Question about lenses in For Sale Section

I always keep a watchful eye on the For Sale Section of the forum, for deals on used Canon Lenses. Additionally, I keep in tune with the prices of which they go for new (Adorama, B&H, Amazon).

Why do some people sell used Canon Lenses for only $5-$15 less than the new price, and buyers still buy them? These are lenses which are in-stock at the retailers.

Is a savings of $10 worth buying used?

Help me understand this...

Shhhhh! I am about to sell a lens!

One reason is to guarantee a good copy of the lens.

I think you answered your own question. the reason is that people buy them.
I have bought a lot of used lenses. However, I dont think I have ever payed a price close to that. the most in percentage I have paid for a used lens was for an 85 1.2. I paid 1600 used, when I could have had it for 1800 new. the reason was the live.com cashbacks were going on, and It ended up costing me 1400. Rest of the time I look for more than 25% savings if I go used.

thats a great question. I noticed the same thing, and to save a few bucks and not get a one year warranty... I don't get it!

As someone mentioned... because people will pay. Not much different than Ebay where some items sell for more than what you can buy a new one for. You know the saying.... there's a *** born every day.

I got very frustrated looking for a used 5D on Ebay. Except for the odd beat up one, the winning bids were just too high, imo. I bought mine from someone who put one up for sale here and on Fred Miranda.

Personal reasons as well as what has been mentioned to me:

• New York customers pay tax on J&R, B&H, Adorama AND Amazon.
  
• Kansas, Kentucky, New York, North Dakota, and Washington pays tax on Amazon.
  
• Canadian buyers attracted by the exchange rate.
  
• 5-year-old lens that's sharp is better than a brand new copy that produces soft images. IMHO
  
• Someone who has used the lens for a year or more will note anything defective or abnormal about the lens, especially defective issues that are slight and nuanced.
  
• It is unlikely to highly unlikely that a lens that has been "tested" for a year by the first owner will suffer issues after the warranty expires.
  
• Time, loss of lens during RMA or warranty replacement process if I were to buy new and realize lens is defective or soft.
  
• Rebate hassles
  

Are you comparing the lenses that are on sale (with rebates applied)?

Also remember that the posted/ listed price in not necessarily the actually sale price. All negotiations MUST be handled by PM or email, which the average thread viewer in not privy to.

I have bought my lenses on POTN and have found great deals, they are there if you are patient. They might be snatched up quicker that others though. I also 2nd the negotiating within PM's.

I bought a used 24-105L on POTN because the new copy I looked at in a local camera store was back-focusing. I also read of other people having problems with new copies of this lens. Before I bought the used one, I had the owner send pictures taken with the lens and ensured he would refund my money if there was a problem with the lens when I received it. The lens turned out to be razor sharp and I haven't had any problems with it in over 2 years of use as my main lens. I happened to have gotten a good deal as well, but that wasn't my motivation for buying used and all my other lenses were purchased new. In this case, I would have paid close to the cost of a new lens if I had to, just to make sure I got a sharp copy.

Lens descriptions by sellers are highly subjective. One man's "tack sharp" is another's mediocre, yet buyers still engage in magical thinking - somehow believing that if someone on a Buy and Sell forum says a lens is sharp then they are getting a better deal than a warranteed lens from a manufacturer.

I've occasionally had Canon recalibrate a new lens under warrantee. I've also occasionally bought a used lens that didn't live up to its description - and just had to live with it.

Barnum had the right word for folks that pay near new prices for used lenses.

vachss wrote in post #8162266
Lens descriptions by sellers are highly subjective. One man's "tack sharp" is another's mediocre, yet buyers still engage in magical thinking - somehow believing that if someone on a Buy and Sell forum says a lens is sharp then they are getting a better deal than a warranteed lens from a manufacturer.

I've occasionally had Canon recalibrate a new lens under warrantee. I've also occasionally bought a used lens that didn't live up to its description - and just had to live with it.

Barnum had the right word for folks that pay near new prices for used lenses.

Errors aren't just in the lens, but often a combination of the lens and camera. What is soft for one may be sharp for another and vice versa. With micro-adjustment bodies, this becomes less of an issue.