Does MPB Really Test Their Cameras?

[g7_chord]

Before anything else: My recent experience buying from MPB was extremely positive. I ended up with exactly what I wanted, and I'd buy from them again. However, things weren't straightforward.

I was looking for a smallish MFT camera for international travel, with a second body for backup.

To get the two cameras I ended up with, I had to buy four. The first, a Pen E-PL6, rated Excellent, had a defective IBIS system. (Blinking warning light.) MPB answered my email quickly and provided a paid-for return label, no questions asked. The second, an Excellent Pen E-P5, had a defective flash. (Charge icon never stopped blinking.) They took that one back too, with excellent customer service.

MPB put both cameras back on their site, but with notations about the faulty IBIS and the faulty flash. Both still rated Excellent. I noticed that MPB's ratings are cosmetic condition, not general condition.

My third camera was an Excellent E-PL7, and this one was a keeper, and will be my backup. The fourth was a Like-New Lumix GX7 and it really did look new and work perfectly; that's my main travel camera.

The last three sensors had dust spots, but I was able to clear them easily with a blower and a statically-charged brush. (Wet cleaning not needed.) I didn't check the first camera, the E-PL6, for dust.

There's a comment on the MPB website (https://www.mpb.com/en-us/content/kit-guides/why-it-s-better-to-buy-used-kit-from-mpb) that I question: "MPB product specialists test each camera and lens for more than forty different criteria—so that everything is in tip-top shape, ready to shoot." The two defective cameras had defects that were obvious when looking at the rear screen. Either they weren't really tested or the testing was sloppy.

Knowing what I know now, I would definitely buy from MPB again, but with different expectations. I would choose based on cosmetic condition, test it thoroughly when I got it, remove the dust non-invasively if it passes my tests, and, if I have to, send it back. Repeat until I have what I want. I'm happy with this system.

I'm guessing that quality problems would be no different buying from other sources, but I'd choose MPB because of the accuracy of their listings and their excellent customer service.

--
Marc

 

[ishwanu]

Maybe not enough. I've made two purchases from them. The first time around, they sent me the wrong lens. The second time, they sent me a defective lens - the motorized aperture control didn't work. The return and refund went without a hitch, but still ...

My experience with them is probably not typical, but that's what happened.

 

[bridge77]

we don't know.

they say they do as you note; it would be dumb for them to say we look at nothing and grab a camera off the shelf and call it a day.

so how would we know?

my guess is that the high end cameras are probably tested more thoroughly because there is Profit.

the low end stuff probably tested by the Lower End staff, and maybe they need to test so many cameras per hour. do you think those are 'thoroughly tested' ?

if a camera sells for 50 or 100 bucks, probably not a lot of testing or they couldn't turn a profit, right?

well i buy their low end stuff and expect very little. i bought a Bridge Camera with gunk in the lens and called them; after a few months i sent it in to repair Gunk in Lens and they sent a better camera out with no Gunk in Lens. my camera was down graded and sold off cheap that had Gunk.

regardless it was win/win.

since this is a hobby for me and a business for them; it is a win/win for us all. another Used Big Box was the same issues, one i sent back and another i traded up for.

basically expect very little some days when trading equipment. you may be the Real Camera Inspector LOL.

i was told to buy camera Lens in excellent if you wanna make sure no Fungus. of course that will always set you back, but prolly good advice. or buy good and know how to check for Fungus i suppose.

some of us have toooo many cameras anyway, so i don't worry toooo much. they need to go somewhere else.

 

[Hike Pics]

There's a comment on the MPB website (https://www.mpb.com/en-us/content/kit-guides/why-it-s-better-to-buy-used-kit-from-mpb) that I question: "MPB product specialists test each camera and lens for more than forty different criteria—so that everything is in tip-top shape, ready to shoot." The two defective cameras had defects that were obvious when looking at the rear screen. Either they weren't really tested or the testing was sloppy.

 

[bridge77]

There's a comment on the MPB website (https://www.mpb.com/en-us/content/kit-guides/why-it-s-better-to-buy-used-kit-from-mpb) that I question: "MPB product specialists test each camera and lens for more than forty different criteria—so that everything is in tip-top shape, ready to shoot." The two defective cameras had defects that were obvious when looking at the rear screen. Either they weren't really tested or the testing was sloppy.

