Buyers Beware : caveat emptor

[Normalised]

hi guys,

I am a newbie into photography and I just want to share with the forum a painful lesson. :cry:

I recently just bought a camera w/ kit lens (canon 450D) from a fellow forummer here.

We arranged to meet late at 10:45pm at his block, I admit that I could not check the lens out as the lighting condition at the void deck was not great.

But I did asked if there was fungus and did he keep the camera in a dry box. He said it is not necessary. He then proceeded to show me the use of the camera. I then paid him and brought the camera back.

It is only the next morning that I am able to check the lens carefully under the natural light. There was many fungus growth in the lens. :bigeyes:

I msged him about it but to no avail. I would say he is nice enough to msg back. But it is basically in the tone that the deal was done and there's no refund. :nono:

With this, I would like to let all newbies learn from my painful lesson and ensure that you check everything out before buying. Not all buyers will refund.

If in doubt, it is always better not to buy from sellers here. :think:

Thanks for looking, but the saying is true: caveat emptor

 

[Smiles88]

hi guys,

I am a newbie into photography and I just want to share with the forum a painful lesson. :cry:

I recently just bought a camera w/ kit lens (canon 450D) from a fellow forummer here.

We arranged to meet late at 10:45pm at his block, I admit that I could not check the lens out as the lighting condition at the void deck was not great.

But I did asked if there was fungus and did he keep the camera in a dry box. He said it is not necessary. He then proceeded to show me the use of the camera. I then paid him and brought the camera back.

It is only the next morning that I am able to check the lens carefully under the natural light. There was many fungus growth in the lens. :bigeyes:

I msged him about it but to no avail. I would say he is nice enough to msg back. But it is basically in the tone that the deal was done and there's no refund. :nono:

With this, I would like to let all newbies learn from my painful lesson and ensure that you check everything out before buying. Not all buyers will refund.

If in doubt, it is always better not to buy from sellers here. :think:

Thanks for looking, but the saying is true: caveat emptor

You should have brought at least an LED torchlight, and check other parts/functions as well.

 

[macbart]

hi guys,
I am a newbie into photography and I just want to share with the forum a painful lesson. :cry:

I sympathise with you on discovering that the lens has fungus, which you specifically asked about. If the camera is working fine, perhaps you can get another lens to use with the body you bought?

With this, I would like to let all newbies learn from my painful lesson and ensure that you check everything out before buying. Not all buyers will refund.

That's good advice no matter where we purchase something. Especially when buying anything that's used, the onus is really on us as buyers to check it to make sure the item is as described.

If in doubt, it is always better not to buy from sellers here. :think:

You're probably still very upset about your experience, so please pardon me if I disagree with that statement.

There are more than 125,000 registered users on these forums, with apparently more than 18,000 active users. Among the many who post items for sale on the forums, there may be a few who misrepresent the products they're selling, but I would hesitate to judge the rest based on one negative experience.

FYI, I bought a used item yesterday too - a Canon EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 USM lens. The lens wasn't in perfect condition and there was some dust, but for the price I paid, I'm ok with it. The seller, to his credit, rated its condition a "6" (based on the guidelines stated in the forums).

I thank you for sharing your experience and for advising buyers to take the time to check the products they're buying. That is indeed good advice. However, I, for one, will continue to consider these forums a good source of used photography equipment.

 

[NikF601]

This is a learning path.. learn and more knowledgeable...

 

[Octarine]

It is only the next morning that I am able to check the lens carefully under the natural light. There was many fungus growth in the lens. :bigeyes:

Have you verified that it is really fungus and not just dust? Many newbies cannot distinguish between both and mistake some dust for fungus. If the fungus is spreading as you described then either the lens was just left alone somewhere or the body might also be affected. Kit lenses are cheap to get, painful to pay on top, though.

 

[Jacobs]

What you want to do right now is sent to CSC for service or repair.
Juz compare the repair cost vs the new set of the lens, finally make your decision on it.

 

[sherchoo]

What you want to do right now is sent to CSC for service or repair.
Juz compare the repair cost vs the new set of the lens, finally make your decision on it.

Sound advise...

 

[kaylan2000]

hi guys,

I am a newbie into photography and I just want to share with the forum a painful lesson. :cry:

I recently just bought a camera w/ kit lens (canon 450D) from a fellow forummer here.

We arranged to meet late at 10:45pm at his block, I admit that I could not check the lens out as the lighting condition at the void deck was not great.

