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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Is KEH usually a solid place to buy stuff from?
Matthew Sauk, Photographer
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Sandy | UT | United States | Posted: 7:43 PM on 08.28.10 |
->> I just purchased a 300mm F2.8 af-s II lens from them that was rated EX+.
Well I took it out of the box, put it on the camera and pressed focus and the squeaks began.
The af squeaks, don't they check the lenses before sending them out? It is not some quite squeak either, you can hear it unless you are deaf.
Very disappointed and somewhat upset. I can understand a Bargain type lens doing this, but an EX+.
So is this place usually reliable? Should I continue to shop there with confidence? |
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Gary Cosby, Jr, Photographer
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Decatur | AL | USA | Posted: 7:55 PM on 08.28.10 |
| ->> Matthew, I have purchased several items from KEH over the years and I have always received equipment that looked and performed better than advertised. I have found them completely reliable. |
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Steven E. Frischling, Photographer
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| | | Posted: 8:29 PM on 08.28.10 |
->> Matthew,
Has Gary said ... in nearly every piece of gear I have purchased from KEH over the years, the lens tends to be better than advertised.
I did have a body show up dead out of the box sometime back probably in 97 or 98. They took it back & shipped me another one. |
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Jeff Loy, Photographer
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Hurst | TX | USA | Posted: 8:35 PM on 08.28.10 |
->> Matthew,
I've purchased from KEH when they had a store in Dallas years ago and from the website and they've always been very reputable.
I would contact them immediately with your concerns. |
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Matthew Sauk, Photographer
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Sandy | UT | United States | Posted: 8:40 PM on 08.28.10 |
->> Yeah I will have to wait till Monday but I will call them.
I was just kinda of surprised. The lens overall looks absolutely perfect, I would rate it 9/10, it is just that noise when the AF turns on. |
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Geoff Miller, Photographer
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Portage | MI | USA | Posted: 9:26 PM on 08.28.10 |
| ->> It's been a number of years, but I've purchased "EX+" stuff from them and when it arrived it looked "LN" to me. |
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Joseph Brymer, Photographer
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Lincolnton | NC | usa | Posted: 10:09 PM on 08.28.10 |
| ->> I buy stuff from them all the time and have never had a problem. |
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Matthew Sauk, Photographer
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Sandy | UT | United States | Posted: 10:10 PM on 08.28.10 |
->> Thanks for all the replies. Like I said I was just surprised that someone there did not notice the noise when they tested out the lens.
Again thanks for the replies. |
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Dan Mendlik, Photographer
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North Ridgeville | OH | USA | Posted: 11:01 PM on 08.28.10 |
| ->> Shipping damage? |
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Matthew Sauk, Photographer
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Sandy | UT | United States | Posted: 11:05 PM on 08.28.10 |
| ->> I wouldn't think so. No scratches, just the af squeaks like it is rubbing metal on metal sound, like there is no lube in there. |
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Israel Shirk, Photographer, Assistant
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Boise | ID | US | Posted: 11:55 PM on 08.28.10 |
| ->> Weird... Yeah, that sounds unlike them. I've always had great luck - every once in a while I'll buy something in "bargain" condition from them on-location in Atlanta, and it's more "excellent" than "bargain". |
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Jim Urquhart, Photographer
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Salt Lake City | UT | USA | Posted: 2:02 AM on 08.29.10 |
->> Matthew,
A couple weeks ago I bought a 300mm F2.8 IS II lens from them that was rated as BGN bargain because it had some cosmetic scratches. I decided to take the risk given their return policy.
I was actually going to buy an EX+ lens from them, but once on the phone having a great conversation with the salesman and him explaining how much they stand by their products, I ended up with buying the BGN lens and a EX rated 1.4 converter and two year warranty (covers the repairs ... not just CPS discount) all for under $3,000, which is $500 less than I was willing and about to spend on the first lens by itself.
Sure it has been used, but I have been so absolutely amazed with how good the optics are and how well it has performed thus far.
It is actually far superior to any of the pool gear I had access to.
So with that said, call them on Monday and I am sure they will set this right with you.
When everyone else starts buying up all the new canon lenses that are being released at the end of the year I will be hitting them up again for more used long gas. |
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Butch Miller, Photographer
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Lock Haven | PA | USA | Posted: 1:14 PM on 08.29.10 |
| ->> Matt ...I have been a KEH customer since the late 1980's ... I've had two problems with products I've received from them ... they were addressed immediately ... no questions, no problems ... maybe the best CS department anywhere .... |
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Alan Look, Photographer
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Bloomington/Normal | IL | United States | Posted: 2:24 PM on 08.29.10 |
| ->> Haven't called them lately, but they've never let me down in the past. |
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Mark Peters, Photographer
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Highland | IL | USA | Posted: 3:06 PM on 08.29.10 |
->> Matthew -
In my experience the ratings seem to be based on visual inspections rather than testing. Given the volume of gear they they churn I imagine they simply don't have to the time to test everything. I have bought many items from them and have had to return a few due to malfunction. I've never had an issue with them accepting an item back for return. |
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Chris Peterson, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Columbia Falls | MT | USA | Posted: 7:07 PM on 08.29.10 |
->> Matt, I have an 80-200 Nikon afs that squeaks pretty bad, too. But it works fine. There's a possibility there's nothing (seriously) wrong with it.
