Thinking about selling (almost) all my 35mm gear...

BradS · Apr 5, 2019

I'm retiring soon and planning to vacate my apartment and live in an RV for a while....maybe, a long while.

Downsizing....in a very dramatic way.

To make it as painless as possible, I've contacted one of the large dealers in used equipment. I know, I'll get maybe half what I could if I sold it on Bay...I accept this as the price I pay for the convenience. It will be much easier and faster...no hassles.

Surely, some of you have done something like this...any anecdotes, comments, advice or suggestions?

Vaughn · Apr 5, 2019

A friend recently died -- another friend(s) helped his wife to sell everything to one of the large dealers. Good just to get it over with.

Pentode · Apr 5, 2019

As you said, you’ll make a lot less money.

As you said, you’ll save a lot of time.

Most of the retired people I know worry more about money than they do about time. Just food for thought.

MattKing · Apr 5, 2019

Subscribe here and list everything.
Become very familiar with the vagaries of packing and shipping.
Sell what sells. Send a decent percentage to Sean.
Contact the dealer if anything is left.

trendland · Apr 5, 2019

BradS said:
I'm retiring soon and planning to vacate my apartment and live in an RV for a while....maybe a long while.

Downsizing....in a very dramatic way.

To make it a painless as possible, I've contacted one of the large dealers in used equipment. I know, I'll get maybe half what I could if I sold it one Bay...I accept this as the price I pay for the convenience. It will be much easier and faster...no hassles.

Surely, some of you have done something like this...any anecdotes, comments, advice or suggestions?

Brad let me Städte in short : That all sounds not good!

with regards

PS : Remember - to each people there is allways a day in life when it began to become complicate!
But the danger isn't from there! The danger is from each individual - to give up!
So hurry up - you stated : " it isn't a good idea - come on there might be an other option!"
I am well knowing that is easy from telling - but to give up yourself (your interest a.s.o.) isn't the last remaining option - because THIS IS ALLWAYS NO OPTION! And if you just trust this simple sentence - live will teach you many options as alternates!

jim10219 · Apr 5, 2019

Don't sell it to a dealer. That's the second worst thing you could do outside of throwing it all away. No dealer will give you anywhere close to a fair price. Here's how that will go down. You load everything up, haul it off to the dealer for them to inspect it, and wear yourself out and waste a day of your time in the process. The dealer knows you're worn out and desperate, so he/she will offer you next to nothing. You'll take it, because the alternative is loading it all back up into your truck, going home, unloading it again, and figuring out plan B. And since you didn't want to part it out individually to begin with, the dealer will rightly assume you're too lazy to go that route. They'll have you backed into a corner, and there really won't be anything you can do.

If you absolutely must dump it all at once (which I don't understand why because every other retired person I've ever met has more time than money), sell it all as one lump on Craigslist or Facebook. Even if a dealer buys it from you, they'll be buying it on your terms, not theirs. You'll be in the position of power, as they'll be competing against others who make competing offers. You'll make more money that way with even less hassle, because you won't have to haul it off to a dealer. They'll come to you and load it in their truck. And a word of advice, don't sell off your best stuff separately. People will try to buy that stuff off you, and may even offer you a fair price. But then you'll be left with a bunch of stuff you can't get rid of. Make them take it all or nothing.

4season · Apr 5, 2019

OP, as long as you're reasonably certain that you're dealing with common items not in particularly high demand, sure go ahead and unload it all on a dealer and save yourself a lot of hassle. If you're willing to accept store credit you can probably get quite a bit more as opposed to asking for cash. Stuff that's not working 100% might be more of a giveaway than a sale item.

Leica M film cameras are near ideal camera currency in the sense that demand is pretty steady, prices are typically high, and they're easily shipped worldwide. Something like this might be worth the bother of selling on your own.

removed account4 · Apr 5, 2019

Hi Brad

Convenience is good, sometimes. I can't say one way or the other which is better, I have never sold stuff to a dealer . Maybe think about what a dealer would give you
and then what you see it going for on ebay and pick a number in the middle and attempt sell it here so you still get a little extra for your trouble but you don't have the hassle of dealing
with ebooo nonsense. OR find a community art center or school and donate some of your stuff for the feel good quotient and maybe a tax donation? or the dealer just to be done with it.

Congratulatons on your almost retiring and your RVing! sounds like a blast
john

Sirius Glass · Apr 5, 2019

Take a deep breathe, slow down, keep your equipment. The RV will have enough cubby holes for all the equipment. Enjoy your vacation.

peter k. · Apr 5, 2019

Agree with Sirius, take your time, your life is changing. In fact it was after we were retired that we got back into film. My neighbor said, sell your dad's old film camera's, and by a digital and lets go shooting. So we sat down and looked at the equipment. Hmm.. got some good Nikon gear, four lenses, filters, light meter, ect ect.. Hmm all we need is some film!
Ya don't know where your going yet.. give it some time.

Vaughn · Apr 5, 2019

Downsizing -- might as well aim for "dramatic" and hope you have enough room for reality!

KN4SMF · Apr 5, 2019

I would hate to think of how much an apartment in California must cost in rent. In fact I hate to think of what a tankful of gas for an RV would cost there to just leave. I can quickly think of a much better plan that would entail being able to keep the cameras and save a ton of money to boot from now on.

