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Post by kiev4a on Jul 28, 2006 16:25:07 GMT -5
Was browsing Ebay today and saw one of those postings that sends red flags up all over the place:
"I don't know anything about cameras and don't know how to tell it it works...."
How about winding that lever that obviously advances the film and/or pressing that button on top of the camera that releases the shutter? How hard is it to determine if the shutter works on a Nikon FM2? Anyone who can't figure that out is dumber than dirt. . . or hiding something.
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Post by Randy on Jul 28, 2006 18:15:45 GMT -5
Yes...hiding something. I got suckered in on a Kowa SE a couple weeks ago, all the screws were loose and the leatherette had been pulled loose. Looked nice, had a nice case, I didn't pursue it for what I paid for it, not worth the effort.
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PeterW
Lifetime Member
Member has Passed
Posts: 3,804
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Post by PeterW on Jul 29, 2006 9:56:44 GMT -5
Hi Wayne,
I wish I had a pound for every time I've heard something very similar from stall holders at boot sales and flea markets. Sometimes they say they don't know anything about cameras in a way that makes that almost a virtue, but more often their line goes:
"Well, there it is mate (or squire or guv'nor, or some other would-be familiar form of address), It's just as I got it and I haven't had a chance to look at it so I just want a small profit on what I paid for it."
My thoughts: Oh yeah? Do I look as if I just got off the banana boat? I've been around the secondhand/antiques business a few years.
Usually there's something wrong with the camera, sometimes easily fixed, but I reckon one good fairy tale deserves another so my standard reply is:
"Sorry, you got taken in there. I wouldn't have given anything like that for it. I know those cameras, It's barely worth a couple of pounds for parts".
Sometimes I've had the reply "Give us a couple of pounds then and it's yours, I'll just have to cut my losses."
On one occasion the seller wanted £7. I offered £2 for parts and got the reply: "Can't do it. I gave more than that. I won't even take a fiver for it."
I repllied with a laugh: "From me you certainly won't.", and turned away. This brought: "Come on then, give us a couple of quid and it's yours."
Well, surprise, surprise!!
Pity you can't bargain like that on ebay!
Peter W.
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Post by kamera on Jul 29, 2006 10:16:41 GMT -5
In general, here in the states, bargaining has long been gone. Even at a lot of the flea markets the stall person's reply is...that's my price, take it or leave it. Too bad because that was part of the fun of going to the open air markets.
Ron Head
Kalamazoo, MI
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Post by wolves3012 on Sept 23, 2006 19:13:01 GMT -5
Was browsing Ebay today and saw one of those postings that sends red flags up all over the place: "I don't know anything about cameras and don't know how to tell it it works...." How about winding that lever that obviously advances the film and/or pressing that button on top of the camera that releases the shutter? How hard is it to determine if the shutter works on a Nikon FM2? Anyone who can't figure that out is dumber than dirt. . . or hiding something. Saw a classic of that on eBay earlier today. Some guy selling an FSU with a selection of lenses. "I don't know anything about cameras, please ask if you want to know more, sold as-is" typed prominently (or something similar). Nice pictures accompanying the text, showing the camera with each of the lenses mounted. The guy can figure how to mount & unmount the "attachments with figures on them" but he can't try the shutter out or look for that nice bright rangefinder spot? Yeah, right! |
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Post by John Parry on Sept 25, 2006 13:56:44 GMT -5
I'll quite often take a chance if I feel that there's a possibility of them genuinely not being sure what they've got and there's no bidding interest. Works well with things like rangefinders, where the description shows that they're worried that it's missing the LCD viewfinder. A similar description from a Power Seller called YashicaVenda would raise alarm bells I must admit!
Regards - John
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Post by kiev4a on Sept 25, 2006 14:09:33 GMT -5
If you have a seller who specializes in collectable tea cups and they say they don't know anything about the only camera they have ever listed, I might believe them. But how hard is it to see if the film advance lever works and the shutter fires when you press the release?
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Post by wolves3012 on Oct 2, 2006 14:22:19 GMT -5
If you have a seller who specializes in collectable tea cups and they say they don't know anything about the only camera they have ever listed, I might believe them. But how hard is it to see if the film advance lever works and the shutter fires when you press the release? I've spotted another example on evilbay too...the seller has sold a several cameras recently but this one is sold on the basis of "I don't know if it works". It's tempting to "ask the seller a question" on why he's unable to tell when he can sell numerous others as fully working! |
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