Like others, I've used KEH quite a bit. |
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Matthew Sauk, Photographer
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Sandy | UT | United States | Posted: 7:23 PM on 08.29.10 |
->> awesome responses, thanks again fellas.
Chris,
from the research I have done online it usually means af failure, keyword usually.
From the responses I have a good feeling this will be worked out. |
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Yamil Sued, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Peoria | AZ | USA | Posted: 9:25 PM on 08.29.10 |
->> I also have been a KEH Customer since the late 80's and they have never let me down!!
I recently did a Phone Order from them, I was looking at a Winder M for my Leica M4-2, these go for $200+ On Ebay, up to almost $400!!
The salesman told me that he had a Winder M4-2 Ex for $31 and a LN for $36
HUH??? $31??? I though he was kidding!!
He asked me if I was a user or Collector, I said user, he told me to get the $31 one, I did and I was shocked when it came in, it was NEW!! I mean Like it came out the box New!! I paid like 1/10th of Ebay Prices and I got something that looked and worked perfectly!!
Needless to say, I'm really happy with their service.
Call them and let us know how it went, you are going to be so pleased with their customer service.
Y |
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Matthew Sauk, Photographer
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Sandy | UT | United States | Posted: 11:42 AM on 08.30.10 |
->> Called them this morning.
The good part, they have another lens in EX+ shape for an exchange.
The bad part, after I send it in I will not get it back till probably Friday.
I was going to be shooting baseball all week, but I guess that is not going to happen now :(
Wish they could just send out the replacement now overnight while I send this one back to them, but I would have to purchase it then get a refund. I don't have the money for that, so I have to wait. I understand their side with not wanting to send it out without payment, that is a lot of money.
I am happy for the exchange and what they are going to do, just wish I could get the lens before the end of the week. |
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Gray Quetti, Photographer
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Jacksonville | Fl | USA | Posted: 12:50 PM on 08.30.10 |
| ->> Why can't you FedEx yours today and they FedEx the other one tomorrow. That puts you with a new lens on Wednesday. Not cheap but it would get you the lens in time. |
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Jay Adeff, Photographer
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Salinas | CA | USA | Posted: 1:22 PM on 08.30.10 |
| ->> I purchased a used Canon 100mm f/2 lens from them a few years ago and it was completely dead when I got it. Wouldn't auto-focus at all. They were great about paying for return shipping and I ended up buying a new one from them since their price was good. A friend of mine recently bought a used Canon XSi from them on my recommendation. The AF died within a week and she sent it back and had to wait almost two months for them to get it back from Canon repair. I felt really embarrassed for her bad experience. However, I also bought a Bargain condition Canon 1D from them a couple of years ago and have had no problems with it. I think they are kind of lax in checking the operation of used equipment, but they have a stellar customer service record so I won't hesitate to buy from them in the future if I have no other options. |
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Matthew Sauk, Photographer
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Sandy | UT | United States | Posted: 2:08 PM on 08.30.10 |
->> Gray,
From what the CS lady told me I am guessing they would have to check it in, I am guessing process it, then send out the other one. She said by Friday I would have my lens back (new one).
I need the lens today, so I have to wait to send it out tomorrow. They are paying for shipping so no worries for me.
But I really don't want to spend money when I have a lens in my hands. I will send it off tomorrow and if I have to cover I will just rent a lens locally for later this week. |
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Jim Urquhart, Photographer
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Matthew Sauk, Photographer
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Sandy | UT | United States | Posted: 3:32 PM on 08.30.10 |
->> Jim,
Yeah I usually rent from there or pixels. Both are really solid. Love pictureline! |
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Rodrigo Pena, Photographer
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Beaumont | CA | USA | Posted: 6:34 PM on 09.06.10 |
| ->> I've only had one experience with KEH and it was not good. By judging from all of the positive statements, it was just my bad luck. I purchased a Canon MarkII camera. It was listed as near mint condition so I didn't mind paying what I thought was a high price. When the camera came to me, it looked great, but on 4 separate occasions came up with an error during a critical moment of peak action. I returned the camera. I had to pay for shipping both ways and they took over a month to return my money delaying plans to purchase somewhere else. I was soured by the whole deal. I won't be going back. |
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Sam Morris, Photographer
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Henderson (Las Vegas) | NV | USA | Posted: 9:41 PM on 09.06.10 |
| ->> Rodrigo, sorry about your experience. I have been using them for 20 years and have never been let down (it was a while ago, but they shipped me the wrong lens and paid for FedEx both ways to make it right). |
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Jackson Davis, Photographer
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Charleston | SC | USA | Posted: 3:12 PM on 09.07.10 |
| ->> I had always had good experiences with KEH until I bought a 1Ds Mark II from them last fall. The camera was rated EX and the body did in fact look that way. The sensor was a different story. While not scratched, it was dirtier than you can imagine. I have a friend in the Air Force whose cleans camera sensors for a living and even he couldn't believe a civilian camera sensor would be so dirty. When I called KEH to see if they took the sensor condition into consideration when grading cameras, I I basically got a few excuses and a disinterested "we already have your money" kind of apology. Definitely left a sour taste in my mouth. |
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