How to price a lens for sale

[visiondr]

I'm about to put my Summicron 50mm up for sale. However, I can't seem to get a good handle on a fair price. I don't want to do an eBay auction (for several reasons known to all who've ever done business there) and I want my colleagues here and at P'net to have a chance at buying a great lens. I've had great success and satisfaction buying and selling a couple of items from the good people on these sites. I've looked at internet retailers for prices on the same lens in as near as possible condition, but they seem rather high. Is there some usual and customary percentage mark down from new retail to price a used lens? Of course, the condition will be accounted for in any price adjustment. 😕

Ron

 

[Ash]

1/2 to 2/3 new price, thats a usual mark-up I'd pay for an exc. condition lens

 

[Kim Coxon]

This might help. 😉
http://members.aol.com/dcolucci/a.htm

Kim

 

[visiondr]

Kim,

Thanks for the suggestion.
I've seen that price guide and have always felt the prices are a bit on the low side. I've never seen a Leica lens in excellent/Mint- condition for sale in a forum like this at those prices (except at auction). I feel that auctions are such a crap-shoot as far as quality of the goods and trustworthiness of the seller goes. To me it's worth a bit more to buy from a person who cares about photography and isn't just in it for the money and from someone with something to lose (like a reputation in a forum like this).

Ron

 

[Kim Coxon]

Estimation of value is always rather subjective. As to the validity of the guide, you could always ask Meleica, the site is his. 😉

Kim

Kim,

Thanks for the suggestion.
I've seen that price guide and have always felt the prices are a bit on the low side. I've never seen a Leica lens in excellent/Mint- condition for sale in a forum like this at those prices (except at auction). I feel that auctions are such a crap-shoot as far as quality of the goods and trustworthiness of the seller goes. To me it's worth a bit more to buy from a person who cares about photography and isn't just in it for the money and from someone with something to lose (like a reputation in a forum like this).

Ron

 

[BillBingham2]

Why not use ebay to find a price as to what ones have been sold for of late? Do an advanced search for completed items. Used to be 60 days of sales, now it's only 30, but it's another option.

B2 (;->

 

[ampguy]

take some high res pictures through the lens

take some high res pictures through the lens

and post them somewhere. I'd always pay a premium for photos I've seen taken through the actual lens, assuming I liked what I saw...

I'm about to put my Summicron 50mm up for sale. However, I can't seem to get a good handle on a fair price. I don't want to do an eBay auction (for several reasons known to all who've ever done business there) and I want my colleagues here and at P'net to have a chance at buying a great lens. I've had great success and satisfaction buying and selling a couple of items from the good people on these sites. I've looked at internet retailers for prices on the same lens in as near as possible condition, but they seem rather high. Is there some usual and customary percentage mark down from new retail to price a used lens? Of course, the condition will be accounted for in any price adjustment. 😕

Ron

 

[visiondr]

Thanks,

Those are all valid points to consider.
Any other sources of info?

 

[Meatboy]

Ron,

I am also thinking about selling my 50mm cron (current - chrome) and I monitored an ebay auction for the same version lens, with case and box. The auction was for a as new used lens and it sold for AU$1012 (approx US$760?) which was a little bit more than I paid for my lens new! I can't figure that one out?!

Tim