Question No. 1 – How is this different than buying off eBay?
Some big differences. The risk of fraud is greatly reduced for both buyer and seller, as a neutral third party verifies the equipment and facilitates the transaction. You can test the gear before you commit. There are no surprises in term of gear condition.
Question No. 2 – How is this different than buying through a broker?
While brokers do much more than eBay in terms of trying to vet customers and suppliers, the transaction is not without risk. Most brokers never actually see the gear, and it is difficult to inspect the gear before purchase. Our pricing is also roughly half the cost of most brokers! For sellers interested in a trade, we also have the means to facilitate that as well.
Question No. 3 – How does the inspection at a partner rental house work?
We highly recommend an in-person inspection for high dollar items. One of our partner rental houses will receive the gear, and the buyer will go to the rental house to inspect the gear in person. They can then pick up that gear from the same location upon completion of the purchase.
Question No. 4 – How does the lens inspection service work?
Lenses can be sent to a third-party inspection for further validation of the condition. Our lens tech partner will inspect and note any defects, project and collimate the lens, and optionally clean and lube the lens. This is offered to the seller as part of the listing and highly recommended. We will share the results on the listing and with prospective buyers. If the seller does not do so, it is an optional item for a buyer to perform prior to purchase. We facilitate the transport to and from the inspection to make sure the lenses offered for sale and the ones inspected and adsorb those costs. Payment for the inspection and any cleaning/lube are paid directly to the lens service company. These fees are not refundable.
Question No. 5 – How is payment made?
Payment must be made by ACH or wire by the buyer. This is done to avoid credit card processing fees and to reduce the risk of fraud. Payment to the seller is likewise made with ACH or wire.
Question No. 6 – What if I can’t or don’t want to travel to inspect in person?
Not a problem. We recommend a video call with a tech at one of our partner rental houses, who can show you the item, test it, and provide their unbiased thoughts on the equipment. However, visiting a rental partner is easy. Most are close to an airport, and a buyer can fly in, inspect gear, and fly out the same day.
