Camera Sourcing Poll

[drako]

Your answers may help me determine where / how to focus my sleuthing. If you select Other, please let us know what that means.

[daveinpasadena]

Nelson Foto Forum and APUG are happy hunting grounds

[drako]

Wow, that APUG site looks promising.

[Randy]

Looks like the general consensis is the "Bay of Evil".

[drako]

Very interesting although, admittedly, 10 responses is not a statistically high sample.

I was surprised to see not a single craigslist response. Anyone care to comment?

Also, I'd appreciate hearing from folks about what they do in order to ensure that what they're buying is in decent condition.

All discussion of this subject will be appreciated!

[aceroadholder]

J.D., I always assume that a camera will have to be worked on to be usable. Whatever you pay on ebay, assume that you will have to spend an additional $90-$125 to have it cleaned and sorted out.
Sometimes you get lucky, but generally a 40 year old SLR needs a good clean/lube/adjustment no matter how pretty it is.
In my opinion, having a marginal working camera is a waste of your time... and it is miserable to have your photographs ruined by equipment when the photographer (me) isn't all that good to begin with.

Orlin Pettit, SC/USA

[olroy2044]

Johnny: A listing has to have quality photos of the item in order for me to get very interested. Blurry and out-of-focus photos hide a multitude of sins! Roy

[mickeyobe]

Johnny,

Perhaps you should expand your "most often" to include other sources.
For example I purchase some cameras from flea markets and from a Salvation Army store.

Most of my purchases are, indeed, from eBay. I have set up my own standards for making a purchase.
1. Good, clear pictures.
2. Good, unequivocable descriptions.
3. Feedback must be 99.0 or higher.
4. If I have had a previous bad experience with a vendor there is no second chance.
5. Read all the fine print including charges, if any, for handling and coffee breaks and naps.
6. Beware of certain phrases such as:
"... for its age."
"... excellent except..."
"...except" That word may cover a lot of evils.
"I know nothing about cameras."
"It worked the last time my grandmother used it in 1941."
"Neat."
"Cool."
"Sexy."
"Funky."
"I have not tested it ..."
"Vintage."
"... just a minor ding on the ..."
And a relatively new caveat from the U.K. "Optically perfect." That is usually the only description provided. I guess the rest of the camera is unimportant.

And they go on and on and on.

If in doubt, ask the vendor a question. If you don't receive an answer, don't buy it and you can be sure you will have lost nothing.
If it seems too good to be true it probably is. But sometimes ............... !!!

Sometimes I bend my own rules, particularly when I am looking for a parts camera.

If you are disappointed with your purchase - politely - contact the vendor who may honestly be unaware of the defect or problem and who may wish to make amends.

Mickey

[Reiska]

Mickey put it together loud and clearly. Those standards are worthy of a ISO 9001 quality standard.

CraigsList, if you take it "globally" is also on my list. I mean similar local listings.

The most convenient way is to get a call from an old widow: "Hey Reijo! I am doing spring-cleaning. Would you pleeeese kindly help me by giving a new home for those gadgets what "Arthur" left. I can't throw them away because they were valuable for him and I assume, you would like them too. I don't have any use for those Liecas and Rollyies ah.. what ever they are"

My site

[John Farrell]

Here in New Zealand, we have an auction site called Trademe.

www.trademe.co.nz/

I buy most of my cameras there. I'm happy to take a chance on a camera, even if the picture is fuzzy, or the description woolly, as long as the price is reasonable. I do my own repairs.

[jmi]

Hmm, interesting, although not exactly surprising...

I really don't like evil-bay one bit, but when I lived in the UK there was essentially no choice, because the prices of used gear at camera stores was, and probably still is, stratospheric, IMHO. After moving to the US I have been using KEH quite a lot. Although they are more expensive than the 'bay a lot of the time, the convenience and warranty are not without their uses, so I tend to just cough up for them.

That said there are things that are much better bought on the 'bay still. I suppose the compromise choice would be to use reasonably reputable sellers on the 'bay and put up with the inconvenience factor - working full-time and having other commitments makes ebaying difficult since essentially the only way to use it is to snipe, so you have to be online at auction end. This is the crux of the problem, sniping always makes me feel bad about doing it, but it's really the only way.

[SidW]

I buy like Micky. When the seller has given a good public description, you have a handle to pressure him with if the item doesn't match it. I've only had one that didn't come up to expectations and the seller gave an immediate full refund.

[doubs43]

Mickey has posted some excellent advice for anyone venturing into the sometimes troubled waters of ebay. It definitely pays to exercise caution and avoid the pitfalls that are sometimes intentional. I do my best to weed out those who are not honest but it's a battle.

Just like Mickey, I sometimes take a chance as I did last week on this auction: 260209855422

It was for a Rolleicord 1a type 1 made in 1936. The seller had a rating of less than 95% and only 17 sales. I looked at the single negative and saw that he'd set the mistake right and after reading his description of the Rollei I decided to bid. I won by the margin of 85 cents!

The camera came yesterday and is in very nice condition for it's age. It seems fully functional and even the original case is in better than average condition. I'll wager that the camera has sat unused for years, protected by it's case.

A good result but not all of my purchases have been this lucky. I've been burned a few times as everyone will be who buys much from ebay.

Walker

[drako]

Mickey, thanks for the great outline. All of your comments are very helpful. Jonathan, thanks for the KEH tip ... hadn't heard of them up until now.