Buyers should do their due diligent in making sure they are getting a reasonable deal from 2nd hand item sellers. It is reasonable for a buyer to pay 25% - 30% off shops retail price for a latest model and 50% or more off for an out of date model. It is common for a seller to believe that it is fair to offer a small percentage or small amount off the price he bought because it was only used a few times or not even opened as they made a wrong purchase. But have they thought of it themselves, if they were the buyer, will they consider going through all the troubles of finding a used item just to save a small percentage and helping the seller get rid of his unwanted items which he refuses to take a lost.
Of course there are a small number of buyers who will measure the benefits in terms of dollars instead of percentage. So a $50 discount on used set for a $1000 retail item may look attractive to them. Especially for school students who will measure a $50 saving with the amount of things he can do with it such as having a few fast food meals, a movie show and a week worth of transport fare. It may be better to go buy brand new from a retailer if it does not take you too long to save up another $50. You get the customer service, full warranty and they see you as a VIP the next time you step into their shop.
I nearly made a mistake by assuming the 2nd hand market is always much cheaper when I started looking for some photo equipments. I did not bother to check the brand new retail price. I went to some 2nd hand shop and as I was about to purchase a used Nikon 300mm f4d (condition 7 out of 10) for $1500, I made a very lucky decision to check the retail price of a new set on my phone. I was feeling so happy to see how much have I saved from buying 2nd hand, but was shocked to see a local on-line store selling it brand new at $1400 with in house warranty.
Buyers who try to offer ridiculous low price are non serious buyers and they are wasting other peoples time. We call them "low ballers" and I like this nick name given to this sort of people.
Have we got a name for sellers who try to sell at ridiculous high price? Not willing to take a more reasonable lost for their used items. These are non-genuine sellers who are just hoping for a gullible buyer or some one who is so desperate to buy something but simply short of $200 to purchase a brand new $3000 item.
Buyers need not have to feel sorry or try reasoning with these sellers. It is human nature for some cash-rich sellers hanging on to their pride and refusing to take loses. Knowing that the item is of no use to them any longer but will just stubbornly hang on to a high asking price only to realise many years later that the item is obsolete, ceased to function properly and than they will happily throw it into the dustbin. These are some cash-rich sellers who feel good that no one has benefited from the product including them. Well...they feel good at least they uphold their pride.
Please do not believe anyone who tells you that the value of some lens hardly depreciates and will retain its value even after many years because manufacturers do not update lens model frequently. Therefore its reasonable for them to sell it to you at just a small percentage off what they bought and making you believe that you would be able to sell it out next time at the same price at no lost. In reality most of such items do not get sold. It is true that manufactures do not update lens model frequently and retail prices of lens are stable. In this case there is no point buying a used set at just e.g. 5% - 15% off. Actually helping the seller getting rid of his "unwanted junk" at minimal lost on his side in exchange for an unfair amount of benefit in terms of savings on your side.
Do yourself a favour by saving another month if you need to, and go buy a brand new set. Buyers often regret one month later after a 2nd hand purchase as they simply realised that they could have waited 30 more days just to get a completely brand new set which cost a little more and enjoy all the benefits and experience of purchasing a brand new item. Not to mention the disgusted feeling of helping someone else clear their "unwanted junk".
Of course there are a small number of buyers who will measure the benefits in terms of dollars instead of percentage. So a $50 discount on used set for a $1000 retail item may look attractive to them. Especially for school students who will measure a $50 saving with the amount of things he can do with it such as having a few fast food meals, a movie show and a week worth of transport fare. It may be better to go buy brand new from a retailer if it does not take you too long to save up another $50. You get the customer service, full warranty and they see you as a VIP the next time you step into their shop.
I nearly made a mistake by assuming the 2nd hand market is always much cheaper when I started looking for some photo equipments. I did not bother to check the brand new retail price. I went to some 2nd hand shop and as I was about to purchase a used Nikon 300mm f4d (condition 7 out of 10) for $1500, I made a very lucky decision to check the retail price of a new set on my phone. I was feeling so happy to see how much have I saved from buying 2nd hand, but was shocked to see a local on-line store selling it brand new at $1400 with in house warranty.
Buyers who try to offer ridiculous low price are non serious buyers and they are wasting other peoples time. We call them "low ballers" and I like this nick name given to this sort of people.
Have we got a name for sellers who try to sell at ridiculous high price? Not willing to take a more reasonable lost for their used items. These are non-genuine sellers who are just hoping for a gullible buyer or some one who is so desperate to buy something but simply short of $200 to purchase a brand new $3000 item.
Buyers need not have to feel sorry or try reasoning with these sellers. It is human nature for some cash-rich sellers hanging on to their pride and refusing to take loses. Knowing that the item is of no use to them any longer but will just stubbornly hang on to a high asking price only to realise many years later that the item is obsolete, ceased to function properly and than they will happily throw it into the dustbin. These are some cash-rich sellers who feel good that no one has benefited from the product including them. Well...they feel good at least they uphold their pride.
Please do not believe anyone who tells you that the value of some lens hardly depreciates and will retain its value even after many years because manufacturers do not update lens model frequently. Therefore its reasonable for them to sell it to you at just a small percentage off what they bought and making you believe that you would be able to sell it out next time at the same price at no lost. In reality most of such items do not get sold. It is true that manufactures do not update lens model frequently and retail prices of lens are stable. In this case there is no point buying a used set at just e.g. 5% - 15% off. Actually helping the seller getting rid of his "unwanted junk" at minimal lost on his side in exchange for an unfair amount of benefit in terms of savings on your side.
Do yourself a favour by saving another month if you need to, and go buy a brand new set. Buyers often regret one month later after a 2nd hand purchase as they simply realised that they could have waited 30 more days just to get a completely brand new set which cost a little more and enjoy all the benefits and experience of purchasing a brand new item. Not to mention the disgusted feeling of helping someone else clear their "unwanted junk".