Re: [Leica] jim kuhl - about dealers

["Tom Schofield" <tdschofield@email.msn.com>]

Jim Kuehl dealt unfairly with me too.  Years back, I twice sold some Nikon
things to Jim Kuehl.  In both instances I described them as accurately as
possible over the phone.  In both instances, he claimed I misrepresented the
condition.  What really upset me was his practice of sending a check for $40
or so less than promised, without saying anything first.  He literally just
sent the check for the lower amount and included a note saying that the lens
was Exc.+++, not mint- (whatever the distinction between the two is, I don't
know), to justify sending me the lower amount.  When I called to complain,
he politely said to send the check back and he would send the lens back.  I
would still eat the postage to send it to him, as well as the lost time and
the fact that I would still have a lens I needed to sell, so I cashed the
check.  I think he has that point figured out too well.  This left a bad
taste in my mouth, especially when he did it twice in a row.  To be fair, he
did send the check very promptly, if for the wrong amount!

My experience with KEH was very positive.  Their grading was very
conservative.  I would be perfectly pleased with what they grade as Exc. +.
That was a few years ago.

I have had a couple of pleasant conversations with Don Chatterton, but he
only does VISA and I only do AMEX, so we didn't connect.

Tom

- ----- Original Message -----
From: "Ben Weinthal" <benwein_2000@yahoo.com>
To: <leica-users-digest@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Sent: Tuesday, July 04, 2000 4:14 PM
Subject: [Leica] jim kuhl - about dealers


> I can't help but to chime in here because it seems so
> odd that this hasn't been brought up in light of the
> current thread.
>
> Jim Kuhl committed fraud by selling gray market
> cameras as new usa cameras. This is a fact. He made
> counterfit documents to support this practice.
>
> He was reportedly warned by Leica and kept on doing
> it.
>
> One larger reputable dealer made a big stink and they
> finally caught him red handed doing this. This forced
> Leica's hand.
>
> They stripped him of his Leica dealership and I
> understand that he came very close to being
> prosecuted.
>
> In the end Leica took mercy on him and dropped the
> suit.
>
> Since then, I have personally suffered an obvious case
> of mis grading of a 21f3.4 M lens and subsequent
> shoddy treatment when returning the item to him. It
> was an almost hostile reaction he made.
>
> It was after this aborted transaction that I
> discovered this longer story of his fraud. I vowed
> never to do business with this disreputable dealer
> again. I never have again.
>
> I am usually just a reader of this list, but when such
> a gross misrepresentation is being made I feel it my
> obligation to come forth.
>
> I have not dealt with Don Chatterton so I can not
> comment on him. I have decided largely that it is not
> worth going outside B&H for most gear because of these
> risks involved. At least I have not heard such bad
> things of that dealer.
>
> Ben, MN
>
>
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