Adorama used lens ratings, anyone have experience with them?

[Sean]

I'm looking at a used lens with a "D" rating

N = New Comes complete as packed by manufacturer with warranty except where noted.
D = Demo Demonstration condition almost like new, might show very light use.
E+=Excellent + Very clean
E = Excellent Shows normal wear, might have minor scratches, glass clean.
E - = Excellent - Average wear, may have small marks but no brassing
V = Very Good Shows heavier wear, works mechanically fine
G = Good Shows extra heavy use wear, glass might have scratches, usable

F = Fair

I'm likely to purchase it I just hope it really is a "D"..

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I'd probably trust them on something in "D" condition.

 

[david b]

I will be in NYC a week from Monday. I can check it out for you if you want. Let me know.

 

[Curt]

I've not bought with a "D" rating but have bought two lenses in the last few months, one an enlarging lens and the other for the RB67. They both had the "E" rating and were extremely clean. The glass is perfect on both. I used Paypal and the first time it took a couple of weeks to go through, I had never had that happen before. Every time I checked it was in "Pending" state. The second time it went right through, maybe it's fraud protection. I am completely satisfied with both purchases.

The KEH purchases were not so nice, a tripod head had a bent handle and was roughed up and a lens was very well used by the Miami Herald, as inscribed. You know that a newspaper would used the equipment intensely. In all fairness though if you don't go Excellent or better you just don't know what it will be like. When they say RB back it doesn't mean it will have a dark slide, which most would assume it would have.

So Adorama gets my vote.

Curt

 

[Curt]

I will be in NYC a week from Monday. I can check it out for you if you want. Let me know

That's the ultimate in evaluation!

 

[HelenOster]

Adorama

I'm looking at a used lens with a "D" rating

N = New Comes complete as packed by manufacturer with warranty except where noted.
D = Demo Demonstration condition almost like new, might show very light use.
E+=Excellent + Very clean
E = Excellent Shows normal wear, might have minor scratches, glass clean.
E - = Excellent - Average wear, may have small marks but no brassing
V = Very Good Shows heavier wear, works mechanically fine
G = Good Shows extra heavy use wear, glass might have scratches, usable

F = Fair

I'm likely to purchase it I just hope it really is a "D"..

Dear Sean

Hopefully you'll be completely happy with your lens, but if you have any concerns, please don't hesitate to contact me directly: helen.oster@adoramacamera.com

Sincerely

Helen Oster
Adorama Camera Customer Service Ambassador

 

[Gatsby1923]

I know a lot of people who don't like Adorama for whatever reason. I have found them to be as good as any retailer of that size. I have also bought a few pieces of used equipment there over the years and have found them to be well represented. They even CLA'd my Leica IIIC before sending it to me. On the other hand (since Adorama is obviously listening) you need to do a better job packing things. Throwing a glass thermometer in a padded envelope for example is a bad idea.

 

[HelenOster]

I know a lot of people who don't like Adorama for whatever reason. I have found them to be as good as any retailer of that size. I have also bought a few pieces of used equipment there over the years and have found them to be well represented. They even CLA'd my Leica IIIC before sending it to me. On the other hand (since Adorama is obviously listening) you need to do a better job packing things. Throwing a glass thermometer in a padded envelope for example is a bad idea.

Have you got your order number handy, so we can check who packed it?

Helen

 

[Fotoguy20d]

I've bought a bunch of stuff from Adorama over the years, both used and refurbished. The refurbished page is really hard to find so I keep it bookmarked - Dead Link Removed

The last used item I bought was a Canon 300mm f4L in EX-. Glass is pristine. Body has a lot of little scuffs and chips in the paints. Works great - I've had it for around a year and a half. I also bought a Canon 50mm in EX-. Again, pristine glass and scuffs on the body and works fine - had that one for around 3 years.

In refurb, I've bought Canon's 100mm f2.8 maco and 580EX flash. I've had the lens for almots a year and the flash longer than that with no problems with either.

I've also bought used from KEH - last was a Canon 2x TC in EX+. I'd have called it LN.

In general, I think Adorama's ratings are very fair in terms of glass but only fair to slightly optimistic in terms of cosmetics (but I still buy used from them) and KEH's tend to be very fair to pesimistic (as in, it'll be better than they say)

Dan

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Dear Sean

Hopefully you'll be completely happy with your lens, but if you have any concerns, please don't hesitate to contact me directly: helen.oster@adoramacamera.com

Sincerely

Helen Oster
Adorama Camera Customer Service Ambassador

Welcome to APUG, and thanks for participating!

 

[Sean]

Thanks for the input everyone including Helen. I went ahead and ordered the lens, it was such a good deal I didn't want to risk losing it. I would probably be perfectly happy with a E or E+ so the demo rating is a nice bonus.

 

[Sean]

The lens has arrived and it is MINT! In a Leica Leather lens case, and not only that it unexpectedly has a mint Leica E60 UVa filter on it, these are not cheap so what a great bonus. This has definitely made my day. Now just waiting for my ebay'd R8 body to show up and I'm in business

 

[Curt]

What's are the spec's on the lens, size, glad it worked out, it didn't take that long either.

 

[ny_photog]

And so the restaurant critic walked in and was immediately seated at the best table in the house. Perusing the menu, he nibbled on an amuse bouche of periwinkles bathed in truffle oil.

He ordered a light Liebfraumilch and was presented with one of Moselle's finest special bottlings, it redolent floral aroma filling his nose and tickling his palate.

Meanwhile, the nine-to-five day worker on rare splurge with his wife was served a basket of six day old moldy baguette slices.

He ordered a California Pinot Grigio and was "rewarded" with some white plonk from Carneros valley - it's acidity matching the aridity of such a desert terroir.

