Love it or list it?

[Dante_Stella]

Big exciting news is a new house. Even better news is getting to reinstall my darkroom after 5 years (well, it is in the basement, is a disused lavatory marked "beware of the leopard"). I do know that when I go over to assess offsite storage today (this is a space for camera/photo/darkroom stuff that I need to empty, whether moving it to the new place or getting rid of it), I will encounter this:

- A lot of camera bags, mostly old-school Crumpler messengers; one Tenba Response large
- Some lovely Japanese aluminum "flight-type" camera cases (the trunk types)
- A couple of tripods (Manfrotto with Arca heads)
- Maybe my NEX-5

Is there a real point to pulling this stuff out now and listing it on RFF? I don't really have a sense about whether bags and tripods sell. RFF can be pretty hit or miss (this month it's been hits, but over time, it hasn't been great), and I don't have the space in my current house to have it sit for a month.

That said, I am in a serious purge mode right now (as if the classifieds did not make that clear) both for space-savings and to cover the cost of accelerating some renovations pre-move-in.

Ideas?

Thanks,
Dante

 

[Jerevan]

List it - you have nothing to lose.

And anything just sitting around not getting used is a waste, to my mind.

(So I guess this is maybe a note to self … ahem)

 

[cz23]

I've got a whole bunch of under $100 items that I could sell but wrestle with whether it's worth the effort. Collectively, I suppose they could bring some decent cash. But photographing them, creating listings, etc.... Inertia usually wins out.

Of all the places I've sold stuff, I'd say Amazon and Fred Miranda work best. And Amazon is certainly the easiest.

John

 

[winzenbourg]

Agreed, list it. I'm always amazed at the collective value of the items we tend to have lying around. One thing here, two there.

Before moving earlier this year I finally took the time to dig through my basement and closets to find all of the things I've been meaning to sell or donate over the last couple of years. For me it was mostly bicycle components, outdoor gear, and a few cameras/lenses. Ten craigslist posts and a few RFF ads later I had converted a bunch of "stuff" into an extra $1,100 or so (read: student loan payments).

It adds up! As a bonus my move was that much easier.

 

[Guy Pinhas]

One man's "trash" is another man's...

 

[MCTuomey]

if you're not at the point of trashing the gear (not that you should or shouldn't), and if you have the time to shoot some pix and write it up, why not, dante? i'd expect at least a few things would sell, esp if the prices are attractive.

 

[shawn]

Sell it before the Vogons arrive....

Shawn

 

[Chinasaur]

So...this is really weird this thread exists.....

So...this is really weird this thread exists.....

I just found a Konica Hexar RF (in pristine condition) with 4 Russian lenses...I thought, for sure, I had sold these years ago. Like, YEARS ago........

Also, found 2 CR-2 batteries that still had charge and they powered the camera.

Soooo....according to the "conventional wisdom" of this thread...

Do I sell it or do I keep it/them??????

 

[Dante_Stella]

My raid on the Treasure House just now yielded almost a cubic yard of bags stuffed into small bankers boxes, including what has to rate as the coolest Rolleiflex bag ever thought of (too bad the cutout for the focusing knob is for non-metered versions... but that's why God made scissors 🙂 ).

Dante

 

[Pioneer]

The Rule
Keep it and use it until the batteries run out. Then sell it.

 

[Dante_Stella]

I just found a Konica Hexar RF (in pristine condition) with 4 Russian lenses...I thought, for sure, I had sold these years ago. Like, YEARS ago........

Also, found 2 CR-2 batteries that still had charge and they powered the camera.

Soooo....according to the "conventional wisdom" of this thread...

Do I sell it or do I keep it/them??????

Wow - you came out better than I did. I'd say sell. If you didn't know you had it, it's not like you're going to miss it!

Dante

 

[Bill Clark]

Sounds like you need to buy more stuff and fill those bags and cases up!

 

[michaelwj]

We just sold a house, moved interstate and bought another. While I don't have an excess of camera gear, the amount of other "stuff" we had accumulated was insane. We had a garage sale one Saturday morning and turned it into $1000, which we then spent that afternoon on a going away party with all our friends. It was a real win-win situation.
So I say it all adds up, provided it's not a PITA selling it. Arrange it all in one photo and number the photo. With a corresponding number list with prices and condition, it'll be pretty easy. Sell only locally to save the hassle of postage.
Re the flex case: that's why God made unmetered Rolleiflex's, not scissors!
I love a good purge!

 

[Dante_Stella]

Sounds like you need to buy more stuff and fill those bags and cases up!

Right! I am trying to cut down to Fuji 645, Fuji GL690, and Leica systems. There are only so many ways I can take pictures of my kids.

But even then, I actually need to work on reducing my collection of 26 rangefinder lenses including 12(!) 50mms. Now that's I've let go of the idea of comparing every Sonnar ever, I'm going to contribute to someone else's threatened divorce! 🙂

D

 

[Spanik]

It's just a phase you're going though 😀

 

[Peter Jennings]

GOODWILL. Make someone happy.

 

[Bill Clark]

Well, so many lenses. Have you thought about donating any of them to us rangefinder friends of you?

Seriously, would it be a good idea to place a few ads here?

Some of us do have GAS!

 

[Tim Murphy]

Packing cash is way easier

Packing cash is way easier

Dear Dante,

It's probably worth the effort if you have items that are worth some coin and you price them well. Generally speaking items like that sell quickly, be it a message board, Ebay, or Craigslist.

The key is to separate the sentimental value of the item from it's actual value, and price accordingly.

On the plus side, it's way easier to move when all you need to pack is your wallet. 🙂

Regards,

Tim Murphy

 

[rhl-oregon]

I just found a Konica Hexar RF (in pristine condition) with 4 Russian lenses...I thought, for sure, I had sold these years ago.

Also, found 2 CR-2 batteries that still had charge and they powered the camera.
Do I sell it or do I keep it/them??????

If you list a Hexar RF with a standard viewfinder, I bet it will sell to one of the 4-5 people who queried about mine (still listed, about to be withdrawn)--none of whom need or can use a -3 diopter eyepiece.

Re the OP: sell sell sell what ain't getting used used used. But also consider reaching out to working/poor undergrads, especially at community colleges, and high schoolers, for whom a free or heavily discounted camera bag, lens, 35mm body etc. can make a tremendous difference.

 

[Rob-F]

It seems to me that reasonably priced bags sell very well here. Who doesn't want to try out a different bag, in the quest for the perfect one?