In a message dated 5/20/01 7:22:43 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
gwsears@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:
> He has a stern letter in his email box awaiting his return.
>
> videosareus@xxxxxxxxxxx is the seller. He has a good feedback but
> sales are mostly for $2, $3 items. Mostly used video tapes.
>
> Item #1235502129 is the first auction which I bought, BIN
>
> Item #1236528206 is what appears to be the same lens put up for
> auction on 9 May 01.
>
> At $12 shipping, I figured to to be insured but appearently not.
>
> I will do everything in my power to prevent this from happening to others.
A couple comments:
$12 for shipping seems a bit steep (was it UPS?). I have noticed some
sellers seem to try getting another buck or two by charging, for example, $3
or $4 shipping for something that takes a 35 cent envelope and 70 cents
postage. $12 without insurance IS steep.
I would have been clear about the insurance BEFORE sending my money. Even
for a $30 50/1.8. A lens cap, no. A $200 - $350 lens? Absolutely.
Seems his specialty was video tapes, "other stuff", not cameras? This is one
thing that puts me off from bidding on an auction in the first place. Or at
least slows me down, and makes me send an e-mail or two, asking questions.
And judging not only the completeness and accuracy of the information
provided (does he answer my question, or talk about something else?), but
also the courtesy and "tone" of the response. I'd rather not buy camera gear
from pawn shops, junk stores, 2nd hand stores, or swap meet lizards. Or rude
people. ESPECIALLY not from jerks (sellers' responses to negative feedback
can be very informative here).
Beware of putting too much stock in positive feedback profiles. Many of them
can be for the seller's buying from others, not selling. And as I've
mentioned before, some buyers are also sellers, want to preserve their own
positive feedback profiles,and fear retribution, so post positive, or neutral
feedback when what they'd really like to do is BURN the seller at the stake.
I feel for you. Maybe, sans a refund from the seller or an eBay insurance
claim, somebody (Camtech, Photosphere, KEH, etc.) has a lens body that the
good parts can be swapped into for a modest (yeah, o.k.) repair fee? Heck,
you're about a hundred and a half under the going rate for a 300/4.5. It
might be possible. Certainly a lens worthy of rebuilding, if possible. But
this is getting ahead of ourselves.
Push for the refund. AND shipping costs BOTH ways. Good luck.
Rich
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