the nightmare of buying online

[caila77]

Recently I've had many bad experiences purchasing photographic material on the internet, from at least 4 different sites. What I notice is how Molyi are getting rid of old film cameras but that, in the digital age, they no longer have the skills to evaluate a camera or lens. So I found myself purchasing reflex cameras that the sellers (more than one) had stated upon specific inquiry as being in excellent condition and functioning at all times. or reflex cameras described with working light meter, but evidently never tested. And the same in the case of lenses, described as well preserved but which once received showed fungus inside or scratches.
and unfortunately many sales sites do not help because they issue refunds but the return costs remain the responsibility of the buyer. My experience teaches me that it is now better to buy only from sellers who demonstrate expertise in what they sell. After all, it would take little for a seller to declare that he is not an expert and is not able to evaluate what he is selling.
sometimes even reflex cameras sent without any packaging and arrived damaged (3 from September to today).

the latest arrival today. the seller wrote to me that the lenses were immaculate.

I doubt that scratch has any effect on the performance of the lens, but the value of the lens is very different and I would never have purchased a lens with such a scratch.

 

[enasniearth]

most times buying when you can't hold the item is taking a chance
seems like about half of what I purchase is not in very good condition
most of the items I purchase are from the 1940's - 1970's & these items
are 50-80 years old now - luckily I can return some - but purchase less now
it seems harder to sell now if you don't have use for a camera or lens &
decide to sell other than at a low price
most people don't realize the concerns camera people have & honestly
don't know how to evaluate glass & condition in general

 

[Dogman]

I buy everything online. But I buy from trusted used gear dealers with return privileges and guarantees. Prices are higher but frustrations are fewer.

 

[AlwaysOnAuto]

I buy and have bought numerous items, toy trains, cameras and lenses off the Goodwill auction site. So far, so good, as I'm careful to examine what ever pictures they post of the items, look at where the item is located from a demographics standpoint, and don't spend more than I'm willing to risk as being a total waste of my time, effort and money.

Most of my digital cameras have been purchased used from reputable sellers on the east coast who do offer a guarantee.

I guess you could say I look at purchasing online as the same as gambling. You have to be prepared to loose what you're risking by paying the price asked.

 

[skopar steve]

I buy from KEH or off craigslist where I can inspect the items before purchasing.

 

[Retro-Grouch]

I buy from KEH or off craigslist where I can inspect the items before purchasing.

I used to be a big fan of KEH, but they've taken a nosedive. Items in EX or EX+ condition have arrived with obvious mechanical and optical defects on a number of occasions in the past few years. The good news is that they will accept and pay for returns, but their QA just isn't what it used to be. We won't even discuss their rip-off purchasing offers!

 

[Miles.]

I used to be a big fan of KEH, but they've taken a nosedive. Items in EX or EX+ condition have arrived with obvious mechanical and optical defects on a number of occasions in the past few years. The good news is that they will accept and pay for returns, but their QA just isn't what it used to be. We won't even discuss their rip-off purchasing offers!

When their lead buyer, Nelson, left for Robert’s Camera, KEH seemed to almost immediately go downhill.

 

[wlewisiii]

KEH, Robers, National Camera Exchange, etc.

 

[Richard G]

I’ve obviously been very lucky.

 

[DownUnder]

Nowadays buying on Ebay et al (= almost anywhere online) is really about how much $$ you can afford to put at risk, and at times lose.

It helps to put a limit on what you are prepared to spend, and stay within it. Mine is AUD $100. I buy books and fountain pen accessories (plungers, cleaning kits, inks) and little else. I doubt I will be getting another camera in my lifetime, but if I do, it will be from one of the (very few) reputable secondhand dealers I have confidence in. All are online (they have their own sites), and they also have shops in Melbourne so I can inspect the item before I pay for it.

So I buy only small items online, when I couldn't get them any cheaper by direct shopping, and always from established and reputable buyers.

For me life is too short to have to put myself through the hassles of battling both a dishonest buyer and the biased buyer-favored sales policies of Ebay.

 

[DownUnder]

Recently I've had many bad experiences purchasing photographic material on the internet, from at least 4 different sites. What I notice is how Molyi are getting rid of old film cameras but that, in the digital age, they no longer have the skills to evaluate a camera or lens. So I found myself purchasing reflex cameras that the sellers (more than one) had stated upon specific inquiry as being in excellent condition and functioning at all times. or reflex cameras described with working light meter, but evidently never tested. And the same in the case of lenses, described as well preserved but which once received showed fungus inside or scratches.
and unfortunately many sales sites do not help because they issue refunds but the return costs remain the responsibility of the buyer. My experience teaches me that it is now better to buy only from sellers who demonstrate expertise in what they sell. After all, it would take little for a seller to declare that he is not an expert and is not able to evaluate what he is selling.
sometimes even reflex cameras sent without any packaging and arrived damaged (3 from September to today).

the latest arrival today. the seller wrote to me that the lenses were immaculate.

