Closed Camera Store

THAN THE SWORD · 10-24-2009, 03:41 PM

I have stumbled across a old camera store that has closed.

There is a sign in the window stating that all they have left is vintage or antique camera gear. Peering into the windows I could see lots of Polaroids, enlargers, dark room equipment, lenses, books etc.

They have a number I can call to make an appointment to buy whatever stock I want.

What should I look for? My ideal plan is to find a good lens or two for myself and then sell whatever else I can on eBay to make a profit, or a least enough to pay for the lenses.

What would be on your shopping list?

Anybody want to invest?

*felixkh* · 10-24-2009, 05:37 PM

We need to know what type of lenses there are in the first place before we can advise you on the next step.

Cheers on the great find.

*StevenVH* · 10-24-2009, 06:14 PM

Yeah, could be a good find. I'd have a look on ebay for ideas, but you really need more info about exactly what they have left.

gl

Barnster · 10-24-2009, 11:21 PM

Mate,if it's got the name Pentax on the camera gear,especially the lenses,grab them before someone else does.

*ChrisPlatt* · 10-25-2009, 11:01 AM

I have shopped at going out of business sales. I felt like a vulture preying on the corpse of someones livelihood.
But planning to parlay it into personal profit is a twist I have never imagined even in my most cynical dreams.

Chris

*Ratmagiclady* · 10-25-2009, 11:23 AM

Yeah. Pity to hear that. I often think that if I hit the big lottery I might just buy one of those old camera shops and see if it could break even and employ a person or two... Otherwise just preserve the institution so to speak. Teach some classes, and of course get to play with cool old stuff.

I wouldn't feel *too* guilty about reselling, (Try here!

) as long as you give a fair price: the store-owner probably needs the money. (Of course, he could Ebay, too. Maybe with some help. You could tell him that. What he doesn't sell is likely to end up going in a big lot for pennies on to the dollar, anyway. )

figmental1978 · 10-26-2009, 01:12 AM

I don't see anything wrong with the OP's idea. If the owners were business savy, they would be doing the same thing by selling the gear on line through ebay or forums such as this.

*reeftool* · 10-26-2009, 01:42 PM

Originally Posted by ChrisPlatt

I have shopped at going out of business sales. I felt like a vulture preying on the corpse of someones livelihood.
But planning to parlay it into personal profit is a twist I have never imagined even in my most cynical dreams.

Chris

I know it's sad to see camera stores close but you shouldn't feel guilty buying the stuff up, especially if you intend to use it. Think of the alternative...if they have to leave the building then the unsold stuff may well end up as salvage and someone will buy the lot of everything for next to nothing and make big profits. That's the way a lot of professional Ebay sellers get their stuff.

*pxpaulx* · 10-26-2009, 01:52 PM

Originally Posted by reeftool

I know it's sad to see camera stores close but you shouldn't feel guilty buying the stuff up, especially if you intend to use it. Think of the alternative...if they have to leave the building then the unsold stuff may well end up as salvage and someone will buy the lot of everything for next to nothing and make big profits. That's the way a lot of professional Ebay sellers get their stuff.

I agree completely - I bought a lot of things when ritz was closing nearby. I found a couple of panasonic L1's with their kit lenses going dirt cheap and bought them both; I actually tried keeping one (the 2x crop is nice for telephoto) but it was just too much - ultimately I did make some money (and sold things at reasonable prices) but that was how my signature grew - without them closing I would probably be still be with the 16-45, 55-300 and the fisheye (not bad either, but I am in another world with the 50-135, so happy I was able to get that lens).

*waqas* · 11-03-2009, 09:51 AM

As suggested above, check ebay prices, not current or "Buy it now" prices for items that haven't sold yet, but look at the past month for the prices that the stuff has actually been sold at. Take into account 3% Paypal fee and some 8% ebay fees and shipping cost.

*stl09* · 11-05-2009, 04:29 PM

Have you checked into what the store had in stock yet??