My unhappy experience with Alex Photo

[maxtheevil]

have anyone bought any equipment from Alex Photo where he claims that it is a Brand New equipment.

I bought a lense from Alex Photo where he claimed that it was new, and he added that it was the last piece. Due to my excitment to buy the lenses, I pay for the price (which was a price for NEW lenses) and realised that it was funny that a second hand shop would carry brand new lenses.

Upon my own investigation, I called up the main distributor and was told that ALEX PHOTO is NOT one of their Authorised Re-sellers. Alex Photo has never been a re-seller in the past according to what their records too.

Thus, my advice for camera enthusiats looking for equipments in ALEX PHOTO, do be careful of what he says.

By the way, about my lenses, he denied it was second hand. I then asked if I could purchase a newer series of the lenses, since he sells new lenses. He replied that the lenses that I bought from him is the only one left for that brand.

In short, be careful of such 2nd hand camera shops.

In contrast, my experiences with TCW, The Camera Workshop, has been more pleasant.

Not all shops are like Alex Photo, of course, after this event, I did not recommend my friends to Alex Photo.

 

[Del_CtrlnoAlt]

where is this Alex Photo?

 

[blurblock]

Penisular 2nd floor .... .been there before too. The owner is not really friendly, well, maybe everytime I go there he is in a bad mood. Anyway, I saw a Minolta 28-85 f/3.5-4.5 and ask him for the price ..... he quoted $350 !!! amazing, for that price I can get 2 from USA, with shipping included, in similar condition as well.

When I check with him for the condition, he said "Don't know, this is consignment item"

 

[GENO]

where is this Alex Photo?

PP second floor

 

[student]

Very strange.

I had not bought anything from Alex. But I had visited him many times in the past, and my experience had been pleasant.

 

[lightchaser]

I have bought a few items from him over the years.
So far OK.

 

[rueyloon]

Care to give more info ? In what way is the lens not new ?

Being a second hand shop does not mean he can't be selling new stuff, same case with all the other second hand shops.

Furthermore, I don't see what does it have to do with being an authorised re-seller (or not.). I don't think any of those shops selling gray items are authorised re-sellers. (correct me if I'm wrong here)

cheers

 

[espn]

Just FYI, TCW ain't the retailer for some brands too.

 

[mpenza]

It might be new gray (parallel import) stuff and not distributed by the local "main" distributor. So, it's still new and you have no case for complaint.

Popular shops like Alan Photo and The Camera Workshop sells new gray equipment too. Nothing wrong with it.

 

[maxtheevil]

he did not say it was a new grey

as i was informed, it was a totally NEW set,

and he did not say it was a new grey, which would qualify him as a liar already, as when he sold to me the lenses, he claimed that it is a NEW set, and he sells NEW lenses together with Grey (second hand) sets.

Such was the information he furnished.

i suspected something fishy, which is why i asked him if i can buy a later, newer series of the lenses, which he then later claimed that the lenses i was holding was the LAST piece he had of the lenses.

 

[shioks76]

So far all my lenses besides the kit lens i've got from him. No problem so far, 1 time i got an older model lens from him also second hand, he let me bring back to exchange for another lens the next day. Anyway maybe he was holding on to old stock? Just to let u know i dont know him personally or anything but, all my dealings with him so far have been good. He's also quite nice and friendly to talk to.

 

[blurblock]

he did not say it was a new grey

as i was informed, it was a totally NEW set,

and he did not say it was a new grey, which would qualify him as a liar already, as when he sold to me the lenses, he claimed that it is a NEW set, and he sells NEW lenses together with Grey (second hand) sets.

Such was the information he furnished.

i suspected something fishy, which is why i asked him if i can buy a later, newer series of the lenses, which he then later claimed that the lenses i was holding was the LAST piece he had of the lenses.

ummmm ..... grey sets are new sets, just not from authorised channel.

 

[maxtheevil]

then, i went back after 3 days, and he did not allow me to exchange for other lenses,

one thing seems clear, small shops like his gives differential treatment.

as it is on my thread, i don't seem to be the only one with an issue with him,

of course, that is not to say everyone HAS an issue with him. ( i am not saying that)

the intent of my post is just to inform the rest of his business tactics.

 

[blurblock]

then, i went back after 3 days, and he did not allow me to exchange for other lenses,

one thing seems clear, small shops like his gives differential treatment.

as it is on my thread, i don't seem to be the only one with an issue with him,

of course, that is not to say everyone HAS an issue with him. ( i am not saying that)

the intent of my post is just to inform the rest of his business tactics.

I think you can change for the same type of lens, but not other lenses as it would be quite difficult for him to assess if you change for the sake of getting to try differenlt lenses or not.

 

[meng]

when he told you it's a new set, did you ask him whether it is a grey set? If you asked him so, and he denied it, then he is a "liar". Otherwise, you would have nothing to support your claim unless you can prove that the lens is not new.

 

[maxtheevil]

well, at the time he told me the lenses i was holding on was the only one and the only one left for that brand too.

no other options to explore, unfortunately.

 

[blurblock]

I guess you can tell him that lens is not working up to its standard and demanded a replacement for another same lens or for a full refund. If he refuse, tell him you can leave the lens with him for exchange with another new one (since it is a new one, he should have some contact)

 

[maxtheevil]

he told me it was a NEW SET, not a GREY ITEM.

and that he also sells NEW lenses just like CATHAY, thus i made a call to the distributor to find out if he is a re-seller.

Then, to my surprise, I was informed he was NEVER a re-seller from the distributor.

thus, to me, then and now, whenever i passed by his shop, he only reminds me of a bad shopping experience.

 

[blurblock]

he told me it was a NEW SET, not a GREY ITEM.

and that he also sells NEW lenses just like CATHAY, thus i made a call to the distributor to find out if he is a re-seller.

Then, to my surprise, I was informed he was NEVER a re-seller from the distributor.

thus, to me, then and now, whenever i passed by his shop, he only reminds me of a bad shopping experience.

He says he sell new lenses just like cathay, but does not mean he is a authorised reseller mah ..... it can be a new set he got from authorised reseller to sell.

 

[ibs]

I have had only 2 experiences with Alex Photo.

1. I needed to offload my very mint nikon 50mm 1.4 urgently. Since TCW was closed, I tried my luck with Alex. He offered me a non-negotiable $20 for it.

2. I've enquried him abt the nikon 80-200 one touch he had on the shelf, he quoted me $1.1k.

It's an open market, and hes free to buy and sell in whichever fashion he sees fit. I'm just sharing my experience and pass no judgement.

BTW, do you have a warranty for your purchase? All is not lost if its warrantied eh?