Contrary to popular belief, digital photography is actually more expensive than film photography was back in the day. Modern DSLRs are pricier than film cameras, and while the former doesn’t require any additional film and printing costs, we end up spending on external hard drives and even laptops that can accommodate our limitless amounts of digital media.
But we don’t have to let our limited budgets stop us from getting into digital photography or videography, do we? We have the option to purchase used but perfectly capable camera equipment for a much lower price. At the same time, more and more people are looking for cheaper options for their gear, so there’s definitely a market for your used equipment.
We suppose the only troubling questions here are where and how should you sell or trade your used camera gear? First, let’s start with the hows.
How to sell or trade your used camera gear:
- Clean your gear
- Categorize your items
- Rush or not?
- Market research
- Take product photos
- Perform a final test run
- Create your ad
- Offer perks or freebies
- Decide how you’re going to sell
- Safely (and carefully) let go of your items
#1: Clean your gear
The first ideal step is to have your gear cleaned in order to look presentable for buyers. One of the most disappointing things that can happen to a buyer is receiving items that are not only used but are also not well taken care of. Plus, you can boost the value of your product if you can make them look almost as good as new.
#2: Categorize your items
If you have plenty of stuff to sell, the next step is to categorize your items. Group your cameras, lenses, filters, battery grips, memory cards, lighting equipment, accessories (such as tripods and reflectors), and so on.
One factor that you can take into consideration when categorizing your items is that bundling them into sets can make your sale more attractive. At the same time, you can let go of more of your items in a single sale.
Instead of selling all of your items individually or by type, you can also create something like a “Camera Starter Kit” that’s composed of a camera, kit lens, cleaning materials, and maybe even a memory card.
#3: Figure out your timeframe
When it comes to selling or trading your equipment, it’s often time versus money. You always have the option to sell your camera as soon as possible, but that would mean turning to quick sell options such as pawn shops or other similar avenues for camera trade-ins or sales. As you may already know, they buy your camera for a much lower price compared to a properly marketed sale.
Therefore, if you want to get your camera’s worth, read on—and expect the sale to take a while, depending on what you’re selling.
#4: Do market research
This is the part where you finally get to put a price on your items. Prepare to be surprised—or disappointed—as you search through camera retail sites or inquire in stores for current prices of second-hand camera equipment. Once you find out how much they’re selling the same items for, you should have a pretty good idea about the current resale and trade value of your gear.
Of course, you can always increase your price a little bit, just above the price floor that you’d rather not go under, so as to allow people to haggle a bit without scoring a deal that will leave you short.
You can also get a direct quote from Adorama. We can give you a quick quote on our site, and should you decide to push through with selling your item with us, we offer free shipping to allow you to mail us your item so that we can give you a more accurate offer.
#5: Take good product photos
Before you put your ad out there, take photos of your items. You’ll need to make sure they are clear, high-quality photos that cover all of the important parts of your camera and gear (if not every inch), especially if you won’t get to show your gear to potential buyers in person. Don’t miss out on areas of concern, such as the hinges, buttons, and glass surfaces.
#6: Create a comprehensive ad
Many sellers and traders keep their ads short by just mentioning the brand, model, and the condition of the products, and leave it up to the buyers to do their own research about the gear. If you have chosen not to photograph scratches or any other signs of usage, make sure you mention them somewhere in your ad to maintain your transparency. After all, your price should depend on the condition of your equipment.
When selling cameras, always mention the number of actuations (shutter count). This is like your car’s mileage, and the lower the number of your actuations, the higher your camera’s value is.
A simple Google search can teach you how to find your specific camera model’s current shutter actuations and shutter life expectancy.
When you’re ready to create your ad, don’t forget to include the product photos as well as the following detailed information for each ad:
- General category (Cameras, Lenses, Camera Starter Kit, etc.)
- Brand
- Model
- Specs
- Actuations
- Package Inclusions
- Condition (EUC/VGUC/UC)
- Product Issues
- Payment/Meetup/Trade Terms
- Contact Information
#7: Perform a final test run
Take this opportunity to bid your beloved gear goodbye and test them one last time. Take a few shots around the room that you’re in, make sure the images don’t present any problem spots that may show any dirt or damage in your lens or camera sensor, check your lenses’ AF motors, test your flashes, and so on. Should you encounter any problems, you can either have them fixed before selling them or note them in your ad and adjust your prices accordingly.
#8: Offer perks and freebies
This is an optional step that you may want to take in order to become more appealing to potential buyers. You add your value by offering even simple or small freebies, such as a free camera bag or maybe even gift certificates. Alternatively, you can offer your more expensive gear on a layaway basis to further encourage buyers to avail of your gear.