This is just one of the reasons why I'll have nothing else to do with them. Incompetence and inconvenience was my experience that took 4 months to resolve. I don't want to go through that again.

4 months ? !!!!

wow pray tell, details please.

mine was incompetence on their part, but they just shipped another one that was a better camera. has quality diminished in the last few years at mp?

some say go with keh, no problems. but you don't get shutter counts.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

In the last two years I purchased from MPB USA two lenses and a grip for my Nikon D500. All three items were graded "Like New" and indeed all three were. Cosmetically, functionally and down to the original packaging, including manuals and warranty cards.

I suppose it can be different for a camera body, so many more things that could not work and should be checked.

Puzzling that they botched a sale so grossly. It's not like they can blame the manufacturer, as they could do if selling new, sealed in the box equipment.

Beside the questionable ethic, it seems a self-defeating proposition to knowingly sell used gear in bad shape.

Why pay for MPB's mark-up and not buy on eBay if you end up with the same risk of getting defective stuff and having to deal with the hassle of returning it, etc. etc.?

Even MBP end up with higher cost when they have to fix a sale gone wrong. Much better to do it right the first time!

 

[Hike Pics]

There's a comment on the MPB website (https://www.mpb.com/en-us/content/kit-guides/why-it-s-better-to-buy-used-kit-from-mpb) that I question: "MPB product specialists test each camera and lens for more than forty different criteria—so that everything is in tip-top shape, ready to shoot." The two defective cameras had defects that were obvious when looking at the rear screen. Either they weren't really tested or the testing was sloppy.

This is just one of the reasons why I'll have nothing else to do with them. Incompetence and inconvenience was my experience that took 4 months to resolve. I don't want to go through that again.

4 months ? !!!!

wow pray tell, details please.

mine was incompetence on their part, but they just shipped another one that was a better camera. has quality diminished in the last few years at mp?

some say go with keh, no problems. but you don't get shutter counts.

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/67623505

You also don't get shutter counts for Olympus at MPB. My guess is that they don't want to go through the buttons to pull up the Service Menu, which is where the shutter counts are located.

 

[Chris Wolfgram]

Before anything else: My recent experience buying from MPB was extremely positive. I ended up with exactly what I wanted, and I'd buy from them again. However, things weren't straightforward.

I was looking for a smallish MFT camera for international travel, with a second body for backup.

To get the two cameras I ended up with, I had to buy four. The first, a Pen E-PL6, rated Excellent, had a defective IBIS system. (Blinking warning light.) MPB answered my email quickly and provided a paid-for return label, no questions asked. The second, an Excellent Pen E-P5, had a defective flash. (Charge icon never stopped blinking.) They took that one back too, with excellent customer service.

MPB put both cameras back on their site, but with notations about the faulty IBIS and the faulty flash. Both still rated Excellent. I noticed that MPB's ratings are cosmetic condition, not general condition.

My third camera was an Excellent E-PL7, and this one was a keeper, and will be my backup. The fourth was a Like-New Lumix GX7 and it really did look new and work perfectly; that's my main travel camera.

The last three sensors had dust spots, but I was able to clear them easily with a blower and a statically-charged brush. (Wet cleaning not needed.) I didn't check the first camera, the E-PL6, for dust.

There's a comment on the MPB website (https://www.mpb.com/en-us/content/kit-guides/why-it-s-better-to-buy-used-kit-from-mpb) that I question: "MPB product specialists test each camera and lens for more than forty different criteria—so that everything is in tip-top shape, ready to shoot." The two defective cameras had defects that were obvious when looking at the rear screen. Either they weren't really tested or the testing was sloppy.

Knowing what I know now, I would definitely buy from MPB again, but with different expectations. I would choose based on cosmetic condition, test it thoroughly when I got it, remove the dust non-invasively if it passes my tests, and, if I have to, send it back. Repeat until I have what I want. I'm happy with this system.

I'm guessing that quality problems would be no different buying from other sources, but I'd choose MPB because of the accuracy of their listings and their excellent customer service.

