Do you might have images gear you not want (or by no means ought to’ve purchased within the first place!)? Learn on to search out out the most effective place to promote used digicam gear.
My corridor cabinet is the place my images gear goes to die. All of them sit at the hours of darkness, simply ready to be bought off!
There’s the flashgun I used for just one celebration and one wedding ceremony, the GoPro I used for a single rafting journey, and the clamp I couldn’t work out methods to use on safari.
However I’ve been via the method of promoting used digicam gear. And there are many locations to take action on-line (or in individual). So let’s undergo our prime 10 suggestions.
© Matt Bero (Unsplash)
10 Greatest Locations to Promote Used Digicam Gear On-line
If you wish to promote cameras, lenses, video gear, or audio gear on-line, you possibly can strive promoting to an organization or a person.
The method can be fairly swift and seamless for those who decide an organization. However you may not get the most effective worth. In the event you goal people, you may get extra money, however discovering a purchaser is tougher.
There are 4 major methods to promote digicam gear on-line. All of them supply barely completely different worth, pace, and comfort trade-offs. So we’ve damaged our listing down into 4 sections:
Discover out which possibility is greatest for you. Or soar to the tip to learn our top five tips for selling used cameras and gear.
Main Sellers
A number of photographic sellers supply a fast and easy course of for promoting used digicam gear. Most function within the USA, however some are lively in Europe and the UK.
On different continents, the choices could also be few and much between! And do not forget that it’s totally as much as the corporate which gadgets are acceptable and on what phrases.
You may discover you could’t promote reminiscence playing cards on account of knowledge safety legal guidelines. You additionally may solely have the ability to promote sure low-value gadgets for retailer credit score or as a part of a trade-in deal.
Sadly, it’s not likely potential to check sellers’ pricing. Lots relies on the person merchandise and its situation. However many supply free, on the spot quotes, so it doesn’t take lengthy to search out out.
1. Adorama
Areas: USA solely
To promote digicam gear to Adorama, you should full a web-based kind. After you’ve entered your particulars and described the gadgets, they may contact you with delivery data.
Somebody has to examine the gear earlier than a quote is issued. That makes the method extra long-winded than with the opposite sellers.
Or you possibly can take your gadgets to the Adorama shops at 42 W 18th Road in Manhattan or 370 nineteenth Road in Brooklyn, New York. There, they’ll do an appraisal whilst you wait.
Execs
- Could purchase outdated and out of date gear
- A widely known, established retailer
Cons
- Not more likely to supply the best worth
- Gear should be “good,” “like new,” or “glorious”
- Could refuse closely used gear
- Don’t at all times reply to requests for estimates
- No on the spot quote
Adorama’s simple steps to promote used digicam gear
Adorama’s simple steps to promote used digicam gear2. B&H Photo Video
Areas: USA solely
The net course of is just like the one for many different sellers. In change for filling out an outline of your merchandise on their web site, you get a free, no-obligation quote by e-mail.
The entire course of solely takes a number of seconds. And for those who settle for the quote and dwell within the decrease 48 states, they ship a delivery label so you possibly can FedEx your gadgets to B&H.
After they get the gadgets, they’ll examine them and examine them to your description. You’ll get the agreed quantity if it matches and the quote remains to be legitimate.
If there’s a discrepancy, B&H will get in contact to barter a brand new, decrease supply. In the event you’re sad with the counteroffer, they return the gear freed from cost.
Like Adorama, B&H additionally has bodily shops the place you possibly can absorb your digicam gear for appraisal. The New York Metropolis superstore is at 366 West thirty fourth Road.
Execs
- A widely known, established retailer
- Free quote with no obligation
Cons
- Unlikely to supply the most effective worth
- Don’t specialise in used images gear
B&H’s on-line steps to promote used gear
3. KEH
Areas: USA solely (and worldwide sellers with gadgets over $300)
KEH is a web-based market for photographers to purchase and promote used digicam gear.
They primarily goal the home US market. However worldwide sellers can promote gadgets over $300 in the event that they cowl all delivery charges and taxes.
Getting a free quote on the web site is fast and simple. You don’t must enter your e-mail handle. You possibly can even organize a one-on-one video appraisal session with a KEH assistant.
In both case, after you’ve accepted the quote, they’ll ship you a delivery label so you possibly can ship in your gadgets.
KEH’s portal to promote used photograph gear
You’ll obtain free, tracked delivery for those who dwell within the decrease 48 states. You’ll additionally get free pick-up if the quoted worth of the products is over $300.
