Your Great Garage Sale 35mm Find?

WMRphoto · Dec 12, 2011

I just got back from Goodwill tonight emptyhanded... they had a Canon AE-1 complete with shutter squeak for $68.99 and a bag with a Canon EE EX? with a Minolta Himatic 7 for $99.99.... I have this feeling the person pricing these cameras thinks that since they don't have LCD screens they are rare... who knows...

Someonenameddavid · Dec 12, 2011

I walked away from a garage sale that had a Bessa II with the 105 Heliar f2.8 which they were asking $600 for "because they go for $800 on &@¥". I tried to explain that what people were asking for and what they sold for were wildly different.... No move.

David

Newt_on_Swings · Dec 12, 2011

Yea, should just show them the completed listings on it, and point out condition with people like that.

altim · Dec 12, 2011

You could leave your contact info, so after they realize they'll never get the asking price they can still reach you.

elcabezagrande · Dec 13, 2011

Someonenameddavid said:
I walked away from a garage sale that had a Bessa II with the 105 Heliar f2.8 which they were asking $600 for "because they go for $800 on &@¥". I tried to explain that what people were asking for and what they sold for were wildly different.... No move.

David

Even if that is what they really are going for on eBay, I don't think that garage/boot/estate sales should really reflect eBay completed auction prices, or soon, there will be no more stuff to sell on eBay.

altim · Dec 13, 2011

eBay is pretty much market value, why wouldn't garage sale prices reflect market value? If anything I expect garage sale prices to be lower, because I have to drive over there

BobD · Dec 14, 2011

altim said:
eBay is pretty much market value ...

Yeah, but ebay asking price or ebay selling price? Many yard sellers don't seem to know the difference. They find the most outrageously high asking prices and think that's the value of the item. Some even display eBay printouts next to the items they're selling to "prove that's the value." They also try to sell broken or beatup cameras for the price of mint, working examples. Any amount of reasoning with them will only get them mad at you because they think you're trying to rip them off. No point in arguing with ignorance.

altim · Dec 14, 2011

Selling price of course, but you are right that some people don't want to hear it. I've used the ebay app on my phone during negotiations and it only makes them angrier

elcabezagrande · Dec 14, 2011

altim said:
eBay is pretty much market value, why wouldn't garage sale prices reflect market value? If anything I expect garage sale prices to be lower, because I have to drive over there

Who goes to garage sales with the intent of paying market value for anything? Ebay targets specific markets and the bidding among buyers within that specific market determines the auction value for merchandise that was often bought at bargain prices at garage sales. Garage sales are a crap shoot for bargain hunters, they are a matter of convenience for both the buyer and the seller. If you want eBay prices for something, then take the time to sell it on eBay to someone who is looking for that particular item. If you are more interested in making fast money via the garage sale route, then you should price your stuff in a range which makes it attractive enough for quick purchase by impulse buyers or bargain hunters.

eurekaiv · Dec 15, 2011

elcabezagrande said:
Who goes to garage sales with the intent of paying market value for anything? Ebay targets specific markets and the bidding among buyers within that specific market determines the auction value for merchandise that was often bought at bargain prices at garage sales. Garage sales are a crap shoot for bargain hunters, they are a matter of convenience for both the buyer and the seller. If you want eBay prices for something, then take the time to sell it on eBay to someone who is looking for that particular item. If you are more interested in making fast money via the garage sale route, then you should price your stuff in a range which makes it attractive enough for quick purchase by impulse buyers or bargain hunters.

Yes! Unfortunately, this fails to account for the vast majority of people that are illogical, obtuse, or both.

BradleyK · Dec 15, 2011

An "ancient" (early 1960s?) C.M. Marchioni #4602 Tiltall tripod (silver) for $15.00. Said tripod was found in fair shape, needing only a new piece of felt cut for the base. I will take it out for a "spin" this weekend when I head over to the Island to do some off-season shooting at Butchart's Gardens? (first time I will have ever shot there in the winter - I don't really know what to expect).

M.A.Longmore · Jan 7, 2012

.
An Agfa Isomat Rapid !

Ron
.

darinwc · Jan 8, 2012

Ebay prices are high because of overseas buyers. Nobody here in the US has any money.

On a happier note, i just picked up a Canon QL17. My second one actually, but this one is not as clean. Good price, not great. However what motivated me to get it is that I was able to test the shutter. It works perfectly!

Many of the ones for sale online dont work well. And the QL17 is a real pain to fix.

Also I picked up my first russian camera. A strange SLR with a 39mm? screw mount. It it labeled "Zehum 3m" or something in script. Looks exactly like a Zenit 3m. Weird, the shutter speed selector spins when you fire the shutter. But hey it works. And for $3 why not?

elcabezagrande · Jan 8, 2012

darinwc said:
Also I picked up my first russian camera. A strange SLR with a 39mm? screw mount. It it labeled "Zehum 3m" or something in script. Looks exactly like a Zenit 3m. Weird, the shutter speed selector spins when you fire the shutter. But hey it works. And for $3 why not?

