Strange prices on eBay cameras

runswithsizzers · Sep 11, 2023

BobD said:
On the other hand there are a lot of sellers that list camera gear "for parts or repair" simply to be cautious. They don't know if it's OK or not but at least they know that they don't know and take the safe approach of selling it for parts.

I wish more sellers would follow the rules and say their camera is "for parts or repair" rather than "used."

On eBay, the definition of "used" is:
"Used: An item that has been used previously. The item may have some signs of cosmetic wear, but is fully operational and functions as intended."

But if you ask an eBay seller if their "used" camera works, the vast majority will say the camera is "untested" - which means either, a. the seller does not know it works, or b. the seller is pretty sure the camera does not work, but does not want to say. eBay says items which are "not as described" can be returned.

I have not done any actual data collection, but after shopping for used Konica T3s and T4s and Pentax KX film cameras, my impression is, the "parts" cameras might be worth something around $30 (US), give-or-take, but a working camera is probably worth something more like $100-150.

Personally, I think the better versions of the 1970s-1980s Japanese 35mm SLRs may be worth up to about $300 US if they have a recent CLA, fresh light seals, and if they take modern batteries. I really enjoy using my Pentax MX and KX and my Konica Autoreflex T4. I just loaded the first roll of film in my newly aquired Konica Autoreflex T3n, so it's too soon to tell about that one, but I have Great Expectations.

BobD · Sep 11, 2023

You have to laugh at all the "untested" cameras on eBay. Even those that use common batteries like AA or AAA. Who doesn't have some of these batteries around the house to pop in and at least see what happens?

ags2mikon · Sep 11, 2023

So is it dishonesty or stupidity? Ebay is never out of stock on either.

Sirius Glass · Sep 11, 2023

ags2mikon said:
I'm liking these ebay prices. I started to add up my camera equipment assets and learned I was a millionaire. My son said I should use the past sales for prices and I would be homeless.

I am way ahead by buying from KEH. The quality is guaranteed and any problem will be fixed including doing a CLA and collimating.

Sirius Glass · Sep 11, 2023

ags2mikon said:
So is it dishonesty or stupidity? Ebay is never out of stock on either.

Both are specialties of eBay.

wahiba · Sep 17, 2023

I have an Olympus mu-II, nice auto compact camera, good lens and they go for silly money on eBay. Bought an Olympus IS-100 and then an IS-500 for about one tenth of the price expected for a mu-II. Both are fully automatic SLR camera, is-100 28-110, is-500 28-120. Each has a few features over mu-II, and of course are lumps in comparison. However the pictures are just as good, and the zoom lens means in camera framing.

faberryman · Sep 17, 2023

wahiba said:
I have an Olympus mu-II, nice auto compact camera, good lens and they go for silly money on eBay. Bought an Olympus IS-100 and then an IS-500 for about one tenth of the price expected for a mu-II. Both are fully automatic SLR camera, is-100 28-110, is-500 28-120. Each has a few features over mu-II, and of course are lumps in comparison. However the pictures are just as good, and the zoom lens means in camera framing.

With the Olympus IS-500, the plastic blob camera reaches its apotheosis.

choiliefan · Sep 17, 2023

The Olympus IS-3 was very well-spec'd including manual exposure mode.
The lens on mine was terrific on color film. Only infuriating thing about it was the super-expensive lithium batteries which it greedily depleted.

Udor · Sep 19, 2023

In my humble experience, average Ebay asking prices do not reflect market prices in any reliable way. Instead of browsing what's for sale, try browsing what's been sold in a given category. You'll probably notice that actual sold prices are much lower than many ads still in circulation. I've been following a number of extravagant camera ads on Ebay over the course of the past 12 months or so, and the items simply don't sell, even after a whole year. I suspect that the sellers in question are waiting for a foolish buyer to come along (or a buyer with lots of disposable income who just doesn't care). The sellers are just gambling. To win on Ebay as a buyer, you need to be wise. I agree with Marcel Paniagua: Ebay is indeed a strange market, and even more so after the pandemic.

