p.1 #1 · Buying used "with confidence" - Some advice please ??
Hi,
There are several dealers in the U.S. and Europe selling used gear.
I want to buy a lens. They rate their articles: "Excellent, Excellent
plus, super excellent, etc." Do these ratings represent what they
are supposed to represent, or can we get "lemons" this way too ??
p.1 #3 · Buying used "with confidence" - Some advice please ??
The return Policy with Keh only works if you get the item back to them in 14 days from the day you order. It is a very small window of time. Keep that in mind.
p.1 #5 · Buying used "with confidence" - Some advice please ??
igmolinav wrote:
Do these ratings represent what they are supposed to represent, or can we get "lemons" this way too ??
I think they usually represent the physical condition of a lens, with most emphasis on the cosmetic condition. There may be small undiscovered mechanical problems. Optical problems such as decentered elements, focus not reaching infinity etc. or simply lacking performance will usually not be tested so you'll have to do this yourself upon receiving the lens, to determine whether you didn't receive a 'lemon'.
p.1 #6 · Buying used "with confidence" - Some advice please ??
igmolinav wrote:
Hi,
There are several dealers in the U.S. and Europe selling used gear.
I want to buy a lens. They rate their articles: "Excellent, Excellent
plus, super excellent, etc." Do these ratings represent what they
are supposed to represent, or can we get "lemons" this way too ??
Thank you, kind regards,
igmolinav : ) !!!
You can indeed. And while there is no guarantee you can pretty much tell the condition by a combination of description, price, and photograph. Notice on E-Pay for example you'll see prices for a particular common lens look like:
Buy now: $355 Excellent Condition
Buy now: $225 Excellent Condition
Buy now: $225 Excellent Condition
Buy now: $220 Excellent Condition
Buy now: $190 Excellent Condition
Buy now: $150 Excellent Condition
Buy now: $60 Excellent Condition
One Bid: $40 Excellent Condition
From the prices one can safely assume the following:
The top guy is either crazy of that's a shill listing to keep the prices up.
The next 2 ~ 5 actually have one in excellent condition!
#6 has something wrong with it - dust, dry grease, whatever.
#7 has a messed up copy.
#8 We can't assume anything...
So the pics are used as a verifier. If for example #4 only has one pic and it's OOF or the pics only show "safe" angles avoid that guy! But if #7 has pics like that we already know why.
Then the description is next or goes with the images. How detailed is it? Does it cover all the bases? If it does you're probably safe. It's a rare individual who lies about the items he's selling. Rare as in one in a thousand or even less - probably less. It's more common to just leave it out of the description. So:
Next is the Q&A section. Ask whatever it is that you're wondering. Most of those guys (especially the ones with hundreds of points by their names) are making a profit so if they can't be arsed to answer confirmations then screw them. Almost all of them will tho - as has been my experience.
Don't trust or even attempt to rely on E-Bay's buyer protection. The only time that kicks in with any benefit is if you say you never got it. And besides that's just as dangerous to the seller as it is to the buyer. If the seller has more than 10 or 20 points for items of about the same price that's all you need there.
In all the two best tips I can offer are trust everyone but be diligent. ei. trust God but tie up your camel at night. And relax... if there's something you want that's listed it'll come around again or there's another one on the next page over, at another site or whatever - if all the things above were considered but don't add up then just skip it and wait for the next one.
Oh, I suppose the final tip would be that sites like FM here are probably safer (and more fun) than something like e-pay.
p.1 #7 · Buying used "with confidence" - Some advice please ??
I do most of my buying and selling on eBay, where I currently have feeeback of 559 (100%).
For what it’s worth, here are a few comments on buying from eBay: you should exercise intelligent caution, if it looks too good to be true then it’s probably a scam; you should do enough research to know what you want and how much it is worth; do not make assumptions, always ask questions to get the information you need to make good decisions; and finally, set your budget and stick to it, so you don’t get caught up in a bidding frenzy - it’s your money, spend it wisely.
p.1 #8 · Buying used "with confidence" - Some advice please ??
Bifurcator, I disagree whole heartedly about ebays buyer protection. I've had to open a case 3 times, and all three were decided in my favor by simply stating that the item was not as described. They even pay for your return shipping. Most sellers will bend over backwards to avoid negative feedback anyway so its rare to have to file a case. I buy and sell on ebay, and their policies are heavily slanted toward the buyer.
p.1 #9 · Buying used "with confidence" - Some advice please ??
K, I just said don't rely on it. If someone is a snake that crap won't do anything. And like you say it's pretty slanted! Slanted = unfair! I don't want to participate with anything which is unfair in either direction. It sounds like we agree wholeheartedly to me. <shrug>
p.1 #10 · Buying used "with confidence" - Some advice please ??
flashinm wrote:
Bifurcator, I disagree whole heartedly about ebays buyer protection. I've had to open a case 3 times, and all three were decided in my favor by simply stating that the item was not as described. They even pay for your return shipping. Most sellers will bend over backwards to avoid negative feedback anyway so its rare to have to file a case. I buy and sell on ebay, and their policies are heavily slanted toward the buyer.
