Ebay camera buying translations?

"Optically mint" is a good one... There's one particular seller - doesn't seem to have anything at the moment, and I can't remember his name - who describes everything as "optically mint" - almost all of which is dirty at best, often really battered.

Yet people must buy from him, and I've seen much worse feedback levels - his isn't great, but there are worse out there. I can only assume that "optically mint" is a phrase in his generic description, as most things are then more accurately described.

The only time I've thought of buying from him was when he had a Werra that had been dropped, heavily. Bizarrely, there was a bidding war - I can only assume that several of us all wanted it for the shutter alone.

Adrian
 
Then of course there are those sellers who give the buying public absolutely no credit at all for having even half a brain, such as the Photoarsenal people who have been trying for the last couple of years to sell a black SP that looks in the photos like it was used to stun cattle in a slaughter house just before it was left out in a severe desert sandstorm, that is described as having "slight signs of wear". These guys crack me up.
 
Fred,
I think it is mean or worse, elitist and snobbish to call the FE/FM/FA/Nikkormat series of cameras junk. While you might be using the term with respect to collectibility, (and I suppose with the exception of the rare half-frames, and perhaps the National Geographic action-finder equipped models these series have very little to offer a collector) as picture taking machines, they are all very fine cameras.
 
Muggins said:
"Optically mint" is a good one... There's one particular seller - doesn't seem to have anything at the moment, and I can't remember his name - who describes everything as "optically mint" - almost all of which is dirty at best, often really battered.

Yet people must buy from him, and I've seen much worse feedback levels - his isn't great, but there are worse out there. I can only assume that "optically mint" is a phrase in his generic description, as most things are then more accurately described.

The only time I've thought of buying from him was when he had a Werra that had been dropped, heavily. Bizarrely, there was a bidding war - I can only assume that several of us all wanted it for the shutter alone.

Adrian
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I think I've seen the "optically mint" guy. Bought a camera from him once. It had fungus. Never again.

Yeah, I almost got into a bidding war with some guy over a seriously trashed Perkeo II once. It was in pretty bad shape, but the lens and shutter looked like I could clean and fix them. I was going to restore it, but when the bidding reached $40, sanity prevailed and I let him have it. I doubt it was worth $20, as it was.
 
cirque said:
Indeed. Hasselblad's are at an all time low when it comes to price, and *still* people throw there money at Kiev's. That is one thing I will never understand.
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They don't realize that most of the Kiev 88s were unfinished as they came from the factory (unlubed, unflocked, no internal polish, and etcetera). They think they are getting a bargain. I suppose they are, but only if they are willing and able to do the remaining work.

A Kiev 88 is not a copy of a Hasselblad, as some people believe, but it is remarkably close to the old trouble-riddled Hasselblad 1000. The reason for this is that both cameras were copied from the same WWII German Air Force camera. Hasselblad put a lot more effort into solving the original camera's problems, and their cameras got a lot better. By contrast, the Kievs still have the same problems the Hasselblad 1000 did and in addition almost seem to have been made as DIY project cameras.
 
An obvious lie?

An obvious lie?

This one is a classic eBay sales description

He says "I know little about cameras so please ask questions. " He follows with "I have been told it is a Model IIIa circa 1938. " but then when some chucklehead tries to get it cheap by offering $75, he says, "I paid a whole lot more than that for it. I do hope it sell much higher"

So he paid a lot of money for a vintage camera, wjen he didn't know much about cameras or didn't even know the model. I find that hard to believe. Does anyone know anyone who's paid good money for a vintage camera when they don't know anything about cameras? He certaintly knew enough about cameras to stick it in the correct folder.
 
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I am currently buying up older 35mm slr's with 50 mm lenses on ebay. I need to get a bunch of them for something in particular I'm doing.

I will only buy cameras that are described as fully functional, etc, from sellers with 99.5% or higher positive feedback. I try to buy from sellers who seem to know something about cameras, but if it looks ok, i'll bite if the price is not too high.

Of the 10 cameras I've received in the last few weeks, I'd say HALF of them are not as described!! Problems range from "dead in the box" to dented filter rings ("no scratches, dings or dents") to a focus ring that would not turn. "I did not realize that was supposed to turn"

Sellers are apologetic and always give refunds, often they don't even want the camera back. Amazing.
 