Alan Edward Klein · Sep 19, 2023

Twotone said:
My main gripe with sellers on eBay/marketplace/wherever is those that have found a camera in their Grandad's loft, they have no idea what they are looking at, it's condition, whether it works at all, whether the battery compartment is swollen with a 30 year old battery, and just list it up for absolute top dollar.

Then the other type that list the broken stuff as untested, when they clearly have the means to and routinely test their other 'working' items.

Facebook marketplace is the worst for that given it's free cost and ease of listing. I've seen too many bundles of seized up old Agfa Silettes and Brownies listed for £500

If I hadn't already learned enough lessons buying old cameras, I could easily be fooled into thinking that these various cameras were in perfect working order because some randomer listing it says so.

As film_man said, there are some fantastic, reputable shops selling various film cameras, that have been checked, come with warranties etc for the same/if not cheaper prices!

If I buy a camera/gear now from eBay etc, it'll be for a price that factors in a full CLA or something I can repair myself.

Don't buy photo stuff from someone who doesn't regularly sell photo stuff.

Alan Edward Klein · Sep 19, 2023

xkaes said:
I've been lucky with these "Retired Estate Sale Hobbyist" EBAY sellers.

They live in "Over-55 Communities" where people pop off every day. The kids hire an auction company to clean the place out, and all the local retirees show up to get stuff to list on EBAY -- their hobby.

And there is always some camera gear.

Sure, some are listed at foolish prices, but I've got some great deals where the starting price is one-step-above-free, and the seller admits they know nothing about cameras. If they take good pictures, that helps. What also helps is that they often list it in the wrong category, and don't know what it is, let alone what it does, what it fits, or how to turn it on.

It's a risk, but it works both ways.

Don't the auction companies know prices? They could look on ebay too to get an idea. They're professionals and wouldn;t let something go for less than its true value.

Alan Edward Klein · Sep 19, 2023

takilmaboxer said:
Last year I bought an Ikoflex on the Bay. I experienced a lot of sellers who picked up the cameras at estate sales and promptly listed them at top prices without any inspection at all. The usual warning was "I know nothing about cameras but it looks great." Finally found a collector/user who knew all about Ikoflex cameras and gave an accurate description. I bought it for half the price that the estate sellers were asking and am now enjoying it. "Caveat emptor" is the motto for Ebay!

It's a good thing they're not auctioning spouses.

Alan Edward Klein · Sep 19, 2023

runswithsizzers said:
I wish more sellers would follow the rules and say their camera is "for parts or repair" rather than "used."

On eBay, the definition of "used" is:
"Used: An item that has been used previously. The item may have some signs of cosmetic wear, but is fully operational and functions as intended."

But if you ask an eBay seller if their "used" camera works, the vast majority will say the camera is "untested" - which means either, a. the seller does not know it works, or b. the seller is pretty sure the camera does not work, but does not want to say. eBay says items which are "not as described" can be returned.

I have not done any actual data collection, but after shopping for used Konica T3s and T4s and Pentax KX film cameras, my impression is, the "parts" cameras might be worth something around $30 (US), give-or-take, but a working camera is probably worth something more like $100-150.

Personally, I think the better versions of the 1970s-1980s Japanese 35mm SLRs may be worth up to about $300 US if they have a recent CLA, fresh light seals, and if they take modern batteries. I really enjoy using my Pentax MX and KX and my Konica Autoreflex T4. I just loaded the first roll of film in my newly aquired Konica Autoreflex T3n, so it's too soon to tell about that one, but I have Great Expectations.

Testing a film camera that someone found in the attic means buying and shooting the film and developing and printing. Who's going to do that for a hundred dollar camera?

BobD · Sep 19, 2023

I think it is best to buy photo gear on eBay from sellers who specialize in photo gear and avoid the clueless sellers. It is easy to tell which is which.

Donald Qualls · Sep 20, 2023

Alan Edward Klein said:
Don't the auction companies know prices? They could look on ebay too to get an idea.

That won't help them with most estate auctions; it isn't like Sotheby's where everything has a reserve and a sensible starting bid; this is one step above a yard sale. You'll only get bids from folks who showed up in person (and they almost always hold the auction during the day on weekdays, so only professional resellers and retired/unemployed folks can be there). And if you're the only person there who knows the difference between a Bessa 1 and a 1920 Hawkeye, you can get some screaming bargains...