After KEH receives the products, they’ll have a look at them to see if the quote is legitimate. In that case, you possibly can then settle for the quote and look forward to cost.
In the event you select the Fast Pay possibility, you’ll receives a commission routinely if the valuation is not less than as excessive because the preliminary quote.
If the valuation is decrease, somebody will contact you for approval. In the event you don’t wish to settle for the brand new worth, you’re entitled to the return of your gear at no further value.
Execs
- A widely known, established retailer
- Free quotes
- Fast and simple course of
Cons
- Decrease costs than peer-to-peer marketplaces
- Could downgrade the preliminary quote after evaluation by as much as 25%
4. MPB
Areas: USA, UK, and Europe
Like KEH, MPB makes a speciality of used digicam gear.
As a vendor, your first step is to fill in a web-based kind, giving an outline and the situation of the merchandise(s) on the market. The choices run from “like new” to “closely used.”
You’ll get an on the spot quote, and the corporate will observe up by e-mail. In the event you settle for the quote, you possibly can e-book the delivery.
MPB provides free pick-up, delivery, insurance coverage, and monitoring. You solely must package deal your gadgets, print the delivery label, and connect it to the field.
On receipt of the gadgets, MPB will assess the preliminary quote. If the valuation matches, you possibly can settle for the quote and look forward to cost.
If not, you’ll get a revised one. You possibly can then select whether or not to simply accept it or not. In the event you don’t wish to promote your digicam gear on the new worth, MPB will ship it again to you freed from cost.
Execs
- Specialists in used digicam gear
- No must take footage
- A lot of optimistic buyer suggestions
Cons
- Unlikely to simply accept older gear
MPB promoting portal for used photograph gear
5. Wex Photo Video
Areas: UK solely
Wex is without doubt one of the largest, best-known photograph retailers within the UK. To promote digicam gear, you should full a web-based kind itemizing your gear and equipment.
You possibly can describe the situation of the gadgets on a scale from 6 to 10 (lowest to highest). They describe what each value means. And there’s steerage on shutter counts for cameras.
After you’ve crammed within the kind, you’ll get an on the spot quote. You’ll both be supplied money, a credit score word, or each. You’re extra more likely to get a money valuation if it’s a well-liked product.
Wex Picture Video trade-in banner
For different gadgets, you’ll should accept a credit score word. This doesn’t expire, but it surely’s much less versatile for those who don’t want extra digicam gear but!
In the event you settle for the quote, you possibly can organize free pick-up or drop your gadgets off at your native Wex retailer. Somebody will worth the products on receipt.
If the valuation matches the quote, you possibly can settle for it and look forward to the cash or credit score word. If the valuation is decrease (otherwise you change your thoughts), WEX will return your items free of charge.
Wex additionally provides a worth match assure if yow will discover a greater quote elsewhere.
Execs
- On the spot quotes
- Easy course of
- No hidden charges
Cons
- Could supply credit score word slightly than money
Public sale Websites
Public sale websites equivalent to eBay have benefits and drawbacks. You’ll most likely get a greater worth than from a vendor. However it’s way more of an effort!
There’s additionally no assure of a sale. And also you might need to attend weeks or months to eliminate your items.
6. eBay
Areas: Worldwide
eBay is essentially the most well-known and profitable public sale web site, and it additionally provides a simple “Purchase Now” possibility for standard retail gross sales.
It’s a simple method to attain potential consumers from a whole lot of nations across the globe. However they received’t all be searching for photographic gear!
Opening an account and beginning a list are pretty simple. And an eBay “wizard” will information you thru the method.
You must present textual content and pictures of your items. The flip facet is you could set your worth. In the event you select the public sale possibility, you need to begin low and see what occurs.
However you possibly can at all times specify a reserve worth. Then the end result can be void if the public sale doesn’t attain that worth.
Along with or as an alternative of an public sale, you possibly can set a Purchase Now worth. Consumers can then click on on that button and purchase your gear as if on Amazon or every other on-line market.
Consumers will pay with credit score or debit playing cards utilizing PayPal, so that you don’t have to fret about accepting cost. After cost goes via, you possibly can ship the products to the customer.
Execs
- No restrictions on gadgets on the market
- You possibly can set your worth
- Card funds accepted
- Worldwide pool of potential consumers
- Good for areas not served by US and European retailers
Cons
- Should create a list, together with textual content and footage
- Should deal with queries from consumers
- Could face competitors for well-liked gadgets
- No free delivery
- Prices varied charges and fee of 10 to 13%
- Exhausting to get began with no optimistic rankings
7. Gear Focus
Areas: USA solely
Gear Focus is a form of hybrid of an public sale web site and a vendor. You possibly can both listing your items as you’ll on eBay or promote it on to the corporate.
