Did your Ebay camera Work out of the Box?

[D.J.]

I'm one of the happy few, never had a problem, at all.

[ColSebastianMoran]

I can usually tell what risk I'm taking from the sellers articulation, feedback, and a scan of their other listings.

My risk assessments have usually been good. When I take a risk and it works out, I get a very good deal. When I take a risk and get a paperweight, that's on me.

When it should be right and is not, either the seller has been perfectly accommodating or eBay has more-or-less forced them to refund.

Another route is to buy from KEH where even their "bargain" level is perfectly functional as evaluated by someone with camera knowledge. And, they have a good return policy.

[siracusa]

But I am very wary with ebay these days. I once picked up a cheap Summitar (not from the bay) with terrible cleaning marks that seriously affected the image. I ended up selling it on ebay for a low price with an honest description of the haze and heavy cleaning marks, and it was purchased by a fine art photog. Before long he resold the lens on ebay, with images that did not clearly show the condition of the lens. I nearly fell off my chair when I read in his description that he had owned and treasured the lens (that he had not long since bought from me...) for ten or twenty years (I forget which), during which time he had kept it in excellent condition and taken countless wonderful photos with it yada yada yada. I don't remember exactly, but I am pretty sure I did fall off the chair when I saw the winning bid, because it was priced as though the lens was mint. Ever since then I've been really wary of descriptions and rarely buy cameras or lenses from ebay, even if the seller seems reputable or seems to know cameras. When I have bought items from ebay, I have occasionally found they are in worse condition than described, but I've generally come off okay as a buyer (touch wood). But you never know for sure...even from feedback and seller's descriptions.

[palmerfralick]

The M8 did not and was returned with seller paying for return shipping. The R-D1, D50, D70 and D200 and a few others worked perfectly and still do. All were used cameras.

[dct]

Just got a Nokton and a X100 from a local bay: Again two perfect articles. But I don't buy from sellers with too bad rating and descriptions with no details.

[MiniMoke]

So far I have been lucky, mostly (I don't count lightseals needing replacement as a big camera fault):

Oly 35 RC bought in perfect condition for 35€, sold for 55.
Canon AE-1 in stunning condition
Canonet 28 in perfect condition!!
Canonet GIII QL17 advertised as very good, wobbly lens and lots of fungus -was refunded by the buyer!
Canonet GIII QL17 in very good condition
Oly 35 SP in very very excellent condition, really!!!
Canolite D flash unit DOA, but refunded
Canolite D in perfect condition

Major problem I had was not on the bay, but from a professional selling cameras..... an Oly 35 SP that was in mediocre condition.

Choose your sellers well on ebay, never buy from 'not camera kinda guy, inherited from grandfather, seems to work, mint condition' sellers.