So obviously stolen M3

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unsharp

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http://www.blocket.se/view/4799686.htm?caller=shl_s&l=0&c=1&city=0

The serial number is deliberately masked. The text (Swedish) has a naiv tone that just has to be deliberate.

Translation:

"A fine Leica M3 No dents or anything according to image. Cover damaged on "the hatch" on the back side.

I inherited it and do not know much about cameras, will sell to the one who gives me a good bid.

A friend has checked it and says it runs well on all "times" whatever that means but it is not checked elseways. Sold "as is"

My translation smoothens out some bad grammar and the overall tone, it looks worse in original (OK, Im also an addict to MS Word auto spelling check 😀 , but still this guy is worse). I have contacted the website and I expect them to delete it. Am I too suspicious?

Anders
 
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I can't read swedish, so I have no opinion on the verbiage.. but I know that some people are very hesitant to post any sort of serial number online, feeling that it makes them vulnerable in some way.. that might just be the case here
 
The reason people hide serial numbers is that they are afraid of mis-use of it.

If one has the serial number of your camera, he could go to the police and report it as being stolen.
Two days later, he notifies the police that he knows where the camera is
(For example, offered on ebay) .

The police would visit you and indeed find the camera (the number matches!).
Now you will have to proof that it is yours.
If you can not, it might find it's way to the crook!

mad_boy
 
Yes, I agree with mad_boy on this; I would not reveal the complete serial number in discussing gear or offering it for sale. There are just too many unscrupulous people out there. Masking the serial number in text by replacing the final two digits with XX reveals enough for others to determine closely enough if the serial matches the version/age of the item. This practice is also common in relation to guns, but here an additional reason is privacy from public record for those who prefer to keep the gummint out of their gun lockers!
 
unsharp... one problem about this forum is that, at a given moment, it seems unnatural that there may be people who know nothing about cameras. But yes, there are people who know absolutely nothing about cameras. And I've seen and read what they say.

As for masking a serial number... as stated by mad_boy, it's a security measure.

Some time ago a young woman who had inherited a Leica posted a series of questions in PN. You could tell she was making a huge effort to communicate. Fortunately, in that case, the crowd was nice and advised her to have the camera appraised at a reputable store instead of going the eBay way blindly. And then, that was the last I heard from her.

So, let's admit it, there are people out there for whom cameras are just boxes with a lens. Be patient with them; they can learn. 🙂
 
OK, I hope you're right...

OK, I hope you're right...

I hope you guys are right. I can understand your arguments.

Dont want to make a big deal of this, but just can't stop thinking it's something bad with it. This not an auction site. There is no function like on ebay where you make bids, and where you have a history on sellers and buyers.

Basicly: All you have is a photo of a camera. Only way of contacting the seller is via anonymous emails thru the website. I wish you could read the text, it seams soo obviously naive that it just must be on purpose (lets fool some rich old camera neerds, they will pay anything for this one...). So maybe it's not stolen, the seller however is trying to make a steal.

This ad would have been doomed at ebay, for sure. It has zero credibility. That's what I think.

Admiting I might be a bit tense here, since I've been looking for a good user M2 or M4 for quite some time :bang: . I know an auction coming up here in Stockholm soon, wont give you rich guys the link though... 😉 😀 😀

Anders
 
I think you`re beeing too suspicious, people do inherit nice cameras from time to time... I have no problem reading Swedish and the ad doesn`t seem "too naive" to me...
 
Can't you purchase it COD ?

I always purchase that way, and when it arrives I invite the postwoman in for a coffee and check the stuff out, when displeased I simply don't accept it, thus don't pay for it. I find this an excellent way in buying from auction sites.

And then again people die everywhere, some even leaving little gems of cameras to their next of kin, maybe it's his 13 year old grandchild who would rather fave a mountain bike... and as for grammar we're not all the typical Sjöwall and Wallö's (or however one might write that).
So Anders if it's a bargain, I'd go for it, nothing worse than to pass up on a bargain....
 
I read Swedish although I am not fluent and to me it looks as if the ad was written by a non Swede. As there are many immigrants in Sweden these days please consider that possibility.
Kurt M.
 
I think it's fine... You hide the number plate when you sell a car, and that is probably how a person who knows little about cameras reason as well: If I mask the number plate on my car, what makes this serial number any different?

I have also seen reputable dealers doing this, though they tend to give a partial serial number so that you can determine when the camera was manufactured but not "misuse" the full serial.
 
Um, there's an awful lot of genuinely serious photographers out there who don't understand (A) RF's and (B) film. And an M3 will be more than middle aged by now so receipts etc will be missing. So really nothing can be proved one way or the other.

And hands up all of you with all the receipts for every camera you own.

Now, if it was a Digilux 3; just body and lens without straps, box, CD's, leads and Leica on the SD card I'd be suspicious it had been snatched from a cafe table or through a car window.

And, did any one else see that Leica 250 on ebay ages ago where they said the serial number showed it had been stolen from Leitz in 1943? Alas, I never found out how that story ended.

Regards, David
 
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mad_boy said:
The reason people hide serial numbers is that they are afraid of mis-use of it.

If one has the serial number of your camera, he could go to the police and report it as being stolen.
Two days later, he notifies the police that he knows where the camera is
(For example, offered on ebay) .

The police would visit you and indeed find the camera (the number matches!).
Now you will have to proof that it is yours.
If you can not, it might find it's way to the crook!

mad_boy
Click to expand...

I agree - it is wise to be careful, but I don't think in such a hypothetical situation one has to prove that camera is stolen, it is rather the other way round (the one who reported the theft has to prove it). There is a presumption of innocence.
 
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