How's Your Luck with Roberts Camera/Used Photopro?

[Rob-F]

I've now had two episodes of this store sending me, via eBay, the wrong item. The first time was a couple of years ago, for a 65mm lens for the Mamiya 7ii. It arrived broken. They took care of it. But over the past weekend, I ordered a very nice looking, fairly high serial number, Leica M3. Roberts sent me a package quickly--I received it today already. Fast work; but they should have taken their time and kept their mind on what they were doing, because when I opened the box, I found, looking up at me, an Asahi Pentax. I phoned them right away and they emailed me a return label. I was able to re-pack the Pentax and get it back to UPS in time before they closed.

My request for the Leica (for which I paid over $1100) to be shipped IMMEDIATELY was responded to with a very noncommittal "We'll see what we can do when we receive your return."

Now I'm worried they could have sent my Leica to someone who paid for an Asahi Pentax; in which event, I can color my Leica gone. Sure, I'll probably get a refund, but I was so happy when I saw this one on eBay! I had reviewed a dozen ads for an M3 before pulling the trigger on this one. To err is human, but shouldn't a place called Used PhotoPro notice that a Pentax is not a Leica M3?

How's your luck been with Roberts/Photopro?

Edit/Update: 24 hours later: Tracking shows the Pentax has been delivered back to Roberts. I emailed them several hours ago to say that if they still have the M3 I bought (I included the serial number), I still want it; otherwise, refund, please. No reply so far. I want that specific one, not any old M3 they have laying around because it has a high serial number, is a single stroke, and is in great cosmetic condition, and therefore I made a point of the serial number. So for now, it's wait and see.

 

[Rick Waldroup]

Over the years, I have purchased several cameras and lenses from them and never had a problem. I hate to hear you are going through this. Hopefully, they will resolve the matter to your satisfaction.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

I've been shopping at Roberts since I was a teenager. I live in northeast Indiana, about a 90 minute drive from Indianapolis. I buy all my new gear there, and occasionally used stuff. They're good people; everyone screws up sometimes, but they always make it right. If you sell them used gear, they pay A LOT better than KEH or anyone else and they don't play KEH's game of claiming that near flawless equipment is 'junk' so they can knock down the price they offer.

 

[bucs]

Have bought odds and ends with no issues (rollei filters, hoods, etc.). Eyeing a Nikon S2 but haven’t pulled the trigger.

I like them better than KEH because they post actual pictures. It’s difficult when I ask more questions about their items because they can’t provide detailed descriptions other than what’s in the listing description. I suppose it’s difficult to check given their large inventory.

 

[Oren Grad]

I've bought quite a few items from UPP and have generally had good experiences with them. I too appreciate that they post photos of the actual items.

Once an older view camera lens that I bought from them arrived with a sticky shutter, but they responded immediately to my query and repaired it at no charge with a pretty quick turnaround.

The one time I considered selling them something - a set of Mamiya TLR equipment - their offer was not competitive and I took it elsewhere. But that's OK - I would expect any used camera dealer's offers to vary depending on their stock status and which items they see turning over quickly or not.

 

[Jbennett68]

I bought a retina and a tlr from them this year. Both arrived in better condition than I’d hoped. Sounds like a fluke.

 

[Mackinaw]

I've bought several items the past few years. No problems.

Jim B.

 

[x-ray]

I and my brother have bought quite a few items from them and never had a problem.

 

[Timmyjoe]

I must be an outlier as I'm batting about 50-50 with them. Gotten a few nice items that were as described, but got a few more that had obvious defects they failed to catch.

I will say they are good about taking the items back, but it is a waste of time. I'm very cautious when I buy from them now.

Best,
-Tim

 

[Godfrey]

I've done business with Robert's Camera/Used Photo Pro several times over the past decade. No problems. I've also done business with KEH several times over the past decade with similar success.

But when it comes to buying/selling a Leica, particularly a Leica M camera, I stick to Leica dealers I trust. Leica cameras are somewhat of a speciality niche, and expensive to buy or service, and I'd rather work with a dealer whom I know understands the good and bad points of what they're selling intimately, and will provide top-notch service in case it is needed. Tamarkin.com has been my go-to Leica source for many years now, and I have only 100% positive experiences working with them.

