Trading down. Why do it?

[Offhand]

Why do people ask to trade up for camera equipment? At first I thought it was a fluke, but I've been seeing a lot of ads like this on Craigslist and even here sometimes. One example is a guy asking to trade his 70-200mm f/4 plus cash for a 70-200mm f/4 IS. Why would the guy with the better lens make that trade? Or to trade an older 1D Mk II for a newer 1D MkIII? Is it because people need cash and figure they can make due with a lower end lens or camera? Or just wishful thinking?

 

[davisphotos]

Beats me-I certainly wouldn't trade my 70-200 f2.8 for anything, unless somebody was trying to get rid of the IS version
My guess is mostly wishful thinking-it's very easy to post a want ad on Craigslist, and no telling how successful these folks are. On the other hand, if I was tight for cash and needed a flash, but could make due with a 70-200 f4, maybe it would make sense.

 

[Josh66]

If it's an even trade, the guy with the better gear is probably just a moron.

If it's trade plus cash, they probably just need the cash and would rather have something 'almost as good' than nothing at all.

Money is getting tight for a lot of people. It's certainly a better deal than taking your gear to the pawn shop - where you will get bent over and raped.

 

[Offhand]

That's what I figured. But it's usually the guy with the lesser equipment that posts. I don't recall seeing anybody placing an ad who wanted to trade down. Usually they just sell outright.

 

[Overread]

Well a cragslist ad costs nothing so chances are many of the ads are people changing to luck that someone somewhere wants to trade down.

 

[SrBiscuit]

people buy all this fancy **** and assume its going to be easy, and then realize they are in over their heads.

"oh no...it has too many buttons...."

 

[IDLaxStar]

I am sure they all are expecting to add cash to the trade