DL engraved on 35SP: effect on price?

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scottgee1

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I'm being offered an otherwise clean black Oly 35SP that has a previous owner's driver's license number clearly engraved on the top of the back panel.

How much should that affect the selling price of the camera?

TIA!/ScottGee1
 
I am not a dealer or a collector. But, even as a "user" camera I would think the engraving. especially if it is so prominent, would reduce the price considerably, IMO. It might be clean, but it is not your identification number. Actually, as I type this and think about it, I don't think I could buy a camera like that. Obviously you should decide for yourself what to do, but I really think it should be heavily discounted.
 
I would say it has the same value as a clean un-engraved chrome SP. (Maybe still a bit more, because a piece of black vinyl electrician's tape will make the engraving disappear.)
 
I think it knocks about 25$ off of the sales price.

Try reselling a camera that's been amateurishly engraved. It has a noticeable effect on the value.
 
Screwed up the value of a black collector item...

Screwed up the value of a black collector item...

It has a very limited buyer appeal. In any event, it's damaged goods and only has user value... no collector value.

A clean black SP is worth at least twice the value of a chrome, so all other considerations are based on condition and the engraving is definitely damage. Brassing would hurt the value less.

I've seen black Oly GIII's and Black SP's sell for between $500 to $600 in excellent+ condition.

Regardless of the other condition of the camera, It would never bring anywhere close to those values, unless the top were reconditioned, or another black donor camera provided a clean undamaged top.

I'd put the camera you describe at a value of $100-$125, with little hope of finding a buyer to take it off you hands in a hurry.

Engraving hurts value far more than one might imagine.

Regarding the tape solution, I had a very nice Chevrolet once that ran well, and had a good body. However it had scratches in the paint, so I covered them with duct tape that was approximately the same color.... didn't work.. WTF?:bang:
 
Easier to talk about when one can see the, um, damage.

Now that I look at it more closely, I also see a dent in the upper left corner. And wondering what's around the edge of the VF frame . . . ??

The DL was so distracting I missed the other stuff!
 

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Revised value based on top damage....

Revised value based on top damage....

scottgee1 said:
Easier to talk about when one can see the, um, damage.

Now that I look at it more closely, I also see a dent in the upper left corner. And wondering what's around the edge of the VF frame . . . ??

The DL was so distracting I missed the other stuff!
Click to expand...

all other functions working, w nice base plate and clean otherwise.... $65-$70.

this is the kind of camera I would buy and throw on the shelf, keeping eyes out for a parts camera or just a black top to turn to a money maker. Something would eventually turn up.

Suspect that because of the drop damage, rangefinder may be off. Quite risky and not worth a CLA unless it becomes a permanent user for you.
 
Hah! I did a quick ebay search to see if there were parts floating around. I saw a black 35SP and glanced at the pictures... turned out to be a familiar one... 🙂
 
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