Warning! KEH sold me a new lens when I paid for used

[MrHollywood]

I needed a 2nd 70-200 VR F4 and snagged one on KEH in EX condition.

No box, but absolutely in like-new condition. Not a mark on it.

I may file a complaint!

Rob

 

[Sandy27000]

I needed a 2nd 70-200 VR F4 and snagged one on KEH in EX condition.

No box, but absolutely in like-new condition. Not a mark on it.

I may file a complaint!

Rob

Apple once gave me a 128GB iPad mini instead of the 32GB device they were replacing for free for a broken screena. I was shattered and I sued

 

[T O Shooter]

I needed a 2nd 70-200 VR F4 and snagged one on KEH in EX condition.

No box, but absolutely in like-new condition. Not a mark on it.

I may file a complaint!

Rob

That's common.

Online sellers know it's better to understate the condition than to state actual condition, or worse to overstate condition.

I've bought some used stuff from Henry's as well as from camera shops on Ebay, and every purchase showed up better than described, and they were described as being very fine. They all seem to put in possibility of light scratches, normal wear, but it hasn't been present in anything I've bought.

 

[xPhoenix]

KEH is great. I've had nothing but good experiences with them. Enjoy the lens!

 

[bflood]

They did that to me a number of years ago when I got my Nikon AF-S 300 f4D. It came with everything - box, case, caps, etc - even the manual. Not a mark, no evidence it had ever been unboxed before.

I would have powered up my righteous indignation, but I used it all up a number of elections before I bought the lens from KEH.

 

[T O Shooter]

KEH is great. I've had nothing but good experiences with them. Enjoy the lens!

A lady on here, I forget her username at the moment, bought and paid for a non VR Sigma 150 macro and they sent her a more expensive VR model ( or IS or whatever Sigma calls it ) She contacted them to let them know what happened, and they told her it was okay, just keep it.

 

[MrHollywood]

KEH is great. I've had nothing but good experiences with them. Enjoy the lens!

A lady on here, I forget her username at the moment, bought and paid for a non VR Sigma 150 macro and they sent her a more expensive VR model ( or IS or whatever Sigma calls it ) She contacted them to let them know what happened, and they told her it was okay, just keep it.

 

[paulski66]

Apple once gave me a 128GB iPad mini instead of the 32GB device they were replacing for free for a broken screena. I was shattered and I sued

 

[larrywilson]

I've bought lots of gear from KEH, in fact most of my lenses are used from them. The prices seem high for used equipment, but the ratings are very conservative. A lens in E shape will be in beautiful shape and anything about that will look like new. Easy to deal with them over the phone. Very good company. I recommend them.

Larry

 

[scokill]

My experience has been that they underrate their lenses by at least a category. I've bought a couple and returned one that wasn't very sharp no questions asked. You have to watch whether lens caps are included. I can't believe they underrate their lenses but will sell one without any lens caps. Doesnt' make sense.

 

[MrHollywood]

My experience has been that they underrate their lenses by at least a category. I've bought a couple and returned one that wasn't very sharp no questions asked. You have to watch whether lens caps are included. I can't believe they underrate their lenses but will sell one without any lens caps. Doesnt' make sense.

Yeah, they should just add the caps and sharp a couple of bucks more. Makes no sense to ship ANY lens without caps.

The only bad lens I ever got from them was a Nikon 20-35 AF-D 2.8. It absolutely could not focus on anything. They took it right back.

The pricing is pretty high, sometimes not even worth bothering because a new item is only a bit more. But their business model clearly works and they're not out to give everyone an amazing deal on every product.

The good news is that you can buy with confidence.

Rob

 

[DenWil]

I found a used lens shade that would be handy, ordered it, and when pulling the item for shipping KEH mistakenly sent me an 'a' version 67 lens shade when I needed a 'b' - they refunded the entire purchase and told me to keep the 'a' version to use on a different lens.

The return shipping cost and market value of the lens shade did not warrant getting it back. The 'a' and 'b' versions are virtually identical if you don't know what you're looking for. They were repacked in plastic bags which would obscure the difference. One works with a filter on and one only works on a plain lens.

Very straight up of KEH. I would not hesitate to buy from them again.

 

[chrisD46]

I needed a 2nd 70-200 VR F4 and snagged one on KEH in EX condition.

No box, but absolutely in like-new condition. Not a mark on it.

I may file a complaint!

Rob

KEH can be conservative with their grading system- a great company to do biz with as I have had excellent success buying from them .

