robklurfield
eclipse
I wouldn't believe this story if it hadn't happened to me. For a true cynic, this one has me wondering if I've been underestimating the honesty of my fellow humans.
I bought a Crown Graphic on eBay about ten days ago. The seller described it as having come from a camera restorer who had put it in working order before my seller acquired it. He said quite plainly that the RF and everything else was working.
Well, lo' and behold, when it arrived, though everything looked cosmetically as pictured and described, the RF was not working at all. I brought this to the seller's attention. He offered a full refund, including shipping both ways. I thought I'd paid a reasonable price for a usable or repairable camera, but was still disappointed by the need to have something potentially major and costly done WHEN I expected, because of his description, otherwise. I wrote him again and expressed appreciation for his kind and fair offer and suggested that maybe I'd have a shop such as Essex Camera have a look and give an estimate.
Well to my utter shock, the seller first said okay (that was expected) and even offered to absorb some of the cost (fair and not quite expected), BUT THEN, WITHOUT EVEN telling me first, he REFUNDED THE ENTIRE PURCHASE PRICE plus shipping to my PayPal account. He then e-mailed me to alert me to what he'd done, saying that he felt terribly guilty about the whole transaction (saying he wasn't aware of the problems). The kicker is that he said I should either return the camera OR keep it, take it to be repaired and, if I decided to keep it, refund back to him whatever was left from the refund or "whatever I thought was fair." My choice. Can you believe that???
I feel like Diogenes having been searching for an honest man and having actually stumbled upon one.
I will, in all likelihood, be taking the camera to Essex. Given the utter integrity of this PRIVATE SELLER, I will not get the camera serviced if the cost exceeds a reasonable number (ie, one that eats up all of the sale price), but will in that case send him the camera and keep my money. What goes around ought to come around, so I will NOT abuse this kind, fair and incredibly honest gesture. The trust alone (remember, I have BOTH the camera and MY money at this point) requires that I repay the gesture in kind. I am flabbergasted.
With nothing to lose at this point, I left this fellow spectacularly positive feedback, though I feel bad that the feedback screen didn't allow more space for shouting out to the whole eBay world what a good soul this guy is.
I bought a Crown Graphic on eBay about ten days ago. The seller described it as having come from a camera restorer who had put it in working order before my seller acquired it. He said quite plainly that the RF and everything else was working.
Well, lo' and behold, when it arrived, though everything looked cosmetically as pictured and described, the RF was not working at all. I brought this to the seller's attention. He offered a full refund, including shipping both ways. I thought I'd paid a reasonable price for a usable or repairable camera, but was still disappointed by the need to have something potentially major and costly done WHEN I expected, because of his description, otherwise. I wrote him again and expressed appreciation for his kind and fair offer and suggested that maybe I'd have a shop such as Essex Camera have a look and give an estimate.
Well to my utter shock, the seller first said okay (that was expected) and even offered to absorb some of the cost (fair and not quite expected), BUT THEN, WITHOUT EVEN telling me first, he REFUNDED THE ENTIRE PURCHASE PRICE plus shipping to my PayPal account. He then e-mailed me to alert me to what he'd done, saying that he felt terribly guilty about the whole transaction (saying he wasn't aware of the problems). The kicker is that he said I should either return the camera OR keep it, take it to be repaired and, if I decided to keep it, refund back to him whatever was left from the refund or "whatever I thought was fair." My choice. Can you believe that???
I feel like Diogenes having been searching for an honest man and having actually stumbled upon one.
I will, in all likelihood, be taking the camera to Essex. Given the utter integrity of this PRIVATE SELLER, I will not get the camera serviced if the cost exceeds a reasonable number (ie, one that eats up all of the sale price), but will in that case send him the camera and keep my money. What goes around ought to come around, so I will NOT abuse this kind, fair and incredibly honest gesture. The trust alone (remember, I have BOTH the camera and MY money at this point) requires that I repay the gesture in kind. I am flabbergasted.
With nothing to lose at this point, I left this fellow spectacularly positive feedback, though I feel bad that the feedback screen didn't allow more space for shouting out to the whole eBay world what a good soul this guy is.
kxl
Social Documentary
Nice story... there IS hope for mankind.