Sirius Glass · Apr 5, 2019

KN4SMF said:
I would hate to think of how much an apartment in California must cost in rent. In fact I hate to think of what a tankful of gas for an RV would cost there to just leave. I can quickly think of a much better plan that would entail being able to keep the cameras and save a ton of money to boot from now on.

If and when the OP sells all his cameras, he will have enough money to buy a quarter tank of fuel for the RV. Keep the cameras.

runswithsizzers · Apr 5, 2019

I retired about a year and a half ago, and I am spending some of my new-found "spare time" (there is not as much of that as you might imagine) running film through my 35mm cameras. And loving it! I sold all my Pentax DIGITAL gear, thinking I might buy another Fuji digital body - but now I am thinking about spending the "extra money" (no such thing, really) on film gear, instead.

I am all for reducing clutter in one's life and getting rid of stuff you know you will never use, but one body and a couple of lenses don't take up that much room.

Prest_400 · Apr 6, 2019

Depends on which ones and how many of course. I'd try to sell them privately, but of course my experience is more of needing money. In you case it pays off more fuel and film.
I find 35mm particularly interesting. With many fantastic cameras around it's a bit of an "Hotel California" format... You can check out any time you like, but you can't ever leave. 35mm always finds its way back! Either by some give away or thrift find.
Keep the cameras/systems you have the most attachement and need, get rid of the rest.

Rick A · Apr 6, 2019

My two cents worth of advice, buy a 6 month subscription here and list what you are selling. Figure out what fits in flat rate boxes, and that will set the shipping costs. Starting with your least used(or least favorite), sell as much as you can, after you get tired of dealing with low ballers and deadbeats who don't follow through with deals, find a dealer and dump the balance. I started downsizing a few years back, whittling my "collection" down to one 35mm kit, one (or two) medium format cameras, and one LF kit. I am currently down to one LF camera with two backs. I have a bit of extra gear and a couple antique shelf queens(still shootable) that I need to divest myself of. As for my darkroom, I'm still kinda dug in on that stuff, although I do have multiples of some items that I should turn loose of, just not right now.

guangong · Apr 7, 2019

Sirius expressed my thoughts exactly! I would wait awhile as I drive my RV hither and yon. If I lived in CA, I would try Texas or NV. Then if cameras too much clutter, weed them out selectively.

BradS · Apr 7, 2019

Well, it turns out, I may have more time than I had planned. I may have to put off living life and continue working in the big, dirty city for a few more years....

I had breakfast with my son yesterday and, much to my great relief, he has decided to go to college after all. Seems that working two jobs (auto body shop and a pizza place) and still not being able to make it on his own has sunk in.

Education is the only chance we, in the 99%, will ever have at making ends meet in today's economy...and even then, the best we can do is to "barely make it". I'm very fortunate to be able to give him a chance in this life.

Thanks, everybody, for the advice and insight.

faberryman · Apr 7, 2019

The upside to going the dealer route is that once you get the quote, you'll realize that you might as well keep the stuff. Depending on your tax bracket, you may be better off donating the stuff and taking a tax deduction than selling it to a dealer.

NB23 · Apr 7, 2019

The problem with selling is that the money usually disappears fast afterwards... and swoosh, you’re left with nothing.

BradS · Apr 7, 2019

NB23 said:
The problem with selling is that the money usually disappears fast afterwards... and swoosh, you’re left with nothing.

I really don't think there would be that much money involved. Maybe a few hundred dollars. I have about 25 bodies - mostly Pentax Spotmatics and Nikon/Nikkormat - and a bunch lenses. Nothing exotic and nothing newer than the late 1970's. The Nikon F2s are probably the most valuable of them bunch and I'd definitely keep one of them. I would also keep a Nikkormat or two and a couple of Spotties. So, yeah...not much money involved. I may try to sell some of it here...or dump it on eBay.

blockend · Apr 10, 2019

With a few well known exceptions, film cameras are worth pocket money. Put what you don't use regularly in a box, tape it up and forget. One day it'll be worth nothing and you or your descendants can take it to the local refuse tip, the same as today because film is still limping on as the chosen medium of a few hipsters and nostagists, or you'll have hit pay dirt because all the other cameras died. I don't think there'll be a step change in my lifetime, or yours if you considered retirement. If the bomb drops there'll still be plenty of cockroaches and Canon AE-1s.

Ko.Fe. · Apr 10, 2019

In Canada it takes years to be certified auto mechanic.

Giving gear away for symbolic payment to major re-seller is still good action. Keeping working cameras in boxes is not. IMO.

Nodda Duma · Apr 10, 2019

You can probably find a local professional ebay seller who will do all the auction work for a commission, earning more than from a dealer without the effort involved with listing the items yourself.

Regards,
Jason

BradS · Apr 10, 2019

Ko.Fe. said:
In Canada it takes years to be certified auto mechanic.....<snip>

Here too.
My older son (not the one who recently decided to go to college) attended a year and a half at Universal Technical Institute. He gradualted and is a certified Diesel mechanic. He has certifications in several relavent engine families, can diagnose many issues as the trucks pull into the lot, is good with the computer systems, has worked for a Kenworth dealership, and a couple of Peterbuilt dealerships. He's been at it for five years...and still makes less than $25 an hour. He lives near Salt Lake City, Utah where the cost of an aparment is about a third of what it is here in California. He has trouble making ends meet. He has a second job and routinely take side work.

Thinking about selling (almost) all my 35mm gear...

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