Freestyle is selling refurbished 35mm SLRs

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Paul Howell

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Here the prices for a FE without lens run from $76 for a inoperative camera to $226 with warranty, none of the prices I've seen is a refurbished FE. The prices for a Pentax ME run about the same, while a Pentax K1000 can go for $300 with a lens. Depending on what what was done, seals, bumpers, shutter cleaned and lubed. Assuming that the meter is within tolerance. There is a point and shoot for $200, no idea what was done to refurbish a point and shoot.
 

MFstooges

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Here the prices for a FE without lens run from $76 for a inoperative camera to $226 with warranty, none of the prices I've seen is a refurbished FE. The prices for a Pentax ME run about the same, while a Pentax K1000 can go for $300 with a lens. Depending on what what was done, seals, bumpers, shutter cleaned and lubed. Assuming that the meter is within tolerance. There is a point and shoot for $200, no idea what was done to refurbish a point and shoot.

I am curious if there is a legal implication with labeling a product as refurbished when it is actually not. And these are the cameras that were out of production for decades.
 

loccdor

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Thanks Matt & wondering how
Catlabs garners more 'hate' than Ebay ?

They had a representative here posting in a thread lying about the origin of one of their films earlier this year. They said it wasn't a rebranding when users performed the tests to show that it was. On the other hand, ebay allows a return if an item is "not as described".
 

GregY

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They had a representative here posting in a thread lying about the origin of one of their films earlier this year. They said it wasn't a rebranding when users performed the tests to show that it was. On the other hand, ebay allows a return if an item is "not as described".

Thanks....
 

BradS

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I am curious if there is a legal implication with labeling a product as refurbished when it is actually not. And these are the cameras that were out of production for decades.

Seems like the term, "Refurbished" is kinda ambiguous. It could mean anything from sprayed it with Windex(TM) and wiped it with a diaper to completely disassembled, cleaned, adjusted, replaced broken parts, etc...

Simply calling it "refurbished" means nothing unless one also states clearly what that entails.
 

loccdor

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Seems like the term, "Refurbished" is kinda ambiguous. It could mean anything from sprayed it with Windex(TM) and wiped it with a diaper to completely disassembled, cleaned, adjusted, replaced broken parts, etc...

Simply calling it "refurbished" means nothing unless one also states clearly what that entails.

Yeah. I've had cameras sold to me "CLA'd" that were just junk that had been kicking around in a box. They need a paper record from a reputable repairer with a signature for it to mean anything.
 

GregY

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Seems like the term, "Refurbished" is kinda ambiguous. It could mean anything from sprayed it with Windex(TM) and wiped it with a diaper to completely disassembled, cleaned, adjusted, replaced broken parts, etc...

Simply calling it "refurbished" means nothing unless one also states clearly what that entails.

I imagine you could get the details.... considering they come with a warranty.....
 
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Paul Howell

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I am curious if there is a legal implication with labeling a product as refurbished when it is actually not. And these are the cameras that were out of production for decades.

I would guess, guess only, that a false label could lead to a class action lawsuit. What did not see on the product page was a explanation of what refurbished means. Might have dug down deep enough.
 

Melvin J Bramley

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Wow; a company provides a useful service for film camera users and the conversation comes down to legal liabilities!
Must be a USA thing?
What comes next ; is your camera provider a this or that voter?
 

GregY

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Wow; a company provides a useful service for film camera users and the conversation comes down to legal liabilities!
Must be a USA thing?
What comes next ; is your camera provider a this or that voter?


Looks like.....
 

BrianShaw

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I’ve bought refurbished electronics in the past and that meant that it was checked out for functionality, and repaired if faults were found. Other times, like with power tools, it meant completely rebuilt. In this case it probably means the former rather than the latter. In both cases I got a warranty so it really didn’t matter what the details were.
 

mtnbkr

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200dollars for nikon fe??? I got mine for less than 100 dollars in my country this year...

Different market and economy. I have two people on my team in Hungary. They cost about a 1/3 what the same role does in the UK and 1/5th of the US salary for the same role. Before anyone complains, I don't set the pay scales, but I do max out their bonus and pay rises each year.

Chris
 

GregY

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200dollars for nikon fe??? I got mine for less than 100 dollars in my country this year...

Steven, I just got back from Italy where an espresso costs 1-1.2 €.... In the ski/climbing town i live in the Canadian Rockies, a cappucino is $6...& they're angling for a 20% tip. Different countries different economies as mtnbkr just mentioned.....
 

MFstooges

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Wow; a company provides a useful service for film camera users and the conversation comes down to legal liabilities!
Must be a USA thing?
What comes next ; is your camera provider a this or that voter?

In early 2000 the term "refurbished" is used mostly by companies selling consumer electronics to check and recondition the items that were purchased and returned within return period. They are mostly protected by same warranty as new. I think it is important that the seller and consumer are on the same page.
 

Sirius Glass

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FreeStyle has always had our back in interesting and innovative ways.
 

BradS

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FreeStyle has always had our back in interesting and innovative ways.

Yes. I love Freestyle. Have bought a ton of film and darkroom supplies from them. May they thrive.
 

Paul Howell

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If I was in the market for a FE or Pentax ME I would buy from Freestyle. I hope this works for them and that expand their offerings.
 

Sirius Glass

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Agreed. Freestyle & B&H are the last bastion of available stock for film, paper & chemicals!
I wouldn't disparage them.

Yes. I love Freestyle. Have bought a ton of film and darkroom supplies from them. May they thrive.

If I was in the market for a FE or Pentax ME I would buy from Freestyle. I hope this works for them and that expand their offerings.

It is nice to see that I am not alone with my thoughts.
 

markaudacity

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I am curious if there is a legal implication with labeling a product as refurbished when it is actually not. And these are the cameras that were out of production for decades.
Do we have a reason to believe these cameras weren’t refurbished?

They had a representative here posting in a thread lying about the origin of one of their films earlier this year. They said it wasn't a rebranding when users performed the tests to show that it was.
Which is ridiculous, because there are, what, ten commercial film-coating production lines left in the world? I imagine the cost to build and dial one in is enormous, not to mention where would you find a film chemist to run it for you? It would be like announcing that they were mining their own silver. 😅
 

MFstooges

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Do we have a reason to believe these cameras weren’t refurbished?


Which is ridiculous, because there are, what, ten commercial film-coating production lines left in the world? I imagine the cost to build and dial one in is enormous, not to mention where would you find a film chemist to run it for you? It would be like announcing that they were mining their own silver. 😅

Do you believe in everything?
 

Paul Howell

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I've done business with Freestyle for over 50 years, so far they have been ethical, In my mind it comes down to what Freestyle means by refurbished vs what I think what it means. I think refurbished means it meets the same specs as when new. I would hope that seals and fome has been replaced the shutter and meter recalibrated as needed.
 
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