That is a Zenit 3(C) using the Cyrillic alphabet. And $3.00 is an absolute steal. It is a 39mm thread mount, but I don't believe Leica LTM lenses will work on it. I once bid on a black one with white lettering, it was the prettiest little thing, and the only black one that I have ever seen.

analog what is that? · Jan 8, 2012

darinwc said:
Ebay prices are high because of overseas buyers. Nobody here in the US has any money.

Stupidest thing seen on Ebay are UK sellers refusing to sell abroad (hey just schtik the parcel in british mail and write a foreign address, what is so hard???)

They invariably end up selling their stuff for £2.25 while stinking rich but very ugly furinners would be happy to pay £25....
It will eventually sink in, on both sides of the Big Pond!

Oh yeah on topic : I finally managed to blow life into an old Voightlander Vito B, had to put in a test film to get the FILM to get the shutter working, and after a few test exposures even the slow speeds are working.
Got it cheap from UK......

Steve Smith · Jan 8, 2012

analog what is that? said:
Stupidest thing seen on Ebay are UK sellers refusing to sell abroad

Just as stupid as the US sellers who state US only.

analog what is that? said:
I finally managed to blow life into an old Voightlander Vito B, had to put in a test film to get the FILM to get the shutter working

They're supposed to do that. That's why you can get them cheap from sellers who don't think they work!

Steve.

tron_ · Jan 8, 2012

got all this for $100 at a garage sale last summer everything is in mint condition

Dead Link Removed

Nikkor 105 f/2.5
Vivitar 300 f/5.6
Nikkor-H 50 f/2
Rexatar 200 f/3.5
Hoya Filters
Nikkor 24 f/2.8
Prinz Var-I-Rim 2x Teleconverter
Olympus 35RC with 42 f/2.8 Zuiko
Novoflex Bellows
Nikon FM Cable Release
Nikon FM Body
Rollei Flash

Newt_on_Swings · Jan 8, 2012

tron_ said:
got all this for $100 at a garage sale last summer everything is in mint condition

Nikkor 105 f/2.5
Vivitar 300 f/5.6
Nikkor-H 50 f/2
Rexatar 200 f/3.5
Hoya Filters
Nikkor 24 f/2.8
Prinz Var-I-Rim 2x Teleconverter
Olympus 35RC with 42 f/2.8 Zuiko
Novoflex Bellows
Nikon FM Cable Release
Nikon FM Body
Rollei Flash

Great deal! the 105, 24, oly RC, bellows, are each worth more than $100 at current prices!

ozphoto · Jan 8, 2012

Steve Smith said:
Just as stupid as the US sellers who state US only.

Yeah, I wanted to pick up 3 neg carriers from a seller this past week - not willing to ship to AU. They've just relisted because they didn't sell; still not willing to ship OS so I'll have to look elsewhere.

On the other hand, I've asked sellers if they'll ship OS and they've been happy to do so - just didn't state it in their original listing - maybe didn't think to or just easier not to bother.

Sure, it's their prerogative, but really does limit the sales pool somewhat . . . . . .

darinwc · Jan 8, 2012

Steve Smith said:
Just as stupid as the US sellers who state US only.
Steve.

Actually, its a pain in rear to ship overseas from the US for anything heavier than 13 ounces (first class limit). You need customs forms signed in triplicate, a special clear window (that customs can remove the slips from) and there is no tracking once it leaves the country.

I do get better prices selling overseas, but I prefer to ship in the US when I can.

BobD · Jan 10, 2012

analog what is that? said:
Stupidest thing seen on Ebay are UK sellers refusing to sell abroad (hey just schtik the parcel in british mail and write a foreign address, what is so hard???)

Steve Smith said:
Just as stupid as the US sellers who state US only.

When you've been screwed enough times by foreign sales you may not think it is so stupid. Selling on eBay poses many risks for sellers. What is "stupid" is when people criticize what they don't understand.

Steve Smith · Jan 10, 2012

BobD said:
When you've been screwed enough times by foreign sales you may not think it is so stupid. Selling on eBay poses many risks for sellers. What is "stupid" is when people criticize what they don't understand.

What is really stupid is judging a whole country by the actions of a few of its citizens. There is an equal percentage of bad sellers in every country and it is probably a very low figure.

Steve.

aoleg · Jan 10, 2012

Steve Smith said:
What is really stupid is judging a whole country by the actions of a few of its citizens. There is an equal percentage of bad sellers in every country and it is probably a very low figure.

Not my experience. Ever sold to Nigeria?

Sirius Glass · Jan 10, 2012

The President of Nigeria sent me an email that he wants to deposit $39 million US into my savings account for six months and I will get to keep the interest earned! I sent him my banking information immediately. A month has gone by and I do not see his deposit yet, should I contact him now or wait a little longer?

skahde · Jan 10, 2012

Everybody is free to sell or not to sell to wherever they like or not, if you ask me. In several cases where my country was excluded, I asked the seller as kind and considerate as I could and more often than not, they agreed to sell to me anyway.

Your Great Garage Sale 35mm Find?

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