Introduction: Who are MPB?

Our friends at MPB are the largest global platform to buy, sell and trade used photo and video kit.

Trusted by over a million creators, MPB is the right way to buy, sell, and trade. They make it quicker, easier and safer to upgrade your kit, with every item checked by their experts and backed by a free warranty.

By recirculating more than half a million pieces of gear a year, they make secondhand the right choice — delivering better value for creators and a positive impact for the planet.

Max Smith, product specialist team leader at MPB, has been through it all when it comes to buying and selling kit. Below, he answers your questions about how the process works and clears up some of the biggest myths about selling used gear.

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So, how does selling work at MPB, what’s the general process behind it?

Selling to MPB is really quite simple.

It starts with getting an instant quote for the kit you want to sell, which you can do online on MPB. You can then book a free, fully insured collection for your gear, or you can use a local DPD drop-off point if that’s easier.

When your gear arrives at MPB in Brighton, our specialists check everything carefully. If the cosmetic condition matches your quote, we pay directly to your bank account within a few days.

If it’s in better cosmetic condition than you estimated in your online quote, we automatically pay you more. And if it’s worse, we’ll always check with you first. You can either accept and get paid, or we’ll send your gear back to you for free.

There’s a whole lot of work behind the scenes at MPB to make the process simple for the customer.

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Why do photographers prefer to sell their kit to MPB?

I think photographers sell to MPB, and also trade with us, because it’s simple, secure and rewarding. We offer an instant, fair quote, with free shipping over to us. It’s all insured, and it’s MPB that pays you, not anyone else.

Our in-house experts check every item, so it’s completely secure and you can trust your gear to find a new life in the hands of another creator. And by trading with MPB, you get free shipping both ways, so you could switch up your camera gear without spending anything at all.

But I think the biggest reason why our customers choose to sell to MPB is because it’s safe. If you sell on bidding sites and online marketplaces, there’s always the risk that someone will run off with your camera without paying you for it. MPB’s a completely different way of selling—we’re buying the camera directly from you—and I think that’s really important to photographers. When it comes to your camera gear, there’s no point taking any chances.

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Mythbusting with MPB: 4 common misconceptions about selling photography kit debunked

We also asked Max at MPB what some of the most common myths are associated with selling photography gear to them.

Here’s what Max has to say about them (and why these myths can be busted!):
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Myth 1: I’ll get a below-market value rate for my kit

When you get a quote from MPB, the price reflects what’s really going on in the market right now, with plenty of other factors like age and condition, demand and technological advances. And it’s all based on millions of data points, as well as transactions with buyers and sellers going all the way back to 2011 (when MPB was founded).

When we check your gear, we add notes about its condition, so you can see exactly why it’s the confirmed price. You’ll always get a fair and accurate price — and our expertise and checking process is what makes MPB different.
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Myth 2: I’ll be responsible if the buyer of my kit is unhappy

Once you sell your kit to MPB, it’s sold. You’re selling directly to us, so we pay you first and then sell on your gear later. You don’t even need to think about the future buyer, except that we’ll find your camera gear a new home.  
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Myth 3: MPB won't want to buy my kit because it’s too old or heavily used

As long as it’s digital and it works, we’ll pretty much always buy it from you. We handle all the models from all the big-name brands: more than ten thousand cameras, lenses and accessories.

When you get a quote from MPB, we’ll ask you to estimate your gear’s cosmetic condition: Like New, Excellent, Good, Well Used and Heavily Used. We’ll confirm it when we check your gear, along with functionality and everything else. Of course, there will be times when we can’t buy items, but we will always provide a clear and reasonable explanation as to why.

If you’re not sure if you can sell your gear to MPB, just get a quote and find out. Even if there isn’t a match on our system, get the quote anyway — our pricing team will take a look and get back to you. It’s free, after all.

“As long as it’s digital and it works, we’ll pretty much always buy it from you.”

Myth 4: I need to pay for the postage and packaging for anything I sell

Nope, selling your camera gear to MPB is always free. And that includes shipping, both courier collection from your home and dropping it off at your local DPD. You’ll just need to find a cardboard box and wrap up your gear.
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Ready to sell your used photography gear?

Selling your kit to MPB couldn’t be easier. You get a quick online quote, send your gear to them with free, insured shipping, and they take it from there.

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MPB’s specialists check everything over carefully, so you know you’re getting the fairest possible price. Once that’s done, you'll get paid. Fast. And the best part? By selling to MPB, you’re giving your gear a second life and helping keep great gear in use.

Ready to go? Get your free instant quote.