. - David Lyga

RattyMouse · Aug 24, 2018

darkosaric said:
When I visited Tokyo last year - I purchased original Nikon F with plain prism, as they are extremely expensive here in Europe, and there I got one is grat condition for ~130 euros. And I got tax free price in the store, as I had "temporary visitor" stamp in my passport.

Yes, as a visitor you can often save some serious money. I bought my Fujifilm GF670W in Tokyo because the unreal deals that existed at that time. No sales tax plus a 5% discount because I could pay with a Chinese Union Pay card. That amounted to a nearly $800 discount on the price of this very expensive camera. It was a totally unplanned purchase and it hurt at the time, but now nearly 5 years later I still have that camera and have shot 500 rolls through it, easily.

question about (film) used camera stores in Tokyo and Hong Kong

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