When the excitement fizzles the moment you open the box..

Huss · 05-04-2021, 04:22 PM - **2 Likes**

I've always wanted a black Pentax KX film camera.
Samys.com had one on their site, for $80! Fully working, pics of it looked awesome. 1 year warranty.
I could not believe my luck.

Opened the box. Inside was something called a Kx digital camera that looked like a black jelly bean...
Disappointment set at level 11 of 10..

(They did apologize profusely and sent a return shipping label. Apparently they had the wrong pics and description for the camera...)

Heavy sigh, chin up, life will go on..

What are your biggest photo purchase disappointments?

**jumbleview** · 05-04-2021, 04:40 PM

One year warranty for 45+ year camera should trigger your suspicion.

Eyewanders · 05-04-2021, 04:53 PM

Originally posted by Huss

I've always wanted a black Pentax KX film camera.
Samys.com had one on their site, for $80! Fully working, pics of it looked awesome. 1 year warranty.
I could not believe my luck.

Opened the box. Inside was something called a Kx digital camera that looked like a black jelly bean...
Disappointment set at level 11 of 10..

(They did apologize profusely and sent a return shipping label. Apparently they had the wrong pics and description for the camera...)

Heavy sigh, chin up, life will go on..

What are your biggest photo purchase disappointments?

You'll be ok.

Sorry to hear about the let-down though.
There are a several camera shops around my region that fix film-era bodies and offer a 30 day (in most cases as far as a I know). There may be some with longer so it wouldn't be a giant red flag to me..... but at $80 with that sort of guarantee I'd definitely have questions. The old "if it's too good to be true...." adage.

**DWS1** · 05-04-2021, 05:13 PM

Surprised Samys would make that big of mistake.

**Roam Redway** · 05-04-2021, 05:15 PM

I was quite happy when my digital K-X arrived in 2009 or thereabouts. My daughter now uses it. But my expectations were completely different from yours! By the way, mine is a dark blue jelly bean.

**paulh** · 05-04-2021, 05:18 PM

KX (film) vs. K-x (digital)

Yes, hard to believe a large, long-time dealer would mix those up.

**ramseybuckeye** · 05-04-2021, 05:19 PM - **1 Like**

An easy one, the MeFoto Backpacker Air, I actually got it as a gift. I already had a couple of MeFoto tripods and they were pretty good. Apparently the "Air" label meant that was what if could hold. What a piece of junk. It came nowhere near the specs claimed for it. Since it was a gift I kept it, thought maybe it would be ok for tabletop use, but nope. I sold it and described it as a cell phone tripod (after it sat in the closet a couple of years), someone bought it and was happy.

STARHUNTER94 · 05-04-2021, 06:07 PM

Always good when they offer to fix their mistake at least

**carlb** · 05-04-2021, 06:07 PM - **2 Likes**

When I saw the title I thought this was going to be about the K-3iii.

Phew..................

**i_trax** · 05-04-2021, 06:08 PM

My the worst experience was with used DA*300 , purchased from this forum.
Arrived pretty damaged , cap and hood broken.
It was packed in a small cardboard box with some shredded paper "protecting" the lens.
It was sent from US to Australia like that.
Fortunately my local service centre did all alignments , tests and servicing and replaced all broken parts.
" I will pray for your soul brother....." that's all what I did get from the seller , no sorry no nothing and he just vanished.......
Have 3x more similar mishaps with Australian eBay , Tokina , Sigma + 3 legged Thing.
But after all , selling and buying online hundreds of items during last ~30 years it wasn't that bad.

**mattt** · 05-04-2021, 07:12 PM

Originally posted by carlb

When I saw the title I though this was going to be about the K-3iii.

Phew..................

Same - though, I have to sympathize with the OP - still a big let down when you're excited for something shiny and "new".

**luftfluss** · 05-04-2021, 07:35 PM

Originally posted by i_trax

My the worst experience was with used DA*300 , purchased from this forum.
Arrived pretty damaged , cap and hood broken.
It was packed in a small cardboard box with some shredded paper "protecting" the lens.
It was sent from US to Australia like that.
Fortunately my local service centre did all alignments , tests and servicing and replaced all broken parts.
" I will pray for your soul brother....." that's all what I did get from the seller , no sorry no nothing and he just vanished.......

