Second hand too expensive?

merv

merv

Messages
1,118
Name
Mervyn
Edit My Images
Yes
I am currently looking at a mint second hand 105mm micro lens in a national dealership. Its cost is 90per cent the new price and I consider this is hard to justify. No matter how good the kit is surely it is hard to explain this. I have asked how old it is but they cant tell me and also I have asked for a photo but they say that wont show how good it is.
Would you buy under these conditions and at this price or go for new.
merv:bonk:
 
If its only 10% saving I would buy new for sure.May also be worth putting a wanted ad on here as they do come up quite often at reasonable prices.If its the 105mm vr aperture have a mint used one for 480.
 
Last edited:
I wouldn't buy 2nd hand to save 10%.
Their unhelpful attitude would probably direct me to buying elsewhere anyway.
 
I've noticed this a lot. Certain 2nd hand gear is maybe 80-90% of the cost of new UK sourced gear. Is this because prices have dropped and sellers are basing the sale price on the one they paid, rather than what it costs new now?

A good example of what I am talking about is I recently saw an advert for a higher end camera to be swapped for a lower end one plus some cash. The cash wanted is quite a lot more than the new price difference of the two cameras, and I'd wager it is only £50 more for a trade-in for a brand new model (with full guarantee) at a number of well-renowned shops. No brainer really.
 
Thanks guys you're summing up my feelings. I have extracted a concession in the form of a free protective filter and free delivery. Does this change things? Thanks of the offer of a mint one will consider.
Merv
 
And a week or so back, I sent a friendly message to a seller on here saying I was looking for a product similar to the one he had on sale (but had decided to go for a higher end product after investigating), but the new price was only £10 more so I thought he would find it difficult to sell. Hasn't sold yet, as far as I can tell.
 
merv said:
Thanks guys you're summing up my feelings. I have extracted a concession in the form of a free protective filter and free delivery. Does this change things? Thanks of the offer of a mint one will consider.
Merv
Click to expand...

Depends how much the filter is (if it's a budget five quid job, forget it!)
 
merv said:
Thanks guys you're summing up my feelings. I have extracted a concession in the form of a free protective filter and free delivery. Does this change things? Thanks of the offer of a mint one will consider.
Merv
Click to expand...

Oh, and whether the new one also comes with free delivery :-)
 
What kind of filter? If it's just a UV filter then it's pointless.

The problem with most shops is that their second hand gear is normally only a little less than new. Buy used on here and you will get much better deals, however you won't get any warranty.
 
Just asked the dealer about concessions on a new one but they have just told me they don't have any and no delivery date available from Nikon! Maybe this explains the high second hand price- supply versus demand. Merv
 
merv said:
Just asked the dealer about concessions on a new one but they have just told me they don't have any and no delivery date available from Nikon! Maybe this explains the high second hand price- supply versus demand. Merv
Click to expand...

I'd be more inclined to say that's a lot of mince and they're more interested in selling you the used one as it'll have a much higher margin on it.
 
For 2nd hand prices, I go by the rule of thumb of 2/3 of the new price if the item is in as good as new condition.

90% of the new price for 2nd hand is a **** take, pure and simple. The most I'd pay for ex-display is 75%.
 
There is one way to help drive 2nd hand prices down...buy new.

I have bought 2nd hand lenses before, but only if it is worth it. At 10% reduction I'd rather buy new knowing that if anything goes wrong I'll be covered.
 
Even MBP isn't yet best value. For example, they have a 35mm f1.8 Nikon for £124. Jessops have this lens on for £140 at the moment. So £16 more for a new one, with full manufacturers guarantee.

And given the 105mm is the best part of £500, you are only saving £100 for going 2nd hand. Just doesn't seem worth it.
 
Last edited:
If you look at the ex demo and used section of Jessops website some of the cameras are more expensive than buying the same camera brand new from Jessops - WTF? :D

eg: Sony Alpha a57 Digital SLR with 18-55mm Lens - Ex-Demo and Used Stock
£532.09:
http://www.jessops.com/online.store...Lens - Ex-Demo and Used Stock-88131/Show.html

Sony Alpha a57 Digital SLR with 18-55mm Lens - brand new: £499 (£450 after cashback):
http://www.jessops.com/online.store/products/84535/show.html?cm_vc=PPZ1

:cuckoo:

Have also seen people pay as much or more for a used camera on ebay as they could have bought a new one for - or more often only 5 or 10% less than they could have bought a new one for (with full warranty etc). I guess some people don't shop around? :shake:

I am also a bit puzzled by some sites like Ffordes listing the same lens with the same condition grading eg excellent+ for widely different prices - have seen the same thing at LCE and one or two others.
 
Yep Amazons price of £609 is as good as I've seen, except for one other the same. The dealer I was talking to is looking £549 for second hand.
Out of order I think
 
That is far too expensive, I wonder what they paid for it but doubt if it would have been much more than £400.
I was offered £600 p/x or £720 after their commission by a dealer for a mint condition UK sourced Canon 24-70L MK1 a few months back, and it still had some warranty left. They go for about £800+ in the classifieds here from what I've seen and the dealer sells them for £1K+.
 
Good point Applemint Starbucks and Amazon have been getting bad press recently. Must avoid them. merv
 
Some second hand prices leave me speechless, especially some MPB pricing. It's bonkers.

I would expect to see the prices fall to about 75% of the new price, but it's not the case. Just makes me want to plump up the little extra for brand new.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top