My experience as well. I think as a buyer, if the item is not as described and it's covered by buyer protection, the risk is zilch. In the twelve years I have bought and sold on ebay, PayPal/ buyer protection has always turned out in my favor as a buyer when the seller misrepresented an item.
p.1 #11 · Buying used "with confidence" - Some advice please ??
If you buy from someone like KEH, be sure to give the lens a thorough once over when you receive it. Check the aperture, etc. Last time I ordered from them I was checking one of the lenses and a tiny screw fell out from inside it when I flicked the aperture open and closed. They paid return shipping on it, which I was happy with. KEH is a little $$ on some lenses, but the return policy is really nice.
p.1 #12 · Buying used "with confidence" - Some advice please ??
KEH tends to be excellent, as does Adorama. I have ordered from both and have never had a negative experience. Adorama once shipped only part of an order, but fixed the situation quickly and refunded the shipping. I've never ordered used from BH, but I have ordered from new and they have the best customer service in the business. Order from a reputable dealer and you will be OK.
p.1 #13 · Buying used "with confidence" - Some advice please ??
Hello,
Thank you for your messages : ) !!!
One lens, I'll get it from a reputable dealer,
but the other one I saw it on e-bay. But,
from e-bay, the seller accepts no returns.
Is that bad ?? He has, "lens in mint condi-
tion, optics without any scratches, ... ".
However, the description is perhaps a bit
vague. How "mint" can it be?
However, what's the worst it could happen?
If it is not good one could return it using
buyer protection, I assume:
I think as a buyer, if the item is not as
described and it's covered by buyer protec-
tion, the risk is zilch. In the twelve years I
have bought and sold on ebay, PayPal/
buyer protection has always turned out in my
favor as a buyer when the seller misrepre-
sented an item.
p.1 #14 · Buying used "with confidence" - Some advice please ??
igmolinav wrote:
Hello,
Thank you for your messages : ) !!!
One lens, I'll get it from a reputable dealer,
but the other one I saw it on e-bay. But,
from e-bay, the seller accepts no returns.
Is that bad ?? He has, "lens in mint condi-
tion, optics without any scratches, ... ".
However, the description is perhaps a bit
vague. How "mint" can it be?
However, what's the worst it could happen?
If it is not good one could return it using
buyer protection, I assume:
Kind regards,
igmolinav : ) !!!
As long as you were to use a payment method covered by ebay's buyer protection, the lens would still be covered and must be as described (or could be returned) regardless of the sellers return policy. Just use common sense and note the sellers feedback and rating to gauge if you might run into a situation where you must deal with the inconvenience of an ebay case/ return. If in doubt about specifics, always ask the seller detailed questions about an item before the auction ends.
p.1 #15 · Buying used "with confidence" - Some advice please ??
Hi,
Thank you : ) !!! I'll ask the seller. I have
never bought through e-bay. I have never
used Pay Pal to pay for something, except
for a money gift to a friend. I understand
that with Pay Pal there is a commision to
pay when one buys goods. Does buyer
protection from e-bay charges a commision
too?
For what it’s worth, here are a few comments on buying from eBay: you should exercise intelligent caution, if it looks too good to be true then it’s probably a scam; you should do enough research to know what you want and how much it is worth; do not make assumptions, always ask questions to get the information you need to make good decisions; and finally, set your budget and stick to it, so you don’t get caught up in a bidding frenzy - it’s your money, spend it wisely.
I had this list, but forgot it. Thank you for
sharing it again. The lens I am looking at is
$200 dollars more expensive on e-bay. It
comes with accesories like a filter, and other
things that I doubt will knock down the price
$100, if I decide to sell it with the accesories.
So, the lens is "just" $100 more expensive,
once I get rid off the accesories. Is it possible
to negotiate down the price, or make an offer??
The pictures for the item look as they were
taken with f/2.8 or f/4.
p.1 #16 · Buying used "with confidence" - Some advice please ??
igmolinav wrote:
Hi,
Thank you : ) !!! I'll ask the seller. I have
never bought through e-bay. I have never
used Pay Pal to pay for something, except
for a money gift to a friend. I understand
that with Pay Pal there is a commision to
pay when one buys goods. Does buyer
protection from e-bay charges a commision
too?
The buyer pays nothing. It is the seller who actually gets hit with all the ebay/Paypal fees!
You probably should look at specific forums/ FAQ's for PayPal and Ebay to educate yourself if you are a new user there. For instance, the seller may not be willing to ship to you in the first place if you don't have a "confirmed" PayPal adress because that's part of the stipulation under which he is also protected.
And relax... if there's something you want that's listed it'll come around again or there's another one on the next page over, at another site or whatever - if all the things above were considered but don't add up then just skip it and wait for the next one.
KEH is a little $$ on some lenses, but the return policy is really nice.