Possible Stolen Lens eBay Listing?

[Chuffed Cheese]

Saw this listing and thought it was odd how the seller obscures the serial number. The number on the lens looks odd too. Any thoughts?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Leica-50...937472?hash=item2cd27c8740:g:USIAAOSwJ-Bax6fT

 

[johannielscom]

Thoughts:

Did you contact the seller and what did he say?

Possibly are you just accusing a random seller that might be legit here?

Lots of people don't want to show the serial number of expensive stuff on the internet, how is that suspicious?

 

[Dwig]

Saw this listing and thought it was odd how the seller obscures the serial number. ...

... and a quite ineffective method. While he retouched out the last few digits on the pic of the front of the lens and covered the first few with his thumb, he totally overlooked the machine readable barcode. The serial number is 4700234, or as the barcode list it 04700234.

 

[Timmyjoe]

About a decade ago I used to deal in motion picture camera equipment. There was a running scam where crooks would scour the auction site listings for pieces of expensive equipment that showed the serial number. Then they would file a stolen goods report with the local police department and although they probably weren't successful most of the time, they cause serious nightmares for the equipment sellers. So the common practice back then, and I still do it now, is to obscure the image of the serial number on any high value equipment I sell.

Best,
-Tim

 

[Chuffed Cheese]

... and a quite ineffective method. While he retouched out the last few digits on the pic of the front of the lens and covered the first few with his thumb, he totally overlooked the machine readable barcode. The serial number is 4700234, or as the barcode list it 04700234.

Yeah, seems unusual. Too bad the effort didn't pay off I guess. Weird that such an odd thing to do exists.

 

[JoeLopez]

Thoughts:

Did you contact the seller and what did he say?

Possibly are you just accusing a random seller that might be legit here?

Lots of people don't want to show the serial number of expensive stuff on the internet, how is that suspicious?

x2 a simple message to the seller could go a long way.

 

[Steve M.]

I don't think contacting this seller is necessary. Look at the negative feedback he has as a seller on another lens. Tells us everything we need to know :[

 

[Chuffed Cheese]

I don't think contacting this seller is necessary. Look at the negative feedback he has as a seller on another lens. Tells us everything we need to know :[

Definitely doesn't help.

 

[michaelwj]

... and a quite ineffective method. While he retouched out the last few digits on the pic of the front of the lens and covered the first few with his thumb, he totally overlooked the machine readable barcode. The serial number is 4700234, or as the barcode list it 04700234.

You don't even need to read the barcode. He/She reveals the 47000*** in one shot and then reveals the *****324 in the other.
Note to sellers, cover the same part of the barcode in each picture, and make sure it's the last three digits, not the first three.

Incidentally, the serial number suggests that this lens was from the second batch, assigned in 2007. Is it NOS?

 

[ptpdprinter]

I don't think contacting this seller is necessary. Look at the negative feedback he has as a seller on another lens. Tells us everything we need to know :[

Yeah, here's the negative feedback:

"Seller claimed it was stolen, lied about details, refuses to contact the police."

 

[Chuffed Cheese]

Somewhat shady listing practices. Just doesn’t look good.

 

[analoged]

Yeah, here's the negative feedback:

"Seller claimed it was stolen, lied about details, refuses to contact the police."

Guess he didn't receive the lens?