Buying Equipment from KEH

[Sirius Glass]

I do not believe that KEH formally shutter tests their cameras before selling them. They look at the cosmetics and may fire the shutter at one or more speeds.

 

[BradS]

With regard to 35mm SLRs, I have been told by their customer service people that they grade entirely on cosmetics. That the volume they deal in does not generally allow them to do much if any mechanical / functional testing of 35mm SLR bodies at all. This has been the source of my frustration with them. They advertise a body in EX condition. When I get it, yeah, it looks great but something is not working and I get really unhappy.

It should be noted that different people grade different things so, for example, large format lenses generally get graded by a different people than those who grade 35mm gear. So, standards and testing levels may differ for the various classes of gear.

 

[MattKing]

Has anyone ever enquired what KEH's position would be if you asked them about buying an item and having it CLA'd before they send it to you?

 

[michaelbsc]

Has anyone ever enquired what KEH's position would be if you asked them about buying an item and having it CLA'd before they send it to you?

No, but I have asked them about what grade I can expect to simply "work" out of the box, and their answer was that anything graded BGN (bargain) would be refunded or exchanged if it failed to work. UG (ugly) wasn't guaranteed to work, but they'll negotiate unless it is stated "AS IS" in the listing.

They do want happy customers.

 

[Dave_ON]

I've been dealing with KEH for about 10 years, both buying and selling.

It's been mostly good experiences, but I did have a nightmare once where they charged my credit card but the equipment didn't arrive. When I called to question them they said they had inadvertently sold the equipment to another buyer. They shipped a replacement for me and it was the wrong item. I returned it and finally got the correct item, but it took about two months to clear almost everything up, as I never did get a credit for the two extra shipping charges (The shipment they didn't send and the return). I was too happy to finally have the lens to worry about it.

Despite all that, I continued doing business with them and haven't had a problem since.

 

[whlogan]

They are simply the best for used equipment, bar none
Logan

 

[lxdude]

I do not believe that KEH formally shutter tests their cameras before selling them. They look at the cosmetics and may fire the shutter at one or more speeds.

They don't formally test them. I've seen them determine if the equipment is functional by observing the shutter at a few different speeds and work the diaphragm on lenses, stuff like that.

 

[BradleyK]

KEH? A customer of some 10 year's standing, I do not buy used equipment anywhere else. My list of purchases to date: 2- 500c/m bodies, 500el/x body, 50mm CFT*, 100mm CFT*, 120mmCFT* Makro, 180mm CFT*, 4-A12 backs, assorted B60 filters, 1-F2A body, 1-F2AS body, 18mm f/3.5 AIS lens, 28mm f/2 AIS lens 135mm f/2 AIS lens, 300mm f/2.8 AIS lens, 400mm f3.5 AIS lens as well as a huge assortment of filters, cables, straps, and misc. stuff including trippds, flashes and several Halliburton cases. My only "complaint": after 4 years of heavy use, the first of two Blad bodies I purchased required a $300.00 CLA (boo, hoo, hoo - guess I will be dumpster-diving for my next meal!) Oh, and one other concern: Canadian duties on some of the stuff gets a little stupid, however...

 

[cmacd123]

Oh, and one other concern: Canadian duties on some of the stuff gets a little stupid, however...

One reason I have not seriously considered KEH was that they seem to perfer to use UPS as a shipper. Many times I have received items by UPS with a extra 50 dollar charge for "brokerage" this for filling a one page form and advancing the duty/GST/HST.

I now simply avoid receiving anything from teh USA via UPS.

 

[rorye]

I just received a used FM from them last week, it's so clean it looks like it just came out of the box

 

[Billy Walker]

Just purchased a Calumet CC-401 from KEH and I am more than pleased with their description. The whole process couldn't have gone better.

Billy Walker

 

[removed-user-1]

Latest KEH Goodness

Just adding my latest experience with KEH.

Recently ordered a Mamiya 127mm f/3.8 lens for the RB67, with the 45mm and 82mm extension tubes, in BGN grade. The total was $82 including shipping. It's all beautiful, although obviously used, and works perfectly.

I don't know what I'd do if KEH wasn't around. Maybe have money in the bank....

 

[Frank C]

I've had good experiences with KEH as well. I usually check them before looking any place else.

 

[Jeff Kubach]

I also have good experiences with KEH.

Jeff

 

[ParkerSmithPhoto]

Love my 127mm RZ lens, also from KEH.

I've been buying from them for over 15 years and have never once had a problem with anything. I wished they hadn't moved across town, though. It was so easy to pop by there and pick up some new goodies!

