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| Lake McDonald, Glacier National Park, Montana (click to enlarge) Nikon D800E, 24-120mm f/4 lens @ 32mm; 1/160th sec. @ f/10; ISO 100 |
I almost never buy photo gear at retail prices. In fact, I almost never pay full price for anything anymore. I don't think there is a need to pay full list price any longer. The competition for your money is so great, you can find discounts everywhere. Concerning photo gear, I find two things: sales/rebates by the manufacturers occur regularly and you can almost predict when the next one will be launched and, there is so much excellent used gear out there at good prices, there is no need to buy, with rare exception, any gear at straight manufacturer's list price. But you have to practice a bit of patience.
I believe, in the Internet age, with all of the information, reviews, forums, marketing and retailers available to everyone, many more photographers than in the distant past have acquired a severe case of Gear Acquisition Syndrome (GAS as we affectionately refer to it). I think more photographers today buy and sell excellent gear much more frequently than they did in the past. Many keep gear a year or two then sell it for something newer (not necessarily better, however). Generational and cultural differences also play a role in this. There is a plethora of stuff available out there and the Internet gives us the means to find it.
I took advantage of Olympus' recent sale to pick up three new lenses at, what I think is, a terrific discount. I saved $200 on each lens. I had been wanting to supplement my m4/3 kit with some prime lenses and was waiting for Olympus' next sale. I knew it was coming. I just had to practice a bit of patience and wait for it. I think the last lenses I bought were at this time last year for my Fujifilm system. Saved money then, as well. Waiting for Olympus' sale means $600 US in my pocket for another new lens if I needed another.
New gear at a discount is a pretty safe bet. You deal with reputable dealers, you buy officially imported gear and you have a solid manufacturer's warranty. Buying used gear can be a little more iffy. However, if you conduct your due diligence, you can safely purchase what you want at even lower prices. If you do the research you need to do....
I'm certainly not an expert at buying used stuff, but in over 30 years of doing so I've never been defrauded or never received anything I bought that wasn't in the condition in which it was advertised. I must be doing something right. So far! I've bought and sold many new and used cameras and lenses from B and H, KEH Camera Brokers, on EBay and Craig's list, to name a few places. I've never been burnt and I've always been brutally honest about the gear I was selling. Reputation is everything.
Buying from a larger dealer such B and H, Amazon, KEH Camera Brokers or Used Camera Pro is a pretty safe bet. I've never had a bad experience in over 25 years or more with any of these. I've bought used and factory refurbished gear. The gear was always better than described and there was always time period in which you could send your purchase back if you found it unacceptable for any reason. I only had to send one item back to KEH. It was a Panasonic 25mm f/1.4 lens that I found, upon testing, was not as sharp on one side of the image area as on the other. Very slight difference, but I test my gear ruthlessly. 95% of others may not have seen the difference. Probably a decentered element. Not their fault. I contacted them, they said send it back at their expense. I did. Before they even received the lens, I had another on in my possession. Good people.
Buying from EBay and Craig's List is another story. Lots of good stuff available but the risk is a bit higher, just by the nature of these particular marketplaces. It always amazes me how much energy some people will put into creating fraudulent schemes that if they put that much energy into constructive projects, they would probably have great jobs making good money. But they decide they would rather take your money or property dishonestly rather than make an honest dollar. That is why you have to be extremely thorough in your research before you send your money or your property to someone you don't know.
Whenever I buy from EBay or Craig's list I look at the ad for misspellings (is English the seller's native language), a reasonable price and, if there is a seller rating, I look closely at the history, recently as well as over the past few years. I look for recent activity. If it looks too good to be true, it just might be. Also, I will email the seller several times just so I can get a feel for this person. Do they respond? Are they pretty free with their communication? Are they short or curt in their response? Do they respond freely or does it seem they don't really want to tell you anything? Are their responses to your questions logical? Do you detect anything a bit strange from their responses? Do you get a better feeling about the seller after communicating a few times? This matters as great deal to me. I want a good feeling and a level of comfort about the seller before I go forth with a transaction.
If I buy something from someone on Craig's List, I always arrange to meet them in a large public place, such as the parking lot of a shopping center, in the middle of the day. I want a lot of people around. If they hesitate or want to meet you at night, be careful. There may be a reason they want to meet you in the dark. If they can't meet due to work, wait for a weekend, again, during the middle of the day. I also ask them what type of vehicle they will be driving. Now this is my police background talking: I will arrive 1/2 hour early. I sit across the lot and wait. I want to see if the vehicle comes alone or someone else is with them. I want to see what the person does when he or she pulls in. I want to be sure all is well and I understand as much about the situation as I can before I drive up to the seller's car. It is called situational awareness. I can't help it. This is the type of stuff we learn as police officers. Another thing is to meet the seller in front of or in the lobby of your local police station. They will allow you to do this and some even encourage it.
As I said, I'm not an expert but just use common sense to protect myself. Read what you can find on EBay, Google and other search engines about how to get as much information as you can about a seller on these and the other internet based marketplaces. Be familiar with what fraudulent schemes are out there and how they work. Be prepared, even with doing everything you can, you still might become a victim of a sophisticated fraud. It happens. Its better to lose a bit of money or gear than be hurt. Never ever compromise or take a chance with yours or anyone else's safety.
Back to the top. Enjoy the holidays. Lots of stuff on sale. If you need or want something and can afford it, buy yourself a gift. But be generous to others as well. Be thankful and be grateful. Take pictures! Lots of 'em!
Thanks for looking. Enjoy!
Dennis A. Mook
All content on this blog is © 2013-2017 Dennis A. Mook. All Rights Reserved. Feel free to point to this blog from your website with full attribution. Permission may be granted for commercial use. Please contact Mr. Mook to discuss permission to reproduce the blog posts and/or images.
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