KEH - disappointing lately

[35mmdelux]

I bought a lens from them called Bargain, but to my eye it looked pretty beat, maybe not Ugly but certainly no Bargain. simply not acceptable. For $25 less I picked one off evilbay which was mint. Returned the KEH without any problem. I was alittle disappointed but would do biz again for harder to find item.

I've heard of others receiving dirty or busted cameras.

 

[Pablito]

This is a wake up call. I have never bought from them but I have recommended them to others, mainly based on the positive things I've read here!

 

[enochRoot]

i've tried them twice based on glowing reviews here. i returned the items both times, as they were not as described. i did try to have the salesman check the item for me, and they said they could not. i should have known better at that point. i'll never try to use them again.

 

[bellyface]

I've been using KEH for many years, and have had no complaints to this day. But then again, I've had issues with adorama, and many people don't...

 

[ChrisPlatt]

Lucky so far

Lucky so far

I've purchased quite a few Pentax SLR lenses from KEH, always in bargain condition.
Every one has far exceeded my expectations! 🙂

Chris

 

[Bingley]

Well, it certainly seems like the experience has been uneven of late. I bought a Canon 7 body from them last summer, rated Ex, and when it arrived there was oil on one of the shutter curtains so it wouldn't close completely. I returned the item (w/ photos illustrating the effects of the problem), and they promptly sent me a complete replacement 7 in Ex condition that has worked flawlessly.

I JUST bought a 45 mm lens from them, again rated Ex, and it arrived looking in as-advertised shape (will shoot some film w/ it this weekend to be sure). So far so good there.

Still, caveat emptor!

 

[ray_g]

Truly? That seems extraordinarily high. What shipping method was this?

KEH uses UPS. The lowest rate is $12.95. Depending on the value of the item you bought, you will need to add the corresponding insurance. For the $310 Nikkor, that was around $3.50. I shipped it back by priority mail, insured, for not much less.

 

[scottgee1]

KEH uses UPS. The lowest rate is $12.95. Depending on the value of the item you bought, you will need to add the corresponding insurance. For the $310 Nikkor, that was around $3.50. I shipped it back by priority mail, insured, for not much less.

For those still willing to deal with them . . . they have an unpublished shipping rate for small stuff that costs <$50. Shipping in the U.S. is $6.95 but you have to ask for it. I talked with a salesperson about it and we agreed that is was silly to not publish the fact in that it forces a salesperson to get involved in very small transactions.

BTW, IMO, USPS is overpriced for anything that has to be shipped insured in a box. The insurance rates border on absurd. I've found FedEx Ground to be the most reasonable overall and prepare all my shipments on-line.

YMMV/ScottGee1

 

[Athena]

I first learned of KEH from this site and my purchases from them have been well-handled with delivery of working gear at least as good as expected.

However, I do not by UGLY or BGN stuff and try for at least EX-.

As to why some folks seem to need to use every thread of this kind here to rag on eBay (e.g. evilbay, "that site" etc.) - it is simply an exchange market. So what is the problem?

It's like whining about the classifieds section in your local newspaper!

If you want new - buy retail.

 

[dostacos]

I first learned of KEH from this site and my purchases from them have been well-handled with delivery of working gear at least as good as expected.

However, I do not by UGLY or BGN stuff and try for at least EX-.

As to why some folks seem to need to use every thread of this kind here to rag on eBay (e.g. evilbay, "that site" etc.) - it is simply an exchange market. So what is the problem?

It's like whining about the classifieds section in your local newspaper!

If you want new - buy retail.

I for one, refer to it as evilbay not because of the transactions, but it's feeding of my GAS😀

 

[ywenz]

Why would anyone buy form a vendor that doesn't provide an image or detailed description specific to the used item you are purchasing? Take them for their good word? wow... I hear KEH being throw around at these analogue forums like it was the best thing next to sliced bread.. guess not eh?

 

[dreilly]

So far, for me, so good. I've returned stuff and it was never a problem; they were always bargain items and rated fairly. I just bought a Bargain Canon New F-1 that's in gorgeous condition and works great...it was bargain for a nasty dig around the tripod socket, that was pretty much it. I just ordered three FD lenses, two rated UGLY and one BGN, we'll see!

Perhaps they are slipping but the return policy is still great, and I wholly second the person who suggested a call to have it put aside and examined. Worth the wait, especially on bigger-ticket items.

