Adorama and the infinite let down.
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Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Fred,
I'm bad like you. LOL.
I also would like to brag about my latest score which is a black paint 35 Cron ASPH in "LN-" which I paid less than the price of a brand new regular new production black version of the 35 Cron ASPH.
Consider that only 1,000 of these Millenium lenses were made, and to my surprise I would rate the lens I just bought "LN." The focus is still stiff like a factory fresh lens.
I was also surprised that it came boxed because it was not advertised at KEH that way. For you whinners: my only complaint that the little instruction booklet and inspection card were missing. Oh-well.
Understand that I left Long Island because I think that it is a place full of whiners. Some researcher actually quantified that people from Long Island on average whine five times more than the national average. Anyways I left Long Island to get away from all that whinning. Repeatedly I have again and again gotten remarkable deals on killer equipment from Adorama, B&H and KEH so you don't hear me complaining. Anytime I was disappointed I took advantage of their no questions asked return policies. Basically I find whinners to be unhappy people, and I wish they would embrace a more positive attitude.
I also wish they would stop attacking people who treat me with great respect and people I consider my friends. I wonder if people really get what they deserve. Are people getting treated badly because they are jerks? Sometimes people get what they ask for. LOL.
Cal
dasuess
Nikon Freak
I know we're talking about Adorama and it's grading of used gear, etc - but I just want to say that I've been happy with the online used lens purchases I've made through National Camera here in Minnesota.
I'm currently on a buying binge of used MF Nikkor lenses, all non-AI, to use on my recently purchased Nikon Df (also bought at National Camera, but over-the-counter). I just bought another one this morning, a 180/f2.8. So far I've purchased a 28/f3.5, 105/f2.5 and a 200/f4 - in addition to the 180. Their grading has good and when the lenses arrived, I got what i expected.
Also a shout-out to John White at aiconversions.com who has AI'd the lenses I've purchased as well as the ones I originally bought new back in the 1970's.
I'm currently on a buying binge of used MF Nikkor lenses, all non-AI, to use on my recently purchased Nikon Df (also bought at National Camera, but over-the-counter). I just bought another one this morning, a 180/f2.8. So far I've purchased a 28/f3.5, 105/f2.5 and a 200/f4 - in addition to the 180. Their grading has good and when the lenses arrived, I got what i expected.
Also a shout-out to John White at aiconversions.com who has AI'd the lenses I've purchased as well as the ones I originally bought new back in the 1970's.
NY_Dan
Well-known
Long Island is known for it's fine wine and beautiful vineyards. Some of the best wine comes from there. Why some people wouldn't like Long Island wine, I have no idea. I don't think people on Long Island drink wine 5x the national average -- if anything that makes them more sophisticated for not guzzling Bud. Wine drinkers unhappy -- the one's in the Bowery, perhaps -- but all in all they seem happy. Many people on Long Island and at Adorama favor Manischewitz Wine -- of course no one could have a problem with that 🙂
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Good to hear about another satisfied customer who has a positive attitude. I figure any business wants and desires a happy customer who will then buy more.
I think I get more than my share of good deals for a reason. My friend Angel at Adorama told me to make sure I stop at the vintage counter after I finished my business with another friend Gary. Angel handed me a clean M3-DS and told me to dry fire it. I found the camera to be rather stiff and the shutter was very loud, so I asked Angel, "What's so special about this M3?"
Angel said, "You have to buy this camera. It just got factory serviced by Leica Germany. They even resilvered the prism." Angel then showed me the brand new "L" seal. I pulled out the plastic card with the magic numbers and bought a very special/cool M3-DS that had the best factory fresh VF'er.
I have to ask why am I so lucky again and again?
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Dan,
That's a funny twist. LOL.
For me I miss surf casting and offshore fishing. Nothing like fresh fish that you just caught. Some people say eating fresh Tuna is "better than sex."
Cal
NY_Dan
Well-known
Tuna better than sex? My wife says that too. She says it about everything. She even says shopping at Adorama is better than sex. Who am I to disagree? Should I complain that Saturday night comes but once a week? That would be whining!
