Data dive: MPB, KEH, and then used camera gear market

Thank you for taking the time to research and share your insights. Most of the videos I came across were "influencers" who were being sponsored by KEH and MPB. It was refreshing to come across a video that is unbiased.

This is incredibly detailed, thank you! I've used MPB quite a bit. Every time I've searched Adorama, KEH, B & H, and often even eBay the prices are higher than MPB. But when selling, it's definitely beneficial to get a quote from every site and then compare. I've bought gear on eBay before but I won't do it if a) they don't have a return policy or b) it's not from a camera seller or individual that likely used the gear themselves. Pawn shops, people who buy storage units and then flip camera gear, etc. are not trustworthy and can't be counted on to properly test and vet the equipment. Overall however, It's stupid to buy new camera gear when there's such a robust secondhand gear market, especially for DSLR equipment. The latter is a particular advantage because of the recent obsession with mirrorless kit. If you want to lower your barrier to entry into photography and be able to buy an amazing camera system, an older DSLR and three or four amazing lenses (I love Sigma Art and Tokina Opera series lenses, and Samyang makes beautiful, fast glass if you're okay with manual focusing) for half of what you would have to pay just to get into an entry level mirrorless kit.

Thanks for sharing your experience and analysis.

Under-appreciated video. Thanks for taking the time to make it.

Thank you so much for creating this video! This is very helpful to me. I'm in a position where I have WAY too much gear - GAS - and just need to scale down. I've been trying to decide between the three main routes you discuss (KEH, MPB, & eBay). After watching your video and seeing this data, I think I'll just go with MPB. I work a demanding day job, and I just don't have the time to list each piece of gear individually, deal with potential buyers for each piece of gear, weed through the scams for each listing, etc. The same goes for FaceBoook Marketplace. After seeing these numbers, you helped me put a value on my time and the convenience factor. 🙂

Wow this is such a detailed video on buying from these market places! Must watch

Excellent points. I have found sometimes what they are willing to pay depends on the level of inventory they currently have. If they are low in stock on a product in demand they do pay a little more vs an item they are overstocked on. I’ve sold a lot of things on eBay over the past 20 years. For the most part, it has been a very good experience selling and buying. I have noticed, though that lately eBay favors buyers. So if you’re a infrequent seller on eBay, your risk is higher.

Thanks for sharing your findings,very well laid out and to the point!I have found that everything you've said is quite true .In my experience , i have found that even the stores online are not forth coming about the items they list for sale , they list Grey Market items and don't reveal it as that and some only do so when you inquire about warranties. Again Thanks for an eye opening piece and hopefully you've found a honest person to sell to,I'm still lookin!!!!

Thanks for a great video, very good info. I have bought and sold a lot of photo equipment on craigslist, and everything you say in your video is spot on. Having patience and not being in a hurry is the best attitude for selling equipment.

Hopefully this will be very interesting so I have made a coffee ready to watch it.

Good luck in selling your lens. Good informative video. Iv not sold any camera gear on eBay but I buy plenty and always had a smooth transaction. Patience is certainly a key attribute and communication

Incredible! Thanks a million for this very valuable information. I'll never sell to either again. From now on, it's Craigslist for us. And we agree again: Map Camera is AMAZING!!

Very valuable video -- thanks! The economists whom I find interesting are: Steve Keen, Michael Hudson and Jeffrey Sachs.

Very informative post! I've had reasonably good experiences selling to and buying from both KEH and MPB. I've heard good things about Used Photo Pro, but have never used them. Like a lot of other posters, I 1) work a full-time job, so ease of transaction is important; and 2) prefer to deal with reputable businesses rather than individual people, since that lowers the likelihood of my getting hosed.

Good analysis. I’d say it comes down to most money, you can get as the seller versus the laziest you are or impatient to get your money. I have many of those impatient friends. They would rather sell it to the dealer right down the spot to see the instant credit. (iPhone trade in). Nothing wrong with it it’s quick, it’s easy they’re not hurting for the money, they just want to get rid of something they’re not use. It would otherwise sit there on the shelf and be given away. But absolutely, I love eBay & PayPal. It finances, my future used expenses, it’s like training.

Thanks for sharing these great insights Matthew! When I swapped end of last year my R6 & 100-400Lii for R5 & 100-500, I left my old gear at the 'local' camera shop (actually 150km away, just across the German border) who took a 15% markup and he only pays back when he find a new buyer. But in between I can always get my old gear back if I'd find a buyer on my own. I didn't realize how good a deal this was until I saw this video 😛

Thank you for this review! I am selling my 300mm 2.8II as well. I was going to sell it to MPB they are offering the most for the lens but I am so nervous about sending it to them and having that lens out there in limbo. Thank you for this insight!

Thanks for sharing your findings. Being close to L.A., I have had great success selling equipment face to face thru FB marketplace for just under fair market value. I always end up selling to the first real person willing to meet in person so I don't bother with any offer that isn't direct to buyer. Also, I always do cash only which helps weed out the scammers. I haven't had to wait longer than a couple weeks for a sale and I suspect it would be the same within driving distance of any metropolitan area.

Time needs to be (and probably is) factored into pricing too. When selling to KEH or MPB you get the money right away, and they take the burden of having money frozen on the shelf waiting for a buyer to show up. Depending on the demand of an item, it might take weeks. That might explains why the markup rate differs across different items.

I think the market for DSLRs' will drop throught the floor. But in twenty years time it will come back as people get all nostalgic! Should have sold my Nikon D3500 and lenses last year