Mamiya C220 features.....

[BradS]

I don't think you can filter out a single county, but the filters on the left make it pretty easy to limit your search to USA or North America.

WOW! Excellent.
Thanks!

 

[Dennis-B]

I've had mixed results with Japanese eBay sellers, but it's definitely true that they dramatically overrate their gear. If it says "Exc++++", that means fair. If it says "Near mint" that means modestly above average for its age, maybe. It's not the worst problem in the world; you just need to apply a correction factor to the descriptive rating, as you would with a neutral density filter. Judged on its own terms, it's just a different scale, like a guitar amp that goes to 11.

However, twice recently I've received products from Japan with undisclosed defects. The first time, the seller readily refunded part of the purchase price and that was a satisfactory solution. The second one I didn't discover until several months later (I made the mistake of not testing it right away), and that has turned out to be a bad investment on my part (about $250, so not the end of the world, but annoying). Of course I can't prove it, but I suspect the seller's plan was to refund part of my money if I noticed, but only if I noticed.

I'm much more wary now. To be scrupulously fair, I've also received items with undisclosed defects from U.S. and Canadian sellers, including a Canadian camera store with a great reputation (I'm sure they did not know they were selling a defective lens; I didn't figure it out until I'd been using it for a year).

That tactic of selling something that has a defect and hoping the buyer doesn't notice, with a backup plan of accepting a return or issuing a partial refund, seems to be par for the course on eBay these days. (It was not common when I first started buying and selling on eBay far too many moons ago.) And just to reiterate, I think this applies to sellers of all kinds and places, from professional eBay operations to individuals clearing out their closets. It's part of the online culture now.

Anyway, bottom line on my meanderings here is that you should thoroughly test anything you buy on eBay, and do so soon after you receive it.

I've had quite the opposite experience with Japanese dealers. They've been scrupulously honest, and very conservative in their descriptions of camera gear.

My first foray into the Japanese eBay market, was for a Mamiya 645 Pro-Tl. I'd wanted to get back into medium format, and a Japanese dealer had an entire set-up, body, three backs, Mamiya 2x converter, AE finder, 50-110 zoom, and extension tubes; all for the grand sum of $500, + $35 shipping. When I received the box, the equipment looked to be mint, and not "very good" as was described. Since then, I've bought any number of lenses, parts, finders, camera bodies, etc., and I've never gotten anything that wasn't as good, or in most cases better, than advertised. The shipping service has always been outstanding. I recently bought a Yashica Electro 35 GTN, described as "good"; it was actually near mint. The only American dealer which approaches them, in my experience, has been KEH.

They also do little things to make the purchasing experience. I can't tell you the number of green tea packets, noodle spices, and pieces of origami, that have been included.

 

[Grim Tuesday]

I have only bought from one Japanese eBay seller and it was a good transaction. Exactly as described and worked great. I've bought from a great quantity more in North America and have gotten screwed a few times. The worst from a camera shop in Michigan.

The only thing I don't trust from Japanese sellers is the qualitative rating. There is truly no meaning to "EXC++++++." But if you go beyond that and read if there is fungus, separation, and if the camera works it usually becomes clear what condition the camera is actually in. I've heard that many Japanese sellers use a software that generates eBay descriptions from filling out a form with check boxes and buttons. The bizarro levels of excellent are probably an artifact of that.

 

[villagephotog]

I've had quite the opposite experience with Japanese dealers.

That's good to hear; I hope my two or three somewhat disappointing experiences are anomalies. As I said, my experiences have been mixed: I've had perfectly good recent transactions buying from Japan, and from eBay in general, alongside my not-so-good experiences.

I agree with you that shipping from Japan is amazing. Super quick and reliable. Japan must have the best postal service in the world.

 

[k.hendrik]

http://www.photographersgarden.com/home/
and maybe try this member:
'polyglot'

 

[one90guy]

I have done business with quite a few Japanese dealers, had a couple of problems but they have always been handled quickly. My only down side is their shipping rates have gone up considerably.

David

 

[BradS]

Well for all of my spewing of negativity, I just bought a apparently beautiful Nikon F2 from aJapanese seller on eBay....meh.