G

 

[ellisson]

I purchased several lenses from them over the years at good prices and in as good or better condition than described. I do like their photos of the items for sale and notes about flaws that explain their rating of a particular item. Although my experience has been very good, I can imagine how an order such as Rob-F's camera could be confused with another. People who work in the warehouse or shipping departments may not be as savvy about what exactly they are shipping other than having an item number to match against the invoice with shipping address. A mismatch of that number on the invoice and the actual item would be one possible scenario.
But they will likely make things right.

In the past, I've called and spoken to a helpful person regarding details about an item I was considering. Hopefully they continue to be receptive to phone inquiries if you think that would help.

 

[kxl]

My experience with them has been hit or miss, primarily because don’t always state up front that a camera has a dead meter or obviously inaccurate shutter speeds.

 

[bcostin]

Several purchases, mostly lenses, with no issues so far. FWIW, I've had the wrong items sent to me before by both MPB and KEH in the past. Someone misread item numbers and grabbed the wrong thing from the shelf.

 

[Tim Murphy]

Dear Rob-F,

Many purchases with only one issue. I bought a Nikon MD-3 motor-drive with MB-2 battery pack. When received there was a problem with the battery back and getting the batteries to lock in. I emailed them and they sent a return label and sent me back a fully functional battery pack at no charge.

I was always a dedicated KEH used buyer with occasional purchases from B&H and Adorama. KEH sent me a survey and asked me where I purchased my used equipment. Used Photo Pro was one of the choices. I had never heard of them but decided to check them out. Thanks to KEH for giving me an alternative! 😉

I've since dealt with MPB, mostly because they make it easy to trade and offer more than KEH or UPP. I've had issues with all of them, but they were minor and none of them have ever misrepresented their products. It's great to have options when brick and mortar stores are scarce where I live.

Regards,

Tim Murphy

Harrisburg PA 🙂

 

[NIKON KIU]

I’ve bought many items, never had an issue.

The offering are constantly reduced price-wise until they are sold.

Kiu

 

[chuckroast]

I've now had two episodes of this store sending me, via eBay, the wrong item. The first time was a couple of years ago, for a 65mm lens for the Mamiya 7ii. It arrived broken. They took care of it.

I have had consistently excellent results from them. I've never had a misdelivery (although USPS has quite an imagination when it comes to package routing.) The few times I chose to return things, it was done instantaneously with no issues.

On stuff they have online that does not have a best offer option, you can sometimes get the price down a bit if you call them directly.

 

[Steve_Pfost]

As others have said, I too have always had a wonderful experiance with Roberters/UPP. I also have never purchased from their ebay site since the exact same equipment is listed on their regular website for cheaper.

 

[Rob-F]

Thanks for all the positive endorsements of Roberts Camera! They phoned me a few minutes ago to tell me that they did indeed accidentally ship the M3 I bought, to the buyer who bought the Pentax. That buyer has reportedly shipped my M3 back to Roberts, and upon receiving it they will check that it's the same M3, is in the same condition, and will ship it to me. And of course, I shipped the Pentax back to Roberts the same day I received it, and they have received the Pentax I returned.

What a mixup!

 

[shawn]

As others have said, I too have always had a wonderful experiance with Roberters/UPP. I also have never purchased from their ebay site since the exact same equipment is listed on their regular website for cheaper.

And on their site Take5 *always* works for an additional 5% discount. For things they have had for awhile it does pay to check both their site and ebay though as ebay gets priced reduced from time to time and their site often doesn't unless they are running a sale. Sometimes for smaller stuff ebay ends up being cheaper if it is listed with free shipping and it isn't on their site.

I've bought a lot from Robert's. Have had a couple of things that needed to be returned but they were always very easy to work with.

 

[shawn]

Thanks for all the positive endorsements of Roberts Camera! They phoned me a few minutes ago to tell me that they did indeed accidentally ship the M3 I bought, to the buyer who bought the Pentax. That buyer has reportedly shipped my M3 back to Roberts, and upon receiving it they will check that it's the same M3, is in the same condition, and will ship it to me. And of course, I shipped the Pentax back to Roberts the same day I received it, and they have received the Pentax I returned.

What a mixup!

That must have been an emotional roller coaster. My M3 came from Robert's.

It is actually the second one I bought from them, the first was showing signs of prism oxidizing so I returned it.