is KEH still a good place to buy?

[Daniel_Buck]

So In the passed (anywhere from 2 years ago to maybe 10 years ago) I've purchased a number of things through KEH and have always been quite satisfied with their ratings, and have never had any problems.

Well today I received a few lenses (leica M lenses, not large format) and for one of the lenses they sent the wrong lens, an Elmarit instead of a Summicron. No big deal, they will probably exchange it for the correct one with no questions asked (it's their mistake, after all).

However, that got me wondering, is KEH still a good place to buy used items? I've not purchased anything from them in several years (accept for this week, with the 1/2 goofed up order) The other lenses, including one that was marked "ugly" are in great condition for what they are rated as, which is always as I remember it being with KEH, very conservative ratings on the condition of items.

Folks still buying from them regularly, had success? This is the first time I've had any issues with them, although it's not really a big issue since I'm sure they will exchange it quickly. I was just hoping to have the correct lens for my week off next week, the first real time off I've had in over a year, and the first weekend I've had off in over 2 months :(h

[zcary]

I just bought from KEH once last year.

Got a Fujinon 210/5.6 for a good price, and i think it looked better than stated, so i was very happy with it.

Even after adding 25% swedish VAT to the price and express shipping it was a bargain compared to buy anything here :-)

[jp]

I've bought twice from them in the last year with good success, and found their ratings to be very conservative.

[bsimison]

Yes, just bought two lenses from KEH, both of them Fujinons with a "Bargain" rating. The prices were at or below what the lenses were going for on the auction site, and they are in great shape.

[francois.jonquet]

yers
just bought a lens from them
just perfect
francois

[Kevin M Bourque]

I'm sure someone here has had a bad experience, but I've always been happy with them. I bought a BGN lens just this year that, had it been on eBay, would have been advertised as MINT! ;-)

[Sevo]

Their ratings are conservative, at any rate compared to ebay (where just about everything that has had the loose bits wiped off the corrosion holes is "minty"). But their shipping through some Federal Express luxury service only makes them no option for delivery to Europe, unless you are really desperate. I've once paid a total of $110 for the shipping of one filter (where $70 came undisclosed after the fact in a bill from FedEx, for "customs handling"). Personally I positively am never going to deal with KEH or any other company shipping with FedEx from the US again.

[Brian Ellis]

I've never been a big fan of KEH, they're usually overpriced IMHO, the one "bargain" item I bought had a big dent in it (o.k., it was shown as "bargain," but I had read over and over about how conservative they were and their "bargains"were like other seller's "excellents"), and then they cheated me on a Zeiss Ikon outfit I sold to them (I've related the details here before, no need to go into them again).

[Ron Marshall]

I have purchased many lenses and cameras from KEH, over a ten year period and never had a bad experience. Returns are not a problem if you decide that it is not as described.

With "bargain" grade you take a chance. I purchased a "bargain" Rolleicord, that was mint, except for a small dent on the bottom; it worked flawlessly. I got lucky in that case. I'm sure "bargain" grade is not always that pristine!

I sold them a Contax Aria and received a fair price.

I usually buy EX or EX+ and I have never had a lens with dust or glass that was less than perfect. Some show minor wear on the barrels, but you have to look closely to see it. A couple of lenses I would have guessed were new had I not known better.

Of course you can often find somewhat lower prices at private sales, but then you are forced to trust the seller and may be stuck with a lemon if they do not honor their return policy.

[Daniel_Buck]

sounds like not much has changed then. Price wise, yea they aren't the cheapest, but they always seem to have what I need, which is why I've always shopped through them in the passed. I've never sold anything to them though. They must have just accidentally goofed on my order. No biggie, everyone makes mistakes :-) Thanks for the replies!

[Sirius Glass]

I have bought from and sold to KEH over a period of four years. I have had to exchange two items and was reimbursed for the return shipping and not charged for their second shipping. Everything else went smoothly. This may be a reflection of buying EX and above. I have found their prices about the same or lower, usually lower than the Los Angeles are camera stores for cameras and lenses.

Steve

[Jfnphotography]

Picked up a packard shutter a week ago, got a good deal on it. Purchased a few other cable for flashs and had no problems.

[Michael Jones]

Over the years (and as recently as last month), I've never had a problem and they've always taken it back even if I (or my wife) changed my mind.

Mike

[redrockcoulee]

Last month was the first time I ever purchased from them. I got a 60mm lens for the Hasselblad and I think it was probably lower than normal but I think that there are also as good bargains on eBay or the forums if you look. One of the reason I bought the lens from them is I was interested in some small items and it made sense to get them all at the same place at the same time to save lots on shipping.

The shipping out was slow as after a couple of weeks I enquired and they then shipped the next day which was much longer than is mentioned on the web page. Not sure if they were waiting for an item or what but I do wonder how much longer the shipment would have taken if I had not contacted them.

I never purchase anything outside of Canada that needs to be shipped FedEx. I know that their planes and trucks cost money but I do not want to pay for them all with my one shipment. KEH sent by USPS which meant I ended up paying Canada Post the 5 dollar handling fee to collect GST etc instead of probably $70 or more for FedEX to do the same.

