Don't expect a deal anymore

I bought an M3 from them last week and it was very well priced for its condition; just a coupleof top plate rubbing marks, probably from use of a Leicameter. I don't think they'd buy stuff that was cosmetically nasty or had any kind of defect, so that leaves the beater stuff up for grabs.

There is a well-known shortage of s/h M lenses at the moment so I guess they're just doing what they can to get some sort of stock in.
 
I would rather buy and sell here.

You can also try a Want to Buy ad, they are free. I sold a user-condition type I Rigid Summicron for $250 in response to one.
 
I stopped scouring ebay for photographic deals some time ago. These days I find that almost all the things I'm interested in are priced much higher than the same item from a dealer - and with the dealer I get 6 or 12 months warranty.

Interesting to know that Reddot cameras are sourcing used stock from ebay though.

John
 
It's good for them that they spot the deals. It just makes it slightly harder for us to get the deal as well when you know that they have more time and more means to get the same item.

From what I've learned though is that there will always be the next deal. So I just gotta remain patient and persistent.

Adam
 
John Lawrence said:
I stopped scouring ebay for photographic deals some time ago. These days I find that almost all the things I'm interested in are priced much higher than the same item from a dealer - and with the dealer I get 6 or 12 months warranty.

Interesting to know that Reddot cameras are sourcing used stock from ebay though.

John
Click to expand...

I've also noticed that dealer prices are lower than fleaBay; although, if they're sourcing from there, that can't last long.

The great thing about fleaBay (with which I have a love/hate relationship) is that, 15 years ago, anyone with photographic kit to sell had little choice but to take it to a dealer and got shafted (as we say in the UK). The dealer than put it on sale for three times the price. Can't happen now.
 
Add to this trail the fact that David Stephens will have bought that lens in for around £350 to £400 from a punter to sell on the bay at £700+

I'll trade here, thanks!
 
If they can buy things from eBay and then resell them with a comfortable margin perhaps those prices are now "deals". (?)
 
MC JC86 said:
If they can buy things from eBay and then resell them with a comfortable margin perhaps those prices are now "deals". (?)
Click to expand...

I don't think the margin is that high, and they do take the risks and offer warranty. I guess for a buyer there is choice there.

Still, I've been watching auctions for Leica M lenses on Ebay for a while, and there don't seem to be any real deals. 'Buy now' prices are generally very high, sometimes higher than normal store prices. Auctions also tend to end quite high. And it still feels like an anonymous, risky business. I had a couple reasonable deals, and I love buying cheap stuff on the bay like lenspens and Parker rollerball refills (10 for the price of 2). For the good stuff, can't beat the classifieds.
 
braver said:
I don't think the margin is that high, and they do take the risks and offer warranty. I guess for a buyer there is choice there.

Still, I've been watching auctions for Leica M lenses on Ebay for a while, and there don't seem to be any real deals. 'Buy now' prices are generally very high, sometimes higher than normal store prices. Auctions also tend to end quite high. And it still feels like an anonymous, risky business. I had a couple reasonable deals, and I love buying cheap stuff on the bay like lenspens and Parker rollerball refills (10 for the price of 2). For the good stuff, can't beat the classifieds.
Click to expand...

I agree, I don't think the margin is high at all. It's there though, and certainly greater than it is for (non-Leica) new equipment. Ebay represents a global market, with prices driven up where demand is higher/supply lower making for higher figures than those of us who live where that isn't the case.

slightly o/t : I for one have had terrible experiences buying photo equipment on eBay, to the point where I generally just don't do it unless I absolutely can't find it somewhere else. Most of the deals that seemed great to me in the first place turned out to be poorly described and have had problems somewhere between hidden and glaring. Your example of pens/etc is the type of item that I now buy from eBay, and rarely lenses/cameras.
 
Ebay prices are generally higher than KEH/Adorama, and the stuff you get is more of a crapshoot. Occasionally though, you can find deals on things that 1) have weird ending times, 2) vague titles (I once got a Contax RF Sonnar 50/2 for $30 in an auction that just said "Old camera lens" or something), or 3) ridiculously low BIN prices from desperate sellers.

Most of the time, I can find much better deals here or on craigslist if I'm patient. There seems to be a lot of people out there who automatically assume that everything on ebay is an amazing deal and don't bother shopping around/have never heard of KEH.

OP: that store isn't going to buy every Leica lens that pops up on ebay. Eventually, their store will be stocked and then they'll get to worry about selling it all for higher than ebay prices. Most likely, they will end up sitting on it for awhile.
 
Last edited:
eBay is indeed a crapshoot. Best value is for camera bodies that are cosmetically good but have some sort of declared fault like sticking slow shutter speeds; factor in the price of a CLA and you're laughing. I have a good IIIa and IIf from eBay. Likewise, I got a good red scale Elmar, an unscratched Summar and a peachy Summaron from there at low prices. German sellers are worth seeking out for me, because there is no duty within the EU and there is a bigger supply of Leica kit where it's made.

Lenses are always a bigger risk as you can't do a flashlight test yourself and it takes a trained technician to identify some defects such as coating deterioration. Photos don't show cleaning scratches unless the front element is really like a skating rink.

Prices for any black or military bodies on eBay are stupid.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom