Selling used camera gear through MPB: a first-hand account of the process, from instant quote to final payout. Plus the non-photographic accessories that never leave my camera bag.
Hi Gavin, thanks for this useful information. I myself have some photo gear that I don't use anymore, like my trusty 6D that I used at the 2015 "Beyond the frame workshop" and several lenses. Everything is in good condition on my side too. I just have one question: is MPB active also in Thailand? Best regards, Pierre
Hi Pierre, your 6D will have some good memories attached to it, no doubt.
Yes, I'm pretty sure MPB trades internationally. If you go to the MPB website and select "United States and Rest of the World", you'll be able to get a quote. To check, you should see United States as the location at the very foot of the page.
I thought about sharing my own experience with MPB, if any of your readers is also interested. When I sold all my Fuji kit I consulted MPB on quotation. In the end I sold everything personally except for one lens, for almost 2x as much as MPB would give me. That one lens, they offered 1/3 of the cost for a brand new one. I had bought it for 2/3 in mint condition.
Everything else was done as you described. They sent the info to be attached to a card box that, of course, it’s at our expense, and courier picked it up at my home. It was seamlessly and very quick. Of course, that also accounts for the low cost they offer.
I think it may be good for second hand cameras since I hardly trust people I don’t know with cameras. Lenses are easier to test with the seller. In any case, the cost of their second hand gear is almost as much as brand new, so I’m not sure if I’ll ever buy anything from them.
For those that live far from a city, it may well be harder to sell or buy second hand gear, so it may be a good solution.
Regarding gear, yes, my vision is that it matters, a lot. It can be a difference between getting or not getting the image. It’s very far from black or white and there are thousands of situations where gear indeed makes the difference. I won’t enter that debate 😆
Thanks, Ruben. I think you're right, convenience is a big part of what attracted us to MPB. Of course, it's always possible to go in search of a better deal if you have the time and inclination but for those who want a hassle-free way to trade camera gear, MPB proved to be a perfect solution for us.
As for not entering the gear debate, I think you already have. And as you succinctly put it, "there are thousands of situations where gear makes the difference." End of debate 😁
I always have in my camera bags a plastic bag with which to cover the camera I'm using, in case of rain, and a flattened partial roll of TP...just in case. :-D
I really relate to the emotional side of the meaning of the equipment. For years I lugged around backpacks with Nikon bodies and other gear. When I finally sold the film bodies (2) and the lenses (11, of which I kept 2), it was traumatic, even though they had sat dormant while I spent a 5-7 year period using a series of high-quality little cameras - about 28-80 zooms, RAW capable - including some wonderful little Ricohs, an Olympus (XZ-1?), and others. I think of it as my "haiku" period. Eventually I missed the good glass, and though I intended to go to 4:3, the image quality of Fuji took me there. I now have two FujiFilm bodies (XE-2 and XT-30), two zooms, and two primes that are what I mostly use - 24 and 85 equivalents. FujiFilm is worth a look in case Tun is shopping.
The "Haiku period" is a nice way to frame the use of less cumbersome kit.
Mrs G will be looking for a Haiku solution. I've been trying to persuade her that a Leica D-Lux 8 would be ideal but she's yet to be convinced. I expect she might continue to use her phone to make photos I wish I'd taken 🙄
Hi Gavin, thanks for this useful information. I myself have some photo gear that I don't use anymore, like my trusty 6D that I used at the 2015 "Beyond the frame workshop" and several lenses. Everything is in good condition on my side too. I just have one question: is MPB active also in Thailand? Best regards, Pierre
Hi Pierre, your 6D will have some good memories attached to it, no doubt.
Yes, I'm pretty sure MPB trades internationally. If you go to the MPB website and select "United States and Rest of the World", you'll be able to get a quote. To check, you should see United States as the location at the very foot of the page.
https://www.mpb.com/en-us?utm_source=beyond+the+frame&utm_medium=eblast&utm_campaign=mar:us%7Ccam:content26%7Csc:par
I thought about sharing my own experience with MPB, if any of your readers is also interested. When I sold all my Fuji kit I consulted MPB on quotation. In the end I sold everything personally except for one lens, for almost 2x as much as MPB would give me. That one lens, they offered 1/3 of the cost for a brand new one. I had bought it for 2/3 in mint condition.
Everything else was done as you described. They sent the info to be attached to a card box that, of course, it’s at our expense, and courier picked it up at my home. It was seamlessly and very quick. Of course, that also accounts for the low cost they offer.
I think it may be good for second hand cameras since I hardly trust people I don’t know with cameras. Lenses are easier to test with the seller. In any case, the cost of their second hand gear is almost as much as brand new, so I’m not sure if I’ll ever buy anything from them.
For those that live far from a city, it may well be harder to sell or buy second hand gear, so it may be a good solution.
Regarding gear, yes, my vision is that it matters, a lot. It can be a difference between getting or not getting the image. It’s very far from black or white and there are thousands of situations where gear indeed makes the difference. I won’t enter that debate 😆
Thanks, Ruben. I think you're right, convenience is a big part of what attracted us to MPB. Of course, it's always possible to go in search of a better deal if you have the time and inclination but for those who want a hassle-free way to trade camera gear, MPB proved to be a perfect solution for us.
As for not entering the gear debate, I think you already have. And as you succinctly put it, "there are thousands of situations where gear makes the difference." End of debate 😁
Good to see Ms. Peony front and center!!
I always have in my camera bags a plastic bag with which to cover the camera I'm using, in case of rain, and a flattened partial roll of TP...just in case. :-D
I really relate to the emotional side of the meaning of the equipment. For years I lugged around backpacks with Nikon bodies and other gear. When I finally sold the film bodies (2) and the lenses (11, of which I kept 2), it was traumatic, even though they had sat dormant while I spent a 5-7 year period using a series of high-quality little cameras - about 28-80 zooms, RAW capable - including some wonderful little Ricohs, an Olympus (XZ-1?), and others. I think of it as my "haiku" period. Eventually I missed the good glass, and though I intended to go to 4:3, the image quality of Fuji took me there. I now have two FujiFilm bodies (XE-2 and XT-30), two zooms, and two primes that are what I mostly use - 24 and 85 equivalents. FujiFilm is worth a look in case Tun is shopping.
Great episode, thanks for going there.
The "Haiku period" is a nice way to frame the use of less cumbersome kit.
Mrs G will be looking for a Haiku solution. I've been trying to persuade her that a Leica D-Lux 8 would be ideal but she's yet to be convinced. I expect she might continue to use her phone to make photos I wish I'd taken 🙄