But I did asked if there was fungus and did he keep the camera in a dry box. He said it is not necessary. He then proceeded to show me the use of the camera. I then paid him and brought the camera back.

It is only the next morning that I am able to check the lens carefully under the natural light. There was many fungus growth in the lens.

I msged him about it but to no avail. I would say he is nice enough to msg back. But it is basically in the tone that the deal was done and there's no refund.

With this, I would like to let all newbies learn from my painful lesson and ensure that you check everything out before buying. Not all buyers will refund.

If in doubt, it is always better not to buy from sellers here. :think:

Thanks for looking, but the saying is true: caveat emptor

All people are different, it's part and parcel of life.

Think positively, you learned some lesson at the cost of say $60 (assuming the kit as 18-55 ).... what would happened if the lens cost you 1K+

That the risk you take when buying any second hand items. Something you can spot during inspection but there are many things that you can not spot. Do you know how many times the camera was fallen or the lens was banged? Is there anything like motor health report?

Just forget and be more careful next time. Tough but thats the way :thumbsup:

Finally, do not let this bad experience spoil your journey to a beautiful world... called photography

 

[Rashkae]

Name the forumer.

 

[ismokeweed79]

Name the forumer.

:thumbsup:

 

[jackwolf]

this is bad... buyer has the responsiblity to check but i think seller should also have the responsiblity to be honest about the condition of his item unless he is totally ignorant... touch our hearts...

 

[daredevil123]

TS if you really want to help people be wary of such sellers, you should start by naming the seller's id here. and post the link to the ad as well.

 

[candycaine]

TS if you really want to help people be wary of such sellers, you should start by naming the seller's id here. and post the link to the ad as well.

Yes.

If not, it is meaningless, repeating things most frequent CSers already know.

 

[Normalised]

Yes.

If not, it is meaningless, repeating things most frequent CSers already know.

This is the link.

http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=777959

 

[Normalised]

You should have brought at least an LED torchlight, and check other parts/functions as well.

I agree, better yet should check it out under natural light and with a knowledgeable buddy.

 

[paesyl]

I feel that buyer have to check item (as much as possible) that they are selling before posting the condition.

This is a good example i come across.
http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=750681

If not will be as good as 'cheating' on ppl who have less knowledge.

Of course seller need to have some basic knowledge before hand.

 

[Normalised]

What you want to do right now is sent to CSC for service or repair.
Juz compare the repair cost vs the new set of the lens, finally make your decision on it.

Thank you, will do that

 

[Normalised]

I sympathise with you on discovering that the lens has fungus, which you specifically asked about. If the camera is working fine, perhaps you can get another lens to use with the body you bought?



That's good advice no matter where we purchase something. Especially when buying anything that's used, the onus is really on us as buyers to check it to make sure the item is as described.



You're probably still very upset about your experience, so please pardon me if I disagree with that statement.

There are more than 125,000 registered users on these forums, with apparently more than 18,000 active users. Among the many who post items for sale on the forums, there may be a few who misrepresent the products they're selling, but I would hesitate to judge the rest based on one negative experience.

FYI, I bought a used item yesterday too - a Canon EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 USM lens. The lens wasn't in perfect condition and there was some dust, but for the price I paid, I'm ok with it. The seller, to his credit, rated its condition a "6" (based on the guidelines stated in the forums).

I thank you for sharing your experience and for advising buyers to take the time to check the products they're buying. That is indeed good advice. However, I, for one, will continue to consider these forums a good source of used photography equipment.

I apologise if anyone felt offended. It was not my intention. It was more of a general advise for newbies. Better err on the side of caution is what I was trying to put across.

 

[magicianhisoka]

It's a pretty old lens that you got. In the end lesson learnt :check before accepting

 

[daredevil123]

I have tried to PM the seller paddyqr so as to ask him to respond in this thread to give his side of the story. Anyway, he has elected not to accept any PMs. So, paddyqr if you are reading this, it is in your interest to come in here to explain yourself. If not, readers here will conclude that you are a fraud. Yes, you have committed fraud and it can be a police case, by you telling the buyer there is no fungus problem when there is, to complete the deal.

As for TS, I recommend you send the lens and camera in for an evaluation just to make sure the insides of the camera is not fungus infected as well. And if it matters to you, make a police report of the fraudulent transaction, and provide the seller's hp number to the police for tracking and investigation.