 

[HelenOster]

Adorama lens

The lens has arrived and it is MINT! In a Leica Leather lens case, and not only that it unexpectedly has a mint Leica E60 UVa filter on it, these are not cheap so what a great bonus. This has definitely made my day. Now just waiting for my ebay'd R8 body to show up and I'm in business

Dear Sean

delighted to read that you are so pleased with your purchase from Adorama.

Do keep a note of my direct email contact, in case I can ever help in the future: helen.oster@adoramacamera.com
Sincerely

Helen Oster
Adorama Camera Customer Service Ambassador

 

[mwdake]

Wow, a Customer Service Ambassador checking on posts.
That is nice to see.

thanks

 

[jd callow]

Wow, a Customer Service Ambassador checking on posts.
That is nice to see.

thanks

Its nice to see and very smart.

 

[Curt]

Helen I bought two lenses from your company, one enlarging lens and one camera lens and they are working out very nice.

Curt

 

[HelenOster]

Helen I bought two lenses from your company, one enlarging lens and one camera lens and they are working out very nice.

Curt

Delighted to hear it, Curt - but if you have any problems, you know where I am: helen.oster@adoramacamera.com

Best wishes

Helen

 

[MARCUZA]

Adorama Used Equipment Ratings

I purchased a used Fuji G690 with 100mm 3.5 lens directly from the company's website. The camera/lens was described as E-, which, according to Adorama's published condition scale, states specifically " no brassing". This camera arrived with significant brassing and the focusing ring on the lens was usuably stiff and in need of a CLA. To Adorama's credit, they accepted the return and refunded the purchase price + shipping. This week, I notice that Adorama is selling the exact same item on Ebay. It is still condition rated as E-. I have bought new equipment and accessories from Adorama and am quite pleased with their prices and services and will continue to buy from them . Regarding used equipment, however, buyer be very aware!

 

[HelenOster]

Adorama on Ebay

I purchased a used Fuji G690 with 100mm 3.5 lens directly from the company's website. The camera/lens was described as E-, which, according to Adorama's published condition scale, states specifically " no brassing". This camera arrived with significant brassing and the focusing ring on the lens was usuably stiff and in need of a CLA. To Adorama's credit, they accepted the return and refunded the purchase price + shipping. This week, I notice that Adorama is selling the exact same item on Ebay. It is still condition rated as E-. I have bought new equipment and accessories from Adorama and am quite pleased with their prices and services and will continue to buy from them . Regarding used equipment, however, buyer be very aware!

Dear Marcuza

Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I shall be following this through with the Ebay Dept. as soon as they open for business

Sincerely

Helen Oster
Adorama Camera Customer Service Ambassador
helen.oster@adoramacamera.com

 

[HelenOster]

Dear Marcuza

So, I have got - I think - to the bottom of this one.

The item was indeed accepted back from you and you were refunded in full - as per our 90-day returns policy on used equipment.

Subsequently it was cleaned up (no, I don't know why this may not have been addressed adequately prior to sending it out to you), and put on Ebay.
While it is true that the rating is still E-, the Used department are actualy in the process of re-evaluating the Adorama rating system.

The 'new' E-: Excellent Minus 85-89% of original condition - Shows signs of moderate use - Lens Glass is perfect but may have some dust which will not affect picture quality.

I hope that this clarifies the position, but do feel free to contact me directly if you have any further queries.


Sincerely

Helen Oster
Adorama Camera Customer Service Ambassador

helen.oster@adoramacamera.com
www.adorama.com

 

[wilsonneal]

I have had good luck with Adorama items on eBay, but have the luxury of paying/picking up in person, so I can make sure it's been accurately described. It's been my experience that they grade fairly on most things. One exception was a Deardorff V8 that was 'excellent' on their website, but when I went in to see it, it was way, way overgraded. That was three years ago, and of late they've been very good about grading.
Neal

 

[HelenOster]

Good Morning, All

In response to a number of suggestions regarding the clarity of our Used gradings at Adorama - some from this forum - we are now using the following (any comments are very welcome).

Helen Oster
Adorama Camera Customer Service Ambassador
helen.oster@adoramacamera.com

N) New (Brand new)
All original packaging and manuals included

D) Demo (Like New) 98-100% of original condition
Like New with little or no signs of use

E+) Excellent Plus 96-97% of original condition
May have slight wear but only visible under close up inspection

E) Excellent 90-95% of original condition
Lens Glass very clean - cosmetically may show slight wear and/or signs of use

E-) Excellent Minus 85-89% of original condition
Shows signs of moderate use - Lens Glass is perfect but may have some dust which will not affect picture quality

V) Very Good 75-84% of original condition
Appears well used and may include dings, brassing, scrapes and bruises but is in fully functional condition. Glass may have marks or haze that should not affect picture quality

G) Good 50-74% of original condition
Appears to have been used very heavily with multiple dings, scrapes, scratches and heavy brassing. Glass may have fungus, excessive dust and/or scratches that can affect picture quality

F) Fair Item works with certain malfunctions. Read comments for exact malfunction details

X) For parts only

Accessories:
New – As Packaged by manufacturer
For all other grades – Instruction books, caps, batteries, cases, and straps are sold separately, except when specified

All digital cameras are packed with Battery and charger except when stated otherwise.

 

[Shangheye]

Anyone can nitpick on service, but personally my experiences have all been excellent with Adorama. If I were to have a gripe it is that despite being a repeat seller, I have to go through the same verification process on my cards etc, every time, because I am living in Belgium. Not a problem, but time and money consuming with international calls etcThe rating system has been fair with me to date. Rgds, Kal