Any experience with Sam Shoshan?

[george_l._doolittle]

I am considering consigning some pretty valuable equipment to Sam

Shoshan. Items are to include a non-Standard, a Millenium M6 and a

.85 M6. I would appreciate your notions about his reputation. Thanks

[tom5]

Rich Pinto at Photovillage has sold some equipment

of mine on consignment. He is absolutely trustworthy

and has a low consignment fee.

[max_wall]

I have purchased several items from Sam and consider him very

reliable and trustworthy. I think he (better ask him) charges a

20% consignment fee. My experience with Sam has been

excellent.

[jay_.]

I bought one item from Sam several years ago, it was not to my satisfaction and he took it back with no hassle. His prices seem very high and he seems to have the same stuff advertised on his website and on the LUG for eons, so I'm not sure how fast he will move your items. You might be just as well off putting an ad in the LHSA quarterly classified magazine, the prices people advertise there are like they're on crack. This forum is a great place to see to it great Leica gear goes to a worthy home, if you're not concerned with getting the best possible price for it. The auction site will get better prices but then there's the risks involved.

[stephen_w.]

Sell it here, as Jay has said. Or go epay, answer 100 e-mails, deal with all the hassle for $50 more. I just use epay as a reference nowadays.

[stephen_w.]

I forgot, here it's a hobby, epay is a business.

[jerry_pfile1]

George,

 

No dealings personally with him.

 

However, in past conversations with the late Roy Moss (past LHSA president, Viewfinder editor, etc.) he spoke highly of him.

 

Best,

 

Jerry

[roger_michel]

sam is a good guy. i always check out his booth at the twice-yearly waltham MA photographica. his prices are high, however, and his stock moves slowly. i think you are much better off on ebay. i buy and sell there frequently with no problems at all (300+ transactions over several years). in fact, i sold a millenium two years ago and got $200 more than i paid for it (at ken hansen). all the talk about ebay's troubles are so overblown. i have had *many many many* more problems with dealers.

[john_a.]

marc williams had a millenium recently for sale. use this forum first, otherwise check with Rich pinto

[fotografz]

As mentioned by others here, Sam is a very good guy to deal

with. I have used him for new gear almost exclusively for about a

decade (just as good on prices as anyone else). Plus if there is

an issue he goes straight to Leica's top guys for you.

 

I also have bought a number of used items from him and will

continue to do so because there are no hassels if the item isn't

up to your expectations. He has talked me out of a number of

items with good reasoning behind his appeal. Not to many

dealers will do that for you.

 

Finally, I have sold a ton of gear through him. His commision is

fair, and while it may not move as fast as with other places, he

gets a good and fair price for you. When you talk to him he'll

advise a retail price to move it quickly, or if you aren't in a hurry,

he'll give you a higher one, but you'll have to wait longer.

 

Recently, I've found that this forum is a good place to sell things

as most members are Leica specific in their needs, or collector

habits. Otherwise, I let Sam handle it for me.

[george_l._doolittle]

Thanks, guys. I appreciate your advice. No way I would use

ebay...I've been burned there.