private seller ... never again.

[user237428934]

Some weeks ago I bought a used Hexar RF on ebay. It was the first time that I bought an item over 200 EUR from a private person and not from a shop. And it was the first time I bought an item that is absolutely outdated and has problems with the service. Normally I am a lucky guy but this time it failed.
The condition of the camera is great. Looks good, no scratches. When mounting a lens I recognized that the ghost image in the viewfinder does not match (y-axis is off). Got two films back later and it was a mess. Focus is approx. 1m before the point I focussed on at a distance of 2-3m. Communication with the seller was :bang: . ebay was no help.

So here I am with a not usable camera. A repair shop told me that a repair could be something between 200 and 400 EUR. Because of the way it went I will never use this camera. So there are two options:
- pay for the repair and sell it for the price I bought it.
- sell it as faulty for at least 300 EUR less. Don't know if i will find someone who is interested in that. Besides the finder everything else is fine.
Either way I will loose at least 300 EUR.

Ok. **** happens. But here are my lessons learned:

I will return to my only-buy-from-a-shop policy. In Germany we can return something (even used stuff) to an online shop within 14 days if we don't like it. That's pretty secure.

I will never again buy a used item that is already absolutely outdated and problematic in service.

Wish you a nice sunday.

 

[jarski]

sorry for your troubles, eBay can be like a lottery sometimes.

strange that RF-aligning is that costly, although I dont know Hexars. perhaps ask another opinion somewhere else ?

 

[SimonSawSunlight]

yes, just the rf-alignment can't be that expensive, go find another repair shop maybe, or do it yourself? even at solms, a simple alignment isn't that expensive, is it?

 

[mfogiel]

Have a look here, it seems highly doable on a DIY basis.
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1937&highlight=hexar+realign

 

[jonmanjiro]

In Japan, Kenko Tokina has taken over the servicing of Konica cameras from Sony. For the Hexar RF, the maximum cost for a repair is 23,000 yen (as shown here on their website).

If you have no way to send the camera directly to Japan, you can always go through Dirk at Japan Exposures. He's a German guy living in Japan so you can even communicate in German 🙂

 

[gliderbee]

It is a great camera, and doing the RF alignment yourself really is not that difficult; from the descriptions on the net, it looks intimidating, but it's just a case of having your tools with you (nothing really special), and tackling it step by step.

There are plenty of descriptions on the net. Just google "Hexar RF alignment".

It's really not difficult, and if there's nothing else wrong with the camera, you'll miss a lot by selling it without trying to align it.

Have a look here, it seems highly doable on a DIY basis.
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1937&highlight=hexar+realign

 

[johannielscom]

+1 for DIY repair. I once aligned a Hexar RF patch before selling the camera on for a profit, it was easy to do.

 

[John Lawrence]

I've given up on buying cameras from Ebay because I tend to find the items I'm interested in sell for far more on that site than the same item from a dealer. Strange but true, and with a dealer I (usually) get six months guarantee and a 'no quibble' returns policy.

John

 

[user237428934]

Hm. DIY. There is a good chance that I ruin it completely. Looked at the rf-thread but without photos it's not possible I think. If there was a step by step explanation with photos I would try it.

 

[ray*j*gun]

I've given up on buying cameras from Ebay because I tend to find the items I'm interested in sell for far more on that site than the same item from a dealer. Strange but true, and with a dealer I (usually) get six months guarantee and a 'no quibble' returns policy.

John

I have found the same thing......and unlike tom, I have terrible luck with ebay cameras and will never play that "lottery" again.

 

[Krosya]

A couple of comments :
1. Do your research - buying on ebay is not that bad, just research your seller. Many are very safe to buy from. I have purchased many very expensive items without a problem. Plus use a Credit Card as a paypal source of payment ONLY - in case something happends.
2. Many Private sales are done here in RFF and most are smooth I believe.
3. Hexar RF - if it's only RF aligment issue - its not hard to fix. However if someone did try to "fix" it already and broke something - that may be a pretty expensive fix of the "fix" as those parts are delicate there. I too have done it on one of my 3 Hexars and it's not hard to do - if you are handy enough.

So, while I can understand your frustration - I can see how this is upsetting, there are ways to address all the issues you have experienced.

 

[Bike Tourist]

In general, I think ebay has undergone a change in character over the years. Like many other aspects of the internet, some people have learned how to turn a good thing into an unfair advantage and how to cheat without repercussions.

Usually you can tell who these people are, but it is still a risk.

I would still buy from some of the dealers who advertise there, but there is no advantage to using ebay in place of just talking to them directly. In fact, the direct route is better for me since most of the dealers insist on making up "packages" by including cheap tripods, bags, lens cleaners and crap to make it appear a better deal to the uninitiated. If I talk to them directly I can ask them to forget about the "package".

 

[Neare]

Isn't there that paypal coverage policy on ebay for events such as this?


Though, my car got broken into last week at a bar during a quiz night. Cost me $200 to fix the broken window and another $250 to file the insurance claim for what was stolen.
Quiz night again this week, same place, and I'm going again. Can't let these things stop us from having fun right...

 

[FrankHarries]

From whom did you get the estimation of repair costs? The price you have been told seems much too high.

 

[kshapero]

Got an RF camera from an eBay private seller and it worked out fine. Got a faulty used lens from a known retailer and I returned it for a full refund. I guess I am lucky.

 

[splitimageview]

eBay is not a crap shoot if you know the policies and rules. For example, every auction that says 'no returns' is inaccurate; one can always return if you pay with paypal and go thru the dispute process. Not sure if German ebay is the same but that is the case in the US. The rules are tilted towards buyers, this can make things frustrating for sellers when you encounter an 'old pro' buyer who knows the rules and exploits them. In general the ebay sellers who are 'Top Rated' and have 100% feedback a mile long with camera gear are the ones to shop. Those are the ones that offer the best service, accurate descriptions, and easy returns, no questions asked.

 

[user237428934]

eBay is not a crap shoot if you know the policies and rules. For example, every auction that says 'no returns' is inaccurate; one can always return if you pay with paypal and go thru the dispute process. Not sure if German ebay is the same but that is the case in the US. The rules are tilted towards buyers, this can make things frustrating for sellers when you encounter an 'old pro' buyer who knows the rules and exploits them. In general the ebay sellers who are 'Top Rated' and have 100% feedback a mile long with camera gear are the ones to shop. Those are the ones that offer the best service, accurate descriptions, and easy returns, no questions asked.

Those are shops anyway and not private sellers. There is no problem with shops here as you can return stuff within 14 days.

 

[Haigh]

Sorry to hear of your experience. I buy 2nd hand ( Contax G 28mm Lenas) from B&H NYC and am quite happy to deal with them. I live in Australia. I won't risk a private sale. Best of luck anyway with the future of your Hexar.