[Julie-Anna]

I made my first purchase with KEH, a Nikon D80 over the summer...the service rep on the phone was extremely helpful. I am very happy with my camera.

[AgentX]

KEH is overpriced? Compared to whom? The other used-camera superstores with a vast inventory and great customer service, who will return/exchange with no questions asked and generally help you out in the event of any problems with your order?

They ask fair prices for what they offer, IMHO. You'll pay less some other places, but won't find the same combination of selection and service anywhere else that I know of. They are, of course, generalists rather than specialists in, say, large format or Leica or Hasselblad, so if you need specialist knowledge you may be better served elsewhere.

Of course there are stories of people who didn't like the condition of the stuff they got, but with the volume of gear KEH deals, there will be more of those stories than with anyone else, just as there are more positive stories about great deals with KEH than most (any?) other used broker out there. And KEH has been a great help to me when I got something that wasn't functioning as advertised. Used gear from anyone will always admit the possibility that some aspect of the item isn't 100% and might have been missed in the broker's once-over.

[cmmatthews]

I've had generally great experience with KEH. They are fast and the items are usually under-described. The only thing I bought that I thought was a bit sketchy was a 50mm distagon that was in BGN condition. Had some scratches in the coating. I don't think it has any practical affect but I was somewhat dissapointed with it.

[gevalia]

Good experiences in buying from them. However, there's no way I would ever sell to them again.

[ImSoNegative]

only bad experience i have had with keh was to my ego. i bought a bargain grade lens from them for my rb67 when i got it, i checked it out very carefully and compared it to the rest of my rb system and realized my whole damn setup was bargain grade. all joking aside, keh is a fine company with outstanding service. i wouldnt hesitate a moment to buy from them.

[Rayt]

I have bought a lot from KEH with at least monthly orders. For a mail order house they don't do mail order very well compared to B&H used department which is very professional. KEH had sent me the wrong items, the wrong condition, packed badly, shipped late and once to the wrong customer. What they lack in professionalism is more than made up by their excellent customer service and very generous return policy. When I read about people getting mint equipment when they ordered BGN goods I think their warehouse people probably picked the wrong one off the shelves. I have bought EX+ gear that looked like BGN and vice versa.

[Cornelius]

I think KEH has very fair pricing for their used items. They're almost always priced right at used market value. That said, I wouldn't sell to them unless you're really desperate because like any store there's a huge disparity between what they'll pay you versus what that item will be sold for. Keh does have a good return policy.

My biggest gripe with them: They seem to dawdle on the shipping. Every time I order through them they wait almost a WEEK before they fill my order. Then it is shipped by what can only be described as a sled dog mush team, because it takes another couple of weeks to get to me from the date they supposedly ship it. They took so long one time that I had to call them numerous times to inquire about the order.

They really have to get on top of their shipping department is what I'm trying to say I guess. :D

[Rayt]

I just got home and the B&H box was sitting on my desk. I ordered a used 120mm Super Angulon, misc. items and a 100' can of Ilford film. Another bad packing job by B&H. The 120SA didn't have a box because it was used and they put it in the same plastic bag as the can of film so they bang against each other. The shutter is damaged, the aperture arm is bent 45 degrees and the shutter blades can only close one stop and to an oval. I paid $60 shipping to get it here to Hong Kong and now must pay $35 airmail to send back a $440 lens.

My last B&H order was damaged too. Three months ago I ordered a used Gravity Works film washer and a Schneider 150mm HM. The film washer was in box and took up most of the outer packing box. B&H just dropped the lens in a nothing more than a plastic bag in whatever space was left with two inches of foam peanuts. The poor lens arrived all banged up and lens elements separating in the edges.

It take back my last post. KEH is much more professional then B&H.

[Cesare Berti]

Their selection is good and the prices are competitive but living in Canada, the killer for me is the FedEX shipping and surcharges. Has anyone else asked them to ship to Canada via USPS and were you successful?

[Sirius Glass]

Their selection is good and the prices are competitive but living in Canada, the killer for me is the FedEX shipping and surcharges. Has anyone else asked them to ship to Canada via USPS and were you successful?

I bought something today that will be shipped within the US. The sales person gave the USPS price and the FedEx price. Rather than use USPS which does not track a package, the sales person reduced the shipping and handling some.

Steve

[612tom]

I thought I'd contribute to this thread as I've bought $000s of kit from KEH over the years but today just had my first bad experience.

I picked up a Nikkor 120SW in "EX" condition. The glass is immaculate and I would be very happy, if it wasn't for the shutter which I think is defective. The shutter cocking lever does not return to its original position when moved, leading the shutter to not function correctly. Time, Bulb, 1s, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/15 seem to work ok at times, but speeds from 1/60 through to 1/500 do not work properly. When cocking the shutter at these selected speeds, the shutter cocking lever sticks, so when the shutter is fired it does not close after the selected time, rendering it useless. The packaging was good so I don't think the lens has been damaged in transit.

