KEH - disappointing lately

[ray_g]

I have bought a number of lenses from them in the past, and like many, have been very happy with their service, and with their very conservative rating scale.

Over the past few months, the last two lenses I got were disappointing.

One was a 135/4 tele-elmar. The lens was nice, but the focus cam did not move when you turned the focus ring.

More recently, a 50/1.4 Nikkor LTM. The focus ring will not move closer than 3.5 feet.

Now I would not mind if these were little things that I may have been over-critical about, or small things that may have been missed. But these lenses were non-functional. They are not even good enough to be rated KEH "ugly."

Of course, they were returned, but counting shipping and insurance both ways, that's at least $25 per lens. Thankfully, I am not overseas.

It seems that their quality control has been severely lacking lately.

That was a rant, and also a caution to everyone else to check more closely.

[Silvio]

I purchased seven lenses from them in LN or LN- condition and found out that only two were in good working condition but none of them even close to their description.
When I asked what's their criteria for rating the answer was "mainly cosmetics". So you can get a perfect lemon but in a nice, rarely used body.
And their prices for LN- is very close to brand new ones, so I ended up sending five back and buying them new.

I WOULDN'T RECOMMEND KEH OR B&H TO ANYBODY LATELY.

Unless you like to play lottery and loose time to the post office or UPS location.

[Rafael]

Well, that's a concern. I have a lens on the way from KEH right now. My past experiences with them have all been very positive. I guess I'll just have to keep my fingers crossed...

[jaffa_777]

I have had only good experinces with KEH. I will go to them first for second hand gear before I go to anyone else, and then it's evil bay as a last resort. Yes they are more expensive than most, but I don't mind paying a bit more knowing that my parcel will turn up ontime and quickly and that I can return it for any reason. I buy my camera gear with the intent to keep it for life and all the stuff I have received from them was in way better cond than I had expected.

I have a "exc" rated Mamiya 6 body on the way from them, and if the cond is like the previous gear I have received I should be very happy.

[erudolph]

I became disappointed with KEH a number of years ago when I bought a Mamiya 6 body in EXC condition. It was poorly packed and arrived with a cracked rangefinder window. I exchanged it for another EXC body and this one had a very large and deep scratch on the front of the body. The scratch was not mentioned in the description. My thought was that both these problems were related to their shipping department. I have not shopped with them since.

Ed

[foto_fool]

Originally Posted by Rafael

Well, that's a concern. I have a lens on the way from KEH right now. My past experiences with them have all been very positive. I guess I'll just have to keep my fingers crossed...

I second this. Will follow up when lens ordered yesterday arrives. Meanwhile I guess I will just eat a few antacids.

- John

[jaffa_777]

hmm, well I hope my Mamiya 6 body is as described when it arrives, otherwise it will be going back, no questions asked.

[Bill58]

No way I'd ever buy anything used from them again. They will only use Fed EX, UPS, etc. and the shipping fees (to Korea) are outa' sight. Shipping by private carrier also has a 100% chance of going thru local customs and getting a 20% import tax.

Outside- the- USA buyers beware!

[RayPA]

I've had success with lenses. The one camera body I bought, an M5 (WHAT was I thinking?), arrived with several issues. I returned it and they were very accommodating. My most recent purchase (about two months ago) was a Nikon 85/2 AI-S. It was as described, so I was pleased.

[yankeedoll]

G'man had a really bad experience with KEH. I can't post what his opinion is.

They sent him a LN Pentax DS. The lens release was disconnected.
Lucky he is good at fixing things.

[nightfly]

I've purchased numerous "bargain" condition cameras from them and they've always been in almost mint condition for a very reasonable price and were shipped promptly and carefully packed.

I'm sorry others have had problems but I think they are a really great operation and I would buy from them again. I just picked up a Contax t2 from them and will be developing my first roll from it today. Functions perfectly from what I can tell.

Like anything else on the web, the people who have problems complain loudly while the vast majority of satisfied customers don't really feel the need to say anything so you get a somewhat unbalanced view of any sort of product or service (although I always do a lot of web research before purchases, I try and keep this in mind).

Often I find stuff on KEH that is cheaper than they end up going for on Ebay after the feeding frenzy.

[BillBingham2]

What I remember from other posts is that the best way to get something from KEH is to call and get it set aside until you can speak with a sales person who has it in his/her hand on the phone. Ask 10,000 questions and the odds are you will get what you are paying for.

I think the days of ordering blindly from them are over, way over.

