Are used prices about to rise?

[Invertalon]

I was just thinking, with Bing on it's way out July 30th do you think we will see used prices rise a bit?

I figure most of us use Bing (along with other discount/rebates) to save big money on lenses, bodies, etc... With it going away, will sellers want more when they resell their equipment?

Makes sense to me, just wondering what you guys think. Bing saved some big money sometimes, and I think that was passed down to the used market in someway. For a $1000 lens, new, you could of saved anywhere from $80-$100 average through ebay, even more if you waited for 15% or 20% from some retailers. I think part of these new savings were shown in the used market, with slightly lower sale prices. With people now paying $80-100 more for a lens at $1000, will we see the used price average rise a little bit?

[HappySnapper90]

Never used Bing for discounts. And believe it or not a lot of people still buy products from people in their home town. Internet buying is another contributor to lack of jobs.

[ImCBParker]

Originally Posted by HappySnapper90

Never used Bing for discounts. And believe it or not a lot of people still buy products from people in their home town. Internet buying is another contributor to lack of jobs.

Hopefully you are not trying to stir up the whole mom and pop vs. online seller debate. There are countless threads on the topic all leading to the evitable outcome, failure to adapt or innovate is cannot be an excuse for business failure. For a recent reference, ask Blockbuster how they are doing.

Personal feelings aside, it is a one sided debate as history has demonstrated starting with fire. New technology comes along, makes things more effcient, jobs in that industry dry up, forcing folks to adapt, innovate their brand, or fail and learn a new skill set. People get upset, complain, and fail to do anything to change, only adding to the jobless rate. The ones that do not thrive.

[HappySnapper90]

Originally Posted by ImCBParker

Personal feelings aside, it is a one sided debate as history has demonstrated starting with fire. New technology comes along, makes things more effcient, jobs in that industry dry up, forcing folks to adapt, innovate their brand, or fail and learn a new skill set. People get upset, complain, and fail to do anything to change, only adding to the jobless rate. The ones that do not thrive.

But the world has existed, until recent history, on a local economy with people making things and selling them in a rather local fashion. The outpouring of jobs to the cheapest possible factory anywhere in the world is just bad, bad news. The world cannot exist if one country performs 75% of the world's manufacturing of consumable goods, it just can't! Same goes for finding the cheapest store anywhere in your country and deciding to buy from that one which is often sending (and removing) your money out of your local economy. Spend money on businesses your neighbors run and they'll have money to spend at your place of business! Common sense!

There will be problems with employment around the world for years to come because of companies choosing to pay workers 50 cents a day in poor countries instead of wages that a worker needs to live on of say $15/hour in a developed country!

[ImCBParker]

First, no one country, including China is producing 75% of the world's goods.

I do not disagree, thus the personal feelings aside comment. You bring up global manufacturing vs. national distribution, two different parts of a product chain. Like it or not markets change, be it local, or global and new industries arise as a result creating new opportunities. One can whine about it or adapt. Again, this is not new. Ask England at the turn of the 20th century. Manufacturing will occur wherever the highest quality of product can be produced at the cheapest rate. It maybe China and India today, it could be any country in Africa tomorrow. It happens and has for hundreds of years.

As for the distribution channel, I like most, will shop locally if possible, but if I can buy online for 20% or more in savings, that is money in my pocket, period. Selfish? Yes. Unreasonable? No. There is giving back to the greater good of the community and then there is ensuring I have a roof over my head. That and I will likely spend it elsewhere at another business entity.

[dave kadolph]

Originally Posted by HappySnapper90

Never used Bing for discounts. And believe it or not a lot of people still buy products from people in their home town. Internet buying is another contributor to lack of jobs.

Ths camera shops in my little town stock nothing to speak of--the last few items I looked for--flash brackets and wireless triggers they had nothing to pick from--but they had a catalog you could look at and pay full retail for delivery in 7 to 10 days.

I don't care much for paying full retail for anything and then having to wait,

[JeffreyG]

Originally Posted by HappySnapper90

But the world has existed, until recent history, on a local economy with people making things and selling them in a rather local fashion. The outpouring of jobs to the cheapest possible factory anywhere in the world is just bad, bad news. The world cannot exist if one country performs 75% of the world's manufacturing of consumable goods, it just can't! Same goes for finding the cheapest store anywhere in your country and deciding to buy from that one which is often sending (and removing) your money out of your local economy. Spend money on businesses your neighbors run and they'll have money to spend at your place of business! Common sense!

There will be problems with employment around the world for years to come because of companies choosing to pay workers 50 cents a day in poor countries instead of wages that a worker needs to live on of say $15/hour in a developed country!

So you hope to convince people to act against their own best interests and buy more expensive goods locally vs. cheaper items on the internet as a solution?

Good luck.

[ImCBParker]

Originally Posted by dave kadolph

Ths camera shops in my little town stock nothing to speak of--the last few items I looked for--flash brackets and wireless triggers they had nothing to pick from--but they had a catalog you could look at and pay full retail for delivery in 7 to 10 days.

I don't care much for paying full retail for anything and then having to wait,

Th one time I tried to buy a lens a local shop, it was 5-7 days to get it, and I live in the third largest city in the US, and it would have been full retail. No discounts. Went online, had it for close to 25% off the next day.

