Buy an M3 from KEH?

W

Way

Guest
The lure of the M3 is too hard to resist, especially after seeing Joe's thread! Tried one at a local store and even my wife was impressed! But the price was a bit high and the shutter speed dial seemed to be loose so I'm looking online at KEH. Currently they have several M3 DS and SS models. Has anyone bought a camera from them recently? I'm just curious on the working condition for their 'Bargain' rated bodies. Do they usually need a CLA when you get them?

Way
 
I agree that KEH's ratings are very conservative. I have bought quite a few lenses from them, all bargain grade, and have been extremely happy. Bodies are more hit and miss though. The grading is cosmetic. I bought a bargain Leicaflex SL from them 3 years ago, but had to return it as there was fungus in the prism. They have a very good return policy though, so it may be worth the gamble. The s/h cost comes out to a 14day rental, for you to try the camera out, at worse.
 
My experience with bargain items on KEH is that usually they are rated very conservatively, but sometimes they end up true to form as described. Most of the time I've ordered a bargain item I have been pleasantly surprised how nice it really is. Stories abound about people getting bargain condition gear with hardly a mark. On the other hand, twice now I have received items that were pretty beat up, not worse than the description, but certainly not better. The great thing about KEH, though, is that it's almost always worth the risk because of the return policy. Go for it, see if you like it, and send it back if you don't. You could only lose shipping.
 
The problem with KEH is they only show stock photos and not pictures of the actual items for sale. You never really know what your going to get for your money. I learned my lesson the hard way when I bought a bargain M6 that arrived with a cloudy finder. I returned it and then waited 4 weeks for them to process my refund, which prevented me from buying something else.
On the other hand, I did give them one more chance and was very happy with what I got. So, hit and miss.
I've had much better luck on the Bay. At least you see what your buying and can ask questions easily.
 
Where as I'll simply say my track record with them is better than my track record with ebay. But in the end, it's all a lottery. I can have as much certainty in buying a camera based on anyones pictures as I do from buying a Powerball ticket for the latest humungus jackpot. Well, ok, the lotto does have better odds... :eek:

What? Oh, sorry... :D

William

Edit for a PS: yes, he is correct that the stock photos s*ck. Perhaps if we all complain loudly enough? But the reality is too much passes through thier hands and, over all, thier rep is good enough to survive the occasional mistake.

W.
 
I don't know if this is possible, maybe someone else knows?
Speak to a customer service sales professional at KEH and ask him to describe the camera you are interested in. While he has it in his hand you could ask a few more questions that come to mind. You could ask what is making this camera to be a bargain rating compared to excellent? You could ask how clean it is inside? Did the service department inspect it? How expert was the grader in his opinion?
After all that they still have a return policy of some sort, if it does not suit you.

Or - a lot of nice M cameras are changing hands in these classifieds. Good luck. :)
 
I have bought boatloads of stuff from KEH, and it has almost always been better than described. I usually buy Ex or above though, so I do not have much experience with bargain. I have bought some hoods rated bargain, and some have been very clean, and some have been quite banged up. As the others have said, it is all mitigated by their 14 day return policy, and beyond that, they have a 60 day warranty for equipment malfunction, so they are really great in that sense.
 
I've bought five cameras and several lenses from KEH. No complaints. I did need to have an M2 repaired under their warranty. They fixed it the same day they got it and, in effect, compensated for what I paid for shipping by sending it back 2nd day air.
 
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My experience with KEH has been uniformly good, including buying lenses and an electronic flash which were graded "Bargain." I have never been disappointed in a KEH purchase. Dave
 
i have had nothing but good experiences with KEH. i have bought 2 of my canon L lenses from them. i even bought my H1 from them and everything was beautiful. i love KEH immensely and id recommend them to anyone!
 
I picked up a M3 about 9 months ago in bargin condition, it's missing a few chips of vulcanite but other wise perfect. In line with everyone else I'd recommend them highly. Incidentally they shipped to Europe quickly and at a reasonable price.
 
I picked up a M5 from them once and promptly returned it. The frame lines wouldn't activate, with the switch, or with the lens. I've made a few very good lens purchases from them, however. I wouldn't hesitate to do business with them again.


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Their ratings are very conservative.
I went down to the warehouse yesterday and picked up a lens hood for a very old Nikkor--was rated Ex but looked super! I say try 'em and see and yes you can call and ask them to describe the camera..
Paul
 
John said:
I don't know if this is possible, maybe someone else knows?
Speak to a customer service sales professional at KEH and ask him to describe the camera you are interested in. While he has it in his hand you could ask a few more questions that come to mind. You could ask what is making this camera to be a bargain rating compared to excellent? You could ask how clean it is inside? Did the service department inspect it? How expert was the grader in his opinion?
After all that they still have a return policy of some sort, if it does not suit you.

)
Click to expand...

Talking to a customer rep is probably the way to go. Thats what I did with two cameras. you call, the rep orders the camera from the warehouse, which will take a few days. They will call you back with the camera in hand. Thenit is your turn to shoot away with your questions. i even got pics emailed to judge the appearance.
No total guarantee but you still have the return privileges. No loose situation.
Over all one of the best customer service you will get.

Ciao

Joerg
 
I've bought from KEH since their beginning. It used to be that you could go to their store that was originally in an old house and request to see an item and they would go in the back and bring a tray of them up to review. Then they moved to a large retail space a few blocks away and the doors were open to view everything in showcases. Now they are in an old retail building in a fringe area of Atlanta and it's impossible to view anything. I recently tried to get someone to describe an item and they told me all items are in a warehouse environment and olnl the stock pickers could bring it to them and it would take a day for them to get it. Basically they didn't want to do it. I went ahead and gave it a chance and bought the item. I dropped my 121mm super angulon a few years back and chipped the back element. OUCH! KEH had one that the back grouping was perfect and the front was damaged. I purchased the lens and made one perfect one and sold the damaged one as junk on ebay and recovered 70% of my cost of the lens I bought.

To answer the question I've generally bought excellent or excellent plus items and always been pleased. I do however find their prices to be a bit on the high side sometimes.


http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=5045
 
I would choose Ebay over KEH any day. I need to see pictures of the actual item I'm getting before throwing cash down for it.. Stock photos is just not my cup of tea..
 
I usually buy used lenses from KEH which are from EXC condition and higher. I recently bought a 45mm Tessar from them in EXC+ condition..The lens is just perfect; no marks on the glass, etc.

I also bought my M6 from them several years ago...the grade was LN (still in the box).

I have had no problems with KEH so far...well, I wish they sold Jupiter lenses...:)
 
About that M3;
earlier this month I woke up with M3 fever and promptly started tracking them on the Bay and also checked out KEH.
I found an early serial # user on the bay that had a recent CLA and the viewfinder replaced by a popular Leica tech (take a guess) with a BIN price in the high $700's. I had similar work done on a M body and had an idea of what the repair costs were. (not insignificant)
I emailed the seller, who was a honest chap and answered my questions confirming that this was the real thing. The only problem with the listing was the photos of the camera were very blurry.

Anyway, the week passed, nobody bid, I recovered from the fever, and the camera was relisted with better pictures. It eventually sold in auction for the BIN price.

So, the point of this ramble: there are other purchasing options out there if one takes their time and knows what to look for. And, the more information one has about an expensive purchase, the better it turns out.
 
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