To test them, they kick them around on the pavement for 10 minutes, and if it doesn’t completely fall apart, they call it good, and send it out as “like new” !
Oh wait, I’m sorry, maybe they just did that with mine ?

 

[bastibe]

What you pay for with MPB is the possibility of a return/refund.

I was looking at a camera body on ebay that had a big scratch on the bottom. This could indicate a bad drop. Would the camera still be OK? I ended up talking to the seller, and did buy it. It was okay. But when it was time to sell, I did so with MPB. A camera like that is a much different proposition if you can simply return it in case of problems.

 

[g7_chord]

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/67623505

You were selling, not buying. When you're buying, a return is handled within a few days.

 

[Hike Pics]

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/67623505

You were selling, not buying. When you're buying, a return is handled within a few days.

I was trading and buying.

Returns (sometimes, like mine) can take longer than a few days, as MPB wants photos and/or videos of the issue(s) before a return label is sent. Add that to the time it takes for their first response.

 

[g7_chord]

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/67623505

You were selling, not buying. When you're buying, a return is handled within a few days.

I was trading and buying.

Returns (sometimes, like mine) can take longer than a few days, as MPB wants photos and/or videos of the issue(s) before a return label is sent. Add that to the time it takes for their first response.

Sorry, I got that wrong. But, still, we had vastly different experiences. For my two faulty cameras, they sent the return label immediately, in less than two days, no questions asked. In your case the return authorizations took months and required proof?

One difference is that in both cases I requested a full refund, not a replacement camera. But I don't understand why requesting a replacement would delay the return authorization.

 

[Mackiesback]

In the last two years I purchased from MPB USA two lenses and a grip for my Nikon D500. All three items were graded "Like New" and indeed all three were. Cosmetically, functionally and down to the original packaging, including manuals and warranty cards.

I suppose it can be different for a camera body, so many more things that could not work and should be checked.

Puzzling that they botched a sale so grossly. It's not like they can blame the manufacturer, as they could do if selling new, sealed in the box equipment.

Beside the questionable ethic, it seems a self-defeating proposition to knowingly sell used gear in bad shape.

Why pay for MPB's mark-up and not buy on eBay if you end up with the same risk of getting defective stuff and having to deal with the hassle of returning it, etc. etc.?

Even MBP end up with higher cost when they have to fix a sale gone wrong. Much better to do it right the first time!

I dont really think they have ethical issues or knowingly send out defective gear, I think they have a volume problem. That can be fixed of course. I suppose choosing not to hire more testing staff could be viewed as ethically suspect, but they know their business model and budgets. Fortunately, they seem to be responsive on the CS end of it.



It's similar with Amazon and their lousy packing. It's far cheaper for them to replace a camera here and there than it is to spend labor and materials packing them properly.

 

[MJ_Photo38]

I have bought a handful of cameras from MPB, and my overall feeling about it :

They don't, or rather they do so little testing it's like they didn't do any.

They look if the camera powers on, if the shutter fires, if the AF works if the screens are working... and that's it. Maybe they push the buttons.

But they do not look at the camera with care. I got a D700 that had the aperture control lever that was stuck down, so the camera wasn't able to take a properly exposed shot, I got a Canon 5D which had a focus screen shift issue, I got a D300 which has an unresponsive back dial, I got a D1X with fungus on the sensor...

All defects that were not listed on the product page, to me that indicates a less than ideal testing method. Maybe okay for modern mirrorless stuff, much less so for very old DSLR cameras.

Same goes for the lenses by the way.

My advice to anynone buying to MPB : test your gear properly when you recieve it. If there is anything wrong with it, send it back, trade it or get a refund. They have pretty good customer support, use it if there is anything wrong.

(Edit after reading the whole thread : I don't think they do more testing on more expensive cameras. They did so little testing on my (pretty expensive to me) Sigma SD Quattro H that they even missed that it was an "H" model and listed it at a cheaper price under the "non H" category, getting a pretty sizeable discount as a result. Maybe they have some other people to do the testing on cameras above a certain threshold, but I doubt it)

--
(G.A.S. and collectionnite will get my skin one day)

 

[MJ_Photo38]

There's a comment on the MPB website (https://www.mpb.com/en-us/content/kit-guides/why-it-s-better-to-buy-used-kit-from-mpb) that I question: "MPB product specialists test each camera and lens for more than forty different criteria—so that everything is in tip-top shape, ready to shoot." The two defective cameras had defects that were obvious when looking at the rear screen. Either they weren't really tested or the testing was sloppy.

