Used-camera Dealings

[P3D Paul S. Boyer <boyer@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Greg Kane asks if I checked conditions of the stereo cameras in my
latest "market report."  Yes -- but I didn't wish to burden our
readership with all the details.  Greg's comment on the ethics of
many dealers is unfortunately true.  Anyone buying used cameras
should be prepared to deal with sleaze.  For example, the dealer
with the well worn Rolleidoscop said, when I mentioned that there
was another one at the show, "Yes, but mine is in better condition."
That was plainly a lie: the other one was almost mint.

I like Greg's approach when dealing with these people: let them
talk to you.  It is not necessary to let on that you already know
probably more than they do.  If you listen politely, you have
a better chance of learning whether the dealer is giving you
straight information or not.  I also do not myself believe in
bad-mouthing the merchandise, particularly by exaggeration,
for that is no more honest than what some dealers are trying to
do for their part.  I play it perfectly straight, and often express
my admiration for the camera if it deserves it.  Just remember
that the final decision to buy or not lies with you.

I think that many of these dealers overprice their merchandise, and
are waiting for the novice buyer to come along and pay close to
asking price.  $345 for a Colorist I is about double what anyone
should pay, and yet when I made an expression of surprise at the
high price, the dealer said, "What you think doesn't matter.  That's
the price."  He is correct in that he doesn't need to sell to me,
for his game is to wait until eventually someone unfamiliar with the
market stumbles along and he reels in his catch.  That is one reason
why I think that it is good to let people know what various
asking prices are around the country, so that we will not
find new-comers unwittingly and unnecessarily inflating
prices.  If prices are unrealistically high because of dealers'
preying on the uninformed, the hobby becomes too expensive
for many, and it may begin to be a speculative investment game.
Also, a novice who finds that he has overpaid will feel bad about
his purchase and (by association) about stereo; and also he
will have less money left for other stereo accessories.

By the way, quality varied at the Meadowlands.  The Busch
Verascope for $1000 was in almost new condition; the Kodak for
$75 was covered with grunge - not even superficially cleaned off.
The Realists were in good shape, especially the one with leather
case and original (unscuffed) cardboard box.

If there are any beginners out there, I would advise that the
Realist is still probably the best buy for a used stereo camera.
It is rugged, dependable, and easier to repair than many of the
others.  It is also common enough to be well known, so that one can
usually get advice on its care.  I expect that many Realists will
still be in operation 100 years from now.

--Paul S. Boyer   <boyer@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>


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