Buying on the bay - alex-photo at a premium?

[kaiyen]

Hi all,
So let's say you are looking for an FSU lens. Alex-Photo, whom I'm sure many of you have bought from in the past, has it for $110 plus shipping. Someone else, also from the FSU and with a 100% rating that has sold some FSU stuff in the past, has the same lens for $80. Would you go with alex-photo anyway? It's not like an FSU lens from alex-photo is guaranteed to be perfect.

thanks for the input,
allan

 

[Fabrice2]

you must choose the most accurate description, and ask the seller the good question, if its a J9 or J3 i'll ask about dust spot, cleaning marks,backfocus, etc...
sometimes the price is higher because you got caps and flters.
Sometime the price is lower but the shipping is more expensive.
Don't hesitate to ask and bother the sellers, its part of their job, just reward him for good communication if everything is ok when you got your lens and left your feedback.
But alex is the most accurate in my opinion,he's responding in minutes,and is very gentle.

 

[markrich]

I would pay extra if I knew the item had been examined, serviced and/or checked by someone who knew what they were doing. Afterall reputation is everything.

 

[ruben]

Hi all,
..........It's not like an FSU lens from alex-photo is guaranteed to be perfect.

thanks for the input,
allan

I agreee Allan, but you are not disclosing who is Alex' contender...
In any case, my 2 cents are as follow: start asking fine grain detail about the lens to both sellers, and the diferences will start to float.

Cheers,
Ruben

 

[Frank Lambert]

I agree. Ask questions. Personally, if it were just the lens I was after, I would be particularly interested in it being "fungus free", "no scratches or, the often mentioned: cleaning marks", "no coating problems". I don't worry too much about the "mechanics" as I am an avid "tinkerer" anyway and, part of my enjoyment is working on this stuff. As for cameras, in general, again because I love working on them, I actually look for "broken" ones and, they are usually the cheapest. An example is the FED 2 I just got yesterday. Everything, including the lens is cosmetically perfect. Only, the self timer did not work properly. Now, after about one hour, everything is restored to working condition and I have a very nice example for $30, shipped.... Again, ask the important questions and you will usually be able to "sort" out the good from the bad by the answers (or no answers) you get and the general attitude of the seller. Anyway, that's my two cents... 🙂
Good luck....

Frank

 

[kievman]

Recently I bought a Leningrad from Alex, which unfortunately had problem that only show up when I put a roll of film in it. otherwise the camera was exactly what Alex described it to be. Of course I was not happy with the cameras , it was really unusealble. I contacted Alex with my complaint/problem. and He quite quickly replied. we were able to work out an exchange for the Leningrad for a Fed- 5b package and a Kiev 3a package, both of which I am very happy with. Alex iis a great ebayer Quick servcie, good Communication and very accurate discriptions of his products I would buy from gladly. and as far as ebay sellers having 100% ratings, don't take those number to be the be all and end all. I recently got riipped-off by a ebay seller on a purchase of Keiv 4a package for 59.00. The seller only had 14 transcatiions to his name, but he had a 100%