Buying sight unseen — or with only a few images to go on — can be an anxiety-inducing experience. We’ve got you covered when it comes to advice for buying online in the US, but some of the shops with the best selections are found abroad, often in Japan.
And Japanese sellers have a mixed reputation, to put it kindly.
“Haha, yeah, ‘Mint +++++,’” Hunt said with a laugh, referring to the often drastically inflated ratings bestowed upon used gear by Japanese eBay sellers. “I thought that was so funny, I made it into T-shirt.”
To be sure, the duplicitous nature of Japanese camera eBay listings has been exaggerated and meme-ified. You can find plenty of reputable sellers (including names like Five Star Camera, Irohas Camera, and the Japan Camera Hunter himself), as well as plenty of stories of successful overseas purchases on camera forums. But as Hunt put it, “There are a lot of sellers on that platform and others that use the ‘Japanese seller’ power to take advantage of people.”
The best way to tell if an eBay seller is reputable is to look at their history. “Look for sellers that have been around for a long time,” Hunt said. Beyond the shop’s age, check for recent feedback; reputations can decline over time, so be sure to look for recent negative reviews.
And when you’re looking at specific listings from eBay sellers based in Japan, ignore the rating given in the title and examine the details. Sometimes a listing will claim that a lens is in “near mint” condition but plainly state that there is fungus in the glass, or sticky aperture blades. Do your due diligence, and you’ll probably be fine.
AloJapan.com