Lighting/e-bay

[CaseyScofield]

Has anyone had any luck buying off-brand lighting equip. from e-bay? As always, I am on a budget and it looks like one could get 3 soft-box lights, stands & all of $250-$300...

what-dya think?

[smittymike19]

Has anyone had any luck buying off-brand lighting equip. from e-bay? As always, I am on a budget and it looks like one could get 3 soft-box lights, stands & all of $250-$300...

what-dya think?

you get what you pay for...post a link so we can see. does that include the actual flashes too? if so, they must be pretty cheap in quality.

[mjordan]

Also, know the new prices of any equipment you are looking at if you bought it from a known equipment source (like B&H). Some people try to sell used equipment for new or higher prices on places like e-bay. If you can buy good equipment used and save $100 or more, it is probably worth it. But if you are buying used and only saving $20 or less, you would be better off buying new. And make sure and look at what the sellers on e-bay are charging for shipping. Shipping on many items are way over charged, which is a way for the sellers to make up any low prices. I've had heavy cast iron items shipped across country by UPS cheaper than what some sellers charge to ship something that weighed only a pound or so. Paying a few dollars more than the actual shipping costs is one thing, paying double or triple (or more) what it costs to ship it is a rip off... unless it's fragil and takes extra care in packaging.

Mike