35mm Purchase Mistake?

[Truzi]

Good to hear it arrived. Perhaps they should have communicated better, but there was a time in the not-so-distant past when 16 days would have been considered well within the norm for shipping.

 

[elekm]

How much money are we talking about?

The first time that I bought from Goodwill, I was surprised by the shipping and handling. I always was sure to look at those costs and factor that into how much I was willing to pay for a camera.

I didn't carp too much, because I figured (was hoping) that the money was helping employ someone whose life wasn't as fortunate as mine.

 

[Pioneer]

And E-Bay??? Are you serious?? You really mean that you would rather enrich the E-Bay/Paypal cartel rather then help out your fellow man a bit?

 

[micwag2]

And E-Bay??? Are you serious?? You really mean that you would rather enrich the E-Bay/Paypal cartel rather then help out your fellow man a bit?

And what makes you so sure that the individual selling on eBay is not in a bit? Buy from where you are comfortable doing business and can get a deal on your purchase that is in the condition and with service you are willing to accept. With eBay you at least have some buyer protections, I doubt that Goodwill has the same.

 

[AstroZon]

I've bought a few things from Goodwill.com and have never had an issue. Shipping varied from a few days to a few weeks - just depends on the store and their shipping set-up.

I still have my Super Program that I bought new in 1985. It's been my go-to camera for years. In fact, I was thinking about getting another. It's a great camera, and it still meters perfectly. I had the shutter checked about a year ago, and it's still spot on.

 

[Pioneer]

And what makes you so sure that the individual selling on eBay is not in a bit? Buy from where you are comfortable doing business and can get a deal on your purchase that is in the condition and with service you are willing to accept. With eBay you at least have some buyer protections, I doubt that Goodwill has the same.

You're right, that is certainly possible. If it makes you feel better to believe you are helping someone on ebay who needs it, enjoy.

But the people being helped at Goodwill stores are definitely down and need help.

 

[snegron]

I've bought a few things from Goodwill.com and have never had an issue. Shipping varied from a few days to a few weeks - just depends on the store and their shipping set-up.

I still have my Super Program that I bought new in 1985. It's been my go-to camera for years. In fact, I was thinking about getting another. It's a great camera, and it still meters perfectly. I had the shutter checked about a year ago, and it's still spot on.

The frame counter on the Super Program they sent me does not work. I did some research online and apparently this is not too uncommon a problem. Before you buy another Super Program I would ask the seller if the frame counter works. It is a nice little camera, but I think that getting it repaired would probably cost more than I would like to spend.

 

[John_Nikon_F]

So far, I've bought two items from the Seattle Goodwill store. I didn't buy them through the shopgoodwill.com site, though. Bought them via eBay. One was a Nikomat FTn that I received for $24.95+tax and their $2.00 local pickup fee. Camera worked, with the usual Nikon CdS meter dirty ring resistor issue. The other item is a 300/4.5 EDIF Nikkor AIS lens. Got it for $53, plus the tax and $2.00 fee. Clean glass, some wear on the barrel, and missing the tripod collar. But, for the price, I'm not complaining. Their people skills aren't that great, but, you usually do get useable stuff for cheap.

-J

 

[snegron]

So far, I've bought two items from the Seattle Goodwill store. I didn't buy them through the shopgoodwill.com site, though. Bought them via eBay. One was a Nikomat FTn that I received for $24.95+tax and their $2.00 local pickup fee. Camera worked, with the usual Nikon CdS meter dirty ring resistor issue. The other item is a 300/4.5 EDIF Nikkor AIS lens. Got it for $53, plus the tax and $2.00 fee. Clean glass, some wear on the barrel, and missing the tripod collar. But, for the price, I'm not complaining. Their people skills aren't that great, but, you usually do get useable stuff for cheap.

-J

Hi John! Any suggestions on fixing the frame counter of this Super Program? I am tempted to open it up and tinker with it, but my eyesight is not what it used to be! With my luck I might close it back up and have a few parts left over!

I have seen a few BGN bodies going for low prices, so I don't know if I want to invest too much on this body. Everything works on it (so far) except for the frame counter. I might be tempted to get a BGN body and cannibalize this one to make a decent Super Program.

 

[John_Nikon_F]

Sandy,

There was the suggestion in one of the other threads to use lighter fluid (hexane might work as well) to clean the gunk that's preventing the reset pin from popping out and resetting the frame counter. Might as well try it and see how it goes.

-J

 

[Photo-gear]

I recently posted a thread here requesting opinions on the Pentax Super Program. I went to the auction site Shopgoodwill.om and had the winning bid on a Pentax Super Program body. I received an email informing me that I had won, so I went back to the site and paid for the camera. I checked back on the site during the last several days and the status shows that it has not shipped.

I verified with my credit card that the payment to shopgoodwill went through. I called up the Goodwill (Seattle store) to inquire about my order. I spoke with a very curt male individual who told me that they had received payment. When I asked if it was going to be shipped to me he said "Yes. Is that all you wanted to know?" Then he hung up. :confused:

It still shows as "order not shipped". The original disclaimer on the auction page indicated that the item would be shipped within 5 days of receiving payment. I emailed the auction site and Goodwill Seattle, but have gotten no response.

Anyone else here ever had a similar issue with Shopgoodwill auction site? Does it normally take over 5 days for them to ship something out? I am starting to wonder if they even had that Pentax Super program to begin with. I am going to give them a few more days and if I don't get anywhere with them I will cancel the order through my credit card.

True shame as I really wanted to play around with that Pentax Super Program.

Coincidence or not, I happened to start a thread with the same topic three days before this one. No imagination? Sorry to bring it up to your attention.

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

 

[Photo-gear]

error

 

[PPPPPP42]

There is a little tab on the rear film door that pushes into a hole in the light seal track on the camera body, when the door is opened the lever in that hole pops up (towards the door though it won't stick out of the hole) and releases the film counter. I would open the rear door and poke in there with a toothpick or something similar to work the lever a bit while tapping on the body and see if you can unstick it. If that doesn't work its time for a CLA which is worth doing for that camera in my opinion since all the remaining working ones are getting to that point but will likely do another 25 years when properly serviced and more importantly cleaned and relubed.
This is the official champion of film camera CLA for the Pentax forums (in the USA anyways): http://www.pentaxs.com/
Also test the shutter half press for function and the little button on the left side of the lens mount (turns on light and exposure meter) to make sure that works without having to be totally mashed.
I love the Super Program and have owned several though the last time around I went the short route and got one that had already had a full CLA from someone on another forum for way more than you paid.