Ticks me off when things like this happen.

Huss · 05-04-2021, 09:33 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by jumbleview

One year warranty for 45+ year camera should trigger your suspicion.

They provide that on all their used photo gear.
They call it "Samy's Care"

titrisol · 05-05-2021, 06:34 AM

At least they apologized profusely! and returned your money!
Good place to make business in my book.

Originally posted by Huss

I've always wanted a black Pentax KX film camera.
Samys.com had one on their site, for $80! Fully working, pics of it looked awesome. 1 year warranty.
I could not believe my luck.

Opened the box. Inside was something called a Kx digital camera that looked like a black jelly bean...
Disappointment set at level 11 of 10..

(They did apologize profusely and sent a return shipping label. Apparently they had the wrong pics and description for the camera...)

Heavy sigh, chin up, life will go on..

What are your biggest photo purchase disappointments?

**MossyRocks** · 05-05-2021, 08:54 AM

Originally posted by Eyewanders

There are a several camera shops around my region that fix film-era bodies and offer a 30 day (in most cases as far as a I know). There may be some with longer so it wouldn't be a giant red flag to me..... but at $80 with that sort of guarantee I'd definitely have questions. The old "if it's too good to be true...." adage.

The local camera shop near me has a 60 day warranty on used gear unless it was specifically sold as is or specified as broken/defective.

That said I haven't really been disappointed with gear I've bought. The closest was with the Lonely Speck Sharp Star 2 bahtinov mask which I thought would produce bigger diffraction spikes on wider lenses than it does. However I think there is a fix but I need to find a way to fill the fine etched grooves with some very thin black ink. Capillary action should pull it through the grooves but finding the right ink method to apply it is where I am struggling.

05-04-2021, 04:22 PM - 2 Likes	#1
Huss Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2020 Posts: 629	When the excitement fizzles the moment you open the box.. I've always wanted a black Pentax KX film camera. Samys.com had one on their site, for $80! Fully working, pics of it looked awesome. 1 year warranty. I could not believe my luck. Opened the box. Inside was something called a Kx digital camera that looked like a black jelly bean... Disappointment set at level 11 of 10.. (They did apologize profusely and sent a return shipping label. Apparently they had the wrong pics and description for the camera...) Heavy sigh, chin up, life will go on.. What are your biggest photo purchase disappointments?

05-04-2021, 06:07 PM - 2 Likes	#9
carlb Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 1,162	When I saw the title I thought this was going to be about the K-3iii. Phew.................. Last edited by carlb; 05-04-2021 at 07:31 PM.

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05-04-2021, 04:40 PM	#2
jumbleview Site Supporter Join Date: May 2012 Location: Concord, CA Posts: 1,068	One year warranty for 45+ year camera should trigger your suspicion.

05-04-2021, 04:53 PM	#3
Eyewanders Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Land of the Salish Sea Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,343	Originally posted by Huss I've always wanted a black Pentax KX film camera. Samys.com had one on their site, for $80! Fully working, pics of it looked awesome. 1 year warranty. I could not believe my luck. Opened the box. Inside was something called a Kx digital camera that looked like a black jelly bean... Disappointment set at level 11 of 10.. (They did apologize profusely and sent a return shipping label. Apparently they had the wrong pics and description for the camera...) Heavy sigh, chin up, life will go on.. What are your biggest photo purchase disappointments? You'll be ok. Sorry to hear about the let-down though. There are a several camera shops around my region that fix film-era bodies and offer a 30 day (in most cases as far as a I know). There may be some with longer so it wouldn't be a giant red flag to me..... but at $80 with that sort of guarantee I'd definitely have questions. The old "if it's too good to be true...." adage.

05-04-2021, 05:13 PM	#4
DWS1 Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Arkansas, USA Posts: 1,169	Surprised Samys would make that big of mistake.

05-04-2021, 05:15 PM	#5
Roam Redway Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: California's Gold Country Posts: 98	I was quite happy when my digital K-X arrived in 2009 or thereabouts. My daughter now uses it. But my expectations were completely different from yours! By the way, mine is a dark blue jelly bean.

