Yes.... i always check seriall # to make sure i get the camera i selected.
A common thing on Japan sites is to find the same camera listed under multiple sellers. Do a search for a specific model and scan through the listings looking for photos that look alike, and then check serial numbers, etc. I do not know if this is a scam or what.
Yeah I know, I didn't say I don't buy from Japan, I often do especially as the prices can be great, but second hand Yashica Mats don't always travel well, great lenses but very flimsy insides. Given they are abundant in the USA and Canada I don't think it's worth the risk given the cost of return postage, which is what I said.
A common thing on Japan sites is to find the same camera listed under multiple sellers. Do a search for a specific model and scan through the listings looking for photos that look alike, and then check serial numbers, etc. I do not know if this is a scam or what.
I saw this frequently when I was looking to buy a Zeiss Super Ikonta 2 years ago. And those same sellers often removed a listing after 48 hours and then immediately relist it, so they stay in the "new" listings. All of this made me want to avoid a fairly long list of eBay sellers, who appeared to be the same entity under twenty different names. No thank you.
Don't you love (hate) the way so many eBay sellers show one photo of the camera (with the lens caps on), and two photos of the ratty old leather case? ;-)
I've been buying camera equipment off ebay for 20+ years, and I've learned never trust American sellers anymore. They're often scroungers: they go to estate sales, flea markets, thrift shops and buy whatever is cheap and post it on ebay. The last 3 items I did buy from American sellers were defective, and in two cases gave me a very hard time on returns. Ebay had to step in. I now only deal with Japanese camera stores that sell online. I have only had one instance where the item was defective, and since they offered free returns, sending it back was no problem and I received my full refund no problem. You do have to take care of course. One poster above mentioned that many of the sellers go into excruciating detail when describing their products. Those are the ones I concentrate on. My track record with them is 100%. Granted, the postage is high, but the delivery times are generally great; as little as 4 days from Japan to Pennsylvania. I recently went searching for a Mamiya C220; checking both American and Japanese sites. The American sites I checked (Keh, Roberts, Brooklyn Film, Michigan Camera etc) either only offered fair(they were honest) condition models or were vastly overpriced. I went through a long list of Japanese sellers and the ones I checked, most of them if you read their detailed descriptions, had defects. I finally found one that was both reasonable in price and shipping, and who's photos/descriptions showed only minor cosmetic blemishes. It'll be here this Monday(5 days). I also purchased a Ricohflex Super44(127 film) from a dealer who had sold me a literally pristine Mamiya C3. The pictures he posted show the same for this one. It'll be here Tuesday(5 days). The only two American sites I check now are KEH and Roberts. They're both honest in their descriptions and fairly reasonable on price. Both offer warranties.
Ebay's latest international shipping system results in unreasonably long shipping times
It also almost without exception dings you for taxes and a brokerage fee at the door. At least the global shipping program hit you with that at time of sale.
Also, shipping charges for the international shipping thing are almost always outlandish.
It also almost without exception dings you for taxes and a brokerage fee at the door. At least the global shipping program hit you with that at time of sale.
Also, shipping charges for the international shipping thing are almost always outlandish.
You have to stick with Japan Post Economy or EMS shipping to avoid the brokerage fee scam.
You have to stick with Japan Post Economy or EMS shipping to avoid the brokerage fee scam.
Fedex...to my door in 6 days. I was charged a total of $13.50 USD on a $100 USD lens
+1. JCH prices are toward the high end but you won't get a lemon. Most cameras come with some sort of warranty. I bought a perfect Nikon F6 from him a few years ago for a good price. Now it's going back to him for CLA, also at a reasonable price.Bellamy Hunt aka Japan Camera Hunter. I used him for a purchase a few years back, and it was simple and reasonable. He lives there and has regular contact with many of the stores. Knows the market too.
A worthless word salad
the main concern with buying internationally comes when you need to return items. shipping is on you.
buy locally. there are tons of cameras right here in the US. check KEH for used prices and great return policy.
as said before... post a want add here.
the main concern with buying internationally comes when you need to return items. shipping is on you.
buy locally. there are tons of cameras right here in the US. check KEH for used prices and great return policy.
as said before... post a want add here.
The return policy alone makes KEH alone makes KEH worth it.
The return policy alone makes KEH alone makes KEH worth it. But consider what if the purchased used camera or lens needed a CLA? I purchased a 500mm Hasselblad lens for $475 and it needed to have a CLA. The cost of the CLA was over $750 because the lens needed to be completely disassembled, reassembled and recolliminated, and it cost me nothing, not even shipping.
i think if you got it from KEH in need of a cla, you bought it from the "as is" bin. my experiance with keh has been more than satisfactory just buying their bargain bin. they tend to under rate their stock. many things rated bargain were in excellent condition. in fact many things i bought "as is" for parts turned out to be easily repaired.
as for the cost of a cla more than the lens... that has never been cheap when pros were analog. they made money off their equipment so a cla was just an oil n lube on a taxi cab... regular maintenance they recouped in one shoot. the balking about cla costs n repairs was mostly hobbiests that bought old stuff sitting in closets since pros went digital and flea bay garbage finds.
i guess cla has gotten expensive, maybe because many repair shops shut their doors and so few are still around? i retired because it wasnt worth my time anymore dealing with the diyer screw ups n the tight wad hobbyists. to do it right takes alot of time and time is money... we arent working at min wadge ya know. a car mechanic is getting $100/hr... whats my time worth? would you want me to do a naptha dunk on your shutter for $50 or a full tear down at $750?
If buying off evilbay, only deal with sellers having a high number of feedback ratings and a rating of 100% or darn close to that. Read the description carefully and reviews all the photos of the item zoomed in. Pan around so you can see every part of the camera. Make sure they have a good return policy; free returns is best because it won't be cheap to ship a camera back to Japan. Pay in a way that you're totally protected, even beyond evilbay's policys.
Same tips would apply to buying direct from a dealer.
Good luck!
No it was rated at EX+, but since I had recently brought other Hasselblad lenses from them recently they gave a big discount because it was a 500 C lens.
i would have returned it, keh would have been glad to refund you.
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