nf3996 Posted August 30, 2022 Share #1 Â Posted August 30, 2022 Advertisement (gone after registration) Has anyone here bought from London-based M W Classic Cameras? The proprietors are Mahendra Mohdi and David Woodford and the company seems to have been around for a long time - their 'mission statement' dates from 1998. They have some interesting items on their website, but I've also found some truly awful reviews online of buyers' experiences. Has anyone here had a positive experience with M W Classic Cameras, or should I steer clear? Alan Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted August 30, 2022 Posted August 30, 2022 Hi nf3996, Take a look here Buying from M W Classic Cameras. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Matlock Posted August 30, 2022 Share #2 Â Posted August 30, 2022 1 hour ago, nf3996 said: Has anyone here bought from London-based M W Classic Cameras? The proprietors are Mahendra Mohdi and David Woodford and the company seems to have been around for a long time - their 'mission statement' dates from 1998. They have some interesting items on their website, but I've also found some truly awful reviews online of buyers' experiences. Has anyone here had a positive experience with M W Classic Cameras, or should I steer clear? Alan I last purchased from them a Leica LTM mount V-Summicron 50mm in mint condition but that was in 2008. Perfect lens and no problems. How things are now I don't know. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pippy Posted August 30, 2022 Share #3 Â Posted August 30, 2022 (edited) Hmmmm........... It's difficult to recommend them highly but they DO often have very interesting items and frequently at very reasonable prices. I've been a customer of theirs for several years and my experiences have ranged from 'No Problems; Speedy Delivery; Superb Product' to 'Absolutely Bloody Awful'. I understand that they were going through a change of address when covid hit and for a very long time were trying to run their business from one place whilst their stock was elsewhere. They don't always still have items which appear on their website. I have no idea what system they adopt (if any) but, by way of an example, there is one item currently being advertised which I ordered from them last November before being told, when I was chasing-up the order, that it had already been sold. Looking back at the last four orders placed with them there was only one occasion when I received all items chosen. On two orders there was partial success and one order was cancelled in toto as practically nothing I wanted was still unsold and the only piece which WAS still available was useless without the main item. My advice would be make absolutely sure they still have the item(s) in stock before you commit to any prospective purchase. In this fashion you have a much greater chance of success. Telephone contact can be hit-and-miss but it's a good idea to give them a call before hitting the buy-it-now button. I've never been cheated by them and if a refund has been neccessary they have always paid-up without any trouble. The items I've received have always been exactly as described and generally in at least as-good if not even better condition than expected. On the whole I'd trust them and will buy from them in the future but, that said, they are nowhere near as 'professional' in their practices as certain other dealerships. Of course it could be that things have now changed for the better since Covid has eased? Good luck! Philip. Edited August 30, 2022 by pippy 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pedaes Posted August 30, 2022 Share #4 Â Posted August 30, 2022 To endorse @pippy comments, I once 'bought' something that they could not find. Apologies and refund so no big deal. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pyrogallol Posted August 30, 2022 Share #5 Â Posted August 30, 2022 There have been other discussions about them in this forum. I have not had any problems but I have only bought through E Bay, which should give buyer protection. I did try to buy a couple of items that turned out not to be available. In other places here people have talked of serious problems when selling to them, not being paid etc. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nitroplait Posted August 30, 2022 Share #6  Posted August 30, 2022 47 minutes ago, Pyrogallol said:In other places here people have talked of serious problems when selling to them, not being paid etc.  49 minutes ago, Pyrogallol said: …In other places here people have talked of serious problems when selling to them, not being paid etc. Yikes. That would imply that one risks buying stolen goods from them. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pedaes Posted August 30, 2022 Share #7  Posted August 30, 2022 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) 8 minutes ago, nitroplait said:  Yikes. That would imply that one risks buying stolen goods from them. Not sure about that! Neither am I sure about the premise, as not getting paid is a well verified fact with another dealer of similar initials. Edited August 30, 2022 by pedaes Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LocalHero1953 Posted August 30, 2022 Share #8 Â Posted August 30, 2022 (edited) I ordered and paid for a SBLOO 3.5cm viewfinder from their website back in February. Apart from an order acknowledgement, I never heard anything else from them, despite emails and phone calls. Eventually I recovered the money in full from my credit card company. I will not touch them. They used to have a good reputation, and some other shops used to refer people to them. I would speculate that the owners have now been around too long, there is no succession planning in the business, and it is falling apart Edited August 30, 2022 by LocalHero1953 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pyrogallol Posted August 31, 2022 Share #9  Posted August 31, 2022 The other thread on this subject is here  Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pyrogallol Posted August 31, 2022 Share #10 Â Posted August 31, 2022 19 hours ago, pedaes said: Not sure about that! Neither am I sure about the premise, as not getting paid is a well verified fact with another dealer of similar initials. I may be wrong then. