Buying Equipment from KEH

TheShermanstank · Jan 6, 2013

KEH

I have purchased my MAMIYA AFD camera plus a couple of lenses (80 1.9; 45 2.8) and film backs, all were in excellent condition. I never had any problems with any item. Most recently, I a bought an EX+ Sekonic L-758DR--- saved a lot of money with the 11% discount and free S&H.

The only time I used EBAY was when I purchased a mint YASCHICA ELECTRO GSN for a great price. For major purchases I rather go with reputable dealer like KEH that offers a 6 month warrantee.

Peace of mind if priceless.

Sirius Glass · Jan 6, 2013

TheShermanstank, welcome to APUG.

MartinCrabtree · Apr 3, 2013

I bought a Nikon 18-55 lens for my new electronic camera last week. If someone told me it was new I'd believe it. Great service.

Truzi · Apr 3, 2013

I just purchase a Bronica GS-1 back from them and am happy with it. I still have to run some film through to check for leaks, though.

I think places like KEH are fairly consistent in grading items. Once you get a feel for their system, you pretty much know what you will be getting. The same can't be said of random sellers on ebay - they can have different ideas of what "Excellent" or "Fair" are.

dodphotography · Jan 3, 2014

I picked up a Mamiya C330F off their website, listed as excellent. The body is remarkable. It really does look like someone bought this back in the 70's thinking how amazing MF would be then they just never used it, or took really great care of it.

At the same time I picked a black series 80mm lens for the TLR. Listed at 85% original and right on the mark. A small scratch is all that could be seen.

Keh is good in my book.

I went back and forth down the Rollei road and I found that models either needed a major overhaul or were too expensive. Sure, the Mamiya is more cumbersome but at what price? The cost is basically what a crap Rolleicord would run you.

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dtheld · Mar 18, 2014

Zone VI Camera

My recently purchased Zone VI arrived today. KEH rated it as EX, but I've seen others on the auction site listed as "MINTY" in what I would consider to be fair to poor. Not a wrinkle in the bellows, two or three small scratches and a little dust. Nothing else. Movements are easy to lock and focusing is smooth. I just wish we weren't having 40 mph winds today.

In short, I got the camera for a great price and in great condition. KEH is great.

Dave

jaz1943 · Jul 28, 2014

And their 180 day warranty is the best I've found!!!!

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Dimitri13 · Apr 5, 2015

I've purchased from KEH a few times, and have been absolutely thrilled with the results. Only issue is that they don't ship USPS, so shipping to Hawaii isn't very reasonable. My orders are usually large enough that paying $25 for 2-day shipping doesn't really bother me much.

RalphLambrecht · Apr 5, 2015

mark said:
Fully agree.

+1

GRHazelton · Apr 5, 2015

KEH website??

Over the years I've bought a lot of gear from KEH. For example perhaps 18 months ago I bought a Pentax LX body in "Bargain" condition" for well under $200. A little brassing, a few minor scratches on the base plate, had to blow out a little dust in the finder. It works perfectly. I have never bought an item from them that wasn't as described, usually even better.

However, I am not happy with the new website! It may be prettier, but it is a PITA to use in comparison with the old site. Anyone else have an opinion on that?

one90guy · Apr 5, 2015

GRHazelton said:
Over the years I've bought a lot of gear from KEH. For example perhaps 18 months ago I bought a Pentax LX body in "Bargain" condition" for well under $200. A little brassing, a few minor scratches on the base plate, had to blow out a little dust in the finder. It works perfectly. I have never bought an item from them that wasn't as described, usually even better.

However, I am not happy with the new website! It may be prettier, but it is a PITA to use in comparison with the old site. Anyone else have an opinion on that?

I will second, don't ever remember any purchase from them that wasn't under rated and always fast shipping.

David

trythis · Apr 5, 2015

I got a bargain nikon FA that should have been as is. It was rougher than I expected and they didn't mention a couple of missing pieces. Since I was replacing a dead FA and had the extra pieces i just kept it.
At the time they only had one other FA and it was EX rated and very expensive so I didn't have many choices.

Typos made on a tiny phone...

EdColorado · Apr 6, 2015

GRHazelton said:
Over the years I've bought a lot of gear from KEH. For example perhaps 18 months ago I bought a Pentax LX body in "Bargain" condition" for well under $200. A little brassing, a few minor scratches on the base plate, had to blow out a little dust in the finder. It works perfectly. I have never bought an item from them that wasn't as described, usually even better.

However, I am not happy with the new website! It may be prettier, but it is a PITA to use in comparison with the old site. Anyone else have an opinion on that?

Yeah, my opinion is that you are one hundred percent correct, the new site is a pain! The old site wasn't fancy, but it was certainly easier to navigate around in. Much easier to find things and the old site was much nicer to just browse around on, to see what kind of cool things they had for me to spend money on.

Chris G · Apr 6, 2015

I bought a Nikon F5 rated EX+, when I received it, it has a very small dent in the prism housing... so small I didn't notice it for a few days, but large enough that it would have been noticed in inspection. I would have returned it if it weren't for the fact that when I plugged my MV-1 into it, I saw that it had only seen 10 rolls of 24 exposure film. The camera had only 240 +/- shutter actuations on it.

Kirks518 · Apr 20, 2015

I can't speak highly enough about KEH. I just looked at my account, and in the last year I've bought 45 items (11 order) online, and another ~20 items/3 orders over the phone. So about 65+/- items.

