the auction site sucks because...

[aizan]

finish the sentence any way you like. this should be fun.

today, it's a seller replying to a message by saying that i should look at the photos to see the condition of the camera...except the photos are burnt out by flash or obscured by shallow depth of field (but at least they're high resolution), and there are no photos of the prism.

 

[aizan]

alternative thread title: how not to sell a used film camera.

 

[Rob-F]

. . . people email with questions I have already described in detail. I can say, "all shutter speeds are good. The aperture ring and focusing turn freely without binding and focusing is accurate. Film advance is smooth and effortless. The camera is film tested and makes good exposures."

And they ask, "Does it work?"

 

[ThreeToedSlothLuke]

...because sellers pretend they know nothing when, in reality, they know the object doesn't work.

At least, that is my feeling. As soon as I see the words "I know nothing about cameras" I move on assuming that the camera/lens/whatever isn't going to work. And, yes, I realize they're not all out to get me and I may have passed up a great deal but...

 

[f16sunshine]

... it requires a lot of patience.

I can't say much bad.
Maybe it would be better to have a competing option.
With patience the auction site can bring a buyer or seller exact what they want.
It's not free but what good things are?

 

[Rob-F]

...because sellers pretend they know nothing when, in reality, they know the object doesn't work.

At least, that is my feeling. As soon as I see the words "I know nothing about cameras" I move on assuming that the camera/lens/whatever isn't going to work. And, yes, I realize they're not all out to get me and I may have passed up a great deal but...

Here's another one: "It worked the last time I used it." (When was that?)

 

[splitimageview]

...I didn't buy stock in 1998.

 

[PKR]

.... It wants to be Amazon and won't.

 

[ruby.monkey]

... it keeps showing me things I want to buy.

And I'm weak.

 

[retinax]

...it lies. When a buy-it-now-or-suggest item is sold for a suggested price lower than the BIN, it shows the BIN price in the sold listing.

 

[zuiko85]

No problem with them here. Only us it for those low risk items; filter step rings, lens caps, focusing extension tubes and other accessories that are no longer stocked at no longer in business camera stores. (Or even at still open camera stores) IOW, where else you going to go to get this stuff.

 

[B-9]

...people bid on items with no intention of paying.

Or

...the seller deleted his account after I paid now I have to wait 3 months for a refund.

 

[PKR]

...people bid on items with no intention of paying.

Or

...the seller deleted his account after I paid now I have to wait 3 months for a refund.

They would make it a year and 3 months if they could.

Any idea how much interest they make on that money? A pal in the title business says, his company loans their escrow money from the daily close of business to an hour before opening, at a high interest rate, to a Swiss bank, each business day. That's small change compared to the money EBay holds.. for as long as they can.

 

[GulfCoastPhotog]

If the bay ever goes under I'll have more money in my pocket. It is kind of love hate relationship for me.

David

 

[Tim Murphy]

It sucks because........

It sucks because........

I lack self control. 🙂

Seriously though as a buyer I like that place a lot.

Mostly I buy things that I can't easily find locally. Like one poster above mentioned, things like step-up rings, or a 5 pack of Canon rear lens and body caps, or a 10 pack of lens cap tethers. I get them from China for a couple two three dollars and free shipping. Who cares if it takes a week to get them? It'd take a half a day and $ 15.00 worth of gas to get them locally and I'd pay 5X or more for them.

That's not to say I don't buy cameras or lenses but I take some care when doing so. In hundreds of transactions I have only once had to admit that I screwed up. I'll take those odds any day.

In the past month I've scored a Tamron 300/f2.8 SP AF that autofocuses on ALL Nikon film AND digital bodies, and it takes a fine picture as well. This week I received 2 Retinas, a 11a and a 111c for about $ 100.00 total. They are clean as a whistle and look to me to be in perfect working order. We'll see if I'm right once I finish the film and get it developed but I feel good about the prospects.

I look at it like gambling. Never bet more than you can afford to lose and learn when to walk away and you should be OK.

Regards,

Tim Murphy

Harrisburg, PA 🙂

 

[Larry Cloetta]

...it causes some people to incessantly refer to it as "the auction site" instead of eBay which is the thing's actual name. Weird.