[jd callow]

David,

The phone is a righteous tool.

Here's how it works -- You call the folks up and say, "I saw that you have a lens that I want -- what can you tell me about it?" Whilst you have them on the phone ask them how they inspect the items. If they can't tell you about the item, although they may need to get back to you, or if they don't inspect the goods in any meaningful way then some of your points may be justified. Until you ask you cannot know, but then again... You have extrapolated KEH's business model from a select group of anecdotes (ignoring those that differ) and have continued on to guess that there is a dearth of consumer protections here in north America. Your reach is impressive.

I would think for you the show stopper would be postage and long delays, and that you'd find it far more convenient to buy and return locally.

It may be that we who buy from KEH are all very stupid. Be that as it may, having bought from them I cannot help but beleive that I have a better understanding of how they do business than you. I will grant you this, anyone who would be wiling to pay as much or more on ebay for a product available on KEH is my kind of ebay shopper.