Selling photographic gear in the UK

[Dralowid]

Where would you sell equipment in the UK? Preferably straight or commission sale. I have a few bits of Leica stuff that need a new home and would like to try a different avenue. I don't want to ship abroad, particularly to the US, I've had bad experiences with that.

 

[Miles.]

As a buyer I’ve found Peter Loy to be an upstanding camera dealer. Seems they buy and consign, too.

 

[Muggins]

From thread on other forums (no-one else would buy my collection!), Ffordes have a good rep too. I have bought from Mifsuds, but again never sold.

 

[joe bosak]

mpb just do straight sales/purchases/part exchange; part exchange does not affect values. Very straightforward and usually fast and efficient, they pick up for free using DPD. Be aware that they knock money off if they find you only have third party batteries (ie pay you less as they don't want them... they sent mine back for my M8) yet they sell some cameras with third party batteries.

Ffordes buy outright, part exchange or sell on commission; you get more for p/ex and more again for commission sale. With digital cameras they often charge for sensor cleaning as part of the deal, and they don't do free pickup.

Either will do free quotes. Any other dealers I tried offered peanuts by comparison.

 

[Dralowid]

Thanks for the suggestions. The chap who normally buys from me direct has stopped or at least has his GAS under control. I've become annoyed with Ebay or at least one or two people on it. Last year I sold a very nice black converted Leica II body for £400. I shouldn't complain, that was what I started bidding at. Someone bought it for £400 (1 bid only) and two days later it was up on Ebay again for £800. It sat on Ebay for months and has now gone, no sign of a sale.

Now, since I sold the camera for my asking price and since the purchaser appeared not to sell it for his asking price it is absolutely nothing to do with me but surely I should be experiencing a touch of schadenfreude.

Instead I am a little annoyed...maybe I am getting old.

 

[joe bosak]

Well, such things happen, you can't blame people for trying to make a bob or two. Also annoying as a potential buyer to see (for example) a Ricoh GXR lot to sell at £500 and then get relisted by the buyer over and over at £1100-1200 🤣.

 

[rulnacco]

Three suggestions, particularly if you're in or near the London area.

First, I would definitely recommend calling up Paul Roach of the former High Street Radio and Photographic in Croydon. Sadly, his father, the legendary Reg Roach, passed away last year and the shop no longer exists in brick-and-mortar form--a true loss to Leicaphiles in London--but Paul actively buys and sells online (and he'll be happy to meet with you to examine your gear and work out a deal). Very trustworthy gentleman, I've bought many things (M3, M6, Hasselblad, Rolleiflex, etc., etc.) over nearly two decades from him, and have sold/traded things with him and his late father on many occasions.

I'd actually, given my long relationship with him and personal knowledge of his business practices and expertise, call Paul first if I were selling something myself (and in fact, he's got a 90mm Version II Summicron of mine now that he's offering).

I can also highly recommend Aperture. I've bought a number of things from them, although mostly in terms of film and processing, and they're highly expert, honest, and reasonable. They have three branches, the shop on Riding House Street is where they handle Leica gear.

If that doesn't work out, you might also try Red Dot Cameras in London. They have a very good reputation as well, although I've never traded with them as I was always able, when it came to Leica gear, to find a much better deal on the things I wanted from Reg and Paul.

 

[p.giannakis]

For anything below £100 I sell on eBay. For more expensive than that I use Ffordes as others have suggested.