Pablito said:
I am currently buying up older 35mm slr's with 50 mm lenses on ebay. I need to get a bunch of them for something in particular I'm doing.

I will only buy cameras that are described as fully functional, etc, from sellers with 99.5% or higher positive feedback. I try to buy from sellers who seem to know something about cameras, but if it looks ok, i'll bite if the price is not too high.

Of the 10 cameras I've received in the last few weeks, I'd say HALF of them are not as described!! Problems range from "dead in the box" to dented filter rings ("no scratches, dings or dents") to a focus ring that would not turn. "I did not realize that was supposed to turn"

Sellers are apologetic and always give refunds, often they don't even want the camera back. Amazing.
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I buy anything that has a good lens, some movement in the shutter and that looks like it can be restored. I expect to have to do a lot of work on anything I buy though. That's why I get cameras that are beat up. I enjoy working on them.
 
FallisPhoto said:
I buy anything that has a good lens, some movement in the shutter and that looks like it can be restored. I expect to have to do a lot of work on anything I buy though. That's why I get cameras that are beat up. I enjoy working on them.
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I wish I had the talent and experience to do that. I am willing to try some things, but a complete tear down and/or major machine work is currently beyond me.
 
oftheherd said:
I wish I had the talent and experience to do that. I am willing to try some things, but a complete tear down and/or major machine work is currently beyond me.
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I guess 4 years in the U.S. Coast Guard as a machinery technician, trying to keep seriously outdated engines running, followed by two years as a gunsmith, kind of prepares you for this. Restoring cameras really isn't that hard though. I can't fabricate gears and such with my current equipment, but as for linkages and struts, you can do a lot with a couple of rotary tools, a razor saw, a few needle files, and a whole lot of patience. Wtih folders, a teardown isn't that difficult either. You use a digital camera to record every step you take and you'll have something to refer to when it comes time to put it back together.
 
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chris00nj said:
This one is a classic eBay sales description

He says "I know little about cameras so please ask questions. " He follows with "I have been told it is a Model IIIa circa 1938. " but then when some chucklehead tries to get it cheap by offering $75, he says, "I paid a whole lot more than that for it. I do hope it sell much higher"

So he paid a lot of money for a vintage camera, when didn't know much about cameras or didn't even know the model. I find that hard to believe. Does anyone know anyone who's paid good money for a vintage camera when they don't know anything about cameras? He certaintly knew enough about cameras to stick it in the correct folder.
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The lie continues on this bid. The guy must have read my post, because the subsequent line, "I paid a whole lot more than that for it. I do hope it sell much higher" has been erased.
 
chris00nj said:
The lie continues on this bid. The guy must have read my post, because the subsequent line, "I paid a whole lot more than that for it. I do hope it sell much higher" has been erased.
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Well, you know what they say. "If you want to make a small fortune in vintage cameras, start with a large fortune."
 
I would say that some people are cut out for eBay and some are not.

The people who successfully buy and sell on eBay have the right mentality and skill for it. They very rarely have any problems.

Those who continually complain about their "bad luck" lack the sixth sense and perception to buy and sell there. There is an art to it.

Just find another venue, or buy in person, if you're the type of person who is always "getting a bad deal".
 
Petroleum V. Nasby said:
I would say that some people are cut out for eBay and some are not.

The people who successfully buy and sell on eBay have the right mentality and skill for it. They very rarely have any problems.

Those who continually complain about their "bad luck" lack the sixth sense and perception to buy and sell there. There is an art to it.

Just find another venue, or buy in person, if you're the type of person who is always "getting a bad deal".
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I think it extremely fortunate that you have your "sixth sense" to help guide you. Not everyone does. Even if you have a "sixth sense" it is nice to have a forum like RFF where members care enough to try to watch out for each other. It probably helps develop a "sixth sense" to have such a resource.
 
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Not really. Been doing eBay since 1998, 4000+ transactions and can count my minor problems on one hand.

Never needed a forum to make my deal decisions.
 
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