Igor's Camera Exchange - Thumbs up/down?

[resummerfield]

I've bought two lenses from Igor recently. He gave some good advice, and packed and shipped quickly and as I requested. Overall I am satisfied.

[Alan Davenport]

I bought a supposedly perfect camera from him, which arrived with a dead meter. Although the camera had only been in my hands for a couple of days when I called him, he refused to honor his return policy -- evidently the time in shipping counted against me. I spent an extra hundred dollars to get the camera repaired, and I haven't done business with Igor since.

[Robert Hall]

I found his ratings to be optomistic as well.

[Brian Ellis]

I've had two experiences with Igor, one medicore, the other bad. The mediocre one was with a Leica SL2 without a lens that I bought from him at a camera show in Pinellas Park, Florida. I bought a lens from another dealer at the same show. The camera was in very nice cosmetic condition but when I later put the lens on it and tried using it the meter didn't function properly and I had to send it away for repair. I was disappointed that he didn't say anything about that but then I figured that since he didn't have a lens for it maybe he just hadn't used the camera and didn't know about the meter problem. So while I wasn't thrilled it didn't strike me as terribly wrong.

Then the bad experience. About three months ago he listed two Shen Haos on his web site, an HZX45-II and an earlier version. I called and asked what the difference was between the two cameras and he explained that the HZX45-II had an improved back or something like that. So I ordered the II. When it arrived it wasn't a Shen Hao at all, it was the Sun camera that some think is made by Shen Hao and others think is a knock-off of a Shen Hao by someone else. Either way, it clearly wasn't a Shen Hao. So I called and without apologizing or even trying to explain he agreed to accept the return and issue a credit to my card, which he promptly did. But I was amazed, I've never heard of a dealer claiming that a camera is one brand when it's really another no matter how similar the two cameras may be, especially after we had even talked and he had discussed the camera without ever mentioning that it really wasn't a Shen Hao.

[John Powers]

I am local to Igor, Cleveland (area), Ohio. In addition to the VC shows he also does a local series of photo swap meets here and I believe within half a day's drive multiple weekends a year. He talks to a thousand tire kickers for every serious prospect. That can be frustrating and cause a little doubt in any person.

I thought from my reading that a barrel lens would cover 7x17. He doubted it, but let me try it once I had paid for it. He accepted it back after I proved to myself that it had absolutely no coverage with any movement.

My impression is that Igor is learning a wider range of product than most of us. For instance he has a 1993 Phillips Advantage 8x10 and has asked me a lot of questions. Some I have had to send him on to Dick Phillips. On the other hand I have never had a Leica in my hand and have only passing familiarity with a Deardorff.

I have seen him under value, realize and up his price. I have heard him ask as many questions as he answered. He is trying to make a living at what most of us think is our hobby. Pretty much everyone wants a deal and doesn't mind if he comes out with the better deal. The other side of that is that if Igor loses too many deals we have one less vendor.

John

[jnanian]

i have only one experience --- it was a postiive one.

i bought a wollensak triple convertible
and it was as advertised on his site.
he was nice on the phone,
and the lens was packed well and
shipped promptly.
i have had no problems with the lens.

[alec4444]

He talks to a thousand tire kickers for every serious prospect. That can be frustrating and cause a little doubt in any person.

He must think I'm one of those guys. It took a while to get through to him by phone, and I asked him to send me some pics this AM and never got them. He answered some of my questions, but I'm having trouble trying to find out what he has and in what condition. I have money in hand ready to buy, but I want to see some pics of the item before I plunk down a lotta $$$ with his rather strict return policy.

I am local to Igor, Cleveland (area), Ohio.

How local? Would you be willing to do some recon for me?

Thanks!
--A

[Frank R]

I have met Igor many times at the local camera shows. He tends to carry some of the cleanest equipment around. He dismisses a lot of the other vendors equipment as junk.

Again, this is his livelihood. He has to deal with a lot of lookers and few buyers. If you have already done your research before you contact him, it will go better for both of you.

[alec4444]

If you have already done your research before you contact him, it will go better for both of you.

Errr, do research on....what? I'm genuinely interested in the product, I just wanted to see some pics of the condition. I know the camera, I asked a bunch of questions that he answered to my satisfaction, but that's not the same as seeing the product. In the age of digital everything, a pic should take two mins. Did you mean something else?

--A

[John Powers]

He must think I'm one of those guys. It took a while to get through to him by phone, and I asked him to send me some pics this AM and never got them. He answered some of my questions, but I'm having trouble trying to find out what he has and in what condition. I have money in hand ready to buy, but I want to see some pics of the item before I plunk down a lotta $$$ with his rather strict return policy.



How local? Would you be willing to do some recon for me?

Thanks!
--A

Alec,

I have met him 45 minutes from where I live to exchange money for the lens mentioned. I am not sure how close he lives to that. I will send you a PM.

John