I plan on buying a 50-135 any day now (Christmas present for myself
). I keep thinking I'll get one from the Marketplace here, but in the end, I know I'm going to buy a new one. Two reasons: the small difference in price and the big difference in warranty.
The problem, from a buyer's standpoint, with a used copy of a much-loved lens like the 50-135 is that the price will always be just slightly less than new. Usually around 20% less than a good internet price. That's not the OP's fault, nor is it particular to just this lens. It's always a problem with looking at the used lens market. It's obvously not a problem for everyone, because that's the kind of price the martket has settled on, so it's a fair price by definition. Plenty of people think "saving $100 is saving $100" and are glad for the deal. But when I think "a brand new one is only
that much more", it's tough to ignore that. Plus, with this particular lens, that warranty is very valuable to me in case SDM issues crop up.
So if the OP is interested in the kind of math that keeps a potential buyer like me thinking about buying new, here it is:
Your final price = $700 + $15 shipping (insured, but basic UPS ground shipping) =
$715
Amazon's final = $819.95 + free 2-day shipping (I'm a Prime member) - 3% reward points (I have their credit card) =
$795
That's an $80 difference. If I buy new, I don't enter into the risks of buying a lens sight-unseen from a near-anonymous internet persona, who probably doesn't have the gracious return policy of an Amazon or B+H. And if I buy it new, I most likely get it faster. But more importantly, the peace of mind that comes with a new lens warranty is easily worth the $80.
To the OP, I'm not trying to tell your price is out of line, because I don't think it is at all. I'm just showing you the math that may keep a buyer like me from considering your lens. I truly believe you've set a fair price on the 50-135 based on the current market. It just happens that a fair price for this lens used is more than
I want to pay.