MWClassic--Legitimate Guy???

[Two23]

Wasn't sure where to put this, so I'll have a go here. There's a seller on eBay named "MWClassic." I've seen him there for quite awhile. I've been interested in a couple of things he had in the past, but price usually seemed out of line. Now I have some serious doubts about the guy. He's advertising a Darlot Hemispherique lens as being a "Petzval." Everybody knows they are a rapid rectilinear--surely he does too? Is this guy legit, or is he a fraud and I should avoid him entirely? There are a lot of other sellers out there that don't do this kind of shady stuff.

http://cgi.ebay.com/DARLOT-PARIS-HEMISPHERIQUE-RAPIDE-PETZVAL-No-4-BRASS-/360375253975?_trksid=p5197.m7&_trkparms=algo%3DLVI%26itu%3DUCI%26otn%3D2%26po%3DLVI%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D827414860897763037


Kent in SD

[Jason Greenberg Motamedi]

Yes, assuming that MWClassic is the same as http://www.mwclassic.com/, he is a legitimate and reputable seller.

[Richard Rankin]

I bought lenses directly from them years ago and found them fine then. Their Ebay listings do seem to be pretty haphazard with no attention to detail or accuracy, though.

[Emil Schildt]

I have bought several items from them (there's two guys together).

I have called them and talked with them - VERY friendly folks!!

However, this is not the first time they get a description wrong....

But I'd write them and tell them they got it wrong... and I am quite sure they will acknoglegde their mistake.

In short: I have never had any problems with them - the only thing I think they are wrong about, is the shipping prices (rather high generally)

[Keith Cocker]

I've bought several items from them via Web site and phone conversations with them. Absolutely no problems.

[Steven Tribe]

They are a nice couple of guys. Disorganised and don't seem to be able to find the time to research what they have. React very positive to "extra" information. Totally reliable as far as business transactions.

[Tim Deming]

In short: I have never had any problems with them - the only thing I think they are wrong about, is the shipping prices (rather high generally)

My experience exactly.

cheers

Tim

[Ash]

The ebay shop is the same as the dealer's site. I've had problems with them as a mail order dealer. Then again if you check out the bad luck I have it wouldn't surprise you...

The items I'd bought from them, even when speaking to them over the phone, had been a bumpy experience. One guy was friendly but didn't fulfill his promises, and the other one couldn't understand me and barely managed to do anything with my requests.


Sometime items are online that they have already sold much earlier. Once, I called to be sure and was told they had it... half an hour later I was called back and told it had sold to someone else. Twice in a row that happened.

Also items were all worse than described. In one case they sent me a different/wrong item.


You mileage will vary dramatically, as there is a huge variable in quality of service. From a half a dozen transactions with them, all were poor.

[Tony Lakin]

I have purchased from them 3 or four times, no problems, the last purchase was a 200mm Nikkor M for £200 {about usd300), when I received it I was delighted as it was in mint condition, better than they described it:)

[rjmeyer314]

I brought several things from him several years ago on Ebay. I was happy with the results. He's on my list of favorite sellers.

[Geoffrey_5995]

My dealings with them have all be good. If a mistake was made they always made good on it. Their prices can seem high to us on the US side of the pond but I know that they pay dear for the stuff they find and their mark up is not great and add the lousy exchange rate and the prices seem out of reach. But I have bought some things from them that were hard to find and glad to get though I had to pay for them. Looks like they updated the Darlot description. It now says Rapide Rectilinear.

Geoff

[Two23]

OK, glad to hear it. I'm hesitant to buy from people who list things wrong and don't correct. Remember our "friend" in Australia? MWClassic does come up with some interesting stuff and I'll continue to peruse their wares. I will look carefully at the photos though.


Kent in SD

[Andrew Plume]

OK, glad to hear it. I'm hesitant to buy from people who list things wrong and don't correct. Remember our "friend" in Australia? MWClassic does come up with some interesting stuff and I'll continue to peruse their wares. I will look carefully at the photos though.


Kent in SD


Hi Kent

I've read the posts following your initial one

Ash has a point in what he said, they're not always consistent - some of their prices are high - I knew that the standards of service were mixed and yes, at times they do seem to be a little on the haphazard side but on the whole, Mahendra and Woodie are decent guys who are majoring in all kinds of cameras and lenses and are not specialists in any one kind

This is all from my own personal experience - I've bought significantly from them in the past with nearly all of this from a visit to their office, which I admit isn't an easy call for you

regards

andrew

[Steven Tribe]

In relation to the UK market, MW is perhaps not entirely a "good thing".

I have recognised a number of lenses on auction houses' lists which have appeared three months later on MW - with a 100% mark-up. I just don't know what their mix of sources is? If they mostly just buy at their shop or visit camera fairs and the antique shops who put things aside for them, then I wish them continued luck. But, buying in a competitive auction, with sole intent on selling everything again, plus mark-up, doesn't appeal to me.

[IanG]

I think that's much more common than you think Steven, the worst culprit is in Wales Cliffpr. £240 for 90mm f6.8 Angulons, at least MW Classic sell them for their true value around £90.

Another trick I've noticed recently here and other Forums is placing wanted adverts and getting good deals (particularly from the US) then a few weeks or months later selling the same items on the same or similar forums.

Sometimes though items do sell on ebay for much less than the usual going rate, or in job lots, there's no real harm in re-listing again to get a higher price.

Some ebay sellers keep items continuously listed, one MPP MicroPress has been listed in the UK for well over 2 years now. When I approached a seller of a timer control valve (for TP shutter) to ask if he'd take offers his reply was it costs me 2p a month to keep it listed - implying he'd wait until some sucker paid his inflate price because they knew no better.

Because CliffPR lists so many 90mm f6.8 Angulons at high prices other sellers have started to as well !!!!

Ian

[Asher Kelman]

Well now the lens is listed as RR!

[dave_whatever]

The ebay shop is the same as the dealer's site. I've had problems with them as a mail order dealer. Then again if you check out the bad luck I have it wouldn't surprise you...

The items I'd bought from them, even when speaking to them over the phone, had been a bumpy experience. One guy was friendly but didn't fulfill his promises, and the other one couldn't understand me and barely managed to do anything with my requests.


Sometime items are online that they have already sold much earlier. Once, I called to be sure and was told they had it... half an hour later I was called back and told it had sold to someone else. Twice in a row that happened.

Also items were all worse than described. In one case they sent me a different/wrong item.


You mileage will vary dramatically, as there is a huge variable in quality of service. From a half a dozen transactions with them, all were poor.

I think they're well meaning and essentially honest guys but just not very organised. I recently bought a camera from them and had to send it back for repair, and then sent it back again as it wasn't fixed to get my money back (which I did). None of these problems were their fault, and to their credit they didn't quibble, but I got the impression that if I wasn't phoning them up every few days to chase it up then I'd be sat there with seemingly nothing happening, and no communication from them, for weeks. I've had other transactions with them go fine though.

[russyoung]

Another satisfied buyer from those guys although it probably been four years since I last made a purchase. Sometimes the prices seem high but maybe in the UK they are realistic.