best way to sell collector items

[sanmich]

Too much gear, really. Borderline ridiculous...

Among lots of stuff that I plan to sell, there are two lenses that I would describe as collector items.

What's the best way to sell them?
ebay?
here?

I would also like to ask if someone here could help me with pricing.

STOP:
this is not a classified bypass. I won't sell anything right now.
back to our regular program....

so:

1- Mountain Elmar, 2 caps, hood, in red box, in great condition.

2- very early Xenon 1.5 with hood. CLA'd by DAG (he mentioned a very unusual, quite complex internal design). A few cleaning marks, a chip of paint loose on the internal elements. The serial number is the earliest I've ever seen (not that I really keep looking) putting it in the very firsts ever produced in 1936.

so, what do you think?

Thanks!

 

[chrishayton]

Ebay is without the best place to sell it but you have to consider that you loose 10% of the final value (although this is capped at £40 (I assume the same in $)
Ebay is a HUGE market place

 

[Greyscale]

I have always had better luck selling in the rff and APUG than on eBay. But I have never sold anything that would be considered a collector's item, or particularly rare, either. The rarity might help on eBay, especially if you have little prior feedback as a seller. Otherwise, expect to sell for pennies on the dollar until you build up a reputation. eBay may be a huge marketplace, but sometimes a niche market of like-minded, knowledgeable buyers is better.

 

[thegman]

I do a great deal better on eBay than RFF classifieds. On eBay, stuff sells for higher prices, and generally it does actually sell. Generally my items here do not sell at all.

I think this is more down to that I'm in the UK, and most RFF members are not. I find that often buyers in the United States don't want to shop outside the USA or Canada.

My APUG classifieds do maybe a little better, but not much.

eBay has it's flaws, but it is a massive marketplace, with huge numbers of buyers.

 

[Vobluda]

For those two items Leica forum or ebay.

 

[sanmich]

Thanks for all the answers!

If I also try my luck on ebay or other places, is there a safe way to receive payment?

would anyone know how to price these two lenses?

 

[Paddy C]

I would try to sell pretty much any piece of gear somewhere other than eBay first.

If that doesn't work, then I would look to eBay as a last resort.

 

[ZeissFan]

Based on recent experience, you might want to exclude certain countries (China and Russia). All too often, buyers simply change their mind after winning the auction, and you're stuck relisting the item and then filing reports to get back your listing fees.

Also, eBay takes a huge amount of money: Listing fees, fees for a successful sale, and then PayPal (owned by eBay) fees, which are significant. Don't be surprised if you're hit by a $100+ bill at the end.

 

[Vobluda]

Those two lens are not worth a fortune so I guess not that much to worry when selling.
For pricing you can check here:

http://www.antiquecameras.net/leicascrewlenses.html

 

[haempe]

If you are not hurry to sell you should give Westlicht a call.