frjeff Loc: Mid-Michigan

I have purchased much used photography items from MPB. My satisfaction level on speed of delivery, great product quality/ratings has been very high.
However, that has drastically changed this week.
Last week I ordered a Nikon lens. Acknowledgement and charge was prompt. Then, no shipping information was received. I finally emailed to see why the delay. A day later I received an email stating that they needed to call me to gather further information (???). No call came as of today. Four days, no call! DONE! Order cancelled and refund requested. Just sloppy, lax and pathetic customer concern and care. Sad.
Per some recent advice here, I ordered a “mint” lens today from a Japanese seller on eBay. Shipping info was in my email box it two hours.

Delderby Loc: Derby UK

Most unusual for MPB - wires have been crossed somewhere - perhaps a new employee or a software gliche.
I shall still do deals with them when I wish to change any kit.,

yssirk123 Loc: New Jersey

Based on recent posts there seems to be lots of problems lately with MPB - wonder what's going on. I recently bought a Nikon flash from them as Godox bricked my TT685N due to lack of firmware updates, and the transaction with MPB was flawless.

Lagoonguy Loc: New Smyrna Beach, FL

I have purchased frequently from MPB over the past three years and always received good pricing and value. However, my current transaction has been tedious, time consuming and frustrating due to many delays and communication issues. They have lost the efficiency they were once noted for. FedEx is delivering my camera tomorrow but this will be a 15 day process which is far beyond what I am accustomed to while using their free delivery option including Covid delays of the past two years. I am assuming the camera will be the good value as in the past but even after much prompting they seem to be simply slow and non responsive. I usually either buy or sell with them in separate transactions but this time I “traded” a lesser value camera for another making the process expectedly longer but not this long. In the future I will buy and sell separately and avoid any “trading”. Either they are experiencing serious labor shortages or management issues or both. They also did not charge me Florida sales or use tax which complicates my life since I will have to file a state tax form and remit the tax directly to the state of Florida. I like their pricing and quality of product but this may be the time to use Roberts or KEH again. I hope they correct their operation problems soon as they have been a pleasure to do business with in the past.

Stardust Loc: Central Illinois

Always received good service, as even you stated. My guess is shortage/turn-over of employees. Welcome to the new order in services.

Just got off a 14 day multi-state road trip, can't count how many restaurants & hotels were short-staffed or training new employees in our presence. Saw billboards advertising $18-21/hr, "start today".

joehel2 Loc: Cherry Hill, NJ

Just bought a lens from MPB two weeks ago. It seemed that it was taking a bit longer for “the item has shipped” email but I still received the lens six days after I placed the order. The lens condition was as advertised, like new.

mudduck

Heres something kinda strange about MPB, I searched KEH for some cameras then MPB, they were the same sites with just different company names at the top, search engines , prices, products.

47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

I ordered an extender on a Friday from MPB about two weeks ago. Saturday and Sunday passed without shipping notification. Come Monday, I fired an email off to them asking what was going on. About the same time I saw a notice that due to unanticipated ordering and backlog, MPB was not accepting “new” orders for two days. I called MPB customer service and asked about my order. The rep said that they were swamped due to new orders and repeated that they were temporarily not accepting new ones while trying to catch up. I was given assurance that my order would be processed asap. Tuesday, I got the email I was hoping for and I had the extender in my hands on Friday. I live about 12 mi east of Boulder, CO.

frjeff Loc: Mid-Michigan

Never the same when I look and prices can vary greatly. A recent lens I wanted showed none on KEH, MPB had 7 (fair to LN).

leftj Loc: Texas

Sad to hear about MPB. I have purchase several items shipped from Japan on eBay and have always been pleased.

47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

What you are seeing is typical IMHO for the used market. It is definitely affected by supply and demand. Whenever I get tempted to buy or sell used, I watch eBay, KEH, FredMiranda, and MPB for movement. Particularly, KEH and MPB price fluctuations can be seen whether selling or buying. I’ve seen a number of examples where one is offering a good used offer while the other is not accepting it. I don’t buy or sell used from/to B&H or Adorama, especially the latter.

RKL349 Loc: Connecticut

I have had nothing but great service from them - to date. I hope this is not the start of a decline in service so many companies seem to be experiencing these days.

AndyT Loc: Hampstead, New Hampshire

I wonder if it's just a case of employee shortage, a sign of the times right now. I recently ordered an Olympus Pen-F body from them as I had mentioned on this site. Waited a week with no response. E-mailed them, and it went out the next day. When it arrived I was more than pleased. What they lacked in speed, they made up for in quality. I had to look really hard to see if it was even used. Although I usually order from B&H and am used to their very fast service, once I got "over" the initial delay, I was very pleased with the product from MPB.

BebuLamar

My guess is that they are selling things they don't have.

AndyT Loc: Hampstead, New Hampshire

Interesting point.