What rings your alarm bells?

[doubs43]

I look for contradictions by the seller. I've seen, for instance, "All functions working normally" followed by "Not tested so sold as-is, no returns".

I look at the overall attitude of the ad and those sellers who seem to have a problem with buyers generally should be avoided.

I look for mis-identified items that are not what they are listed as being. Sometimes it's to my advantage and other times not. I rarely correct those ads by telling the seller and never when it might help my bidding. The seller needs to beware too and buyers shouldn't be the only ones having to keep an eye open. Both parties need to KNOW what's being sold.

I look for pictures that are clear, concise and show everything about the item. I probably don't bid on more items due to lousy pictures than for any other reason.

This list could go on and on but that's a sampling of things I look at.

Walker

 

[dadsm3]

lots off speling mistacks alwayes turne me off, maks me feal like Im deeling with an ideot or a Rushan scam artits.

 

[tedwhite]

Walker: Right. If I can't see it clearly, I walk. Smudgy photos, nyet. I like the ones where the seller puts the whole kit on his dark living room carpet, then flashes it from about 8 feet away.

What I want in photographs of a camera are photos of front, back, top, bottom, sides, inside, etc. I got burned once buying a Pentax Spotmatic. It was excellently photographed from many angles, except in retrospect - and after receiving the camera - there was no photo of the left front of the camera. Thus, I could not see the broken meter switch.

Ted

 

[doubs43]

What I want in photographs of a camera are photos of front, back, top, bottom, sides, inside, etc. I got burned once buying a Pentax Spotmatic. It was excellently photographed from many angles, except in retrospect - and after receiving the camera - there was no photo of the left front of the camera. Thus, I could not see the broken meter switch. Ted

Well said, Ted. Sometimes I look at the pictures and they just give me the feeling that something is being hidden. On a Pentax Spotmatic, I especially want to see the bottom and the condition of the battery cap. A clear shot of the battery compartment is even better.

I can't stress enough the need to educate yourself about any equipment you plan on buying. At least know what it should or shouldn't have and what isn't proper. Good books are worth the investment even if they save you from only one expensive mistake. Besides, I like knowing the history behind various cameras and lenses. To me that's not only interesting but part of the fun of owning something unique or even not so unusual.

Walker