In the event you create a list, the method is just like the one used to arrange an eBay itemizing. It’s essential to present textual content and pictures of the gadgets.
After the products are bought, you ship the product to the customer. And Gear Focus forwards the cost.
You must pay a fee of three.5%, however there aren’t any itemizing charges. There’s additionally a safety coverage in place to supply safety to each side.
If you wish to promote digicam gear to Gear Focus straight, it’s similar to promoting through a vendor. You merely have to offer private particulars, an outline of the gadgets on the market, and not less than one image.
It’s essential to say if the products are “Like New,” “Wonderful,” “Good,” or “Nicely Used.” You can too set an “Asking Quantity” when you’ve got a determine in thoughts.
Gear Focus has a worth promise to beat every other quotes you might have acquired. And you’ll add these paperwork when asking to your estimate.
Execs
- Lowest fee charges amongst public sale websites
Cons
- Solely based in 2019, so a restricted variety of customers
Classifieds
Native categorized websites supply a handy method to promote to native consumers. However there’s no shopper safety.
In addition they supply huge attain. However they don’t normally specialise in images—aside from Fred Miranda and Cloudy Nights.
It additionally means coping with all of the correspondence from potential consumers, assembly them, and even haggling with them!
8. Craigslist
Areas: Launched within the US, however now out there in cities in over 70 nations.
Craigslist is a categorized itemizing web site launched in 1995. It was designed for in-person, native gross sales of products.
It’s (nonetheless) a text-based platform, and it does have an issue with rip-off emails. However it’s free to listing gadgets, and it provides large attain.
Customers may put up what they wish to purchase. So this provides potential sellers a great way to check the market.
Craigslist posting for a Sony a7 III
If you wish to promote your used gear on Craigslist, most websites have a specialist photograph and video categorized part. Customers are likely to haggle on worth, so bear that in thoughts!
Like most categorized websites, Craigslist doesn’t get entangled in promoting. Which means you’ll should do all of the correspondence and settle for cost.
Consumers will seemingly gather the products in individual as a result of it has a neighborhood focus. As there’s no vendor safety, one of the simplest ways to receives a commission is to take money.
Execs
- No want for delivery if items collected
- Free listings
- Customers can put up what gadgets they need
Cons
- Too many rip-off emails
- Generally must haggle
- Not a specialist images web site
9. Facebook Marketplace
Areas: Worldwide
Fb is the world’s largest social media platform. And Fb Market is a free categorized itemizing service the place you possibly can promote your used gear.
As with different categorized companies, you should create a list with textual content and pictures. You can too promote your gadgets utilizing Fb adverts.
However Fb doesn’t get entangled in correspondence, cost, delivery, or assortment. And there’s additionally no cost safety for consumers or sellers.
Like Craigslist, Fb Market may be possibility for native, in-person gross sales.
Execs
- Billions of Fb customers worldwide
- Doubtlessly increased costs than sellers
Cons
- Not specialists in images
- No monetary safety
- No assist with correspondence, cost, or delivery
Fb Market itemizing for a used Canon EOS R5
A Native Digicam Retailer
Shopping for images gear on-line is less expensive than visiting your native digicam retailer. Because of this, there aren’t as many native dealerships as there as soon as have been. However you need to have choices.
10. In-Particular person or Their Web site
The benefit of visiting a neighborhood retailer is you could absorb your gear. And also you get private service from a educated workers member.
I’ve purchased and bought a number of digital cameras, lenses, and different gear on the London Camera Exchange retailer in London. I’ve at all times had expertise.
In addition they have a web site. So you possibly can search for offers on second-hand gear throughout the entire UK. So you possibly can at all times examine in case your native digicam retailer has a web site.
London Digicam Alternate steps for promoting used gear
High 5 Ideas for Promoting a Digicam
Listed here are our prime 5 ideas for promoting outdated images gear.
1. Select a Place That Suits Your Wants
I not too long ago traded in all my Nikon DSLRs and lenses for his or her Sony mirrorless equivalents. I went to a neighborhood images retailer I trusted and talked to a person I’d handled earlier than.
The entire course of was fast and handy. However I nonetheless misplaced round a 3rd of the worth of the gear!
And that’s one of many issues you face when promoting your outdated gear. Getting worth is difficult for those who additionally need pace and comfort.
These three components are an important, however you normally should sacrifice one. In the event you can resolve which one which ought to be, it ought to make it easier to select the place to promote your outdated digicam gear.