Frank Petronio
Well-known
We usually hear 100x more about the bad guys but most people are good. Thanks!
Brian Legge
Veteran
I've had some very fair transactions there too. I purchased a Frank Solida IIIe listed in great condition. The front standard was misaligned and the seller gave me a substantial refund, enough to buy a body should I ever find one for sale.
I purchased a Certo Six in bad cosmetic condition but advertized as having good optics. There was a bit of fungus there - enough that it should be cleaned. The seller offered to pay half the cost of cleaning as an alternative to a refund. Still a bargain if I can get it in good condition.
I purchased a Certo Six in bad cosmetic condition but advertized as having good optics. There was a bit of fungus there - enough that it should be cleaned. The seller offered to pay half the cost of cleaning as an alternative to a refund. Still a bargain if I can get it in good condition.
ornate_wrasse
Moderator
It goes without saying that it is wonderful to hear stories like this, especially since, as of late, Ebay has become, for many, a place they don't want to go near.
I hope I run into sellers like him if I buy anything on Ebay in the future.
I hope I run into sellers like him if I buy anything on Ebay in the future.
zhengpeng
Established
Great people, both of you!
Haigh
Gary Haigh
A heartening story. Thanks for posting it; such stories need to be widely read.
thegman
Veteran
Sounds like a great guy, he should open a camera shop, I'd certainly shop there. He'd likely go broke however.
pakeha
Well-known
you have both done a good thing here. Karma, it goes round
regards
regards
BillBingham2
Registered User
Do some digging on-line, it might be as simple as flipping something to engage the RF. I haven't played with mine for years. I've had a like thing happen with an F2 but then had transactions the other direction also.
I'd say give her a great home, lots of use and respect is a requirement. Send the seller a box of saltwater taffy or some other local speciality (I know, you're not that close to that type of shore....) along with a hand written note of thanks.
B2 (;->
I'd say give her a great home, lots of use and respect is a requirement. Send the seller a box of saltwater taffy or some other local speciality (I know, you're not that close to that type of shore....) along with a hand written note of thanks.
B2 (;->
dcsang
Canadian & Not A Dentist
Usually, in your time of greatest need, you'll find your fellow human beings are a lot more human than you'd imagine - it gives us all hope.
Cheers,
Dave
Cheers,
Dave
blindrobert
Established
great story! Thanks for sharing.
Griffin
Grampa's cameras user
This is how it should be, and I would like to mention:
"Every man's censure is first moulded in his own nature." :angel:
"Every man's censure is first moulded in his own nature." :angel:
Ezzie
E. D. Russell Roberts
There are some out there. Glad to hear of it Rob.
I have had a similar experience. I bought a second 85mm/f2.8 for my Kowa. The first was OK, but I could see grime on the shutter blades, so it was matter of time before it would give up the ghost. When the "new" lens arrived it look pristine, even better than described. But after a couple of weeks the shutter packed it in. I contacted the seller and he said he´d refund it, no problem. Or I could ship it to Ross Yerkes and he´d pay for a CLA. At the same time my old one also started giving trouble. So the end of the story was that I shipped both to Ross Yerkes and the seller paid for the CLA of my old lens and return shipping. The new lens got sent back to the seller. He too was genuinely sorry of the whole episode. I have since had contact with him through flickr, and he´s a stand up guy in all respects.
Maybe we should share more stories like this to help reinvest faith in our fellow human beings?
I have had a similar experience. I bought a second 85mm/f2.8 for my Kowa. The first was OK, but I could see grime on the shutter blades, so it was matter of time before it would give up the ghost. When the "new" lens arrived it look pristine, even better than described. But after a couple of weeks the shutter packed it in. I contacted the seller and he said he´d refund it, no problem. Or I could ship it to Ross Yerkes and he´d pay for a CLA. At the same time my old one also started giving trouble. So the end of the story was that I shipped both to Ross Yerkes and the seller paid for the CLA of my old lens and return shipping. The new lens got sent back to the seller. He too was genuinely sorry of the whole episode. I have since had contact with him through flickr, and he´s a stand up guy in all respects.
