For Sale – Maybe?

As you get older, the possessions you have collected over your life begin to be less important. Some naturally wear out, some become obsolete, and some you just lose interest in. I’ve been on a decluttering kick for more than a year as I approach the end of my 7th decade, and it has been remarkably refreshing. It’s an odd sense of starting over, of zeroing in on what’s most important. For the most part, I’ve felt very good with the choices made.

What has surprised me though is how difficult it is to re-home camera equipment and accessories. The consumer market is changing and has changed significantly. It’s been frustrating to declutter these items. Find out what I have tried and what success I have had. It might surprise you…

There were several guidelines I set to determine what would go out of my camera closet – yes, I need a whole closet for my gear collection. Part of that is because I keep all the original boxes, manuals and packing for any hardware I think I can sell in future. I’ve always felt it makes for a better sales outcome if you can provide that to the buyer. So really, I need double the space for my gear.

As I looked through it, four rules came to mind:

• have I used it in the last year?
• am I likely to use it in the next year?
• are there features or functions that make it prohibitive to use as I get older?
• would offering it for sale now result in a better outcome now than in a year or two (because of obsolescence or wear)?

On that last one, I had to do some research. There are three interesting trends in camera/hardware markets now (independent of consumer interests and independent of the stupid tariff issues of late). One is the ability (or is it interest?) of manufacturers to put out new gear. The second is the pricing strategies that accompany any releases (again, independent of the stupid tariff issues). And the third is the growing emergence of used gear operations like KEH and MPB. I suppose all of these are driven by consumer trends, but let’s set those aside for now.

Ever since Covid, manufacturers have struggled with getting new product out the door in sufficient quantity to satisfy demand. Lead times are so much longer, announcements say “coming soon” instead of “available now”, and new products are much more often incremental improvements rather than complete game-changers. A topic for another day, but it is possible that we have hit the technological ceiling and won’t see those life-changing items again for a long time. But I think as well, manufacturers are finding it so much harder to predict demand and are unwilling to invest because of it.

The second concern is that new product releases are now for the most part ridiculously priced, with the best products approaching or exceeding 5 figures. There’s always been an upper end, but there used to always be a middle. Not much anymore.

So what should someone do if they are in the market for something new? Why not turn to “something new to me” instead, and look at the used market? KEH and MPB have exploded in popularity, with even many pro photographers turning to them for their next purchase. But that also opens the door to someone like me who might have some gear to sell. Ah-ha!

I have tried online marketplaces like Facebook. You either get no reply or low-ball offers that are frankly stupid. And I’m not really interested in either haggling or in trusting that the other guy will fulfill their obligations. Meeting up in person is also a concern. So that’s not for me.

I’ve approached my local camera store, who does deal in used goods, but the only offers are for store-credit, not cash. Again, not an option for someone who is decluttering. I’ve discovered that some local boutique shops with a specific client base like film photographers will take some vintage gear for cash. But that is very hit and miss too.

I’ve also directly approached friends and family to see if there was any interest in the equipment. Even at very low prices for them, I rarely got a nibble. After exhausting all these options, I’ve even given away some equipment for free, just because I knew it could be useful to someone if not me. Didn’t do this often, but I actually felt good helping someone out who couldn’t justify the purchase any other way.

So I decided to take a look at the used gear options through KEH and MPB. Problem: neither has an outlet in Canada. Any gear deals would likely be subject to shipping costs, duty and customs fees. And maybe even tariffs! Then much to my surprise, I discovered that KEH was going to hold a series of purchasing events here in Canada this year. They decided to partner with some of the boutique retailers, along with brand name Vistek, to hold local events in a variety of towns across Canada. I ended up going to an event in Hamilton, Ontario, where KEH partnered with Belle Arte Camera, about a 90-minute drive from home.

Turned out to be a great option, as I could visit family that way too.

I’m not sure what the exact arrangement was, but the store coupled a buy-back event with KEH together with a big sales event with Sony and Canon. This small boutique store was hopping busy, and everyone seemed happy with the options they were getting for both sales and purchases. It was clear that KEH was placing some restrictions on the gear they would accept, and it occurred to me that they were relying heavily on the exchange rate between the Canadian and American dollar to ensure a profit for them. They had done their homework and knew exactly what they could bring back across the border in a cost-effective manner. Anything I had that was clearly a Chinese brand, they weren’t interested in. But I was able to sell some Canon EF-mount glass, along with some vintage 35mm film camera lenses.

The other interesting thing was that the store itself was willing to take some of my other items on consignment to sell for me. As a boutique retailer, customers were often looking for something vintage or unique and Belle Arte Camera was willing to be that agent for me. I also left some Chinese-branded equipment with them to sell. We will see what happens.

And lastly, our community has one day a year where we can leave gently used goods out by the curb for other neighbours to potentially take and find a home for. I left a few things out this past Saturday, and they were gone within two hours. Hope they make someone happy.

Totally coincidentally, I recently connected with a small business owner whose business is helping seniors with the next big phase of their lives, whether that is downsizing a home or moving into a retirement residence. She tells me stories of the challenges faced when families don’t plan and don’t tackle things early. I did not want to be one of those stories, and I think I’m doing ok with my plans. But the big thing, of course, is to avoid adding to the problem. Part of that has been easy, as it takes more and more to peak my interest now and it just ain’t being peaked. But part of it is wanting to ensure my day is full of things to do, with the associated intellectual challenges in doing them. Instead of another new gadget, I now have to tell myself to go to the closet and pick a gadget I already have. That’s been the big change. And so far, so good.