Conned on Ebay!!!

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A nother Kodaker
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Ebay is a steep learning curve. A lot of sellers simply have no idea about the things they are selling and become quite confused when questioned about descriptions. There are others who get a you by not describing the dodgy bits. I quickly found out that a camera described as not being tested with film means that it doesn't work! Also I haven't checked the meter as I don't have a battery- yes you guessed it! I must say though that I have had a lot of very positive experiences on Ebay and even made some good friends.
 

avandesande

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I have done well with untested cameras but only from buyers who have zero history selling cameras and equipment. If the stuff they are selling is all over the place, it is most likely an estate sale.

That being said there is no excuse for a person who understands cameras not to open up the back, check the film advance and shutter.

tony lockerbie said:
I quickly found out that a camera described as not being tested with film means that it doesn't work! Also I haven't checked the meter as I don't have a battery- yes you guessed it! I must say though that I have had a lot of very positive experiences on Ebay and even made some good friends.
 

bdial

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There are sometimes advantages in the sellers not knowing anything. I was quite amused a few weeks ago when I noticed a nice looking Kodak Retina III in which the description read something like "Vintage Kodak Retina, non-working flash". The listing only showed a picture of a camera, clearly showing the meter's rectangular electric eye, and no flash units of any sort... It sold for short money too.
 

joneil

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I'd go with the refund, but a I agree with the sentiments of the "attitude'. I've been on ebay for nine years now and I've noticed that people on ebay in general are becoming less and less polite. Sometimes I've won and item, and the communication for the seller is just terrible in "tone of voice".

Put it this way, if any camera dealer ever talked to me on the phone or in e-mail that way, i would tell them to shove it and take my business elsewhere. As it is, I remember who these sellers are, and never bid or buy anything from them again. The weird part it, some of these exact same people will bend over backwards answering question while you are bidding, but it's almost this attidue that once you have won, the seller has "got you" and you are pretty much skunked. Not a great attitude for any sales person.

I also find now it's at the point, that used gear from dealers is actually cheaper than Ebay much of the time. I've bought two, used, 4x5 LF lenses in the past year from dealers, one old, one fairly new, but in both cases, the lens was exactly as described, the shuttered fully CLA'ed and tested, everything worked right out of the box.

You buy a used 4x5 lens on ebay, you often have to send it off to be CLA'ed, so you add in the extra wait time, the extra postage, etc, and all of a sudden it cost more than the dealer who sold you a fully serviced lens to begin with. But you know, even with 35mm or medium format gear, I think the exact same rules applies too.

I still watch Ebay all the time, but likes others have said, I only bid when there is something I cannot find anywhere else. Ebay is good for that, but pretty much sour for anything else, IMO.

joe
 

resummerfield

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joneil said:
.....some of these exact same people will bend over backwards answering question while you are bidding, but it's almost this attidue that once you have won, the seller has "got you" and you are pretty much skunked......
I've noticed this a lot recently. Almost as if the seller is mad at you for winning the auction. Sad.
 
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