Like I said, I have purchased many items from KEH before and have never had an issue like this. I would have expected the lens and shutter to be fully checked for mechanical working order and a CLA, especially in the EXCELLENT condition this lens was listed as.

Very strange.

I have to return the lens from Australia so it's likely I will be out of pocket to the tune of at least $100 in return shipping charges. I've only just emailed them so we'll see how things pan out in the coming days...

Disgruntled!

[Noah A]

I've had good results from KEH over the years with one exception. A few months ago I bought a Pentax 67 and a 105mm lens from them. Both were rated LN-. I was not happy with their condition at all. The body was quite worn and worst of all the bayonet on the lens was bent so badly that it would not mount on the camera.

When I called to return the items the guy was very condescending and assumed I didn't know how to mount the lens. They did take the return though after a minor interrogation about how I was mounting the lens. He didn't blame be for the damage, he just thought the lens wouldn't mount because I was doing it wrong. I've used P67's on and off for ten years or so. They actually emailed me a return shipping label so I didn't have to pay for return shipping.

Against my better judgement, last week I saw a pretty good deal on a 110xl. It was Ex+. The lens arrived very quickly and it looks like new. It didn't have caps (but it didn't say that it did so no surprise there). But the lens is really nice and was packed well.

So it's like any used dealer--sometimes you may have bad luck but sometimes you can get good gear at good prices. I do wish you could see actual photos of what you're buying, but I guess with the volume they deal with it would be tough. And lead to higher prices...

I would never sell gear to KEH or any other dealer. They need to make a profit so you'll never get the true market value.

[Ron Marshall]

Since it is not in proper working order, they should refund the shipping.



I thought I'd contribute to this thread as I've bought $000s of kit from KEH over the years but today just had my first bad experience.

I picked up a Nikkor 120SW in "EX" condition. The glass is immaculate and I would be very happy, if it wasn't for the shutter which I think is defective. The shutter cocking lever does not return to its original position when moved, leading the shutter to not function correctly. Time, Bulb, 1s, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/15 seem to work ok at times, but speeds from 1/60 through to 1/500 do not work properly. When cocking the shutter at these selected speeds, the shutter cocking lever sticks, so when the shutter is fired it does not close after the selected time, rendering it useless. The packaging was good so I don't think the lens has been damaged in transit.

Like I said, I have purchased many items from KEH before and have never had an issue like this. I would have expected the lens and shutter to be fully checked for mechanical working order and a CLA, especially in the EXCELLENT condition this lens was listed as.

Very strange.

I have to return the lens from Australia so it's likely I will be out of pocket to the tune of at least $100 in return shipping charges. I've only just emailed them so we'll see how things pan out in the coming days...

Disgruntled!

[Drew Wiley]

I've never bought LF from KEH, but have bought P67 and Nikon stuff, and thought they
rate stuff very conservatively. What I paid for EX+ would be any else's "mint". A friend
of mine just bought quite a bit of Mamiya MF from them and I was amazed at what
good quality he got at a reasonable price. The gear looked brand new, but was rated
EX+.

[Scott Davis]

My only peeve about KEH's large format gear is their insistence on listing lenses by what size mounting hole they need in millimeters, instead of by shutter size, like the rest of the planet. I don't need to know if it takes a 42 mm mount, I need to know if it's in a Copal 0 or 1, or in the case of the odd vintage lens they have if it's an Ilex 3, 4 or 5. It was more annoying when I wasn't as familiar with various optics as I am now, but it still annoys me. Other than that, I've never had a bad transaction with them. A very long time ago I bought a film back for my Hasselblad that developed a problem within the return period. I called them up, and there wasn't a moment's hesitation on taking it back and refunding my money.

[Ben Syverson]

I've purchased everything from 35mm to LF stuff from KEH, and they have never let me down. Their prices are typically hard to beat, and their ratings are beyond conservative (BGN is a true bargain, and UG is what passes for EX- on eBay).

I prefer to buy on this forum or Rangefinderforum, but there are times when neither community has what I'm looking for (or they do, but it's priced creatively). In that case, KEH is a reliable alternative. If LFF, RFF and KEH combined don't have what I'm searching for, it's best to reexamine the need for the item before caving in to the headache that is eBay.

[rachase]

I only had one dealing with KEH and it was a very positive one. About a month ago I purchased a 180 mm APO Symmar rated as EX+; the condition of it in my view was mint. I won't hesitate to do business with them in the future.

[Robert Jonathan]

I got my Schneider 210 APO Symmar from KEH. It was rated "EX" (not EX+). I was expecting some dings and marks, dust, and a few scratches, but the lens was brand spanking NEW.

I also bought my Horseman LS from KEH, and it's perfect, along with Riteway film holders. Everything is awesome from KEH.

I've bought a ton of new stuff from B&H, but for used stuff, I tend to only trust KEH over the used stuff at the big New York super stores.

[Gem Singer]

Daniel,

To answer your original question, "Is KEH still a good place to buy?".

The answer is "Yes it is".