I doubt that scratch has any effect on the performance of the lens, but the value of the lens is very different and I would never have purchased a lens with such a scratch.View attachment 4850383

I'm sure we all agree that a description of this lens as 'immaculate' would be well in the realm of over imagination.

My take on this is that lens is quite an old Sigma zoom. Even if it was in better condition it wouldn't really be worth all that much - not that this would stop a hopeful seller of overpricing it, but that's an entirely different story.

Nonetheless, as you wrote it is most likely still usable. So a lot really depends on the price you paid for it (I noted you didn't tell us that). If it was $300, then way too much. If $30, you still got a good deal.

See my previous post. With Ebay it all depends how much hassle you are prepared to go through to get a refund if the seller doesn't agree to come to the party with a partial or full reimbursement. As for postage costs to return a lens, it's to Ebay's shame that they have yet to come up with a decent policy about that, especially in cases of misrepresentation of items by sellers.

 

[boojum]

I have bought online, eBay. Four M bodies and numerous lenses. One so-so '55 KMZ J8, all the rest good. But I am very careful. I look at the sellers rating, how long in business, how many sales and return privileges. Do I pay more? Yes. Have I gotten burned? No. So I pay more up front but I pay no return postage or restocking fees or any of that crap. It is a gamble. Do what you can to get the odds in your favor.

 

[p.giannakis]

In my experience, the times I got a lemon online was when I thought a got a great bargain.

 

[WoodallP]

But there is the flipside too; you buy cheap crap for the case or to harvest screws and you get it working by bashing it on the doorframe (or maybe putting a battery in) and you have too many cameras once more.

P.s I know you can't have too many cameras really. Just not enough space.

 

[Muggins]

My problem is that you can't get crap for 99p plus P&P anymore. Though that has kept me from filling the house with Retinettes...

 

[WoodallP]

My problem is that you can't get crap for 99p plus P&P anymore. Though that has kept me from filling the house with Retinettes...

At least with the scrap bins at camera fairs you know you are getting proper crap and can check that it’s absolute rubbish before buying. Nevertheless we all make mistakes and I recently stupidly ended up with two working spotmatics (SP and SP”500”) for a tenner. Had to sell them for 20 euros just to avoid losing money on ebay. Would have been great for the Christmas giveaway but I never thought.

By the way for those in the UK and near, it’s the Wolverhampton camera fair tomorrow. Much more fun than ebay.

 

[p.giannakis]

By the way for those in the UK and near, it’s the Wolverhampton camera fair tomorrow. Much more fun than ebay.

I live in Stafford but I'm not leaving the house tomorrow with this weather. Most of A449 is blocked with fallen branches.

 

[ChrisPlatt]

On eBay most sellers in Japan are honest and will not feign ignorance on how to check lenses.
Typically they include many photos and will usually mention the slightest defect they observe.

Chris

 

[Coldkennels]

I live in Stafford but I'm not leaving the house tomorrow with this weather. Most of A449 is blocked with fallen branches.

Even without the storm, you'd have to pay me to go to Wolverhampton, camera fair or no.

I jest, of course. I mean, at least it's not Tamworth.

Slandering the Black Country aside, I do enjoy a good camera fair; I've picked up a few things from the London one over the years. Some sellers can, of course, be arseholes, but most are willing to chat, make deals, and help you out.

 

[DownUnder]

My problem is that you can't get crap for 99p plus P&P anymore. Though that has kept me from filling the house with Retinettes...

Known here in Australia as "the everything for two and six mentality."

A cautionary tale here.

One of our neighbors - in his 80s, a long retired with a good pension so not skint for anything - on a crazy whim decided to collect 1980s PCs bought cheaply to (so he hoped) resell at a profit.

Keen as he was, eventually he had +/- 100 Displaywriters (does anyone here remember them?), most acquired dirt-cheaply from state government agencies. Soon his two-car garage was overflowing, so he leased warehouse space. A big locker quickly filled up.

Then he tried to sell. Six months on Ebay, not one sale. A few bottom-feeder queries, nothing that led to anything near his intent to offload and make easy money.

Eventually his wife threatened to throw him out of the house with his PCs and haul him to the divorce court. Admittedly she was fed up with him for more than those Displaywriters, as I have to say we all were.

Eventually he gave in and offloaded. It took three skips (= hoppers) to dispose of that lot of junk.

Now he buys CDs and DVDs. Has thousands of both. The wife has moved out and refuses to return. Divorce likely next year. He isn't great at looking after himself, has to have help in to clean and tidy up and do laundry, orders food online, surfs the internet all night looking for online evidence that aliens from outer space are living among us. Misses his wife but won't stop acquisitioning. We fear for his mental health and make polite suggestions that it's time for another couple of skips. So far no good.

Cameras aren't computers or DVDs or CDs, but they do fall into a category best categorized as "different but same".