Rayt
Nonplayer Character
I have bought new stuff from Adorama but never used because of stories like this. I have bought used from Badger and many other online stores with very positive experiences. I have spent tons of money at KEH. About two years ago I bought a used Schneider 150mm Super Symmar HM from B&H along with some sheet film. Well their shipping department basically threw the lens in a thin layer of bubble wrap in a box with the film with no other packing material!?! The lens arrived beat to sh*t so bad that the filter rim was dented in and lens element separated. This was a 9+ rated lens. Of course I told them about it, sent it back and got a refund immediately. A week later I see the lens back in their used section for the same price with the same 9+ rating. To be nice I emailed them and explained what happened. This same lens was still there a year later listed as 9+. After that I surfed B&H used department quite a bit less. I know I can't judge them just for this one incident but once you have shaken consumer confidence it is hard to win it back. I don't live in the US and sending things back is costly.
JChrome
Street Worker
I honestly don't know why people would use the Used departments of Adorama or B&H instead of eBay or craigslist. The former make a very high margin off the used goods so you can find great deals on the latter.
Unless I need something ASAP then I would go to a brick and mortar, otherwise I'll stick to the deals on the web.
Unless I need something ASAP then I would go to a brick and mortar, otherwise I'll stick to the deals on the web.
JChrome
Street Worker
1) Guarantee. Theres no guarantee anywhere. Just look through this thread and read about people unsatisfied. We're talking about used camera equipment here. A guarantee means about nothing, which is why things are....
2) Returnable. Ebay has returns and I've used them. It's not so bad but this also happens very rarely. CL doesn't but you've got to do your due diligence when you meet the person to inspect the item. Dry fire the camera, inspect the lens. The big crap-shoot is buying film from CL. It could have been stored in 100 degree F and in terrible shape. But I've bought just slighty* expired film at a major discount off craigslist and it turns out well.
4) Multiple Items. Ebay has multiples of everything. Do you really think KEH, Adorama or B&H has more? I would even venture to say that ebay has more used* camera items than all of those places combined. I will admit when I was looking for Schneider lenses for the Rolleiflex 6008 and only found one or two (there's this sweet 80mm F2 that's just dreamy...) on ebay I was disappointed. But I can't find those lenses anywhere else. B&H, Adorama, KEH... forget it.
3) CL is always too high priced. Well sure some guys think they can charge anything they want. But that's some* guys. Not all. Finding a good deal requires the finding part. It can take some work. But the deals are on there. I bought a Pentax 67 along with 3 -like new- lenses for $600. Used the crap out of it and sold it for a profit (admittedly the film I burned put me in the red).
The only advantage I see to the retail shops like B&H, Adorama and KEH is expediency. And I like to save money so I plan ahead, shop around and wait for the deals to show themselves. Its possible that the big shops have something that's a good deal and unavailable elsewhere. But I bet those instances are pretty rare.
JChrome
Street Worker
I think you've made some friends there and that's great. I keep saying I don't have experience with the people in the used department, but have had terrible service in the new department.
I don't want to disrespect Angel and I'm sure you've had great experiences there. I just had a few too many bad experiences and therefore I said "no more".
You're about as outgoing and kind as they come, Cal. It's easier to get along with you than most. And I'm glad you feel lucky.
But I keep feeling lucky with all the finds I'm getting from the 'bay and CL. And I meet great people that way (well, from CL anyway). I just picked up an incredibly fresh Fuji GW690 mkIII for $450 including shipping. It looks and shoots brand new. It served me well at Burning Men 🙂
uhoh7
Veteran
My last lens from Adorama was better than expected. CV90/3.5 LTM.
I never got a lens from KEH better than expected.
Tried two tele-elmars, one had perfect glass and a ripped up flange not safe to mount (obviously not inspected before shipment), and the next had terrible glass and a good mount. Sent a hazy 90 elmarit back. Kept a pretty dirty "LN" 90 summarit.
I did get a frankenfinder, near perfect.
Have returned a number of other lenses to them, but kept quite a few too.
Since returns are so easy I don't get too worked up.
I never got a lens from KEH better than expected.
Tried two tele-elmars, one had perfect glass and a ripped up flange not safe to mount (obviously not inspected before shipment), and the next had terrible glass and a good mount. Sent a hazy 90 elmarit back. Kept a pretty dirty "LN" 90 summarit.
I did get a frankenfinder, near perfect.
Have returned a number of other lenses to them, but kept quite a few too.
Since returns are so easy I don't get too worked up.
