Has anyone bought used equipment from B&H?

Stew · Nov 23, 2006

I was thinking about buying a used camera from B&H Photo in New York and would like to know what experiences other people have had with them. Are the condition ratings for the used equipment accurate?

Thanks Guys and Gals.

Rob.

rorye · Nov 23, 2006

I bought a used 450mm Nikkor from them about a year ago. It was in mint condition as they said, and it arrived very quickly and well packed.
Good luck!

big_ben_blue · Nov 23, 2006

I bought a 75mm Schneider (rated at 9) from B&H a few years back. Overall, an OK experience only, the lens was alright, but came with a HUGE oily fingerprint in the middle of the front element (so much for taking care of equipment).

resummerfield · Nov 23, 2006

I've also had a good experience. After discussing the camera through email, the B&H rep gave me his name and phone number. I called him and he answered all my detailed questions, while holding the camera in his hands.

Dave Parker · Nov 23, 2006

Although, they seem high at times, I have bought dozens of items from them over the years with no problems at all, always arrives quick and in the shape they say it will be, I would not hesitate to buy from them again.

Dave

Markok765 · Nov 23, 2006

I can reccomend B&H very highly.
Dont know about used items, but the stuff i buy is very well packed

jovo · Nov 23, 2006

My Nikon 150mm enlarging lens came from B&H used. It was in better condition than I expected, which is to say that it was indistinguishable from new as far as I could tell. Excellent transaction and several years of complete satisfaction with the lens. These guys may make mistakes from time to time, but they seem totally committed to doing it right over the long haul.

ann · Nov 23, 2006

have bought several items and have students who purchase a lot of equipment from them. They have a rep of being generous with the rating system. bargin can look as good as new, with difficulty in finding just what was consider such a down rating.

tom_micklin · Nov 23, 2006

I buy alot from them. Usually new, but used when I can find what I want.
Never a problem.
Used ratings are very fair.

Claire Senft · Nov 23, 2006

I have had good experiences in buying used equipment from them.

wilsonneal · Nov 23, 2006

I buy "new" from B&H all the time. I find their used prices to be a bit higher than KEH for comparable quality, so they're a last resort for 'used', but typically their ratings have been accurate. Their Customer Service has always handled any problems with grace. Adorama, on the other hand, is overly generous with condition ratings and their pricing is even higher.

Neal

Pinholemaster · Nov 23, 2006

I order a lot from B&H, but never anything used.

I did buy a demo 54" Rotatrim cutter. I arrived looking brand new. Even came in Rotatrim's original packaging.

Only good experiences. I usually have them ship UPS ground 3 day service, which means 98% of the time I get the item the next day in northern Maryland.

Jerry Thirsty · Nov 23, 2006

I bought a Contax G1 body from them a few months ago. They had rated it an "8+", but when I got it discovered that it had fine scratches and rub marks on pretty much every metal surface. Personally I would call this to be "more than average wear", which would have made a grade of "7" more appropriate. Since my previous experience with buying used equipment from a dealer was KEH, I was not impressed, and I don't plan to buy used from B&H again.

David A. Goldfarb · Nov 23, 2006

The guys at the used counter out front are among the more knowledgeable people in the store. Prices are on the high side, but the descriptions tend to be accurate, if the items are from the B&H website.

There seems to be a little more variability for items they unload on eBay. I get the sense that that part of the operation is run by people in the back, who seem less familiar with the equipment.

ann · Nov 24, 2006

ann said:
have bought several items and have students who purchase a lot of equipment from them. They have a rep of being generous with the rating system. bargin can look as good as new, with difficulty in finding just what was consider such a down rating.

i need to adjust the above statement.

if i would read right i wouldn't have to do this, i miss read B&H, th inking KEH.
so what i said is not valid for b&H. i was thinking KEH.

sorry to mis-lead everyone.

lwfkc · Nov 24, 2006

I have had good experiences with both used and new equipment and found their customer service top notch.

Larry

Jim Noel · Nov 24, 2006

Perhaps a better questionis "WHo has not bought used equipment from B&H?"

I don't want to try to count the years I have been doing so.

TheFlyingCamera · Nov 24, 2006

I would buy used from B&H when I am in the store and can see it in person. I bought a Contax RX from them that was used, listed as Factory Reconditioned, 8+. When it arrived, there was a tiny dent in the top cover, and the bottom cover exhibited significant brassing. The price was good enough that I didn't push the issue too hard with them, but I was unimpressed. I also had a salesman tell me once that they could only ship to me UPS, when I had ordered plenty of other items from them and had them shipped FedEx or USPS Priority Mail. I've had other things that I bought though, that were more in line with what I would expect from KEH - ie, like new, in box, had no idea what was "used" about it.

25asa · Nov 24, 2006

I have and will continue to buy new and used from them if they have what I am looking for.
Most recent used purchase was a 90mm lens for an SW612 - listed as EX+
but I have been all over it looking for a reason (and not finding)
that it is not MINT.

I have had no negative experience from B&H, Adorama or KEH.

Has anyone bought used equipment from B&H?

Stew

rorye

big_ben_blue

resummerfield

Dave Parker

Markok765

jovo

Membership Council

ann

tom_micklin

Claire Senft

wilsonneal

Pinholemaster

Jerry Thirsty

David A. Goldfarb

Moderator

ann

lwfkc

Jim Noel

TheFlyingCamera

Membership Council

25asa

Has anyone bought used equipment from B&H?

Membership Council

Moderator

Membership Council

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency