beware: Alex Photo

[Kit]

Originally posted by Kho King


I think you are trying to move the original discussion to some other point.

We are not talking about resale value or reselling a lens after buying. If I were to buy and sell, I won't buy new. You must be really "stupid" buying new stuff and hoping to resale later at a higher price, unless it is a collectible, but that's not what we are discussing here, and there are many other way of many money than reselling collectible photographic equipment. I will only buy new stuff if I am confident that I will keep it, and no thought of reselling it during the time I bought.

Let me guide you back what we are dicussing here. We are talking about buying some photographic and to avoid being cheat by the shop (selling mint but used stuff as new). My way of preventing this is to make sure the thing that I am going to buy is fresh from box, and the box is fresh too (and also the other points I stated previously).

Go to some of those shops ont the upper levels of Peninsula and you'll find a 5 year old mint lens looking like it just came out from the factory, and yes the box is "fresh" too. So please share you ways of telling yourself that you're the first person to open the box. Face it, you're talking in point of view of a "part-time" trader instead of a photographer. Even that, its unrealistic to think that shop owners will make you the first to open the box. Dream on.

Confident of keeping the things you buy? Your record doesn't show that I'm afraid. More than 5 cameras come and go in the last 2 years? Vaguely, someone once said its perfectly alright to profit from a sale for the "effort" he put into it.

 

[Kho King]

Originally posted by Kit


Go to some of those shops ont the upper levels of Peninsula and you'll find a 5 year old mint lens looking like it just came out from the factory, and yes the box is "fresh" too. So please share you ways of telling yourself that you're the first person to open the box. Face it, you're talking in point of view of a "part-time" trader instead of a photographer. Even that, its unrealistic to think that shop owners will make you the first to open the box. Dream on.

Confident of keeping the things you buy? Your record doesn't show that I'm afraid. More than 5 cameras come and go in the last 2 years? Vaguely, someone once said its perfectly alright to profit from a sale for the "effort" he put into it.

I am just giving in the opinion of how I try to try to avoid being cheat by a shop. If the shop sell me 5 year old mint lens looking like it just came out from the factory, and yes the box is "fresh" too, with unfil/uncop warranty card as well, then definitely I can't differentiate it from new, and I wouldn't mind buying that lens, since IT IS NEW, or no different from new.

So, you do visit my website and interested in me. Thank you.

I have only bought a few new things, and that's when I start taking photography. They are my Nikon F60D, 28-80mm and 75-240mm lens. When I buy then, I have never thought that I am going to sell them off later, and I thought that I have a cover complete focal length from 28-240mm. I sold them off later because I fall in love with "better" Nikon/Nikkors, and find no reason to keep overlap focal length. Like I said before, I buy and sell some Nikons/Nikkors because I can't afford to keep them, but I want to try them and experience them. I seldom buy new Nikon for myself nowadays, but I do help my friends buying new from shop, and to avoid being cheated by the shop...I use the method I mentioned previously.

I still think there is nothing wrong to benefit from what you buy and sell. You are rich and I am not. You can buy and keep all but I can't. You have your own way and I have mine.

I can't see what's your point of posting here. It is very clear that you have problem with me, and trying to attack every post I made whenever possible. I suggest you deal with me off the forum. My email is at khoking@openlens.com.

If you have any suggestion of avoid being cheated by shop (selling mint item as new), then please post to the forum and I would like to learn from you too.

 

[Almond]

Mmm...... regarding this issue.... (not siding Alex photo), i think we should check the things we buy. anyway, some questions

i) why didn't you check the lense carefully? in a hurry?

ii) when was it that you discover the scratches? one day? or a few days later?

iii) did you go back to him and verify this could be 'misunderstanding'?

Alex photo had been around for quite a few years to what i know.
he is originally from adelphi, on the 4th or 5th i don't really remember. if i'm the one who encounter this, i would definately go back to him for a clarification. i believe that the shop owner is a reasonable person.

Pls keep us updated on this issue, personnally, i'm quite interested in this issue, cos's i going to buy a 2nd hand lense from him soon.

 

[Kit]

Originally posted by Kho King


I am just giving in the opinion of how I try to try to avoid being cheat by a shop. If the shop sell me 5 year old mint lens looking like it just came out from the factory, and yes the box is "fresh" too, with unfil/uncop warranty card as well, then definitely I can't differentiate it from new, and I wouldn't mind buying that lens, since IT IS NEW, or no different from new.

So, you do visit my website and interested in me. Thank you.