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Jeremy,
I'm sorry for your bad experience, but sometimes bitterness is just that. I totally can understand why you feel the way you do. My attitude to buying gear is like street shooting, I'll try anything, and I'll always be open to take a shot. Like you not all the time things work out, but sometimes amazing things happen, especially in New York.
Here's another remarkable deal I found at B&H: non 6-Bit discontinued chrome 90/4.0 Macro Elmar Boxed for $1799.00. This is an unheard of price, the condition is "LN," and the performance of this lens is really great. Even though it is a slow lens the size, handling, and sharp Tessar rendering make it a great lens to use, even on my Monochrom. This lens makes great portraits, also great-great landscapes, and cost no money.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Fred,
No doubt I would cry. LOL.
A while back though I was known to day-trade cameras. The M3-DS I once lost in a trade with an art dealer for some vintage Bruce Davidson prints (the two prints from the Welsh Miners series that have the little girl and the little boy); then I got the M3-DS back in a loan sharking deal with the very same art dealer; then recently I just sold it to another friend.
Funny thing is that the new owner, Brian, went to Adorama to try and secure a fifty for the M3, and Angel recognized the camera. "Where did you get that camera," Angel asked Brian. LOL. It seems that M3-DS will always be known as my camera. LOL.
Also there was a 35/2.8 Summaron that I bought from Andre for "no money" (this is my expression for a crazy low price). I made a pact with Andre and John (JSRockit, the moderator) that we should keep this lens between us, and that if we ever sold it above the original "no money" price that the profit would have to be split three ways. So Andre was the first owner; I was the second owner; John was the third owner; again I was the fourth owner; and now Andre is the current fifth owner. This Summaron includes the caps and 12585 hood and is in remarkably clean condition.
There is also a black paint Leica II with nickle knobs that I day traded and owned twice that I eventually day traded for a Zeiss Ikonta with a Tessar. The Zeiss is on loan to Andre for exercise since I don't want it to be a Shelf Queen.
Then if I don't get enough cameras passing my way for the past five years at the NYC Meet-Up we have had Camera Beauty Contests which are pretty funny where we make fun of ourselves and our gear culture.
Cal
Lucadomi
Well-known
I stopped by to another photo store in NYC, two blocks form Adorama.
They had a Fujica GS645S for $895. This camera goes for less than $400 at KEH.
I guess Adorama is not too bad after all.
They had a Fujica GS645S for $895. This camera goes for less than $400 at KEH.
I guess Adorama is not too bad after all.
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Okay, who is the lucky guy who sniped the 20X24 inch Saunders easel at B&H that was rated a "9" for $249.00.
I ran down to B&H Sunday but it was already gone.. Came with the box.
Cal
I ran down to B&H Sunday but it was already gone.. Came with the box.
Cal
NY_Dan
Well-known
Here's one with an asking of $259 free ship no tax -- Bet you could get it for $219...
It's borderless -- if that's what you wanted. Looks new.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Saunders-Ea...172?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20ec60c45c
It's borderless -- if that's what you wanted. Looks new.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Saunders-Ea...172?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20ec60c45c
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Dan,
I saw that one, but I wanted the 4-blade version. The one I saw listed at B&H on Friday was gone by Sunday morning. I was waiting outside before they opened, and I really wanted this easel because it was at a good price for me.
Oh-Well...
A while back I saw a 21/3.4 Super Elmar at Pop Flash at a great price that came boxed. I called and had the card with the magic numbers in my hand, but Alex said that for some reason it was not on the shelf. I was sniped.
Did some forensics and determined that it was Jean-Marc from the NYC Meet-Up who stole my lens. LOL.
Anyways it was a few months later when I basically got the same good deal that I just missed. Hopefully I will get another chance and score.
Cal
Cal
NY_Dan
Well-known
Good luck -- I'm sure another easel will come along.
You can't always have lobster for dinner:
9/12/2014 Lafayette street, East Village, NYC
You can't always have lobster for dinner:
9/12/2014 Lafayette street, East Village, NYC
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Seems like Lobster and corn are in abundant oversupply. I'll have to hoard some without gaining any weight. LOL.
Looking into buying a Eizo CG277W within the week or so. Prices are down from a year ago.
Epson has a killer $1K rebate on a 7900 printer so the cost is less than 3K till October 31st.
PhotoPlus Expo will be especially interesting to me this winter. I'm gearing up to print this winter.
I'm all geared out with cameras, unless Leica builds something that can top my Monochrom.
Cal
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