{"id":35777,"date":"2017-09-14T09:00:56","date_gmt":"2017-09-14T13:00:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/?p=35777"},"modified":"2017-09-13T10:56:31","modified_gmt":"2017-09-13T14:56:31","slug":"how-to-sell-or-trade-your-used-camera-equipment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/how-to-sell-or-trade-your-used-camera-equipment\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Sell or Trade Your Used Camera Equipment"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n

But we don\u2019t 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\u2019s definitely a market for your used equipment.<\/p>\n

We suppose the only troubling questions here are where and how should you sell or trade your used camera gear? First, let\u2019s start with the hows.<\/p>\n

How to sell or trade your used camera gear:<\/h3>\n

\"Top<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Clean your gear<\/li>\n
  2. Categorize your items<\/li>\n
  3. Rush or not?<\/li>\n
  4. Market research<\/li>\n
  5. Take product photos<\/li>\n
  6. Perform a final test run<\/li>\n
  7. Create your ad<\/li>\n
  8. Offer perks or freebies<\/li>\n
  9. Decide how you\u2019re going to sell<\/li>\n
  10. Safely (and carefully) let go of your items<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    #1: Clean your gear<\/h4>\n

    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.<\/p>\n

    \"Dismounted<\/p>\n

    #2: Categorize your items<\/h4>\n

    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.<\/p>\n

    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.<\/p>\n

    Instead of selling all of your items individually or by type, you can also create something like a \u201cCamera Starter Kit\u201d that\u2019s composed of a camera, kit lens, cleaning materials, and maybe even a memory card.<\/p>\n

    \"Basic<\/p>\n

    #3: Figure out your timeframe<\/h4>\n

    When it comes to selling or trading your equipment, it\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

    Therefore, if you want to get your camera\u2019s worth, read on\u2014and expect the sale to take a while, depending on what you\u2019re selling.<\/p>\n

    \"Camera<\/p>\n

    #4: Do market research<\/h4>\n

    This is the part where you finally get to put a price on your items. Prepare to be surprised\u2014or disappointed\u2014as 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\u2019re selling the same items for, you should have a pretty good idea about the current resale and trade value of your gear.<\/p>\n

    Of course, you can always increase your price a little bit, just above the price floor that you\u2019d rather not go under, so as to allow people to haggle a bit without scoring a deal that will leave you short.<\/p>\n

    You can also get a direct quote from Adorama<\/a>. 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.<\/p>\n

    #5: Take good product photos<\/h4>\n

    Before you put your ad out there, take photos of your items. You\u2019ll 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\u2019t get to show your gear to potential buyers in person. Don\u2019t miss out on areas of concern, such as the hinges, buttons, and glass surfaces.<\/p>\n

    \"Close<\/p>\n

    #6: Create a comprehensive ad<\/h4>\n

    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.<\/p>\n

    When selling cameras, always mention the number of actuations (shutter count). This is like your car\u2019s mileage, and the lower the number of your actuations, the higher your camera\u2019s value is.<\/p>\n

    A simple Google search can teach you how to find your specific camera model\u2019s current shutter actuations and shutter life expectancy.<\/p>\n

    When you\u2019re ready to create your ad, don\u2019t forget to include the product photos as well as the following detailed information for each ad:<\/p>\n