Did your Ebay camera Work out of the Box?

Did your Ebay camera Work out of the Box?

  • YES! It worked Perfectly

    Votes: 425 70.7%

  • No. Did not work. It's a Paperweight.

    Votes: 45 7.5%

  • Required a minor Repair, Fixed it Myself

    Votes: 112 18.6%

  • Required a Major Repair: Paid to have the work Done.

    Votes: 73 12.1%

  • Requested a Refund.

    Votes: 46 7.7%
  • Total voters
    601
Ive bought a wide range of cameras, in various states.

I dont really think the poll is very useful. A more useful question would be 'was your camera as described in the ebay listing?'.

If you buy a camera that has a lacking description and an unresponsive seller, you have to assume that its broken. Risking it is the nature of ebay, so people shouldnt really splash out more than they are willing to risk losing.
 
I put together a small Bronica E kit from different e&y sellers - ETRSI body, a few backs, grip, AEII finder, extension ring. Everything arrived and was just as described, just clicked in and worked flawless since. I do buy from trusted sellers and don't gamble.
One item (SonyA-M42 chipped adapter) was defective but seller just sent me another one which worked perfectly.
 
I'm buying and selling ont the bay since 1998 and have encountered about everything with a majority of positive experiences. In my experience it is no better or worse than buying in a shop, where hidden defects bit me more than once.
 
My last two ebay camera purchases (Canon QL17 & Konica IIIA) both had mechanical defects not described in the ad. The first seller gave me a full refund including shipping. The second seller gave me a partial refund to cover a CLA.

I try to buy the more expensive items from sellers with a 100% feedback rating so they will be more likely to work with me if something is not as described.
 
Pretty much all the time. I've listed on RFF on APUG and not got sales, then I try eBay. So, I really don't think the quality on eBay is any less than here. In fact, I once bought on eBay, got the item, didn't think much of the condition, and a return was granted, no questions asked. I really think the slurs of eBay are unfounded, people are honest/not honest regardless of where they sell.
 
I just got a Minolta XE-7 ($50, 50mm 1.7 excellent condition) that works perfect after cleaning the battery area. Very important to use a good eraser on them before judging a camera. I use a re-tractable one that I can also get the grounding threads on the cap with. I recently got a Konica S2 off craigslist that doesn't have a advance lever on it... a dent in it. I bought a GL17 GIII that doesn't cock the shutter anymore, or have a working light meter (at first the shutter cocked). I bought a Nikkormat that the lens is not perfect at rotating and the shutter sticks sometimes (probably a stupid easy fix for any repair guy). It is all such a gamble when they don't truly state that it works or has a warranty. I prefer buying on here or KEH, or my local shop, or at least have it in my hands first but.... not everything is available from everyone I would like to go through.


http://lh5.googleusercontent.com/pu...psFiKfitXP88-eRicD0vx-FuNGpDEuxkDM79nUBTJWvlA

The plum craziest thing is shopgoodwill. People pay Ebay prices, that on Ebay are tested items, or guaranteed items. I have tried to win some lenses on there but people pay way too much for a total gamble on there... INSANE. I guess total I haven't spent more than $150 on non-working or imperfect items so maybe I'm not doing so bad. At least some of them are fixable.
 
I've had pretty good luck. I buy two categories of things: the first is from people who describe stuff more than completely, with 100% ratings,and their descriptions are always good. The second type I buy is things which are described REALLY POORLY, with bad photos, from sellers who have no idea what they're selling and no rating.

Consequently, the prices for those things always end up low, often with me as the only bidder, and I've done well there, too, but in those cases I try to be smart, by, for instance, only buying lenses with UV filters on them (often described as,for instance "Nikon Vivitar UV lens" (that was my 50/1.4 lens in mint condition for $50).

Generally, the second category has been really satisfying. I like being the only bidder on something poorly described with just me as the only bidder--I can stand to lose $50 once in a while (usually that's my limit on this type of thing).
 
All photographic gear I've bought on eBay has worked perfectly.

My 2 bad experiences were on photography sites not associated with eBay.

Bad experiences were:

Fujika 690/Fujinon 100/3.5 AE lens with a broken light meter.
Olympus OM 1.4X tele adapter which was frozen and unrepairable.

