DEFINITION September 2019

ADVERTI SEMENT FEATURE | MPB

SAVE TIME AND MONEY WITH MPB Take the strain out of trading up with used equipment specialist, MPB

In recent years, the focus of my work has moved away from largely stills to a combination of filmmaking, as well as stills, so I have invested in lot of new equipment. I had a significant quantity of Phase One medium format photo equipment, plus cameras and lenses from Leica, Nikon, Panasonic and Olympus I was no longer using. I didn’t want the hassle of selling privately and already owned the new kit I needed. So I went to MPB for a cash sale. I filled in the online form on a Monday, and received an instant quote I was more than happy with. A courier picked up the gear on Tuesday from my home, and I got an email on Wednesday from MPB saying it had been safely received and was about to be checked. A day later I got confirmation everything was as described, and I emailed back agreeing to the sale. The money was in my bank account by the weekend. It was totally stress-free and incredibly easy and quick. I have used MPB several times now to buy used equipment from and also to sell to, and the process just gets easier and quicker. I SOLD MY OLD KIT TO MPB BY VIDEOGRAPHER, ADAM DUCKWORTH

TO A WORKING FILMMAKER, time is always money. And when you’re ready to invest in some new kit, quickly getting rid of your unwanted gear for a reasonable price is what everyone wants. A fuss-free and worry-free way of disposing your equipment – without the hassle and risk of private buyers eating up your time – means you can quickly have the cash in your bank account, ready to use for something else. That could be a new camera, lens or drone, for example. CHOOSE USED The majority of camera retailers focus solely on selling new gear, rather than used kit, so are unlikely to have the expertise to give an accurate valuation. They’d really rather not take part exchanges – and many don’t. So they are unlikely to offer a reasonable trade- in for your old gear, if at all. Selling privately can be fraught with worry and hassle, in terms of photographing then advertising the kit, then dealing with enquiries and potential buyers wanting to knock down your price and argue over the gear. It takes time, stress and could cost money in hidden fees. All things a filmmaker could do without. But there is a far easier and faster option, such as selling or buying used gear through second-hand specialist, MPB. With a base in the UK and US, MPB sells used kit with a six-month guarantee at around 30% cheaper than the cost of buying new. It specialises in camera equipment only, and the team is made up of camera experts, who inspect and check all the kit. With one of the biggest inventories of used photo and video equipment, MPB has around four times as many models as are available to buy new from retailers. From Red, Blackmagic, Canon and bestselling cinema cameras to the legendary but hard- to-find Sony FS700, plus lots of cinema lenses and all the latest mirrorless kit, MPB has a huge amount of stock to choose from. Everything is individually photographed, with lots of photos of the actual kit for sale and a detailed and honest description of its condition and what it includes. Buying used gear is the ultimate in recycling, giving a new lease of life to

IMAGES From Red to Sony, MPB has a huge amount of stock to choose from

equipment that would otherwise be left unused and replaced by new kit. And trading in products to MPB is a hassle-free process. This means the value of your used gear can be used against a purchase from MPB, or you can simply have the money. SIMPLE SELLING, EASY EXCHANGES The process of selling kit to MPB is simple, with a slick, easy-to-use new website that makes sure you get your money fast. Sellers can manage the whole transaction online, from getting a quote to booking in a collection and providing payment details. Sellers fill in a simple form, listing the gear they have to sell and its condition, then receive an instant quote. MPB then arranges tracked and insured collection of the items free from a local drop-off point, or collection from home or business on a suitable day for a small fee. MPB’s team of product specialists check the items based on 40 different criteria, making sure it’s in reliable, working condition. In some cases, quotes are adjusted up or down if items are in better or worse condition than described. The seller is always asked to confirm they are happy with the final price before finalising the sale. If they change their mind, the items are returned free of charge. The money is then paid directly into sellers banks. MPB CEO, Matt Barker, says: “Our purpose is to provide market-leading valuations on gear for sellers and the real price benefits of used for buyers, with complete safety, security and convenience.”

MORE INFORMATION: mpb.com

66 DEF I N I T ION | SEPTEMBER 20 1 9

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