B & H used rating system

[Good To Be Retired]

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While I have bought used from B & H before, I've always limited myself to 9+ ratings and been happy with the cosmetics/operation/glass condition.  They have something I'm interested in but the rating is down to an 8+.  I was wondering if anyone had personally purchased a lens from B & H with an 8+ rating and what it's condition was.

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[jaeger]

If it's returnable, you can find out and nothing to lose except maybe shipping cost?

[dkmoore]

I’ve always found BH to deploy conservative ratings and the equipment usually looks better than you expect and I’m fairly picky. 
 

Return shipping is included so no loss if you return. They are incredibly easy to work with. 

[OR120]

My experience has been the same as dkmoore - they rate their items conservatively. In most situations the item was as good or better than their rating. When I had questions regarding the condition of an item --- they always made it right. I have no complaints with their rating system. They back up their products -- IMHO.

[RayD28]

I've bought used equipment from BH several times.  One item was a used Nikon 14-24mm lens they rated 8+.  The glass was flawless and the wear was on the lens hood from taking off and putting on the hood cap. Their rating system is good.  One thing I wish they did is post photos of the actual item listed instead of stock photos.  If you call them they'll send pictures.  I've also returned items and never had a problem.  

Ray

[Good To Be Retired]

Good responses from all.  Thank you for sharing your experiences.  It's on it's way and we'll see on Monday

[Good To Be Retired]

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Should anyone be keeping score, the lenses from Adorama and B&H have arrived.  

FedEx did their usual poor job of matching the estimated delivery time to the actual delivery time, missing by 3 hours.

UPS was even worse than usual, missing the OPTIONAL AND PAID FOR delivery time by 9 hours, but they did refund the delivery upgrade fee.

The lens from Adorama had pretty decent optics but too many dings on the rim of the sliding hood and was returned.  It was rated Mint+ or Excellent + or some such thing.

The lens from B & H had a very minor degree of haze which could only be detected with a flashlight test, and one tiny ding on the rim of the sliding hood.  The ding was small enough to be completely hidden by a dot from a marker and I kept this one.  It was rated 8 +.

As an aside, I had available another lens identical to the B & H copy and tested both side by side under a variety of lighting conditions at various apertures and could not detect any visible distance.  As I seldom, if ever, shoot into the sun I didn't bother to test for something I don't do.  Not to say that there was no effect from the haze, just that for the sort of subjects I photograph and under the conditions which I typically photograph, I was ok with the minor degree of haze.

Edited June 17, 2020 by Good To Be Retired