I do like the local Calumet, but again, they charge close, if not all of, MSRP for lenses, which is nuts. They will get some of my wallet for an occasional accessory, but that is about it.

[gkarris]

Originally Posted by JeffreyG

So you hope to convince people to act against their own best interests and buy more expensive goods locally vs. cheaper items on the internet as a solution?

Good luck.

Well, that would depend on the item.

You can't buy your favorite cup of coffee or favorite plate of food on the Internet...

Great discussion, though. I lost my extremely well paying Tech job to overseas. Now I just work retail.

I actually love it and we are doing well. It depends on the Industry the local brick-and-mortar store is in.

Originally Posted by ImCBParker

Th one time I tried to buy a lens a local shop, it was 5-7 days to get it, and I live in the third largest city in the US, and it would have been full retail. No discounts. Went online, had it for close to 25% off the next day.

I do like the local Calumet, but again, they charge close, if not all of, MSRP for lenses, which is nuts. They will get some of my wallet for an occasional accessory, but that is about it.

Yes, as far as Calumet. I bought my bang-around used Rebel from them and it was reasonably priced. They rarely have used equipment.

But, I want a new lens for my Oly and they wanted $450 + tax, and they wouldn't take any of my old equipment in trade.

I ended up getting one used online for $310 + shipping and they're taking back my old equipment for around $200 so that amounts to $110 or so out of my pocket.

Calumet seems to only want to cater to the customers who want a new dSLR or Pros, not old-school people like me on a tight budget.

[HappySnapper90]

Originally Posted by JeffreyG

So you hope to convince people to act against their own best interests and buy more expensive goods locally vs. cheaper items on the internet as a solution?

As a matter of fact yes. Just like Yoda suggested to Luke that he possibly let Han and Leia die. It's really about a fair business field with local stores (say camera) and B&H. Local stores are selling at prices they need to in order to stay in business, pay employees fairly, and be profitable. Look at all the camera stores around and how many people they employ, and compare that with the instance if most people just ordered their equipment from B&H. The local stores would supply many jobs (through many stores) yet a volume seller like B&H would have significantly fewer employees. This is basically how Amazon now is (for books they are the seller of) - a big warehouse that just has people putting books in boxes and shipping them out. No salesmen and I bet their customer service is from India.

I've also heard that a volume seller like B&H can often sell cameras and lenses for less than local stores can buy them from the manufacturer. So who is the unfair business? A bunch of stores selling at list/retail price or the one store that under cuts everyone because they can buy 50 of an item instead of just 2? Then put yourself as being an owner of one of the local stores and see how you feel about the situation.

If you feel fine buying from whatever website can give you the best price tomorrow, but don't scratch your head and wonder why stores in your neighborhood are closing and business where you work decreases.

Lebron James in the epitome of this "me first" world we are now in and it is ugly and with no change in sight.

[ImCBParker]

Happy Snapper you realize that is a losing cause right? Local stores could innovate, but many do not. B&H was a mom and pop store at one point. As was Adorama, Abe's, etc. On a different scale, so was Amazon. You are faulting them for being innovative and growing to the point where they are successful and the mom in pop in your town cannot compete with them because they chose to sit on their laurels?

I do not know anyone with a sense of business that is scratching their head when a local mom and pop speciality store shuts down. Is it unfortunate? Absolutely. Do I feel bad for companies like them or a company like Ritz? Absolutely not. Bad/stale business is bad business regardless of scale. And guess what, the store is filled with another store shortly after they shut down.

You have the right to spend more locally while others will spend less at one store and use the savings at another, or hopefully save. I admire your commitment to your local stores and you apparently have the resources where saving additional capital for life events is not a factor. Most folks need to save where they can with the rising costs of living including education.

gkarris, sorry to hear of your job loss and I am glad things are working out for your with your career change.

[ImCBParker]

Invertation, I doubt prices will rise. Bing really is not that popular a program to have a significant impact to the market place.

[gkarris]

Originally Posted by ImCBParker

gkarris, sorry to hear of your job loss and I am glad things are working out for your with your career change.

Well, thanks....

So many strong opinions on this.

I do try to buy locally as that's where my paycheck comes from.

But you DO have to earn it by giving a great product and value-added customer service.

I sold some goods where the person decided to buy from us instead of online since they got excellent service and got to try it out before buying.

If they decide to buy online, that's their right. I have heard horror stories of people buying stuff online though.

I bought an out-of-print book online and when I got it, the pages inside were all messed up. Was able to return it though, but I'm still without one.

[ImCBParker]

Yeah, people do have to be cautious when buying online. If they are not buying from a reputable place, just like in person, they can have a bad experience. I think most are like you and try to buy locally, but when the difference is so dramatic, there is almost no choice for many.

You hit on a great point, service. Key differentiation in a company's ability to survive. Granted not every high service company will survive if their price model is out of line, but those companies that have a competitive pricing structure in their community and deliver great service are more likely to succeed.

[HappySnapper90]

Originally Posted by ImCBParker

Happy Snapper you realize that is a losing cause right? Local stores could innovate, but many do not.

Consider this. How or would you even start a business when looking around that there are a couple of well established internet websites selling a good volume for 25% to 35% below list price? 25% to 35% below the price you would have to sell the same items for (in order to cover your costs, pay employees, and yourself)?