 

[scottgee1]

Why would anyone buy form a vendor that doesn't provide an image or detailed description specific to the used item you are purchasing? Take them for their good word? wow... I hear KEH being throw around at these analogue forums like it was the best thing next to sliced bread.. guess not eh?

To be fair, KEH is the largest dealer of used camera equipment in the world. Their inventory borders on stupefying. If you buy a Leica M6 rated "EX" and check the Web inventory the next day, you'll wonder why they haven't updated it yet. Turns out they have fifteen "EX" M6 bodies and you bought only one of them.

Given that their grading system is pretty much the standard for the industry, the descriptions are usually accurate so people know what to expect.

The feedback I've read here and on other forums leads me to believe they're no longer doing thorough functional checks when they purchase gear and that leads to a higher percentage of problems shipped to customers.

I'm already on record as being concerned about their financial health. They have a LOT of film based equipment that is doing nothing but depreciating both in value and, of course, salability. They've cleared out a lot of the cheaper stuff by lowering prices but as the market for film gear dwindles, their situation will worsen. I note that they've added laptops to their product mix. Maybe those will be profitable enough to keep them afloat.

If they do go under I wonder what will happen to all of that stuff? There isn't another dealer on Earth big enough to buy them out. Well, if they did, they would automatically become the largest.

Strange days . . .

ScottGee1

 

[dreilly]

Just to respond to the point a few posts up, evilbay (at least, I think) is commonly called that because of GAS-related issues and its addictive, meth-like qualities on us. I love ebay, have bought many, many things there and the only thing that wasn't good was a backpack that costs $13, and that's well over 100 deals. You just have to be aware of who you're dealing with, and use caution. But it is a fantastic market-place, far as I'm concerned. And it's definitely EVIL!

 

[tedwhite]

On the upside, KEH really do have a virtual lock on film related used equipment, and as long as people buy the stuff they'll probably stay in business - for how long is anyone's guess.

I have read here and elsewhere that there seems to be an unexpected interest in film photography, and a lot of this is generated by college and university photography programs. I taught in one of these programs until recently, and was impressed by the number of students we had to turn away from enrolling because the classes filled up almost immediately the opening day of registration.

Students seem to see using a film camera and developing your own film and making your own enlargements as a sort of esoteric art and "way cool."

The other day I was in crowded Peddler's Alley and a man asked, in a rather loud voice as he pointed at my Bessa R, "Is that a digital camera?"

"No," I replied, "It's a film camera. I'm a photographer." Everyone within earshot brust out laughing. A woman said, "Yeah, there is a difference."

Made my day, as it were.

 

[Rafael]

The lens that was in the mail to me from KEH arrived today (Nikkor AF-S 17-35/2.8). It was rated in "Bargain" condition on account of some minor dust trapped inside. The dust is minor and does not affect image quality in the least (to my eye anyway). And otherwise, the lens is in very good condition and seems to operate very smoothly. The price was excellent. So KEH's record with me remains unblemished.

 

[scottgee1]

Marc, that's good to hear.

Thanks for following up! 😎

ScottGee1

 

[NL2377]

I've still never had a problem with KEH, and always found that the gear that I have bought from them to have been very reliable and up to par. I have bought Items from members here on RFF that were described as better then they were, but I've never been dis-satisfied with KEH.

 

[nightfly]

Just as a follow up, the last item I bought from KEH, a Contax T2, didn't end up meeting my expectations. I don't know if the focus was off or if it just wasn't focusing on what I expected to, but for my style of shooting, it didn't work.

I just returned it, no questions asked.

 

[steve garza]

Never had any problem w/ B&H

Never had any problem w/ B&H

I purchased seven lenses from them in LN or LN- condition and found out that only two were in good working condition but none of them even close to their description.
When I asked what's their criteria for rating the answer was "mainly cosmetics". So you can get a perfect lemon but in a nice, rarely used body.
And their prices for LN- is very close to brand new ones, so I ended up sending five back and buying them new.

I WOULDN'T RECOMMEND KEH OR B&H TO ANYBODY LATELY.

Unless you like to play lottery and loose time to the post office or UPS location.

I've returned items I didn't want after all for full refund and there was no re-stocking fee. Postage is the chance you take when ordering out of your locale.