#9: Put the word out
Once you’ve packaged all of your gear, now you’re ready to sell them! Now, depending on how much you’re willing to let go of your gear for and how soon you want to let go of them, you have to decide where you’re going to sell or trade your items. At the bottom of this list, we’ll give you an idea about where you can sell, depending on your desired market reach and timeframe.
Choose as many outlets as possible and advertise wherever you can (utilize online forums, Facebook groups, and more) to get more eyeballs on the items you are selling.
#10: Safely (and carefully) let go of your items
Whether you’re shipping your items to a buyer or handing them over in person, make sure shipping and handling fees are covered by your buyer or trader. Most sellers include them in the price but you may have to consider adding them later on, especially if you’re also marketing to buyers from out of town or overseas where fees are different. The easiest way is to have a flat fee, based on estimates from your choice of courier services.
Unlike with meetups where your buyer or trader can personally check the items and acknowledge receipt, your sale does not end right after shipping. Packages can get lost, stolen, or even damaged, even before your buyer gets their hands on them.
To avoid any future disputes, make sure you protect yourself by insuring your items, having a private tracking number for yourself and your buyer, and choosing a courier that requires a signature for proof of delivery before releasing the item.
Now that we’ve given you an idea about the essential steps that you have to take in order to effectively sell or trade camera gear, we’ll move on to where you can start marketing them.
Where can I trade or sell used camera equipment?
- Online Camera Retailers
- Personal Social Media Pages
- Facebook Groups
- Online Forums
- Camera Houses/Clubs
- Pawn Shops
- Local paper
Online Camera Retailers
The Internet is a great place for selling both brand new and used cameras, especially with virtually everybody glued to their phones and laptops. It literally takes seconds to look for your desired equipment—and so does getting the word out about your gear—on online retailing sites.
As previously mentioned, Adorama can sell your camera equipment for you, as well as facilitate a trade-in. This is a great option for items that are much more difficult to sell, as online retailers typically have a very wide reach.
How to sell used camera equipment on Adorama:
- Get a quick quote through any of the following options:
- Visit our Used Quote page
- Call us at 800.223.2500 Option 6
- Email us at used@adorama.com
- Bring your gear to our New York superstore
- Mail it
- Receive a prepaid and insured UPS shipping label via email
- Ship your item/s
- Wait for the evaluation to be completed
- Receive offer
- Decide how you want to be paid (check in the mail, direct deposit, or store credit)
Personal Social Media Pages
It’s highly likely that you’ve already tried selling your items through your social media pages in hopes of catching the attention of a friend, family member, or colleague who may be interested in your gear. It’s free, easy, and you at least get some sort of assurance that your buyer won’t be a complete stranger.
Word of warning though, it’s also highly likely that a contact will be asking for a friendly discount.
Facebook Groups
Aside from posting ads on your own social media, you can also find a bunch of Facebook Groups dedicated to photography and sell your items there. There are also Facebook Groups that are not necessarily dedicated to photography but allow members to buy, sell, or trade all kinds of used items.
Online Forums
We also previously mentioned online forums, which is another great option as you get to reach and connect with plenty of other photographers who are actively looking for used gear. You can check out forum threads dedicated specifically to selling used camera gear, such as those on DPREVIEW.com.
Camera Houses/Clubs
You can always choose to sell used camera equipment in more than one place. And if you’ve already tried doing them online, why not also hit those camera houses nearest you? If they’re selling cameras, they most likely also know where to sell used cameras or at least offer buy/sell/trade services.
You might even have access to company, school, and leisure camera clubs with lots of hobbyists who may just be looking for at least one or two of what you have up for grabs. They commonly organize swap meets in main cities, which are perfect for buyers who want to be assured of the product quality before purchasing anything.
Pawn Shops
If you’re out of time, pawn shops are the best and quickest way to let go of your gear. And if you realize that you’ve made a mistake, you can always buy them back. However, they’re obviously not the best places to turn to if you want to get your gear’s actual worth.
Local paper
We may be all about the Internet and digital media, but there are people who still turn to print advertisement for their needs. You can inquire about ad spaces from your local newspaper, magazines, or even in company and school newsletters.The only obvious downside is that the market reach is enough albeit generalized and that you have to spend first before potentially finding interested (and honest) buyers or traders. Aside from money, it will take some time, courage, and a bit of luck. Just make sure to plan your meetups in public places and, if possible, bring someone with you for your own security!
