Rookie Mistakes to Avoid When Selling Your Photography Gear
photo by Alberto Gagliardi via iStock
Selling your photography gear doesn’t have to be so stressful. I know because I thought it was and I made the mistake of letting my camera gear sit in a closet, getting older and losing value, more times than once.
Not to be preachy, but you’re never going to learn how to sell used cameras if you keep putting it off. Plus, with so many resale websites specifically for used camera gear, you truly have no excuses.
But, that doesn’t mean that you can create a horrible post and expect to sell your used camera gear. Unfortunately, these types of posts are the ones I see most often on camera gear resale sites.
So, in light of the New Year, figure out how to sell used gear to make some money for new gear, but don’t make these mistakes while doing so.
Not Highlighting the Flaws in Your Camera Gear
Photo by Sara Kurfeß on Unsplash
Nobody is expecting your Kodak from the 1970s to be in mint condition.
If you’re really interested in selling your photography gear, then you need to be honest about its condition, because if you aren’t, that person is going to return the gear and you’re going to need to start from scratch.
But, being honest about the condition your gear is in doesn’t mean that you can’t still take beautiful photos of it.
Take the above picture as an example. It is a clearly well-loved camera. There are scratches on the lens and sun damage on its body, and yet the photo only showcases its character.
Taking Forever to Respond to Prospective Buyers
photo by BongkarnThanyakij via iStock
Think about selling your photography gear in a different way. Think about it from the buyer’s perspective. Is there anything more frustrating than reaching out about some used gear that caught your eye and then not hearing back for a week?
In the age of Amazon Prime and same-day shipping, we are accustomed to 24-hour customer service and while I’m not advocating for this, it may be a good idea to make sure your notifications on your phone are on so you at least know when someone is trying to reach out.
The downside of our competitive market is that if you don’t get back in a timely fashion, your prospective buyer will find someone else to buy from.
You might not be a customer service rep in real life, but when you’re trying to sell gear, you need to put on your customer service hat and give interested buyers rapid responses to their questions.
In addition to being timely with responses to buyers, you also want to be sure your camera gear is as clean as possible before you list it for sale.
Not sure how to clean your gear? Get some tips for doing so in the video above by Gear Focus.
Selling Your Photography Gear With No Photos
photo byAlexRaths via iStock
My personal pet peeve is when a photographer tries to sell their used photography gear with either no pictures or only using the manufacturer’s pictures.
When you’re selling your photography gear, please use at least 8 photos of your actual camera or lens.
I’d much rather see boring product photos than no product photos at all.
I know what a Canon EOS 1-DX looks like, but what does yours look like?
Editor’s Tip: What does it take to sell your gear online? Find out some trade secrets that will help you sell your gear faster!
Being Vague in Your Description
photo by iBrave via iStock
I also hate when people write about two lines in their product description. If I’m going to spend $1,500 on a new camera body from you and you can’t bother to tell me any information about the history of that camera, then I’m going to choose another buyer.
A good product post should be between 300 and 500 words and should include information about where you bought the camera originally (whether you bought it new or secondhand), what the shutter count is, any physical damage to the camera, and whether your package is body-only or comes with any add-ons.
Finally, you’re going to need a place to post your incredible product description and that place should be Gear Focus.
Gear Focus is a used camera marketplace that is seller-focused, meaning it’s easy for you to list your gear and the most profitable place to do it.
Take their fees as a perfect example: Their seller fees are also some of the lowest in the used camera gear community at just 3.5%. That means more money in your pocket at the end of the day!
Gear Focus protects your money, too, whereas other resale websites like eBay don’t. And since Gear Focus employs seasoned photographers, you know there’s a knowledgeable helping hand when you need it (and they’re always on the lookout for scams, which is nice too).
Seriously...if you have used gear, head over to Gear Focus and see how easy it is to sell your old stuff. Good luck selling your photography gear in the new year!
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