Problems with Bessa T and Heliar 50mm f3.5

[Robin Harrison]

I was very excited to win an auction for this classic '101 yeasr' Vogtlander boxed set, but the goods that turned up were not as I hoped.

The auction described the condition as 'new' although it was stated that a couple of rolls had been put through the combo. The body has a few minot wear marks. Not a problem. The speed dial seems a little dirty or tarnished. Not a huge problem. The rangefinder vertical alignment is out. Problem. Is the Bessa T rangefinder user-adjustable? Anyone have any experiece with vertical alignment in the T?

The lens looks as new cosmetically, but both front and rear elements show clear signs of fungus. Light cleaning attemtps have no effect. Sunlight treatment has no effect. Big, big problem. I bought this combo for the legendary lens. No point using a legendary lens with fungus.

The seller has requested I have the lens professionally cleaned (after trying sun treatment for the fungus), and the body professionally adjusted. Does this seem unreasonalbe to anyone else? What would be the estimated cost (in the UK) of such action?

My current thinking is to return the goods, and have the seller refund me or perform the cleaning etc to get the camera and lens back into shape. Unfortunately a period of four or five weeks has passed since the auction end, as I was very busy and only picked the camera up two weeks after it arrived, and since then I have been moving flats.

A big shame. I feel pretty deflated.

 

[oscroft]

Does this seem unreasonalbe to anyone else?

It's unreasonable, yes. If the seller described it as "new" and it turned up worn, faulty, and with fungus in the lens, you should demand a full refund. (Although I have to say, how you even went anywhere near an auction for something described as "new" but had had "a couple of rolls through it" beats me - if it's been used even once, it's *not* new, and I'd never trust a seller who claimed it was)

 

[mcgrattan]

I'd insist on a full refund.

My experience with doing something similar in the past, where the seller essentially refused to respond, was not great. Ebay/Paypal refunded some of my money when I made a formal complaint. However, I didn't receive the full amount.

Best of luck! [Seriously]

 

[Robin Harrison]

Thanks guys. The seller does seem communicative, and he's not accusing me of being unreasonable...but I have yet to ask for a refund. He has mentioned that if I asked for a refund, he wouldn't be able to pay me, as the money has already been spent (obviously not my problem).

I'm thinking of just sending it back without his prior consent, and then demanding either a full refund, or the items returned in the condition he promised (i.e. he pays for and oversees the work required). Two drawbacks there - he might just take delivery of the camera and that would be the end of it, or he might do a half-hearted attmept on the repairs.

 

[oscroft]

He has mentioned that if I asked for a refund, he wouldn't be able to pay me, as the money has already been spent (obviously not my problem

I'm not judging him on that, but it's the kind of weasel stuff a crook would say (and you already know he's dishonest because of the way he described the camera). They can appear reasonable, or come up with distractions, to try to get you to agree to an alternative or delay you until it's too late to complain to eBay (I presume it was eBay?)

I'm thinking of just sending it back without his prior consent, and then demanding either a full refund

No, I wouldn't do that. I'd immediately get back to him and tell him you want a full refund, and if you don't get a very quick satisfactory response start a complaint with eBay stating that the item is significantly not as described.

 

[Robin Harrison]

I informed the seller of my decision, and he begged me to reconsider, to send him the items and he would sort them out. I bid on a 'new' Bessa T and Heliar lens. The items I received will never be in that state. He has not responded to my follow up mail, so I have raised this formally with eBay and PayPal. Fingers crossed.

Thanks for the advice, all.