My outdated Nikon D850 DSLR digicam I traded in for a Sony a1
Main sellers like Adorama supply a fast and handy service. However they should make a margin, and that’s mirrored within the costs they provide.
Public sale websites like eBay may get you a greater worth. However you should add your photos, describe the product on the market, and deal with any inquiries your self.
It may also take longer to promote your gadgets in order for you the most effective worth—even for those who embody a “Purchase Now” possibility.
Common classifieds like Craigslist supply probability to get the best worth (with out fee). However you do all of the work, and there aren’t any ensures you’ll discover a purchaser.
Specialist classifieds like Fred Miranda rating extremely on worth. And not less than that their customers are seemingly photographers. However the course of is comparatively gradual and inconvenient.
Native images shops normally have web sites. Or you possibly can go in individual for a extra private expertise.
I went to my native digicam store. And I used to be glad to sacrifice a bit on worth for pace, comfort, and peace of thoughts.
2. Clear and Service Gadgets
Ideally, it’s greatest to take care of your gear always. However accidents occur, and cameras and lenses usually look dusty and soiled after a number of years of service.
It’s price giving it clear earlier than you ask for an estimate or promote your used gear. Folks like shiny issues. And so they’re extra seemingly to purchase your gadgets if they give the impression of being new-ish and in good situation.
It’s a bit like staging a property. You vacuum the place, clear up any mess, and put flowers in your vases and cookies within the oven to draw consumers.
It’s the identical with cameras. No one needs to purchase a lens with African mud on the glass! If the gadgets aren’t in good working order, it’s price checking how a lot it prices to repair any issues.
A sensor clear ought to value beneath $100, for instance. So it may be price it for those who anticipate to promote your digicam for 1000’s of {dollars}.
However there wouldn’t be a lot level if it was simply an outdated film camera price a pair hundred bucks.
You can too purchase a professional camera cleaning kit like Alutra’s
3. Describe Items Actually
Nonetheless tempting it’s to magnify the situation of your equipment, it’s not price it. In the event you’re promoting on-line, no person will take your phrase for it. So it’ll all come out within the wash.
Your digicam gear needs to be valued earlier than any sale can undergo. So telling white lies would simply contain extra paperwork and mirror badly on you!
When you have the unique packaging, instruction guide, and equipment, you need to embody these within the bundle. Consumers received’t thanks for promoting them a digicam with no charger!
4. Take a Lot of Photos
Consumers don’t wish to purchase cameras or gear with out a good have a look at them. They wish to know precisely what they’re getting—particularly if it’s used digicam gear.
This implies it’s a good suggestion to incorporate as many clear pictures of your gadgets as potential from many various angles. Ideally, they need to be taken in good gentle towards a plain background.
You also needs to embody footage of broken areas, equivalent to a scratched lens. You’ll solely get complaints for those who don’t, and the sale may even fall via.
One widespread rip-off on some platforms is to make use of pictures downloaded from the producers’ web sites. This means that the gadgets are newer than they’re.
To keep away from suspicion, you possibly can embody a handwritten word in one of many pictures, maybe together with your title and date.
5. Be Practical With Pricing
Until you’re glad to attend months (and even years!) to promote your used digicam gear, you need to set a practical worth.
Many web sites have a number of competing customers attempting to promote well-liked digicam gear. Which means potential consumers will ignore the most costly choices.
In the event you’re uncertain how a lot your gadgets are price, you possibly can at all times ask one of many sellers for a free estimate.
You can too examine the worth of comparable items on-line. Or you should utilize an IRS depreciation chart to permit for put on and tear over time.
When you have an outdated, worn-out, or out of date merchandise, you might need to simply accept it has no resale worth. In the event you don’t wish to throw it out, you possibly can at all times give it to a charity, museum, buddy, or relative.
Conclusion
Most photographers accumulate outdated cameras, lenses, and different gear that collect mud. However there are numerous choices if you wish to promote a number of gadgets.
If you would like the fast and simple route, you need to most likely get a free quote from one of many main on-line sellers.
In the event you don’t thoughts doing a bit extra of the legwork within the hunt for a greater worth, you possibly can take out an advert on one of many public sale websites or categorized listings.
Lastly, you possibly can at all times go into your native images retailer—if yow will discover one! Or you possibly can even search for their web site.
Whichever possibility you select, digicam gear is just price what somebody’s ready to pay! This implies you might have to commerce off pace and comfort towards worth.
Craving extra images data? Try our current posts on zoom vs telephoto lenses, photoshoot themes, or sundown images settings subsequent!