Overpriced Empty Box for Sale

I bought an 85LII this weekend. The listing was for a mint copy, but when I inspected it the was a dust particle inside. I also didn't know that it did not come with a box... but then again, I don't often see the lens for $1400, either. So a bit of dust and no box... still worth it to me.

Nathan wrote in post #17456583
I bought an 85LII this weekend. The listing was for a mint copy, but when I inspected it the was a dust particle inside. I also didn't know that it did not come with a box... but then again, I don't often see the lens for $1400, either. So a bit of dust and no box... still worth it to me.

I wouldn't expect a mint condition second hand item to come with a box. I would only expect the box if it were specifically stated in the advert, such as Like new in Box. There is a good chance that even a brand new lens will come with one or two small dust specks inside. Unless there is a significant amount of dust inside a lens it is going to have zero effect on image quality. Stick a 20mm diameter lump of dirt on the front element and it will have an effect on the shape of the out of focus highlights, but thats about all.

Alan

I'm not too worried about it. I'm not concerned about it showing up in images... just whether it could cause weird flare.

Aus.Morgo wrote in post #17453596
People tend to think an item that comes with original packaging is likely to have been better looked after/be in better condition.

One can see the possible reasoning there. People who buy gear to use and use hard are not generally the ones to worry about the original box. Meticulous people, maybe a little OCD, who may baby their gear more or who don't use it as much are more likely to keep all the original gear.

This.

While not necessarily the case, it makes sense.

Well... I buy gear and like to have the box if I think that I will someday sell it. I do not anticipate selling the 85 now that I have it, so having a box matters not at all to me. I've kept all boxes to lenses that I've otherwise acquired. I've been glad to be able to resell those lenses and advertise that I have the box. However, that's perpetuating the symptom isn't it?

I don't baby my gear. Part of me tells me that it's still easier to sell my 70-200 with an abrasion on the metal front ring with the box than without. Does it make sense? Not really.

More expensive empty boxes for sale,

http://www.ebay.co.uk …ain_3&hash=item​19fcf689c6

http://www.ebay.co.uk …ain_3&hash=item​19fced94ff

Nathan wrote in post #17458733
Well... I buy gear and like to have the box if I think that I will someday sell it. I do not anticipate selling the 85 now that I have it, so having a box matters not at all to me. I've kept all boxes to lenses that I've otherwise acquired. I've been glad to be able to resell those lenses and advertise that I have the box. However, that's perpetuating the symptom isn't it?

I don't baby my gear. Part of me tells me that it's still easier to sell my 70-200 with an abrasion on the metal front ring with the box than without. Does it make sense? Not really.

If the box was so important to you, you should have verified that the lens came with it's box. Personally I don't give a care about a box as it just ends up in my recycle bins.

If people actually pay those prices for boxes then it appears that there is money to be made by anyone who can manufacture 'replica' boxes.

I can foresee forum threads started by worried buyers who think they may have purchased a fake box!

Incidentally, I've got a bit of a thing about keeping original boxes. I have all my camera equipment boxes, and I keep them stored in another box!

Mike-DT6 wrote in post #17469580
If people actually pay those prices for boxes then it appears that there is money to be made by anyone who can manufacture 'replica' boxes. ..

I suspect that the price actually paid is significantly less than the asking price. If you look at those listings, they have 0 bids and the 5D box sold for best offer.

gjl711 wrote in post #17469628
I suspect that the price actually paid is significantly less than the asking price. If you look at those listings, they have 0 bids and the 5D box sold for best offer.

This is exactly correct.

Folks who are not real familiar with eBay think that the "Buy it Now" prices are actually what things get sold for. This is not the case at all. Many, many sellers throw a whole bunch of stuff up for "Buy it Now", and intentionally put uncommonly high prices on those items, in the hopes that someone might, someday, actually pay that price. That is why those listings always end without a sale....and then get re-listed....again, and again, and again.

I made an offer of £20 for a 1ds3 box, my offer was turned down the minimum the seller will take is £40.....Tooo Expensive

If I threw away the box by accident, I'd leave it and move on.

One thing I'd learnt is that mending the past sometimes won't get you any further in future.

You could, offer a £20 discount off your asking price to your potential buyer, if you needed to.

Hogloff wrote in post #17469559
If the box was so important to you, you should have verified that the lens came with it's box. Personally I don't give a care about a box as it just ends up in my recycle bins.

Where did I say it was so important to me? Maybe this topic stumbled upon a pet peeve such that it momentarily impaired your reading comprehension ability. I was merely trying to explain a rational purpose for preferring a box. Thanks, buddy.

Hmmm. Years ago I sent a damaged 30D to Canon repair and ended up trading it for a 50D with the CLP.

I still have the box. Immaculate. And most of the stuff that came with the 30D body. Including the price tag on the box - $1499.

Time to post it in the marketplace...

-js

Tom Reichner wrote in post #17469639
This is exactly correct.

Folks who are not real familiar with eBay think that the "Buy it Now" prices are actually what things get sold for. This is not the case at all. Many, many sellers throw a whole bunch of stuff up for "Buy it Now", and intentionally put uncommonly high prices on those items, in the hopes that someone might, someday, actually pay that price. That is why those listings always end without a sale....and then get re-listed....again, and again, and again.

I always do an advanced search and look for the sold listings. Or indeed the completed listings, then look for the prices shown in green.

There were only a few sold boxes when I looked just now (UK), and not at ridiculous prices, but ridiculous enough for an empty box!