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For professional photographers, cameras and lenses are tools of the trade—not baubles. When a particular system no longer fulfills their needs, they switch or fortify their arsenal by adding the brand that delivers. They don't always need the latest and greatest; in fact, an established, time-proven setup is often the preferable option. Equipment that is seldom used is a debit, not an asset.

Passionate amateurs have the same gear options and generally the same motivations. Furthermore, recent research from MPB, the largest online platform to buy, sell and trade used photo and video gear, reveals the US population is hoarding $650 billion worth of devices they don’t use. And bear in mind that older tech does not improve with age. It has a shelf life. It's fish, not canned green beans.

According to the survey, the average US adult is sitting on $2,459 worth of unused electronics including cameras, phones, smart tablets, TVs and more. Wow! That's a surprising statistic, but it's also very good news, because you can quickly and safely convert idle tech into gear you'll use daily.

Of the 13,000 adults surveyed by MPB alongside research provider CINT, two-thirds feel that the cost of technology is too expensive. Furthermore, consumers say the reason they haven’t sold an unused piece of tech is that they don’t think they’d receive much money in return, or they imagine someone close to them might need it one day. While these concerns are understandable at some levels, it doesn't have to be this way. There are more secure trading partners who close the confidence gap.

Above photo ©KELSEY BOOTH via Unsplash

Make Informed Decisions
Buying, trading and selling at MPB.com means zero blind alleys and no unfulfilled expectations. When you sell to or trade with MPB you know the value of your gear upfront, because you can obtain a free instant online quote. If you like the deal, MPB pays for shipment, including the pick-up from your house. If you're trading in and have picked out something you want to buy, MPB freezes that item until you finalize the transaction.

Expand, Extend and Enjoy
Switching systems doesn't necessarily mean scrapping one brand and jumping to another. It can mean extending your reach and capabilities by adding a smart drone, GoPro-like wearable video device, or a one-off camera body that melds better with a much needed lens for a specialized application, something like astrophotography or whatever new direction your photo or video storytelling passion takes you.

Pay Less, Maybe Even Zero
One thing is for certain: trading in means paying less. On average, customers earn $900 each time they sell to MPB. MPB's dynamic pricing engine regularly analyzes the market to ensure you are receiving a fair price. Purchasers typically pay 33% less than new.

Sell Outright
Don't want to trade up? Rather just convert some unused hardware into cash for the holidays or maybe a stimulating 2024 vacation? No problem. You get the same deal from MPB whether you're trading in or selling outright.

To Heck With Selling, Buy Some Fantastic Used Gear
Shop MPB and select from one of the largest assortments of used gear to expand your current system or test new waters. You can buy from MPB with total confidence for several reasons.

To start, MPB enjoys an Excellent Five Star rating on Trustpilot with more than 31,000 reviews from photo and video storytellers like you.

Browse MPB's extensive catalog of used gear which includes DSLRs, mirrorless marvels, lenses, drones, video gear and popular accessories. The camera or lens pictured in every MPB listing is the actual item you receive. All included accessories are clearly listed. Every camera and lens sold by MPB undergoes a thorough 8 to 10 point inspection process by a trained specialist and is covered by a six-month warranty. If you find the item your receive isn't as described, you can return it free for a full refund within 14 days of arrival.

There's no guesswork; MPB uses a simple five-point condition rating system. The condition ratings are: • Like New - unboxed, unused or lightly used • Excellent - minimal signs of wear, otherwise pristine • Good - fair amount of use, but well-kept • Well Used - significant use, signs of normal wear and tear • Heavily Used - clear signs of wear and tear, still works.

As a shopper, odds are excellent that you'll find exactly what you're looking for at MPB. If you don't find it on your first pass, check back in a day or so because the inventory changes literally by the minute. MPB adds more than 2,000 products every week.

In fact, MPB recirculates more than 500,000 pieces of photo equipment every year and has hundreds of cameras, lenses, drones and miscellaneous equipment items in stock. Lumping all the photo and video gear together, MPB has more than 16,000 pieces of equipment in the US and over 47,000 globally.

Do More in 2024
Picture yourself driving a new system as the new year dawns. Glide into a full-frame mirrorless or slide up to the beefy DSLR you lusted after — but just couldn't afford — when it was introduced a couple years ago. Life is short; photo ops magically appear and tragically vaporize when no one is there to capture them. Revitalize your equipment closet with gear that brings you more photographic success and greater happiness in the upcoming year of good fortune and prosperity, the zodiac Year of the Dragon.

∞ Shutterbug Staff