Second hand lenses.. The bloody cheek of it !!!

So......
I was in a camera shop today looking at the overpriced lenses (second hand and new) and I saw a 2nd hand 17-55EF-S 2.8 for £599 (same as mine) and thought sh1t that's a it steep !! Just then the sales guy came up to me and asked can I help you... I pointed to the lens and said how much would you buy mine for in good Nick(=condition for the none UK people out there) he walked back to his sh1tty little cash machine(till) and started calculating and said to me.... Wait for it!!
"We'll depending on the condition between 300-310" I looked at him laughed in his face and walked out of the store....
So after he saw me looking at a 2nd hand lens at 600 did he really expect me to give my lens up for 300...? Of course they have to make money... But 100% markup.. Kiss my southern English arse...
Anyone else had the same sort of experience.?

Not to be an ass... But what's the problem? U expect it to be any different elsewhere?

I traded my lenses and basically got half back of what I paid for them. but I got a second hand 35L for a really good price and it's great nick (lol)
I tried to sell them on the local auction site here in NZ, but I wasted 2 months trying to sell them for $100 more than what the camera store gave me. In the end I got what I wanted.

I would prefer to keep the lens before giving it away for that price... So, I am keeping it..

Same in the US, bud. The local shop offered me $200 for my 500D with 18-55. They had a used 450D with 18-55 in the case for $450. I sold it on Craiglist.

Nick_Reading.UK wrote in post #16527685
So......
I was in a camera shop today looking at the overpriced lenses (second hand and new) and I saw a 2nd hand 17-55EF-S 2.8 for £599 (same as mine) and thought sh1t that's a it steep !! Just then the sales guy came up to me and asked can I help you... I pointed to the lens and said how much would you buy mine for in good Nick(=condition for the none UK people out there) he walked back to his sh1tty little cash machine(till) and started calculating and said to me.... Wait for it!!
"We'll depending on the condition between 300-310" I looked at him laughed in his face and walked out of the store....
So after he saw me looking at a 2nd hand lens at 600 did he really expect me to give my lens up for 300...? Of course they have to make money... But 100% markup.. Kiss my southern English arse...
Anyone else had the same sort of experience.?

Not really a surprise... 50% of the current used selling is actually pretty good from a retailer. My local one (Henry's) gives around 30%. Not really sure you needed to laugh in his face.

As a small retail business owner, it's obvious to me that the OP does not understand costs associated with owning and operating a business. Nothing against the OP, but 50% mark-up (it's not called 100% mark-up) is very fair.

There will be expenses associated with taking your lens into his inventory. It will require someone goes over it to make sure it is in good working order. It may require a cleaning and/or repair (maybe yours specifically wouldn't, but they probably encounter quite a few that do, which has to be taken into account). It will take up shelf space. Shelf space that could be used for other things that have the same mark-up or maybe even a higher mark-up. They have staff to pay to try and sell your lens. They have lights to keep on so people can see your lens. They have insurance to pay in case your lens jumps out of the display and pokes an old lady in the eye.

And that's just the start, as there are many other expenses.

Now if you laughed in my face, but two months later came back to me because you couldn't sell it for what you hoped to, I'd probably drop a few bucks off the initial quote.

But here's the thing. Nick could flog it on ebay for probably between £400-£450. Its no wonder that camera shops are dying out.

True, but subtract ebay and paypal fees, and the hassle of shipping, and some people find the extra few bucks not worth the headache.

[QUOTE=KirkS518;165279​20]As a small retail business owner, it's obvious to me that the OP does not understand costs associated with owning and operating a business. Nothing against the OP, but 50% mark-up (it's not called 100% mark-up) is very fair.

But it is 100% markup, even if you don't call it that.

From an accounting standpoint, the amount of the mark-up is 1/2 of the selling price. I know what you're saying, but it's called 50%.

xeodragon wrote in post #16527890
Not really sure you needed to laugh in his face.

It wasn't in a malicious or sarcastic way, I laughed more from shock and horror than anything else..actually The wife and I decided to keep the lens a while back, I was really just testing the water...

Nick_Reading.UK wrote in post #16527685
So......
I was in a camera shop today looking at the overpriced lenses (second hand and new) and I saw a 2nd hand 17-55EF-S 2.8 for £599 (same as mine) and thought sh1t that's a it steep !! Just then the sales guy came up to me and asked can I help you... I pointed to the lens and said how much would you buy mine for in good Nick(=condition for the none UK people out there) he walked back to his sh1tty little cash machine(till) and started calculating and said to me.... Wait for it!!
"We'll depending on the condition between 300-310" I looked at him laughed in his face and walked out of the store....
So after he saw me looking at a 2nd hand lens at 600 did he really expect me to give my lens up for 300...? Of course they have to make money... But 100% markup.. Kiss my southern English arse...
Anyone else had the same sort of experience.?

I just loved the quote....


but I think it is very similar experience in my neighborhood too
and in all types of used markets....
and I agree with that it is a problem...
but on the ther hand - I usually trust the used lenses more than those on the street...

It's like everything else, sell something in a private sale and you're likely to get more money.

Would you sell your car to a dealer or a private sale?
We all know that a private sale will give a better return, and we all know the dealer sale will be less "hassle".
We also know that the car dealer will sell your car on the forecourt for far more than he gave you for it.

Why did you expect a camera shop to be any different.
That's how business works.

PH68 wrote in post #16528442
It's like everything else, sell something in a private sale and you're likely to get more money.

Would you sell your car to a dealer or a private sale?
We all know that a private sale will give a better return, and we all know the dealer sale will be less "hassle".
We also know that the car dealer will sell your car on the forecourt for far more than he gave you for it.

Why did you expect a camera shop to be any different.
That's how business works.

Of course I know that!