I have only bought a few new things, and that's when I start taking photography. They are my Nikon F60D, 28-80mm and 75-240mm lens. When I buy then, I have never thought that I am going to sell them off later, and I thought that I have a cover complete focal length from 28-240mm. I sold them off later because I fall in love with "better" Nikon/Nikkors, and find no reason to keep overlap focal length. Like I said before, I buy and sell some Nikons/Nikkors because I can't afford to keep them, but I want to try them and experience them. I seldom buy new Nikon for myself nowadays, but I do help my friends buying new from shop, and to avoid being cheated by the shop...I use the method I mentioned previously.

I still think there is nothing wrong to benefit from what you buy and sell. You are rich and I am not. You can buy and keep all but I can't. You have your own way and I have mine.

I can't see what's your point of posting here. It is very clear that you have problem with me, and trying to attack every post I made whenever possible. I suggest you deal with me off the forum. My email is at khoking@openlens.com.

If you have any suggestion of avoid being cheated by shop (selling mint item as new), then please post to the forum and I would like to learn from you too.

The purpose of me posting here is to point out that your advice(as usual) is unrealistic and doesn't make any sense at all.

I'm not even going to argue with you on what you do with your equipment. Fact that you bought lenses of the same focal length within a few months, the amount of cameras and lenses you've bought and thinking there's nothing wrong by making profit by buying and selling your equipment doesn't need me to elaborate any further. You know yourself. You seemed to have normalised yourself as an average hobbyist.

Yes, I've been to your site and found it quite entertaining. Enjoy reading your "progess" in equipment purchasing and those half baked reviews. Those images...... Not to mention those e-quotes you've been painstakingly collecting. Damn!!! and I thought I've seen it all.....

 

[Goondu]

Sorry, OT again. Yep, the weather is definitely getting hotter. Temperature is around 33/34 degrees. Hopefully, it will be cooler this evening. But then again, the World Cup fever is still on.

 

[Kit]

Originally posted by Goondu
Sorry, OT again. Yep, the weather is definitely getting hotter. Temperature is around 33/34 degrees. Hopefully, it will be cooler this evening. But then again, the World Cup fever is still on.

Funny, still quite cool over here. Infact, its getting cooler by the minute.........

 

[Larry]

hey just a note, where's jonlee? he started this thread, so mabbe can cast some light on the situation...

 

[JONLEE]

sorry, i am back,

the mistakes i made,

1. did not check the lens,
2. did not check the lens
3. did not check the lens.

trusted the shopkeeper, which is a mistake, which i will never do so again. and never would i buy a 'mint' new lenses in a second hand shop, well, they are simply 'cut-throats', reminds me of another shop at the second level at peninsula plaza, had a brown wooden interior, owner was telling me the rice of his lens, where the market price is not even as high.

my summary, sorry 2nd hand dealers, they are mostly cheats.

everyone just be careful.

i am ending this post here. sales are not returnable, my purpose of this post here is to tell others of my experience so that more can learn from one's experience.

I am sorry, pls dun quarrel among ourselves, for the post i made, if it caused some opposing views.

we are all photographers, not equal, some more, some lesser, but share for the good of information.

 

[iFly]

i really appreciate your infor..
at least to new bie like me it is very important to listen more experience from others.
so please share more in future..




Personally, i think the shop should be responsible. whether the consumers are smart or not.. they should not cheat.. that is what i think...

 

[xmen1977]

guess at end of the day, everyone just wants to be happy doing business with each other whether u're the buyer or the seller

I believe in this trade, it does involve some mutual trust.
Think no shop wants to ruin its own reputation by selling faulty stuff. They've a business to run.

maybe it's not right to start condemning the other party without getting the other side of the story.

Just have to come to a point that if u're willing to buy something from a 2ndhand shop, be mentally prepared to accept as what it is.

well it isnt dat easy trying to sell 2ndhand stuff. I think they would do their best to present the items in the best condition as possible.

the rest is up to us to check thoroughly

 

[Larry]

personally, after some bad experiences with shops, i've more or less stuck to either buying new stuff from CP/AP, or getting 2nd hand stuff from fellow CS members or from classifieds. i've yet to have a lousy experience buying from fellow photogs, and there's always the added benefit of sharing photog tips and experiences. i can almost 100% get cheaper and better stuff from other sellers than the 2nd hand shops.

IMHO, most photogs take really good care of their own gear, so it's more or less ok to get from them. but you do have to know how to inspect the items though, which would also similarly apply to the dealer shops...

just my 2 cents anyway.

 

[TME]

Originally posted by Kit
When it comes to buying equipment, I tend to stay on the ground floor(if you know what I mean). Just me.........

Are thre any shops above the ground floor selling camera equipment? I don't remember seeing any!