B2 (;->

[ferider]

My experience was on and off with KEH. Typically, if there is a problem with a lens
that is not immediately visible, they don't catch it. For instance a Zuiko lens
that didn't completly focus to infinity.

I keep using them because they make return real easy.

Roland.

[tedwhite]

I bought a BGN Super Takumar 35/3.5 from KEH for twenty bucks. I don't understand their rating system as this was in LN condition and turned out to be one of the best and sharpest lenses in my M42 stable. Just wish it was faster than 3.5.

[JeffM]

If there is one thing you can't fault KEH for it's their return policy. I've definitely gotten stuff from them that has been not up to snuff... but I agree with what Roland said. I ordered a Contax G lens from them, listed as excellent, but it had some of the gold contacts chipped off and didn't operate properly. They exchanged it instantly and with the same model lens, no hassle as usual. It's rare to have that kind of luxury with used equipment in general. Whatever you get, just make sure to test it throughly within the 14 day grace period, you should be okay... if you don't want it, you'll have to bite the bullet with shipping, but otherwise they'll refund entirely. Despite any disappointments, I still go to KEH before ebay.

[HAnkg]

I purchased a lens recently and found it was different then the photo that appeared. When I called they explained that with the huge volume of product they move they don't have time anymore to take pictures so that image was not meant to represent the actual item. Seems like you should call and have a salesperson look at the product you want to purchase, so he can verify condition and function.

[Berliner]

I too have noticed a lapse in the QC at KEH. The last two items I ordered were returned (a first) because they were definitely not as described--, and not functional. They were EX+, and LN-. This has never been an issue until about a year ago--usually what you got was much better than described. I think calling and talking to someone is a safer bet with KEH these days...

[smeitner300]

My experience:


I recently purchased a camera body in EX+ condition. When I received it, the thing wouldn't even turn on! The switch was broken and rattled around inside. The camera also was missing the eyepiece and LCD protector. This was my first time dealing with KEH, and with their reputation, I allowed them to make it right.
I needed the body for a photoshoot I had planned, and couldn't wait to ship the defective body to them, and have them ship an exchange to me. I ended up purchasing a 2nd body and waited for them to reimburse me. I talked with a sales rep. I specifically told him the body was for a photoshoot, and to be sure to check the 2nd body for problems before it was sent. He agreed to do so.
So guess what? Yup, the 2nd body was defective as well! Obviously not checked. The autofocus made terrible sounds and wouldn't lock on. I tried to fumble through the shoot with it. I ended up using it on manual focus after the model asked "Is there something wrong with your camera?" That's a humbling comment.
So I called them back after the shoot. I was politely told, "Well sir, you are buying used equipment." I replied, "Yes, but used does not mean defective." I fianlly agreed to give them one last chance.
The 3rd camera did work fine. It still was missing the eyepiece and LCD protector though. After a week, I noticed my account was not credited for the 2nd camera (though I know they received it by UPS tracking). I called back and had to talk to 4 people before I found out what happened. They lost it. I don't care how big your company is, that's not my fault. I was told by the sales manager, "Well, you didn't put RETURN DEFECTIVE on the box." He made it out to be my fault that they lost it.
It is almost a month now, and I'm still trying to get things straight. All this to buy a simple camera body. Never again...

[xayraa33]

by reading these posts, KEH seems to be getting as reliable as that auction site in buying good working gear.

[Matthew Runkel]

Originally Posted by ray_g

counting shipping and insurance both ways, that's at least $25 per lens.

Truly? That seems extraordinarily high. What shipping method was this?

[35mmdelux]

I bought a lens from them called Bargain, but to my eye it looked pretty beat, maybe not Ugly but certainly no Bargain. simply not acceptable. For $25 less I picked one off evilbay which was mint. Returned the KEH without any problem. I was alittle disappointed but would do biz again for harder to find item.

I've heard of others receiving dirty or busted cameras.

[Pablito]

This is a wake up call. I have never bought from them but I have recommended them to others, mainly based on the positive things I've read here!

[enochRoot]

i've tried them twice based on glowing reviews here. i returned the items both times, as they were not as described. i did try to have the salesman check the item for me, and they said they could not. i should have known better at that point. i'll never try to use them again.

[bellyface]

I've been using KEH for many years, and have had no complaints to this day. But then again, I've had issues with adorama, and many people don't...

[ChrisPlatt]

I've purchased quite a few Pentax SLR lenses from KEH, always in bargain condition.
Every one has far exceeded my expectations!

Chris