THRIFTER was left “trembling” after breaking one of their own rules for this important score.
A Redditor recently posted on the r/thriftstorehaul forum to show off the old camera they bought for a surprising price at Goodwill.
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/Tagwagthe original poster purchased a Rolleiflex 80mm 2.8f Planar film camera for $350 with the intention of making it a “family heirloom”.
To purchase the item, they first had to overcome one of their first rules of saving.
“I’m normally against spending more than $100 at a thrift store, but I didn’t hesitate. I look forward to making this a family heirloom,” they wrote.
Accompanying the post is an image of the vintage camera, in visually perfect condition.
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While the sentiment behind the camera purchase was reason enough, the poster soon discovered that his investment was monetarily worth the risk.
“Depending on condition, worth between $1,500 and $3,000,” the poster shared in the comments.
Based on Redditor research, the camera would fall in the mid-range for that quote, but they still plan to keep it in the family.
“By my estimates, this camera is worth around $2,000 or more, but the memories it will bring will be priceless,” they added.
RESELLER RULES
The poster is a reseller, which means he scours thrift stores for items he can buy cheap and sell for high.
While many people have debated the ethics and morals surrounding this income stream, one thing is certain; it is profitable.
For /Tagwag, they follow two main rules when buying to sell, to ensure they don’t get overwhelmed with junk and also to moderate how much they buy to resell.
“I set a standard for making a profit. I have no problem with someone paying a higher price than me”, they explained before releasing the rules.
“I only care if it’s one of two things: 1. Something I want for myself; 2. Something you can profit from,” they said.
The Redditor explained how this specific purchase fell within their rules.
“This camera falls into categories 1 and 2. But since I want it, I’ll keep it!” they wrote.
“I usually see things that don’t fit into either category for me and that’s what stops me from buying them.”
Some users challenged the poster, warning them about the item being priced so high, as the value of the vintage camera can be fickle.
“You need to be careful with these things. It’s worth a lot of money in good condition. But the minimum goes up to $250 for a dead/parts unit,” shared one user.
But little do concerned commenters know, the poster is actually well-versed in the world of camera reselling, having been in the business for two years.
“I have been buying and selling film cameras for 2 years, so I am quite familiar with camera diagnostics,” he added.
He then explained his thought process when purchasing this specific camera and evaluating its value.
“I was able to assess that this camera had greater parts value due to its physical condition, which is why I initially purchased it,” they wrote.
“When I discovered it worked, I decided to keep it because it has more value to me,” they concluded.
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