GregY · Sep 20, 2023

Sirius Glass said:
I am way ahead by buying from KEH. The quality is guaranteed and any problem will be fixed including doing a CLA and collimating.

I'll keep in mind to give KEH a try, though I've had good results buying from Japanese retailers, they're on average a better bet than the individual seller from N America....at better prices.

BobD · Sep 20, 2023

Alan Edward Klein said:
Don't the auction companies know prices?

It's not that simple.

To price something fairly one would have to be able to determine its condition and auction companies can rarely, if ever, do that.

The same goes for estate sale companies. I attend estate sales every week and have been doing so for 20 years. They are usually just as bad at pricing as the clueless eBay sellers because they know nothing about camera gear, especially the vintage variety. This usually results in unrealistically high prices which they saw on eBay. But, on the other hand, sometimes their ignorance can result in underpricing.

And, in recent years the same thing has been happening with some yard sale sellers. They have stuff to sell so they think the way to price things is to look everything up on eBay. The result is ridiculously high prices. Of course, they sell very little or nothing because yard sale shoppers won't pay eBay prices. So, they have another sale the following weekend with slashed prices but nobody comes because they've already been there the week before.

Sirius Glass · Sep 20, 2023

GregY said:
I'll keep in mind to give KEH a try, though I've had good results buying from Japanese retailers, they're on average a better bet than the individual seller from N America....at better prices.

I have not used the Japanese sellers since I have had very good experiences with KEH. Occasionally they provided compete CLAs for me on lenses when necessary. I just do not have any experience with Japanese sellers, but then I am usually buying Hasselblad equipment. Also KEH will contact me if they have something special coming up before it it posted. KEH loves me.

MattKing · Sep 20, 2023

Sirius Glass said:
I am way ahead by buying from KEH. The quality is guaranteed and any problem will be fixed including doing a CLA and collimating.

GregY said:
I'll keep in mind to give KEH a try, though I've had good results buying from Japanese retailers, they're on average a better bet than the individual seller from N America....at better prices.

KEH are a much more viable option if you are in the USA. For us in Canada, the return window is often impractible, and taking advantage of the warranty they provide is both more difficult and potentially expensive, due to the potential for having to pay multiple sets of taxes if the preferred option involves sending the item back to KEH for repair.

Sirius Glass · Sep 20, 2023

MattKing said:
KEH are a much more viable option if you are in the USA. For us in Canada, the return window is often impractible, and taking advantage of the warranty they provide is both more difficult and potentially expensive, due to the potential for having to pay multiple sets of taxes if the preferred option involves sending the item back to KEH for repair.

So walk across the border like @MattKing does

MattKing · Sep 20, 2023

Sirius Glass said:
So walk across the border like @MattKing does

I don't walk - I don't even know that I'll ever visit the USA again. I haven't bothered to replace the travel document that permitted that since it expired last year.
But while the option would be practical if I spent the time and money necessary, there is a good chance that GregY is more than a walk away from the border.
Alberta is fairly large - 661,848 km²

Sirius Glass · Sep 21, 2023

MattKing said:
I don't walk - I don't even know that I'll ever visit the USA again. I haven't bothered to replace the travel document that permitted that since it expired last year.
But while the option would be practical if I spent the time and money necessary, there is a good chance that GregY is more than a walk away from the border.
Alberta is fairly large - 661,848 km²

Are you saying that @GregY is afraid of a little exercise to save money?

GregY · Sep 21, 2023

Sirius Glass said:
Are you saying that @GregY is afraid of a little exercise to save money?

a long way to go. DHL from Japan has been fast.....

Sirius Glass · Sep 21, 2023

GregY said:
a long way to go. DHL from Japan has been fast.....

I have stayed with the most part to local camera stores and KEH. I have not purchased from Japan yet. DHL is a great job of delivering from other countries.

MattKing · Sep 21, 2023

Sirius Glass said:
Are you saying that @GregY is afraid of a little exercise to save money?

Depending where in relation to Calgary that Greg is, he probably is at least as far a walk from the USA as Los Angeles is from Tijuana .

Strange prices on eBay cameras

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