Selling gear: Do you have the box and are you the original owner?

[tcg550]

I have plenty of photos around the internet. Neither one of the sites in that article found anything.

And they took less the 2 seconds to tell me that. How are they searching the internet for serial numbers embedded in the exif in a couple seconds?

They probably aren't. They are searching a database, built up over time.

The article said it worked but I don't think that would deter a thief from selling stolen equipment.

That wasn't the argument though. That's a strawman.

I have never had anyone ask me for a serial number nor have I asked anyone for a serial number.

I'm too trusting or others are too paranoid

You asked what questions would "trip you up" as a thief.

Both of the examples I gave are questions I would ask if I suspected an item I was interested in was stolen.

The first would require a very good explanation. "I'm using it for my other camera" isn't one, and I wouldn't proceed with the sale.

The second is just obvious. It's pretty unlikely that most thieves will give out information to a random buyer that could incriminate them.

Nobody cares about your personal sales experiences.

And nobody cares about your personal reason why you wouldn't buy.

Have a nice day.

 

[tbcass]

KEH is probably the biggest buyer and seller of used camera equipment in the US. They don't even list the original box in their top rating, Like New minus.

 

[tbcass]

In all this discussion I see no indication of how much more people are willing to pay for the box.

 

[golfhov]

KEH is probably the biggest buyer and seller of used camera equipment in the US. They don't even list the original box in their top rating, Like New minus.

you notice I said the same for BandH. They no longer use the box as an indicator of anything.

Did you pour over those ended ebay auctions? THe only two 6d ii models without a box went for the lowest prices. I know that is only 20 or thirty listings BUT I have also been buying and selling camera gear on Ebay for the last five years. ..well mostly selling. every time I sell something I do a quick glance through completed listings to get an idea of what an item will fetch. So it isn't like I am just making up the box+value thing. The 39-100 was a bit of a joke. Although as I said, BandH both USED to give credit for the box. Maybe the world is changing. If you can show me any good evidence that the box is of no value to buyers then I will buy into it. I will still save the boxes because I have room, it makes locating easy, it makes shipping easy. I will no longer say it adds value

--
Tom
Look at the picture, not the pixels

 

[golfhov]

In all this discussion I see no indication of how much more people are willing to pay for the box.

--
Tom
Look at the picture, not the pixels

In my experience, 10-40%.

And they aren’t paying for “the box”.

I don't believe that. They are paying for the camera. No way anyone is going to think, "wow they have the original box so rather than paying the $500 I was going to pay I'll pay up to $700." That defies all reason.

yes I doubt someone would pay almost 50% just for a box. That sounds absurd. Then again people are strange. Why does a washed car have more value? Why do people obsess about the paint colors in a house they would repaint if purchased? Why do people obsess about having equipment no soul has ever touched when they buy "new" ? Why do people check their eggs before purchase? Why do some people instinctively reach fro the item in the rear of the cooler? Why does the color of a package effect a buyers interest?

Logical or not some things do make a difference

Tom
Look at the picture, not the pixels

 

[Midwest]

What's with peoples obsession with wanting to buy cameras that come with the original box or that they are sold by the original owner?

Not on this site but 99% of people from CL or FB for sale groups seems to be obsessed with this and not buy the camera if those requirements are not met. If the unit works it works who cares if it comes with cardboard of it's not the first owner.

• A person who keeps the box is more likely to be a person who cares for their gear. Not a guarantee, but higher odds.
• If one buys form the original owner, it might be possible to get a sense of them as a user and evaluate claims of care. Far from certain, of course. And the more owners, the greater chance of poor handling.
• Feels more like new.

When someone buys one of my used cameras, I clean it down to getting the dust out of the corners around the knobs etc. and it goes back in the original bag in the original box with all the original stuff.

I think when the buyer opens the package it makes a much more likely to be satisfied customer than someone who gets a camera body in bubble wrap in a cardboard box.

I agree that someone who takes the time and trouble to save the original packaging for a small and expensive item like a camera is likely to be someone who also takes other time, trouble and care to keep the item in good condition.

 

[Midwest]

A person who keeps the box is more likely to be a person who cares for their gear. Not a guarantee, but higher odds.

I think this is a one of the numerous myths which constitute the photographic folklore. This is more fetishism that anything imho. A person who keeps every box of every device he has bought is simply a person who had an extension of his house purposely built to store all these boxes.