Maybe we should share more stories like this to help reinvest faith in our fellow human beings?
mwooten
light user
Thanks for the great story Rob. It made me feel good to read it, so I'm sure it must have been wonderful to live it.
robklurfield
eclipse
From this wonderful fellow's latest e-mail to me...
"The outcome I desire, and is best for you also, would be that you get to use a camera that works well. Everything is else is unimportant. Please take your time. I think you will put such an epochal camera better use than I ever did. "
Again, wow!
"The outcome I desire, and is best for you also, would be that you get to use a camera that works well. Everything is else is unimportant. Please take your time. I think you will put such an epochal camera better use than I ever did. "
Again, wow!
sleepyhead
Well-known
It's nice to hear some good experience on Ebay, instead of constant bad ones.
Perhaps there's some good karma floating around these days, because recently some thing happened to me with an Ebay transaction that never happened previously:
I bought a camera (Konica Mermaid underwater big mini, okay so not so expensive), and asked the seller to send me an invoice for the total including shipping. He never responded. I waited a few days, and contacte him again. No response. Then I started getting worried. I waited a week and contacted him again. Nothing.
A few days later the camera arrived. I hadn't even paid for it yet!
I wrote to the seller and he said he was on vacation, felt bad about not responding, and posted the camera right away. He then send me an invoice with very reasonable shipping.
Nice, trusting guy.
Perhaps there's some good karma floating around these days, because recently some thing happened to me with an Ebay transaction that never happened previously:
I bought a camera (Konica Mermaid underwater big mini, okay so not so expensive), and asked the seller to send me an invoice for the total including shipping. He never responded. I waited a few days, and contacte him again. No response. Then I started getting worried. I waited a week and contacted him again. Nothing.
A few days later the camera arrived. I hadn't even paid for it yet!
I wrote to the seller and he said he was on vacation, felt bad about not responding, and posted the camera right away. He then send me an invoice with very reasonable shipping.
Nice, trusting guy.
RanceEric
The name is Rance
Amazing.. It's nice to hear there are honest people out there
dct
perpetual amateur
Wonderful!
And you are not alone. Even at low priced gadgets, there are such good fellows around.
A few months ago, I purchased (during an acute GAS phase) a Vectis 300L thru ebay. From GB to Switzerland. The shipping fees were greater than the cheap price for the camera, but I did like to complete my APS collection.
After a week the parcel was there but not with the 300L, which is rare, but the more common Vectis 300 (without L).
I made a picture and mailed back for a solution. I must admit, I was prepared for discussions around "similar" cameras and "cheap" gadget... But no:
He wrote me back so sorry and I should keep the camera and enjoy. Of course the paypal amount (including shipping costs) was credited in a few days too.
Later on I got the 300L which I was looking for. And I made a first roll of film with the "wrong" 300 too. I was so pleased about the stainless steel touch quality of the 300! Of course I sent some money back again to the seller and I'm still happy with that wrong item description.
My 20cts.
And you are not alone. Even at low priced gadgets, there are such good fellows around.
A few months ago, I purchased (during an acute GAS phase) a Vectis 300L thru ebay. From GB to Switzerland. The shipping fees were greater than the cheap price for the camera, but I did like to complete my APS collection.
After a week the parcel was there but not with the 300L, which is rare, but the more common Vectis 300 (without L).
I made a picture and mailed back for a solution. I must admit, I was prepared for discussions around "similar" cameras and "cheap" gadget... But no:
He wrote me back so sorry and I should keep the camera and enjoy. Of course the paypal amount (including shipping costs) was credited in a few days too.
Later on I got the 300L which I was looking for. And I made a first roll of film with the "wrong" 300 too. I was so pleased about the stainless steel touch quality of the 300! Of course I sent some money back again to the seller and I'm still happy with that wrong item description.
My 20cts.
Last edited:
leica M2 fan
Veteran
Wonderful story and resolution. It is good to hear positive reports instead of the opposite.