Texsport
 
My first evilBay camera is a Yashica FR which effectively came free with the Contax Cable Switch i wanted for my FR-I. It works fine as described. The seller said the frame counter didn't work (it's stuck at 36) and the self timer didn't work. The self timer does work now but I've not looked at the frame counter yet. Only other 'problem' is the 'meter on lock' with the wind on lever doesn't work.

Ronnie
 
For every good experience, I've also had a bad experience. What really ticks me off is the level of deceit that be found on ebay, even if it is something like picture angles to minimize or hide problems.

I just sold my modern Ms and purchased two M5s off Ebay. One was better then expected. The one 'problem' the seller took pains to point out was really no problem at all. Very satisfied; camera was basically new. The other was just the opposite; described as 'close to new' it had a bunch of minor wear, and a defect in the viewfinder repair people called a "fingernail." Not big issues, but certainly not 'close to new.' Disappointed.

After this experience I've decided to walk away from Ebay. No more. If I'm going to purchase something, then it'll come from someone I trust, who'll be around to correct any problems, even if I have to pay up. Ebay is just not worth the hassle ... except when I'm selling something. Still a great place to sell.
 
I could have checked every box. My most extensive repair was an Olympus Pen S 3.5 viewfinder camera with a gummed up shutter. That required complete disassembly and cleaning of the shutter blades, reassemble and install shutter, reset infinity focus. A very interesting all day effort. The camera was so pretty I could not send it back. That was 3 years ago and the shutter still runs fine.
 
M3 with rotten cloths on the shutter and a rather strong smell of gas ( not the good kind 😛 )... I feel that someone dunked it in wd40 and then in some gas to get it lubed.
I rejected to take it into ownership at the customs office so it went back straight away... Buuuuuut, i did buy a pentax MX sight unseen with the stock image listed and voila a near mint camera arrived.
 
E-bay translation guide;

"I don't know much about cameras...."= it's broken
"Worked fine the last time I used it..." = it's broken (last time used was in 1976)
"Not tested but dials move and shutter clicks..."= it's broken
"I have no battery to check the meter with..."= it's broken
"Controls a little stiff but should free up with use..."= it's broken
"Works but sold as-is, no return..."= it's broken

Probably many more I missed.
 
zuiko85 said:
E-bay translation guide;

"I don't know much about cameras...."= it's broken
"Worked fine the last time I used it..." = it's broken (last time used was in 1976)
"Not tested but dials move and shutter clicks..."= it's broken
"I have no battery to check the meter with..."= it's broken
"Controls a little stiff but should free up with use..."= it's broken
"Works but sold as-is, no return..."= it's broken

Probably many more I missed.
Click to expand...

Seller refurbished... (With the exception of few a real craftsmen) = missing parts and really battered inside...
Minty = Smells like mint but is used and shows wear cleverly not shown in photos
There is film inside = i screwed it up so much i can't even open the body anymore
Just a small ding = mechanics are bashed beyond recognition
Electronics are flaky = its 99% dead
Etc... 🙄
 
I've had some pretty good luck.

-Two really old Super Ikonta B Cameras work perfectly and the shutters are very accurate.
-A remarkably pristine Kodak Retina ii, which was so poorly photographed by the seller that I bought it for parts, very cheaply! Like $30.00.
-A Nikon F2 with the DP-1 head. Again only one poor photograph and I thought I would at least have it for a spare. Even the light meter was functional and accurate.

The worst I received was a a Welta Weltini that arrived via Canada Post about 1/2 inch thinner than it should have been. It was very well packaged but that didn't really matter, it had been crushed anyway. Even the lens was smashed.
Of course this was not the fault of the seller!!
-Insurance is a really good idea.
 
I just returned a 90mm Elmarit-R. Max aperture wasn't max -- some aperture blades showing even at f/2.8: both off the camera, and during exposure. Real bummer because it was in very good condition otherwise and took nice photos.

I tried to get the seller to split shipping (he charged $15, and it cost me $20 to ship back). He refused, saying "my shipping to you was underestimated, so I'm already in the hole". I thought, "that's funny, by my math that makes you about $5 in the hole while I'm $35 in the hole". Whatever. At least he did the refund/return (it was a "no return" auction).


Also recently got a 28mm Elmarit-R with really stiff focusing. It's not unusable, but annoying and disappointing. I figure I'll just live with it for now, and get it CLA'd someday.
 
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