This is just one of the reasons why I'll have nothing else to do with them. Incompetence and inconvenience was my experience that took 4 months to resolve. I don't want to go through that again.

4 months ? !!!!

wow pray tell, details please.

mine was incompetence on their part, but they just shipped another one that was a better camera. has quality diminished in the last few years at mp?

some say go with keh, no problems. but you don't get shutter counts.

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/67623505

You also don't get shutter counts for Olympus at MPB. My guess is that they don't want to go through the buttons to pull up the Service Menu, which is where the shutter counts are located.

You don't get shutter counts on *any* mirrorless cameras, they only include the shutter count on DLSRs for some reason.

I don't know, maybe the mchanical shutters on mirrorless cameras magically don't wear out I guess

 

[MJ_Photo38]

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/67623505

You were selling, not buying. When you're buying, a return is handled within a few days.

I bought a D700 that ended up being defective. I sent it back the same day I got it, reactive customer service on that front... however it ended up stuck in their warehouse for several weeks and I only got my replacement camera about a month after the initial purchase.

 

[Hike Pics]

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/67623505

You were selling, not buying. When you're buying, a return is handled within a few days.

I bought a D700 that ended up being defective. I sent it back the same day I got it, reactive customer service on that front... however it ended up stuck in their warehouse for several weeks and I only got my replacement camera about a month after the initial purchase.

YES! This happened twice during my 4 month fiasco with them.

 

[Dareshooter]

Given the the number of items that they have to deal with I have my doubts that they are tested thoroughly. I’m a long time customer of MPB UK and have had only one defective item and that was a decentered lens. No quibbling with them either as the item was picked up the following day and a refund was issued promptly. They would need a small army of testers to check each item for all possible defects which in turn would drive up their costs which would passed on to the consumer.

 

[Chris Wolfgram]

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/67623505

You were selling, not buying. When you're buying, a return is handled within a few days.

I bought a D700 that ended up being defective. I sent it back the same day I got it, reactive customer service on that front... however it ended up stuck in their warehouse for several weeks and I only got my replacement camera about a month after the initial purchase.

YES! This happened twice during my 4 month fiasco with them.

Ouch ! That would have freaking killed me, as I'm on a strict timeline. In my experience, they sent me a lens which was ridiculously scraped a scratched, although they described it as "like new".... but at least customer service was friendly, and got me a full refund within a week. I then decided to buy the same lens from B&H, and it was just as they described > Like new Had it in 3 days

Apparently, consistency does not seem to be a strong point with MPB.

 

[MJ_Photo38]

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/67623505

You were selling, not buying. When you're buying, a return is handled within a few days.

I bought a D700 that ended up being defective. I sent it back the same day I got it, reactive customer service on that front... however it ended up stuck in their warehouse for several weeks and I only got my replacement camera about a month after the initial purchase.

YES! This happened twice during my 4 month fiasco with them.

Ouch ! That would have freaking killed me, as I'm on a strict timeline. In my experience, they sent me a lens which was ridiculously scraped a scratched, although they described it as "like new".... but at least customer service was friendly, and got me a full refund within a week. I then decided to buy the same lens from B&H, and it was just as they described > Like new Had it in 3 days

Apparently, consistency does not seem to be a strong point with MPB.

Forrest Gump would say that buying at MPB is like a box of chocolates.

After the dozen or so purchases I've made with them, there has ALWAYS been something wrong with it. Sometimes bad (defective camera, fungus, ...), sometimes nice (battery forgotten in teh charger so you end up with a free spare, amountof "damage" inside or outside a lens that lead to a reduced price end up being non existent of overestimated), sometimes very nice (confusing two different models of similar items leading to listing one considerably cheaper than it should be. Happened with my Sigma SDQH, you can see on the website some Nikon 24-85 lenses not listed under the right model, there is "VR" lenses listed under the non VR model which end up being much cheaper than normal...)

If they didn't have strong customer services and very high margins buying gear to people for peanuts, this company would have gone under a long time ago.