 

[doughowk]

Bought a Mamiya C330 body from them about 3 weeks ago. It was malfunctioning, so I called on a Saturday afternoon. They emailed me a FedEx return label. Just received it back, and it now works fine. No cost and no hassle! Highly recommend them.

 

[fmajor]

SCREWED BY KEH....

So i buy a used Manfrotto 498rc2 ballhead. I'm living in Europe for awhile and needed some friends to bring it over for me. Ordered end of September and was just able to take possession of it 09Nov.

IT WAS THE WRONG HEAD!!! The packing sticker had all the right information, but they sent a 496rc2 instead.

They've offered to refund the price difference between the 2 heads, but nothing for the huge irritation. Any "upright" retailer would offer that - as a bare minimum.

This stinks.

 

[Chayelle]

Yes, I can also get frustrated at other peoples mistakes,
but, it is sure nice when I goof up and that cashier or whomever,
is so helpful to me regardless...
I guess I am not perfect yet myself ...

 

[Chayelle]

I forgot to ad, KEH does try to do a pretty descent job
for me. Have bought quite a few items from them. Last
one I returned, but now wish I had just kept it...
I think this must be dame confusion... :confused:

 

[John Koehrer]

I don't know of any company that has a policy of compensation for irritation as a policy although I've seen minor things in photofinishing joints
I don't think I've heard of anyone being compensated for the inconvenience of being stranded on the side of the road by your Merfordillac.
Just sayin'

 

[MattKing]

I took advantage of their recent Free Shipping promotion.

Best time to buy something like monopod (saved $56.00 shipping to Washington State).

 

[removed-user-1]

My latest experiences with KEH were both outstanding. I love their website but I have found that calling them is a good idea. I spoke to Mike at some length about the differences in several monorail 4x5 cameras, and he answered my questions, as did Josh when I actually ordered the camera. My new-to-me Cambo SCX, BGN grade for $159, is beautiful. The ground glass is clean, the bellows are fine, and everything works as it should. The BGN grade apparently applies only because the front standard focus knob is slightly crooked (no big deal). After receiving the camera, I discovered (the hard way!) that my Bogen 3221 with 804 head was not up to the task of holding this camera. So I called back and got more advice from Mike and ordered a Bogen 3036 with the 3047 head, again in BGN grade, for $149. BGN grade really is what it says - the gear works, it's just got some experience.

 

[reggie]

I recently bought a fair amount of stuff from them, mostly Pentax 6x7 gear. Last Sunday night, I ordered a Beattie Intenscreen and a Quick Focus Ring. I was especially excited about the Beattie screen. Well, I placed the order on their web site and paid for it via PayPal right then. On Tuesday, I got an email from them saying that they had gotten Sundays order, but that it was blank. The item detail information wasn't on the order in their system. By the time we'd figured everything out, they had sold the Beattie screen to someone else!! Since they are hard to find, I was pretty disappointed. I recalled that the other item on the non-order was a Quick Focus Ring, which they still had in stock. I told them to go ahead and send that to me and I asked for free shipping and a refund of the balance. They were willing to comp the shipping fees. But, they never apologized or did anything to help me get a replacement for that Beattie screen or even to offer to notify me if they get another one in.

I'm sure they are overall good to do business with. But, I missed out on a hard to find item because of their system and they weren't too helpful about offering to fix the situation.

I dealt with with Tim.

-R

 

[andrew.roos]

Exceptional After Sales Service

I recently bought a Sekonic L-778 spot meter from KEH. On arrival it had an intermittent fault that became progressively worse. Since I live half way across the world from them, return shipping would not have been very economical - let alone the hassle of having to claim back the customs import duty I had already paid.

I emailed KEH and received an immediate response from Chris Brooks. He has been fantastic and has gone out of his way, and well beyond what he was obliged to do in terms of KEH's terms of service, to make things right for me, at considerable cost to the company. It's been an absolutely "no-quibble" experience for me - not "well it was working when we shipped it" (which I'm sure it was as it was initially an occasional intermittent fault); not "ship it back at your expense and we'll look at it"; not "are you sure you put the batteries in correctly"; just "sorry you have a problem, let me help me sort it out for you". I'm truly impressed by and grateful for the service I have received.

 

[LarryP]

Andrew, glad to hear they worked at customer satisfaction, I remember the post about the meter when it started acting up. I wouldn't be surprised to find that effort on their part will make them more money long term than it cost to correct your problem. i will say they earn my business a few years back with a combo of price condition and service, admittedly I'm one of those that feels better ordering from a person so they have to talktome when i order .