KEH vs buying Auction/Forum

[benjiboy]

I would prefer to buy from K.E.H or any other reputable retailer, pay a little more and get a six months warranty, which is I.M.O. worth the difference in cost.

 

[fstop]

KEH dumps their junk on flea bay with a "no return" option. This stuff is cheap but useful only for parts. I bought a camera they had vaguely described as having "multiple problems". Yeah, like everything was broken. Everything.

Everything is returnable.If it is not as described you can force the issue.

You can use their online quoting tool to get a price on gear whether you are selling or not.Its remarkable how low the buying prices are.Personally I would gamble on selling on junkbay or craigslist before selling to KEH. They are in the used camera biz so they can't buy for a lot of money.But buying from them is never a problem.

 

[JamesR]

i bought from KEH once, a couple of RB67 lenses. great service, very happy with them.
my only gripe though is not being able to actually see a lot of items, and poor item descriptions. thats where the ol' bay gets the tick from me.

 

[Photo-gear]

I did buy a Nikon F100 in good condition for a reasonable price (240$) and a few accessories (lens shades + winder). I only regret the incredible border fees (Canada) that a foreign buyer must afford to deal with KEH.

 

[jayvo86]

Ive recenty sold all my digital gear (and I mean ALL) and went back to the right side with film. In the process, which Ive enjoyed graetly, Ive bought quite a few systems (Blad, RB67 etc) and have really loved the prices. However, in the process, I noticed something ...

In all my years with this habit (GAS), Ive always found KEH prices to be a little higher than what you can get from a forum or fleebay. I never had a problem with this because I knew that KEHs stuff would work and be in better condition than they described. BGN often equals EX++ online. Lately though, it seems that stuff is cheaper there than on here, or the other sites.... significantly so. For example, someone old a Mamiya 645AF for 1000 ... and several in EX are at 800 on KEH...

Just a observation... have anyone else noticed this trend? Are prices going up?

Also side note if anyones interested, I just pulled the trigger on the new Pacific Image PrimeFilm 120 negative scanner that SEEMS to be much like the Nikon 9000... once I get it, I can report my thoughts...

I buy most of my used gear from Fujiya Camera. (Google it and translate) It's in Japan, but I live hear anyway. So I don't do much business with KEH or ebay.

I'm curious to know your thoughts on the scanner. However, keep in mind the Plustek Opticfilm 120 is going to come out in a month or so and will, spec wise, blow the Pacific Image away.

 

[Leigh B]

I only regret the incredible border fees (Canada) that a foreign buyer must afford to deal with KEH.

That's not KEH's fault.

- Leigh

 

[Photo-gear]

That's not KEH's fault.

- Leigh

Of course not. But it is worth the trouble to mention.

But why politicians loudly talk about "free trade"?

 

[Dr. no]

I looking for something specific, I'll look everywhere--if prices are comparable or close, I'll buy from KEH, I know it'll work... But I've bought quite a bit of good deals on eBay ($7 Bessa folder...) and some pretty good stuff on Craigslist, local is good.

But the days of free enlargers are gone, at least for now. I met a guy trying to sell an Omega B22 for $250 without lens or carrier at a garage sale. He had printed out some web ad to show that it was really worth it...

All in all, good used gear is where you find it. How hard are you wiling to look.

 

[Argenticien]

[...] But the days of free enlargers are gone, at least for now. I met a guy trying to sell an Omega B22 for $250 without lens or carrier at a garage sale. He had printed out some web ad to show that it was really worth it...

I don't know ... enlargers are probably a special case. eBay has raised the prices of almost everything by enabling you to tap the liquidity of the entire world (or at least country) market for something, vs. being limited to the 50 people who show up for your garage/boot sale. Selling nationally is awfully hard to do with enlargers because they're expensive and cumbersome to ship ($107 for a new 23CIII from Freestyle to me, I just checked for fun), so they are still often traded locally. KEH doesn't even stock them. Enlargers also have the special factor that if they fall even partly into disuse, one's spouse wants them out of the house, forcing one to sell them at that liquidity-limited local price. (Whereas disused cameras can be dispersed to disparate cupboards to discourage spousal discovery.) So I've seen 23CII and similar pretty good models Craigslisted for prices like $50 (close enough to free!), sometimes with lens and other useful bits. I'd eagerly pick one up at that price, but my spouse doesn't want one in the house.
--Dave