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nitroplait Posted August 31, 2022 Share #11 Â Posted August 31, 2022 3 hours ago, Pyrogallol said: I may be wrong then. In that case I would be wrong as well. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jagstang Posted August 31, 2022 Share #12 Â Posted August 31, 2022 I bought an item from them back in May, and another one in June. I was sent the latter one, but not the first one. When I enquired over the phone, David told me they were in the process of moving from one warehouse to another. Everything was in boxes and they couldn't find everything they had up on the website. He reassured me that if he couldn't find the item he would give me a refund, but it's been a few months and he hasn't been picking up the phone... FWIW, I'd bought from them years ago and never had a problem, so this is a recent thing. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Morgan Posted August 31, 2022 Share #13 Â Posted August 31, 2022 A friend buys from them regularly (in person) with no issues, but my one and only order of admittedly inexpensive kit never got dispatched, but when I asked for a refund it was processed very promptly. That was 4 years ago. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Basu Posted January 12 Share #14  Posted January 12 hello everyone, I sadly have made the mistake of ordering from David Woodford's website, MWclassic (12 Nov 24). I ordered over 1000£ of material which he has still not sent after 2 months. I am based in France and the banks don't allow for reclaiming the money the way you can in the UK. I have been speaking with David, but he just makes excuses or lies about what he will do, and now is not responding to calls from me.  Does anyone have any suggestions of how I can encourage David to send the items or return the money? Many thanks for any advice you can give on this subject. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
M9reno Posted January 12 Share #15 Â Posted January 12 Well, there is a physical address given on their website, so you can visit David in person, or send someone else to do so on your behalf, and see what happens. Â Preferably appear unannounced. Â And at least bring a letter from a lawyer and serve it to him directly. In any case, very sorry to hear of your plight. Â Despite his already-tattered reputation as a seller, he seems to be taking special advantage of you because you are not UK-based and have fewer means of redress. Â The awful precedent set recently by another rogue seller in Cornwall, who all but escaped justice for his multitude of victims, might also be quite encouraging to David. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KPH Posted January 13 Share #16  Posted January 13 (edited) Mahendra Mohdi I believe left years ago - I would have once recommended them - My last experience led to no item and no refund - feedback is not great - I did report them to Action Fraud and trading standards - If you can attend  in person and ask for the item and pay for it - go for it - would I oder online NO They used to frequent  camera fairs and the main Photographic fair in London - not present last year No response to emails or telephone calls ever  report online to https://www.met.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/  Make sure you specify this is a London based crime - not a civil dispute  Report to action fraud    https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/reporting-fraud-and-cyber-crime  They will try and fob you off - do not accept it - there is a clear line of enquiry  Action fraud collate reports can and will close fraudulent traders  Eurostar - go to business and call Police     Edited January 13 by KPH 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrh68uk Posted January 13 Share #17 Â Posted January 13 And he still has time to photograph and list many new items, weekly, as he did three days ago. My refund came so quickly from my bank that I wonder whether they already had him on a list of known rogues. Amazing that he's still able to trade. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Basu Posted January 13 Share #18  Posted January 13 Many thanks for all your advice in this. I will follow the lines proposed and plan to visit uk in early February. Gosh, I don’t fancy confronting him, but I think it’s my only recourse, I can’t afford to loose the money. I’ll keep you informed… 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
M9reno Posted January 14 Share #19  Posted January 14 13 hours ago, Sam Basu said: Many thanks for all your advice in this. I will follow the lines proposed and plan to visit uk in early February. Gosh, I don’t fancy confronting him, but I think it’s my only recourse, I can’t afford to loose the money. I’ll keep you informed… Good luck! As I'm sure you know, there's a picture of David here to help you recognise him in February: https://mwclassic.com 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpotmaticSP Posted January 15 Share #20  Posted January 15 I have "Grays of Westminster" - "Exclusively Nikon". in my mind. Didn't they both work for that shop, a long, long tme ago? But maybe my mind is playing games with me. Geez, I'm getting old. 🙂 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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