Finally got a bad deal on a used lens....

[bazooka]

I learned my lesson, so don't let this happen to you.

I purchased a 300mm f/4 IS through ebay (thankfully!). After a quick initial test, all looked well so I gave good feedback and that was it. Long story short, I later find out that everything not shot wide open was overexposed. The iris was not stopping down during exposure or dof preview. I've contacted the seller and am returning it for refund (we suspect it was damaged in transit), but if I had made this purchase through craigslist, I'd be stuck with the repair bill.

Moral of the story, check every aspect of a piece of gear fully before you finalize purchase!

 

[Overread19 7]

Ahh but sounds good that the buyer is taking the lens back and giving a refund; just hope that he can get some compensation from the postal service if it was indeed damaged in transit.

 

[GooniesNeverSayDie11]

But if you bought it on craigslist, it wouldn't have been damaged in transit.:greenpbl:

 

[bazooka]

Yeah, fortunately he is an honest seller and we worked it all out. UPS has already approved his claim.

However, if I had bought this on CL, I wouldn't have caught this until days after the purchase because it's just not something I've thought to check before.

 

[GooniesNeverSayDie11]

Just take a picture of the sellers license plate when testing a lens for a craigslist sale. This usually makes them reconsider stiffing you.

 

[bazooka]

Just take a picture of the sellers license plate when testing a lens for a craigslist sale. This usually makes them reconsider stiffing you.

If the car isn't stolen.

 

[GooniesNeverSayDie11]

Just take a picture of the sellers license plate when testing a lens for a craigslist sale. This usually makes them reconsider stiffing you.

If the car isn't stolen.

Well played......

 

[djacobox372]

if the seller was dishonest, ebay/paypal would still refund your $$. Buying used off ebay is one of the most protected purchases one can make.

Selling on ebay is a different story, a buyer can rake a sledgehammer to their "no returns" purchase and ebay will side with them.

 

[Derrel]

In buying a used lens, the operation of the lens diaphragm action is, uh, like the equivalent of the "cold start test" on a used car...you contact the seller, and ask to come look at the car and tell him, "When I get there, the block had better be cold...I'll pop the hood and lay my hand right on the block, and if it's not cold, I'm not even gonna ask you to start it up."

When a seller tells you the lens diaphragm mechanism was damaged in transit...he's selling the stuff that comes out of the back end of the bull...when you buy a lens, the FIRST thing you ask about is how well the diaphragm works....the first,first thing is that...

 

[Dillard]

This scared me cause i sold a 300mm f4 just the other day! haha wish you the best of luck!

 

[mwcfarms]

Just take a picture of the sellers license plate when testing a lens for a craigslist sale. This usually makes them reconsider stiffing you.

This happened to me. Guy sold me the lens, it looked good, pictures were good through all apertures. Went to leave and when I had placed the camera lens facing down the weight of the lens showed a hairline crack at the mounting ring. Not sure what else to call it. So I immediately called the guy. He hummed and hahhed until I said ok fine don't give me my money back. I am going to the police to report the lens and see if its been stolen and give them your name and cell phone number. He met with me in 5 minutes.

 

[mjhoward]

Just take a picture of the sellers license plate when testing a lens for a craigslist sale. This usually makes them reconsider stiffing you.

This happened to me. Guy sold me the lens, it looked good, pictures were good through all apertures. Went to leave and when I had placed the camera lens facing down the weight of the lens showed a hairline crack at the mounting ring. Not sure what else to call it. So I immediately called the guy. He hummed and hahhed until I said ok fine don't give me my money back. I am going to the police to report the lens and see if its been stolen and give them your name and cell phone number. He met with me in 5 minutes.

Hopefully you reported him after you got your money back... could be your gear he steals next

 

[TheBiles]

You're super lucky with that eBay seller! He didn't have any obligation to refund you after positive feedback. This is the only reason I think he might be honest.


--
Sent from my CyanogenMod-powered TouchPad.

 

[Robin Usagani]

Seriously though, if you want to buy a used lens online, check this forum out:
Buy & Sell Photo-Gear - FM Forums

 

[molested_cow1]

Yeah you are lucky. I had to get Ebay to give me my money back.

Bought a used lens. Everything looked good except there were two oil spots inside. Although it wasn't affecting the image quality, it was a defective lens. So I let the seller know and he told me to send the lens back. I did. He then accused me of swapping the lens claiming that the serial number is different. The problem is, there wasn't any serial number listed in his auction in the first place. So I let ebay settle it and ebay gave me the money back. Of course, I didn't get the money I wasted in shipping. Now ebay will also return shipping charges, so it's pretty safe.

I then went ahead and bought another same used lens from another seller for a even lower price. The lens turned out great!

If I still live in the US, I will still use ebay for used lens. Of course I will be a lot more careful, but you can't beat the variety and price. For brand new ones, I will go to Amazon.