 

[TME]

Originally posted by JONLEE
sorry, i am back,

the mistakes i made,

1. did not check the lens,
2. did not check the lens
3. did not check the lens.

trusted the shopkeeper, which is a mistake, which i will never do so again. and never would i buy a 'mint' new lenses in a second hand shop, well, they are simply 'cut-throats', reminds me of another shop at the second level at peninsula plaza, had a brown wooden interior, owner was telling me the rice of his lens, where the market price is not even as high.

my summary, sorry 2nd hand dealers, they are mostly cheats.

everyone just be careful.

i am ending this post here. sales are not returnable, my purpose of this post here is to tell others of my experience so that more can learn from one's experience.

I am sorry, pls dun quarrel among ourselves, for the post i made, if it caused some opposing views.

we are all photographers, not equal, some more, some lesser, but share for the good of information.

Try The Camera Workshop in the future. I find them quite honest. If they don't know anything about the lens they sell, they tell u so. THey also give u a warranty period. So if the lens should fail in whatever manner, they will try to rectify the problem.

 

[mpenza]

Originally posted by TME


Are thre any shops above the ground floor selling camera equipment? I don't remember seeing any!

Cathay Photo, Foto Guide are there.

 

[ed9119]

The Short Version:
You didnt do your homework and its your fault and nobody else's.

The Long Version:

I think rather than BEWARE ALEX PHOTO the message should be BEWARE: BUYING FROM 2ND HAND SHOPS (The JONLEE Lesson).

Reading your original post, you complained that Alex sold you a lens at brand new prices. There are too many variables here.

Equiptment grading is extremely subjective and when you mentioned 'mint' that means USED. So check the average price when buying brand new and work backwards on how much it should cost. Or take a hike and check out other 2nd hand shops' prices for the same item and work from there.

By 'missing' that scratch, I think rather than being cheated, an opportunity was lost in bargaining the price a little lower

Since when from the beginning of TIME was Alex Photo ever a shop that sold new stuff as its main business? Give me more scratches and cosmetic imperfections, the more the better (just no fungus/fogging please) as this means bargains and low prices.

I doubt if anyone's photography is going to go to shits if there was a scratch on their poor lens .

ed

 

[Kit]

Originally posted by TME


Are thre any shops above the ground floor selling camera equipment? I don't remember seeing any!

Yes there are.

 

[JONLEE]

hello, ed9119,

It was an interesting response i had from you. It seem to me that u think i am blaming ALEX PHOTO for my failure for checking against their word?

Well, if you read my post and understand the meaning of the post, I am only trying to tell everyone of my experience which I think we can learn from. (in case your sense of comprehending english mislead u, let me type out for you) I am telling everyone here to check the condition of the lenses before they buy their equipment, regardless if it's a 1st hand cam shop or 2nd hand cam shop, becos, it might have been used before.

And when i went to Alex photo to buy my stuff, he did claim that it is BRAND NEW, and thus i paid a brand new price for it. (in case u dun understand what i wrote, pls get a translator)


As you wrote, - "Equiptment grading is extremely subjective and when you mentioned 'mint' that means USED"

With the dictionary beside me, since when does MINT means used?

I hoped i have verified my stand, I am here to educate others at my expense, so that we learn to be more cautious, maybe we shouldn't trust this sales people too much, my biggest mistake was to take his word for it, when I should have checked the goods, I dun blame anyone, and if any others think so, u missed the purpose of my post here. Cos, end of the day, i was the one who made the mistake and foot it with my money.
This is the amazing part here, i am here to share this experience with everyone, and I get along some chap misunderstanding my purpose??? I guess i shall refrain from contributing any experience of which i deem useful on CLubSnap.

And ed9119, was there any need in illustrating your point of view, to go to the need of discussing hymens? Surely your sense of modesty should have refrained you from saying that? ANy other example would illustrate the pt, why the need to go to the extent of hymens, etc?

But i will try to look at the bright side of things, thanks for informing me that Alex photo dun sell new items.
EVERYONE PLS TAKE NOTE: if Alex photo claims to sell NEW Items, as he did in my transaction. BE AWARE!!!

bye all.

 

[ed9119]

Hi JONLEE, I dont work for any of these shops first of all. I'm a consumer, just like you.

If i held u up as some kind of clown, I apologise. I'm on your side. It just blew a fuse in me to see another case of 'trust' gone wrong!!!

There'd been more than a few threads in the past here, in AP and in Offstone about similar situations. Why is it happening again...and to someone who is a member of this forum?

Look at Darren's (CTM) thread right at the top of the threads in this (Consumer) section of the forum as well as the buy/sell section.

"Caveat Emptor - Let the Buyer Beware."

And as you've pointed out you want to educate the others with your experience...and I'm reinforcing that along with a few other posters who had earlier mentioned the same thing from different angles.

