Originally posted by SOldBear Which way should I do as a seller: CLA the camera body, then sell, or sell the camera body as is?
The bodies are an LX with sticking mirror syndrome, and a black MX needing new light seals and mirror bumper (I can replace the light seals and mirror bumper, having done so for a dozen cameras).
The approximate costs of CLA are $160 for the LX and $70 for the MX.
Originally posted by ChrisPlatt In my experience as a seller you will not recoup your investment in the CLA.
Chris
There was a time on ebay (2003-2005) when CERTAIN Pentax, Canon and Nikon film bodies (F1, AE-1, F2, most Spotmatics, K-series, M-series, but NOT the LX - they were too expensive) could be had for a few tens of dollars, CLA'ed for around $70 and resold in the $189 area. I did it perhaps 30 times over that period. Peter Zack says he bought and sold several HUNDRED lenses and bodies and is about even on money.
Also during that time a body and some manual lenses could be bid under $100, CLA'ed, broken up and resold such that you could keep some of the lenses for free.
Doing so required a decent "product"photograph, good text writing extolling the virtues of the item and reference to the clean cosmetic and CLA'ed mechanical condition of the item.
Alas, those days are behind us.
It seems everyone who wanted a CLA'ed 60's, 70's or 80's body now has 3 or 4 and would like to have 2 or 3.