Rocky Cameras

[seany65]

I was just wondering if anyone knows of, or buys from, a company called 'Rocky Cameras'?

I've just found their website and they do have a lot of stuff, ranging from Leica through zenit E's, TLR's, compacts, folders, pre-war stuff and so on, and thier prices range from £thousands to £5.

They do have some stuff I may be interesed in, but some of their prices on some things seem a little low, eg. :

"Leica R4 body £89.99"

"This camera comes in exc conditon.This is a working item,shutter firing correctly.This is in exc cosmetic conditon"

and quite a few of their web entries have 'odd' descriptions, such as:

"This comes in .This is a item, .This is in exc".

So I'm not sure what to think.

 

[Steve M.]

An R4 sells for $95-$110 US, so that price seems OK. They certainly do have a selection of gear, but their shipping prices to the US always jinxed anything for me in the past. I have heard mixed reviews on Rocky Cameras (gotta love the name), but have no actual buys from them to help you along. I think that odd copy you mention is maybe due to someone typing it up when English is not their first language, but I like it. "Lens so great usable camera outfit" sounds like your usual Japanese to English gibberish. Sort of like when the German President Heinrich Lubke commented to Queen Elizabeth II that a horse race would soon start, it came out as “Equal goes it loose” because he translated it literally. From what I understand the Queen took it in well, smiled, shook his hand, and moved on. In her line of work, you probably get to hear everything at least once.

Found some reviews below. They are so hair raising I don't know what to think. Seems I was wrong about the reason the descriptions are cryptic too. Many people say that he just buys huge lots of used gear, never checks it out, and just lists it in a quick cut and paste style. Still, lens so great usable camera outfit is poetic, as long as you're not the one buying it I reckon. And I always liked that Queen II story.

http://www.resellerratings.com/store/RockyCameras

http://www.reviewcentre.com/Online-Camera-Shops/Rocky-Cameras-www-rockycameras-com-reviews_1437292

 

[zuikologist]

Bluntly, stay away, he is a con man.

 

[sevo]

Probably the worst reputation among UK (or even European) camera sellers. I once bought a one-piece lens hood off him, thinking that he could not mess up something as simple and solid as that, but even that was too bent to straighten out. My impression is that the must be buying scrap value cameras off waste recyclers, pushing them to ebay rather than breaking them apart for metal recovery as intended.

 

[Tony Whitney]

I've bought equipment from UK based Rocky and have had nothing but good experiences. No problem at all, though shipping anywhere is a swindle these days, but that's not Rocky's fault. It's near-bankrupt postal services trying to salvage funds from internet sales.

 

[Bille]

I was just wondering if anyone knows of, or buys from, a company called 'Rocky Cameras'?

Dont buy there.

http://www.resellerratings.com/store/RockyCameras

 

[rodt16s]

I've bought a few things from Rocky Cameras, not had a bad experience.
The quality of the packaging for shipping wasn't the best, but couldn't fault the buy to receive turnaround.
As with all internet buying, the best advice don't take the item description as gospel, dig deeper.

 

[Mr_Flibble]

Avoid like the plague

They still owe me either 40GBP or a 3" C-mount lens.
Won't respond to emails.

 

[citizen99]

I've bought a few things from Rocky - no complaints personally, as I tend to buy low-end stuff (if the price/risk ratio looks not too bad) to tinker with. I ignore his 'cut and pasted' statements about cosmetic/optical condition. Not always the fastest shipper, I suspect he may be a one-man operation. I wouldn't go there for something expensive unless it was a rarity that I really wanted.

 

[Highway 61]

I once bought from him for £25 GBP what was listed and pictured as a genuine Leitz TSOOV leather neck strap in new old stock condition.

Then I received a 15 cm long piece of torn-out brown leather with a rusted buckle at its end. To my polite complaints for a refund he responded with tons of insults in a nice Donald Trump style.

Blacklist that guy. He's a thief.

 

[Bille]

I've bought a few things from Rocky Cameras, not had a bad experience.

He took my money, did not ship anything, did not answer e-mails for weeks.

When I finally threatened him to send local Hooligans to pick up my money and keep it for themselves I got an instant paypal refund.

I repeat: Dont buy there.

 

[rodt16s]

He took my money, did not ship anything, did not answer e-mails for weeks.

When I finally threatened him to send local Hooligans to pick up my money and keep it for themselves I got an instant paypal refund.

I repeat: Dont buy there.

Can only report my dealing..
Within the last few weeks I bought a lens that doesn't show up often for sale and it was delivered without hassle. A few other small items previously the same
The consensus however suggests very different experiences

 

[pschauss]

I have not bought anything from him recently but I agree with the mixed reviews above. I bought a Pentacon electric 50/1.8 lens and a lens hood for a Super Ikonta which were fine. A Praktica PCL3, however required rewiring of one of the battery contacts but was otherwise functional. I still use this camera and the open aperture metering works fine after the repair.

A Minolta X300 had a frame counter which would not reset.

I would not buy from him again.

 

[Sarcophilus Harrisii]

I've had one excellent and one somewhat average experience. I don't think I'd want to take a punt on anything too pricey from him. Low-priced items, if they're rare or interesting enough to warrant interest, maybe, but buying from him always appears to be a bit of a gamble. His communications definitely are very ordinary. After my first purchase, I wrote to him and told him how pleased I was with the item, and even that did not get any kind of response.

 

[Kent]

It that is the same "Rocky" that used to sell items some years ago already, stay away!
Several friends in the MFL forum made bad experiences with him.

 

[greyelm]

Avoid at all costs. A few years back I ordered a camera from him which didn't arrive within a week so I raised a dispute with PayPal and got a refund. In the intervening years I have bought at least eight Leica LTMs and several other cameras from other eBay sellers all without problem. Rocky Cameras = Rotten Cameras.

 

[seany65]

Thanks to everyone for the replies and the info.

Hmmm. Even if I only take the statements of those who've actually had dealings with him, and ignore the others who have 'only' found reviews by other people, He seems to have a fairly bad rep.

 

[c.poulton]

I've only used them once - I would avoid as the description is nowhere near what the actual item is like. Very poor quality IMHO. Luckily I only bought a couple of lens caps and a cheap SLR lens, but wouldn't use them again.

 

[Kenzie]

I have bought two lenses from him. Both as described and well packed.

Sent from the darkroom

 

[Nokton48]

I had some difficulties with him too.
It was not a major pruchase but still aggravating.
Yes he lies!