It's not 'fetishism' unless the person continually returns the item all boxed and bagged into its original state so that they keep thinking it is still brand new. That's fetishism. Keeping the box to sell with it later is entirely reasonable at a minimum.

My wife would never bother to keep the box something came in, and after she had and used the item for not very long you woulnd't want it with all the bumps and scratches it would have accumulated. While I DO use my stuff I do so carefully, much more than my wife does.

Ha......or perhaps they just buy too much gear?

Perhaps... :-D

Seriously, not even folded all of my gear boxes fit into one or two Rubbermaid bins. The big laundry basket sized ones. That is easily stowed in the bottom of a closet or attic. If space was at a premium I would break down the boxes

In absolute terms, sure, it's not a big deal. But it doubles the space needed to store you camera related stuff. If everything was like that, we would live in houses full of boxes.

I don't save the box from everything I buy, but for collectible items or small expensive items, they don't take up too much space and when / if I go to sell them I can expect to get the top dollar. People will almost always pay more for 'in box' than just the loose item. Look at the listings on Ebay - people point it out in their ads because it matters to buyers.

 

[tbcass]

I guess eBay is a special situation because they are buying sight unseen. Maybe the box gives people a sense of security. Personally I never buy or sell on eBay because the free for all nature makes me nervous.

 

[tbcass]

Another person has said they found people will pay more for a camera with the box on eBay. That is probably a unique situation because it's sight unseen from an unknown seller. Having the box might give them a sense of security. I wouldn't pay extra but other people are different.

 

[golfhov]

Another person has said they found people will pay more for a camera with the box on eBay.

A LOT of people have found that...........

That is probably a unique situation because it's sight unseen from an unknown seller. Having the box might give them a sense of security.

Various theories have been given. I am sure that it varies too from buyer to buyer about what they think the magic of the box offers. Most of us that have explained the phenomenon are not advocating anything or mocking that some people make different choices.

I wouldn't pay extra but other people are different.

Yup. Different strokes for different folks. I would still keep the boxes because it requires almost no effort on my part. I probably wouldn't advertise it if buyers no longer cared.

 

[KeithOwen]

Another person has said they found people will pay more for a camera with the box on eBay. That is probably a unique situation because it's sight unseen from an unknown seller. Having the box might give them a sense of security. I wouldn't pay extra but other people are different.

 

[Flowchart]

After having boxes of all kinds littering my place I got rid of them. (I do however save the reciepts)

 

[Mackiesback]

Another person has said they found people will pay more for a camera with the box on eBay. That is probably a unique situation because it's sight unseen from an unknown seller. Having the box might give them a sense of security. I wouldn't pay extra but other people are different.

--
Tom
Look at the picture, not the pixels

I think it's much more subtle than that...

Your description makes it sound like there's 2 options to a single sale from the same vendor...you can have the item without box for (say) $500, or you can have the item and the vendor will throw in the box for $600. In that situation, most people probably wouldn't opt for the second option, because it's obvious then that they are paying $100 just for a box.

In fact I think it's more likely to be the situation where vendor A is selling an item without the box for $500 and vendor B is selling the same item with box for $600

All other things being (apparently, as this is Ebay) equal, many people (perhaps myself included) would skip over the listing from vendor A and only bid on the item from vendor B.

Yes, it eventually amounts to the same thing (I'd be paying $100 for a box), but that's not the point. Would it make me feel I was getting a "better" item because the box is included? Yes, probably. Could I rationalise that? Probably not. Would I be prepared to pay extra for that irrational, warm & fuzzy feeling? Yes, likely I would, up to a point. Could I put a number on that? No, probably not...it's just a feeling.

It's not rational, clearly. But buying something never is rational, that's why there's a whole industry built up around advertising. There are always weird little foibles going on in your decision making, some of which we are aware of, some of which we are not. I would never, ever buy a white car, despite how close it might be to my desired model/options. I just hate white cars, and I'm aware of that. Other purchaes, I just know I'm drawn more to one item than another, even if the performance is equal, even if it costs more...and I can't always say why

You might not have such foibles over buying secondhand camera gear, but I'd wager you have others...