05-04-2021, 05:18 PM	#6
paulh Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: DFW Texas/Ventura County, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 33,262	KX (film) vs. K-x (digital) Yes, hard to believe a large, long-time dealer would mix those up.

05-04-2021, 05:19 PM - 1 Like	#7
ramseybuckeye Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hampstead, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 17,291	An easy one, the MeFoto Backpacker Air, I actually got it as a gift. I already had a couple of MeFoto tripods and they were pretty good. Apparently the "Air" label meant that was what if could hold. What a piece of junk. It came nowhere near the specs claimed for it. Since it was a gift I kept it, thought maybe it would be ok for tabletop use, but nope. I sold it and described it as a cell phone tripod (after it sat in the closet a couple of years), someone bought it and was happy.

05-04-2021, 06:07 PM	#8
STARHUNTER94 Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2019 Posts: 771	Always good when they offer to fix their mistake at least

05-04-2021, 06:08 PM	#10
i_trax Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Perth Western Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,621	My the worst experience was with used DA*300 , purchased from this forum. Arrived pretty damaged , cap and hood broken. It was packed in a small cardboard box with some shredded paper "protecting" the lens. It was sent from US to Australia like that. Fortunately my local service centre did all alignments , tests and servicing and replaced all broken parts. " I will pray for your soul brother....." that's all what I did get from the seller , no sorry no nothing and he just vanished....... Have 3x more similar mishaps with Australian eBay , Tokina , Sigma + 3 legged Thing. But after all , selling and buying online hundreds of items during last ~30 years it wasn't that bad.

05-04-2021, 07:12 PM	#11
mattt Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Niagara Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,907	Originally posted by carlb When I saw the title I though this was going to be about the K-3iii. Phew.................. Same - though, I have to sympathize with the OP - still a big let down when you're excited for something shiny and "new".

05-04-2021, 07:35 PM	#12
luftfluss Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,619	Originally posted by i_trax My the worst experience was with used DA*300 , purchased from this forum. Arrived pretty damaged , cap and hood broken. It was packed in a small cardboard box with some shredded paper "protecting" the lens. It was sent from US to Australia like that. Fortunately my local service centre did all alignments , tests and servicing and replaced all broken parts. " I will pray for your soul brother....." that's all what I did get from the seller , no sorry no nothing and he just vanished....... Ticks me off when things like this happen.

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05-04-2021, 09:33 PM - 1 Like	#13
Huss Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2020 Posts: 629 Original Poster	Originally posted by jumbleview One year warranty for 45+ year camera should trigger your suspicion. They provide that on all their used photo gear. They call it "Samy's Care"

05-05-2021, 06:34 AM	#14
titrisol Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: In the most populated state... state of denial Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,852	At least they apologized profusely! and returned your money! Good place to make business in my book. Originally posted by Huss I've always wanted a black Pentax KX film camera. Samys.com had one on their site, for $80! Fully working, pics of it looked awesome. 1 year warranty. I could not believe my luck. Opened the box. Inside was something called a Kx digital camera that looked like a black jelly bean... Disappointment set at level 11 of 10.. (They did apologize profusely and sent a return shipping label. Apparently they had the wrong pics and description for the camera...) Heavy sigh, chin up, life will go on.. What are your biggest photo purchase disappointments?

05-05-2021, 08:54 AM	#15
MossyRocks Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Minnesota Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,982	Originally posted by Eyewanders There are a several camera shops around my region that fix film-era bodies and offer a 30 day (in most cases as far as a I know). There may be some with longer so it wouldn't be a giant red flag to me..... but at $80 with that sort of guarantee I'd definitely have questions. The old "if it's too good to be true...." adage. The local camera shop near me has a 60 day warranty on used gear unless it was specifically sold as is or specified as broken/defective. That said I haven't really been disappointed with gear I've bought. The closest was with the Lonely Speck Sharp Star 2 bahtinov mask which I thought would produce bigger diffraction spikes on wider lenses than it does. However I think there is a fix but I need to find a way to fill the fine etched grooves with some very thin black ink. Capillary action should pull it through the grooves but finding the right ink method to apply it is where I am struggling.