Do you sell gear locally?

[Paddy C]

I'm in the process of getting some gear ready for sale. Originally I was thinking RFF first and then on to eBay if needed. Really want to avoid eBay.

Then it occurred to me that I could try something like kijiji and/or local classifieds etc. Would save Paypal and all the shipping hassle. However, there's always the problem of having to meet, in person, a complete unknown. Some of the gear will be over $1K so I don't know if that might be a problem as well.

Has anyone had experiences bad or good with selling locally?

 

[rfaspen]

I can only relate my own experience. I have a self-imposed constraint of dealing in person, in cash, whenever possible. So, I've met with a couple RFFers over the last couple years to purchase stuff and it was quite enjoyable. I think one thing that makes it easy is you know the person you're going to meet is a like-minded individual. As with my email interactions with RFFers, my in-person interactions have been nothing but pleasant.

One of the times I met with an RFFer to purchase a lens, we met on the sidewalk and talked rangefinders for a while, then I bought the lens. I handed over a wad of cash (bout $250) and realized it looks a bit furtive (I don't want to advertise, you know). Anyway, looking around I noticed a police officer on the other side of the street, looking curiously in our direction. OH! we did look a tad suspicious! Keep that in mind...

 

[kdemas]

I've sold quite a few things in person via Craigslist. Always err towards caution in meeting, a crowded Starbucks is my usual choice.

 

[VTHokiEE]

I've bought and some some relatively speaking low ticket D/SLR items (<$300) on craigslist and local forums. I've never had an issue, but I can see how one would arise. If you speak over the phone and choose a decent venue to meet you can probably minimize your risk, but I'm not certain I'd be completely comfortable carrying around $1k... Of course paypal and ebay don't completely instill peace of mind either...

 

[shanenoir]

I have bought and sold most of my gear in-person using Craigslist. If its something more than $50, I'll meet in Starbucks, and in fact I recently bought my Canon 5D mkII in cash at a starbucks and didn't get robbed. If it is anything more expensive than that I would do the sale at a bank.

Of course, if someone gives me an odd feeling, I avoid it.

 

[pdexposures]

I buy/sell tons on Craigslist locally. So much so that I find myself dealing with the same select group of collectors pretty regularly on both the buying and selling end of the spectrum.

 

[thegman]

I've met in person a couple of times to sell things, never had a problem. Use common sense, i.e. don't meet down some seedy alley, and it'll likely be fine.

 

[roboflick]

don't be so quick to rule out ebay. I sold a camera and lens on ebay, after being unsuccessful on RFF, You have a larger population to reach, and can sell for a higher price that offsets any fees. It was easy too.
My camera went to Australia, and my lens to Taiwan, . If I limited my sale to US I would have had to accept a lower offer. It took me 10 minutes to fill out customs forms, time well spent.

Important to send it by FEDEX or UPS, so you have a signature confirming delivery. People get scammed when using USPS.


YMMV

Nik

 

[froyd]

+1 for eBay

My experience as a seller has always been positive and whenever stuff did not sell on RFF, it would always sell (usually at a higher price!) on eBay.


To the OP - I bought my M4 kit on Craiglist. I met the seller at a public place (I was carrying a bundle of cash after all!) and really appreciated the opportunity to handle the goods before forking over the money.

As a seller, I would value the face-to-face interaction and all cash deal. If there are any question or issues they can be brought up on the spot, and not result in eBay disputes or other headaches like shipping back items etc.

If you decide to list on CL, beware of the robo-spam email that usully promise a money order as form of payment.

 

[KevinS]

I've sold a few items on Craigslist, recently a flatbed scanner that would have been difficult to ship. I do get spam emails that I flag, and through experience I can spot them better now. There must be software now that they use, because I got several that had the exact same format, which included a line of text from my ad. I prefer to not reveal my email address, and call the phone # the buyer provides when possible. The guy who bought my scanner had brought thousands of slides to scan while staying near here but left his scanner at home. It was easy to tell that he was on the level when we talked.

 

[Paddy C]

Thanks everyone for the feedback.

I've sold stuff on eBay before without a problem but noticed recently that the fees seem to have gone up dramatically and I'm not sure I can offset them.

To all who have sold locally – have all your transactions been cash? I was wondering if a certified cheque might be good for higher-priced items? Or would that put me at a risk of being scammed?

I have bought and sold most of my gear in-person using Craigslist. If its something more than $50, I'll meet in Starbucks, and in fact I recently bought my Canon 5D mkII in cash at a starbucks and didn't get robbed. If it is anything more expensive than that I would do the sale at a bank.

shanenoir, so did you bring $1,500 (or whatever a 5DII is going for) in cash to the starbucks?

 

[cz23]

I sold my M9 and lenses on craigslist. Lots of other gear too. Cash, no ebay or paypal fees -- what's not to like?

It can't hurt to list it there first for a week or two and see what happens. I would accept nothing but cash for a craigslist sale. Here's craigslist's scam advice.

I understand ebay now takes 10% and paypal 3%. That's a lot, especially when there are so many alternatives.

For online selling I've found POTN and Fred Miranda especially good.

John

 

[DougFord]

I've sold and bought camera gear here using the RFF classified ads but ebay usually gets the job done. If selling, I'll list it here first, then off to eBay if it doesn't sell.
I've not tried local ads, though I've met up with individuals locally if the ebay seller happened to be local. Bought a noctilux at a mc D's and a summicron at a diner on Ventura blvd in the distant past.

 

[Godfrey]

Done a few deals in person.

If I'm worried about the individual, I require payment by Paypal, up front and prior, or at the point of sale (an iPad or iPhone with the Paypal app is a great tool for this). I've only done that two times as the items were expensive and the buyer a little uncommunicative.

But most of the time, it's been fun to meet someone who wants to buy something cool I enjoyed.

I don't know why you'd want to avoid Ebay, tho. Largest market for camera gear in the world, with the biggest audience.

G

 

[slava]

I have sold and bought in person many times with cash and with transfer.

The best way I found is that you have the money on your bank account so you can transfer the money after you checked the gear and show that you transferred the money.

If you are dealing with cash than make sure that you are in a coffee shop or some other place were are people.

-Slava

 

[hrzlvn]

Thanks everyone for the feedback.

I've sold stuff on eBay before without a problem but noticed recently that the fees seem to have gone up dramatically and I'm not sure I can offset them.

To all who have sold locally – have all your transactions been cash? I was wondering if a certified cheque might be good for higher-priced items? Or would that put me at a risk of being scammed?



shanenoir, so did you bring $1,500 (or whatever a 5DII is going for) in cash to the starbucks?

I did...and I brought 2,000..
btw, how is that possible to meet a person and trade gears at bank? Do they(bank staff) allow to do so?

 

[Tony Whitney]

Everything I've ever sold has been on RFF and I've never had the least problem.I've bought lots of stuff on RFF too without a hitch. I've never needed to use any of the other buy/sell outfits. I've always got fair prices and paid fair prices on RFF. Works for me!

 

[Murchu]

Only sell locally, if I can help it. Face to face sale, cash in hand, less anonymity/ possibility for shenanigans, and the opportunity to even form new friendships, all make local selling far superior to online, for me.

Edit: yes, always cash for me, even though as mentioned, a wad of cash in public can look a little furtive. Always meet in a public place too. To be honest, once you are sensible, and take sensible precautions just in case, the biggest issue of selling locally, is the half hour or hour, you will spend talking about photography!