I have bought every grade they have, including UG and AS-IS. Of all those 65 items, I've had to send back one item, as it had very oily blades. They serviced it, and I had it back within 7 days.

The reps (Greco, Arthur, and others) are always a pleasure to work with.

Hmm.... the old vs new website. Yeah, I liked the old one better, but honestly, I've gotten used to the new one. Still like the old one better, but hey, I still find what I want/need, and that's all that matters. If you aren't keen on the site, it's no problem to call them and ask if they have something.

Just adding my 2 cents.

lxdude · Apr 21, 2015

Chris G said:
when I plugged my MV-1 into it, I saw that it had only seen 10 rolls of 24 exposure film. The camera had only 240 +/- shutter actuations on it.

Or 6 36-exposure rolls and one 24.

f/16 · Jun 6, 2015

Unfortunately, in the past 2 years or so I haven't had good luck with them. I've received gear that was supposed to be EX and looked worse than some BGN stuff I've got from them. I've received bodies that had issues-don't they check this stuff?? I've received the wrong item. Tomorrow I will send back a Tokina 35-200 that was supposed to be Minolta MD mount but is Yashica/Contax mount. They have an excellent return/exchange policy and good prices. If you don't mind playing the return/exchange game with them.

fotch · Jun 6, 2015

f/16 said:
Unfortunately, in the past 2 years or so I haven't had good luck with them. I've received gear that was supposed to be EX and looked worse than some BGN stuff I've got from them. I've received bodies that had issues-don't they check this stuff?? I've received the wrong item. Tomorrow I will send back a Tokina 35-200 that was supposed to be Minolta MD mount but is Yashica/Contax mount. They have an excellent return/exchange policy and good prices. If you don't mind playing the return/exchange game with them.

Their mistake so they pay all shipping?

f/16 · Jun 12, 2015

fotch said:
Their mistake so they pay all shipping?

Yes they do but it's hard to believe how many times it happens. Maybe I just have a string of bad luck with them.

Sirius Glass · Jun 12, 2015

f/16 said:
Yes they do but it's hard to believe how many times it happens. Maybe I just have a string of bad luck with them.

You need to request that they pay for the return shipping before you ship an item back.

GRHazelton · Jul 13, 2015

I recently sent KEH an email outlining some problems I'd had with their web site design, and their quality control, and just now got this response:

Good morning,

Thank you for taking the time to contact us with your concerns. Both issues noted below (the website and quality control) are currently being updated at KEH. Our new website should launch by the end of the month and our quality control standards have recently been tightened up with additional training in our technical department. Hopefully both of these developments will make for a better shopping experience for you.

Please let me know if I may be of any further assistance.

Dead Link Removed
KEH Sales Support
sales@keh.com
(770) 333-4200
4900 Highlands Parkway | Smyrna, GA

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: GALA@keh.com <GALA@keh.com>
Sent: Sunday, July 12, 2015 3:38 PM
To: KEH Sales
Subject: Website Feedback - grhazelton2@hotmail.com

I have been buying from KEH for about 20 years, generally with satisfaction. I wish to comment on your new website format. While it is attractive, I find it far less user-friendly than the old format. For example, I just tried to find 82mm filters. The new site sorts them by maker. This seems to mean that I need to scan every MAKER to locate 82mm filters. I would wager that most of us are less interested in an exclusively Hoya assortment of filters than in being able to locate rapidly ALL filters of a specific size, and then we could select which maker we want. A sort routine for size as well as maker would solve the problem. On the old site as I recall a search for Pentax manual focus 35mm cameras would bring up, for example, the LX, and had a link for accessories - winders, etc. Very handy. My last order, for a Pentax flash, listed it as Ex and with a case. The flash arrived and had Velcro strips around the flash head, and the 15 degree tilt switch trim was loose and a washer was adrift. To me this is NOT an Ex item! It was exchanged at no cost to me, but several days of lost time. This should have been caught by your inspectors and/or noted on the item description. I hope you will heed user comments, and tighten your quality control back to its prior exemplary level. Sincerely, George Hazelton

Let's hope that the new, new website is an improvement, and that the company finds its way back to its prior excellence.

Richard S. (rich815) · Jul 13, 2015

Good news. I cannot believe it could be worse. Cannot stand the new KEH web design. Whoever did it should be fired.

GRHazelton · Jul 13, 2015

Richard Sintchak (rich815) said:
Good news. I cannot believe it could be worse. Cannot stand the new KEH web design. Whoever did it should be fired.

Those who design websites - and instruction manuals - should have a "naive" user try out the product before going public. HeathKit, of late, lamented memory, when developing a new product, would have someone who'd never built a kit serve as a beta tester. If they had no problems, the kit was ready. As a result the two color TV HeathKits I built presented NO confusion or problems. Good sets, too.

Truzi · Jul 13, 2015

Interesting. I'd received a response to my feedback July 2014 when the new site design went up, and it basically promised the new site would be a better experience. I eventually gave up.

lxdude · Jul 13, 2015

Well, good. I hope it improves. I have found that the site is navigable, but it takes time to figure it out. The prior one was much simpler. There are some more options with the new site, but to me it's like having to scroll through menus on a camera to do what you want instead of turning a dial or pressing a button. I'd rather have fewer options but the ones I have be more direct.

Buying Equipment from KEH

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