Trust? What is that when dealing with any kind of shop? I been through the same kind of shit you have in the past too and sing the same tune as you too about being more careful in future. But why single out Alex Photo? I've had my fair share of "brand new" sales pitches in every single shop bar NONE. Today its Alex Photo, tomorrow its Cam-X, next week its CW. Boy, one fine day, we're going to run out of trust-worthy shops to deal with.

"It seem to me that u think i am blaming ALEX PHOTO for my failure for checking against their word?" Yes, that is the impression you'd left me especially on your 2nd post when with one fell swoop of the keyboard you branded most of them cheats.

I would'nt go that far as to say that "they're mostly cheats". They have an opinion on their pricing and I respect that. I too have an opinion of how much I think an item's worth and I respect my own opinion by buying or not buying.

There's a Small Claims Tribunal in town if you really want to press for justice if you truly feel you've been cheated. MSRPs should be freely avaliable if you need to hustle up evidence.

I've edited my earlier post to exclude the parts that I assume offended you, that's fair enough.

Lastly, it would help if you mentioned what exactly you bought and how much you paid for it.

ed

 

[StreetShooter]

I'll have to concur with JONLEE.

Felt the need for a remote release today (I'm sure Darren the Testosterone-Charged will have a wisecrack to make about this) so I went down to Peninsula. Walked around a bit, asked around the secondhand shops for the RS-80N3. Alex had one, I asked if he had a secondhand one. He told me they're hard to come by. The one he showed me had a scruffy box, no plastic wrapping around the device, a scraped-off price tag and a second price tag with some undecipherable hieroglyphics on it. Told me he only had this "new" one. No secondhand one. Give me a break.

I bought it anyway, because he only wanted $65 for it (CP was asking for $80, but theirs is virginal - BTW saw Darren and some other guys there, but I was in a rush, so did not say Hi). Paid secondhand price for secondhand goods. Don't get me wrong. I'm happy with the buy, and it works as it should. BUT IT WAS (MIS)REPRESENTED as new goods, and that is not right. Of course it COULD really be new, but I doubt it. You be the judge: Is this a brand new box?

 

[David]

I think as long as the controller is functioning properly without looking too beaten up exteriorly, the box is of little issue. I know many photographers, especially amateurs and novices, like clean boxes, crisp plastic, etc. Even when selling off my items, even if it is brand new or used but damn new, I get pple asking for "everything". I used to be like that. But at the end of the day, after going out to take pics, I have to remind myself Heck, I want to take good pics, I just want my equipment to work for me. What do I care about those less than 1 cent plastic or box? Even if I do, I could easily misplace them. (Now I can't recall exactly how many lens/hood/filter boxes and plastics I have strewn all over my cupboards, cabinets, drawers, etc.) It only looks more like a neat package when you see the box, etc. In that sense, you feel more at ease when buying one. I do agree that the resale price is better. And should be. But that's a psychological issue. So what if the box is solid spanking new but the equipment inside is less than desirable?

As for Alex selling the controller for $65, I think being any astute businessman, he's not too stupid to not know what the market price is. Selling for $65... either Cathay is "cutting throat" (generally I believe so for some of their items) or it is a 2ndhand item.

As for Jon Lee's experience, I think it is not fair to put all blame on him/her. (Sorry, I wish to be gender correct here.) Neither to Alex. It's a good experience many can learn from and I hope JL and others can come forward to let pple in this and other forums know what to look out for.

I have come to realize you can never trust any salespeople in Singapore, unless you are close to them or know them personally. I'm not saying they are cheats, but over here, competition is stiff, and pple here tend not to have the time for Hi, how are you or be totally frank, espcially to new or even fairly frequent consumers.

As a beginner 4 years ago, I was looking for the Canon 500n and went with a friend to Fotoguide. I was also considering the EOS50 but the shop guy told me if I wanted to get the 28-80, it'll cost over $900 altogether. It'll be cheaper with the 35-80. In the end, I had to settle for the 500n cos I wanted a wider 28mm lens. To top it up, I was recommended a 3rd party flash, less than $100 cheaper than the Canon 380EX. I trusted him completely. Not satisfied, I checked with John 3:16 (after buying the camera! Wrong move!) and was told $900+ is a ridiculous price! Moreover, the flash can't do High-speed sync. Less than 1 month later, I sold my 500n to get the 50. 'Nuff said.

Till today, I still can't comprehend why the guy at Fotoguide did that. for some time, I refused to patronize them. I labelled them as Cheats. But then I thot, maybe his shop was really selling at that high price. I have since forgiven him and today, I do occassionally go in to buy some accessories there. But I learn a lesson. You got to do your homework. You need to compare prices. (These days, I only do so if I want to buy the more expensive stuffs.) You need to be a bit kiasu over in Singapore.