Canisdirus

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

Based on my experience their final quote seldom matches their original. I too had them return a lens...their offer was laughable, in my opinion.
There was a time when they honored their quotes.

Hip Coyote

I am not into admiring other peoples' equipment. It's kinda creepy.

Meanwhile on the camera front, if we all thought more deeply about the gear we would really use rather than collecting gear we do not use, we'd all be richer.

richardsaccount

You can hear all sorts of pros and cons about some of these photo dealers. The original
owner of KEH was a guy by the name of of King Grant. I bought a Mamiya 6 medium
format range finder camera that I planned to use for the occassional wedding that I would get
roped into. It was in fine cosmetic condition. I tested it out on a dummy roll of 120. I shot 220
at the wedding. I turned the pressure plate around for 220 like I was supposed to do. The camera
would missfire when the proccession started. It was a good thing that I brought a backup. I sent it
back and they fixed it gratis. Since KEH was sold I began to see more negative opinions about them.
Mostly of them buying equipment. A longtime friend of mine in Oregon tried to sell him some popular
film revival gear and they tried to lowball him. He refused their offer. As the late popular writer Kurt Vonnegut
would often say, so it goes.

jimvanells Loc: Augusta, GA

I sold over $K to KEH with no issues. During the video call I showed all the equipment with the serial numbers and even shined a light through the lenses so they could see there were no scratches or dings. We agreed on price, I sent them the equipment (Canon 5Dmk4) and got the check a few days later.

kavitykid Loc: Maryland

I recently offered a FX zoom and an extension set on UHH. Both in primo condition. No takers. I then went to my local camera shop and got a quote for the lens which was identical to B&H. Since I am a LONG time customer of theirs I asked if that was the best they could do. I was purchasing a Z zoom to replace the lens. They upped the trade in price by $25. I had also contacted KEH about the lens and got an estimate which was inflated. Long story short, I took the deal with my local shop and am satisfied. The extension set I gave to a former employee who shoots mirrored Nikon and we both were very happy. If you are lucky enough to have a long term relationship with a local shop they will usually try to please you. I had purchased the FX zoom from them used couple of years ago.

Real Nikon Lover Loc: Simi Valley, CA

So what you are saying is that you are a Canon and KEH fanboy? LOL Pulling your leg. Merry Christmas.

therwol Loc: USA

If you try to get rid of anything, furniture regardless of condition, guns, jewelery, cameras and related stuff, all of the little things you've accumulated over time, etc., you're not going to find any easy way to get what you think it's worth. We moved from a large house to a small house in retirement with a ton of surplus furniture. No one wants to take it, not even the local Goodwill or Habitat for Humanity, no matter what they say on their web site. They all have too much of it. The local hospice store will take it, but they charge money to haul it off if you don't have a vehicle large enough to hold it. This is just life.

lagunamike

I totally agree. I had 2 incidents with them where the actual payout was less than the estimate. I stopped doing business with them and then tried MPB. I have sold at least 7 items to MPB during my transition from mirrored to mirrorless and never had one estimate decreased. In fact, MPB once UPGRADED my estimated condition and gave me more than the on line estimate. Never again KEH.

MSW

it's been many years since i dealt with them (like, thirty five or forty), and back 'in the day,' i always got the read that they were in the grey area between sketchy and downright dishonest.

one guy's opinion...

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

KEH is an example of a family-owned company that suffers the downside of the retirement of the original owner and loss of the " founder's vision." From what I can piece together, KEH has gone through two transitions...from operation under King Grant and his wife to his kids a few years ago, and more recently to a leveraged buyout, apparently by one or more employees with outside financing. The Chairman of the Board is from the financing group, and the Vice Chairman is a representative of the employees. Interestingly, King Grant (who I guess to be approaching 80 years old) seems to be a board member, but not an officer, and not involved in daily decisions or operations. There are about 180 employees.

In short, the KEH of today is not the KEH of the past, so I'd say that recommendations based on past experience (like the glowing one I'd give) are probably worth about the same as a cup of coffee if they come with $3.00 or so. My guess is that it is a whole new ball game at KEH.

I know both King and his wife personally and know them both to be of the highest integrity. But I also know that if the Chairman of the Board represents the company financing the buyout, their one interest is going to be generating enough profit to keep the company in business and get themselves paid back. The only people more uncomfortable than customers (especially loyal customers) right now is probably those 180 employees.

It's not necessarily a reason to dump them completely, but it is very likely going to be necessary for us long-term customers to adjust our expectations.

William Kemp Loc: Letts, Iowa

I agree, I have bought much of my camera equipment from KEH and haven't had a problem. I don't sell my old stuff but I have given some of it away. I only have difficulty when my most up to date camera, I actually got it new from B&H even though it wasn't the most modern thing, is referred as ancient. So only historians and archeologists would be interested in my, "old mirror flapping" cameras. As a side note, I always look for Canon's posts and I know he must be joking as he has often shown great pictures taken with even older equipment than I have.

imagextrordinair Loc: Halden, Norway

I have to laugh at my recent comical attempt to sell my well used 5D MK4, 1DX MK2, 135mm, and 35mm lens on Craigs List a few months ago. I received multiple messages immediately that then continued for three days from foreign contries. The icing on the cake was when someone with a voice altering device and broken English called me directly from somewhere in Africa...

The next Monday I got a fast online quote from KEH for $4300, boxed everything up, and a week later got the full amount with a thank you email.

Bottom line... the outcome was less stressful than any other method, less work, and most important the amount was higher than I expected. I was treated extremely well with a quick phone call and the online assessment was a fast accurate experience.

I highly recommend KEH and can only assume the gear spoken about in this posting was less than expected after being received. The KEH online instructions say very clearly that the price will reflect the final inspection results.

... and never try to sell via FB market place or Craigs List in my opinion if you value your time, money or in some cases life.

LCD

I was talking to a professional portrait photographer who was retiring and selling his gear. When I mention KEH he said they offer hardly anything. But his gear, though rugged and professional, was some years old...

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

I have had a couple of experiences recently seeking to buy a couple of gifts is which I encountered equipment that was quite "high-mileage." In one case, it looked at first glance cosmetically quite nice, although closer inspection showed some significant signs of wear in at least two places. Further, a previous repair apparently wasn't done quite right, causing a couple of the key buttons to sit noticeably lower in the body than originally, in a manner that would affect operation. None of those things would show immediately in a quick visual inspection, but they each call into question the amount of life remaining in the camers, and a couple of them affect the use of the camera, but it is unlikely that the previous owner was even aware of them. For me, the difference is that instead of getting a really good deal on the camera (which is what I try to look for when buying gifts), I paid about what it is worth. But it won't go as a gift as originally planned.

Almost everyone will tend to over-rate something something he is selling and be critical of something he is buying. It is just human nature. But it also makes the ability to come together on a deal a little sweeter.