 

[bjn70]

1. send them more money

2. keep buying from them

 

[fishy wishy]

This nonsense on the condition cuts both ways.

A bs assistant tried to say a well-kept camera on a trade-in was the lowest grade because it had a screen scratch. It was just a tiny spot where the chemical coating had come off that didn't show with the screen turned on. The rest of the camera looked excellent. You had to wonder if the store would bump it up a grade when the trader leaves.

 

[MrHollywood]

This nonsense on the condition cuts both ways.

A bs assistant tried to say a well-kept camera on a trade-in was the lowest grade because it had a screen scratch. It was just a tiny spot where the chemical coating had come off that didn't show with the screen turned on. The rest of the camera looked excellent. You had to wonder if the store would bump it up a grade when the trader leaves.

I won't ever buy a camera with a screen scratch. Not sure if it should be marked "Bargain" for it though. But their grading system is not nonsense and works great for buyers.

It seems that there's no wiggle room on condition when selling to them. Their business model works for them and leans heavily to the buyer. I can't imagine why I'd sell anything to them when someone within a mile of me would pay much more.

I checked them for selling my 70-200 VRII. Their offer was 875.00. I sold it in a matter of hours on Craigslist for much more without hassling, grading and shipping.

Rob

 

[larrywilson]

This nonsense on the condition cuts both ways.

A bs assistant tried to say a well-kept camera on a trade-in was the lowest grade because it had a screen scratch. It was just a tiny spot where the chemical coating had come off that didn't show with the screen turned on. The rest of the camera looked excellent. You had to wonder if the store would bump it up a grade when the trader leaves.

I won't ever buy a camera with a screen scratch. Not sure if it should be marked "Bargain" for it though. But their grading system is not nonsense and works great for buyers.

It seems that there's no wiggle room on condition when selling to them. Their business model works for them and leans heavily to the buyer. I can't imagine why I'd sell anything to them when someone within a mile of me would pay much more.

I checked them for selling my 70-200 VRII. Their offer was 875.00. I sold it in a matter of hours on Craigslist for much more without hassling, grading and shipping.

Rob

Craigslist has been mostly a waste of time for me. I am in an area of around 150,000+ people and I have sold equipment on Craigslist, but usually no response on my really good deals. I have got some great deal though on buying from craigslist.

You can figure about half the retail price if your lucky selling to companies like B & H or KEH. Its mostly for convenience for trading in for new equipment, but you lose a lot by doing business in this way.

As far as grading my equipment both B & H and KEH have been fair, but as stated above its still a poor way of selling your equipment.

Larry

 

[bikinchris]

I never buy LN graded lenses from KEH. I don't need that kind of perfect. Usually, their EX lenses are what others call LN.

 

[MrHollywood]

You have to write the right ad for Craigslist....

"Stop looking. This is the 70-200 VR you want. Box, paperwork and excellent condition, and no regrets. This lens was hand-picked at B&H photo by me and is a superb example. Don't gamble with an optic of this quality. 1475.00 cash only. No trades or dog walking for lower price, but I might come down a bit for a polite buyer! No shipping, no nonsense. Bring your camera if you want to test. Can meet anywhere within 15 miles of XXXX. See the photos below"

I design every ad for a sale and have NEVER failed to sell a lens or camera on Craigslist here in Burbank CA or back in NY. I always build in a buffer for price so the buyer can have some room to chew down to my REAL price. I include GOOD pics of the lens and also of the fully packed product. 99% of sellers make the mistake with the photos (not shocking) by not showing packed and unpacked from various angles. I also say "bring your camera to test" which means forget about stealing mine. Though I'm a former bouncer and can beat up any three guys, I can't stop a bullet. I show some care because I could lose the lens to some nut. The little joke about dog walking and the "push" of "Stop looking" are also effective.

Think about what type of ad makes you want to buy because it's just as important as the price, especially on Craigslist and Ebay.

100% success with Craigslist.

Rob

 

[ImageAmateur]

I never buy LN graded lenses from KEH. I don't need that kind of perfect. Usually, their EX lenses are what others call LN.

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1N73LLIG3NC3 15 7H3 4B1L17Y 70 4D4P7 70 CH4NG3
~573PH3N H4WK1NG

My Refurb D610 and my 80-200 2.8 AF-D (EX+) were both like new when I got them, as I could see.

Top company.

Both still working beautifully after 3+ years. 4+ for the lens.

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Wishing You Good Light.