On a slightly different but related note (because I'm not at all sure it affects second hand camera sales the same way)....try selling a collectable toy/memorabilia/whatever at auction, and see how much more you get if it's in the original box...

There is a reason MIB (mint in box) is an actual grade for collectibles. It's huge in that market.

 

[tcg550]

There is a reason MIB (mint in box) is an actual grade for collectibles. It's huge in that market.

A used camera is now a collectable?

 

[Mackiesback]

There is a reason MIB (mint in box) is an actual grade for collectibles. It's huge in that market.

A used camera is now a collectable?

Nobody said that.

 

[tcg550]

There is a reason MIB (mint in box) is an actual grade for collectibles. It's huge in that market.

A used camera is now a collectable?

Nobody said that.

You're comparing a collectable with a used camera.

If you're not then what difference does it make that a totally different product gives a higher rating when the box is included?

 

[KeithOwen]

There is a reason MIB (mint in box) is an actual grade for collectibles. It's huge in that market.

A used camera is now a collectable?

Nobody said that.

You're comparing a collectable with a used camera.

If you're not then what difference does it make that a totally different product gives a higher rating when the box is included?

Well you could extrapolate that approach to brand new items. Why use boxes at all, why not just sell cameras in brown paper bags?

But would you buy a new item that wasn't boxed? Why are "open box" items cheaper than "sealed box" items?

The fact is some people care, even for secondhand stuff, collectable or not

 

[Mackiesback]

There is a reason MIB (mint in box) is an actual grade for collectibles. It's huge in that market.

A used camera is now a collectable?

Nobody said that.

You're comparing a collectable with a used camera.

If you're not then what difference does it make that a totally different product gives a higher rating when the box is included?

I was responding to this:

"On a slightly different but related note (because I'm not at all sure it affects second hand camera sales the same way)....try selling a collectable toy/memorabilia/whatever at auction, and see how much more you get if it's in the original box..."

Do you think the parenthetical disclaimer is enough to quell your interest in bickering? Because I have no interest in getting embroiled in one of your typical bickerfests.

It was a sidebar, nothing more. If you are not interested in it, move on.

Have a nice day.

 

[tbcass]

If I kept all my boxes my wife would object vehemently. I always keep the boxes until she asks " do you still need the box it came in".

--
Tom
Look at the picture, not the pixels

 

[By standing on the Shoulders of Giants]

I wonder if the OP and anyone else here would accept the delivery of a full priced new lens which came with a box and receipt, but without the bubble wrap.

Another person has said they found people will pay more for a camera with the box on eBay. That is probably a unique situation because it's sight unseen from an unknown seller. Having the box might give them a sense of security. I wouldn't pay extra but other people are different.

--
Tom
Look at the picture, not the pixels

I think it's much more subtle than that...

Your description makes it sound like there's 2 options to a single sale from the same vendor...you can have the item without box for (say) $500, or you can have the item and the vendor will throw in the box for $600. In that situation, most people probably wouldn't opt for the second option, because it's obvious then that they are paying $100 just for a box.

In fact I think it's more likely to be the situation where vendor A is selling an item without the box for $500 and vendor B is selling the same item with box for $600

All other things being (apparently, as this is Ebay) equal, many people (perhaps myself included) would skip over the listing from vendor A and only bid on the item from vendor B.

Yes, it eventually amounts to the same thing (I'd be paying $100 for a box), but that's not the point. Would it make me feel I was getting a "better" item because the box is included? Yes, probably. Could I rationalise that? Probably not. Would I be prepared to pay extra for that irrational, warm & fuzzy feeling? Yes, likely I would, up to a point. Could I put a number on that? No, probably not...it's just a feeling.

It's not rational, clearly. But buying something never is rational, that's why there's a whole industry built up around advertising. There are always weird little foibles going on in your decision making, some of which we are aware of, some of which we are not. I would never, ever buy a white car, despite how close it might be to my desired model/options. I just hate white cars, and I'm aware of that. Other purchaes, I just know I'm drawn more to one item than another, even if the performance is equal, even if it costs more...and I can't always say why

You might not have such foibles over buying secondhand camera gear, but I'd wager you have others...

On a slightly different but related note (because I'm not at all sure it affects second hand camera sales the same way)....try selling a collectable toy/memorabilia/whatever at auction, and see how much more you get if it's in the original box...