Lens Sob Story . . . .

[fitzperry]

So I really want a long, fast zoom, but I really can't afford one right now. I check Craigslist regularly hoping for a good deal but rarely see anything that interests me.

Well, over the weekend there was a listing for a Nikon 80-200 2.8d. As many of you know, in good condition these typically go for around $700-$800 or more on eBay. KEH currently has one in "BGN" condition listed for $751. This guy was asking $350, which naturally raised a few red flags. But in doing some research, I discovered the same person had listed the lens on eBay with an opening bid of $400. He claimed to be the original owner and that the lens was in perfect optical condition. Had the box, tripod mount, etc. but no lens hood. He received no bids, likely because he had only 1 feedback, though I was still pretty surprised by the lack of interest. Anyway, while I was trading voicemails with the seller to arrange a meeting so I could look at the lens, someone evidently jumped in and just said he'd take it.

And lo and behold, today there's a nice listing on Craigslist for my area for a Nikon 80-200 2.8d for $850. I'd bet $850 this guy bought that lens for around $350 last Sunday. In the pictures for the two listings you can see that the box is bent a bit in the same place. And the thing that really gets me is that part of the reason for my hesitation is that I was feeling a bit guilty at the prospect of paying so little for a lens I know to be worth more. At least I would've put it to good use instead of trying to turn a profit on it.

Thanks for letting me rant! Somehow this only worsens my NAS.

And the ethical question . . . . is it wrong to buy something at a bargain basement price under circumstances like these when you know it's probably worth considerably more? Is it more wrong to do the same thing and then just turn around and sell it?

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I don't think either is wrong.

I bought a lens worth $479 new for $125 this summer (along with two flash units also at a bargain price). The seller knew its worth exactly. Needless to say, I jumped on it. And both of us were happy. (He told me that, for him, it was gathering dust; I've gotten a ton of use out of it already and it's becoming a favorite.)

I'm also keeping my eye peeled for a 70-200/2.8. I haven't found any used yet. If I'd seen it at that price, I'd probably think it was a scam. (Like another experience I had a few months ago.)

More power to the person who bought it low and sold it high. That's the American Way.

Anyway, sorry you missed the sale.

 

[oregondaddyof2]

I'd say that if you can find something worth a bunch of money selling for cheap, why not pick it up and turn it... Some people do this for a living... I think that if they sell something for way under what it is worth, that is their problem... They can use google just as easy as you or i can to get a rough estimate for what something is worth... I love people like that!

 

[fitzperry]

Guess I'm in the minority, and maybe it's just that I'm ticked because I really wanted that lens, but somehow grabbing something and immediately reselling it in the same exact forum seems too exploitative. And the new listing was obnoxious--for instance, he asks not to be bothered by "lowball offers" because the lens is in such fantastic condition. It just rubs me the wrong way.

I bought a lens worth $479 new for $125 this summer (along with two flash units also at a bargain price). The seller knew its worth exactly. Needless to say, I jumped on it. And both of us were happy. (He told me that, for him, it was gathering dust; I've gotten a ton of use out of it already and it's becoming a favorite.)

I don't understand why someone would be motivated to sell something in an arms-length transaction between disinterested parties (which is what I assume this to be, but maybe not) for far less than its value. I could see it if getting the full value or something closer to it would take a lot more effort, but it doesn't sound like this is the case. If money isn't an issue, why not give it away? Also, I sort of infer that your seller was glad to see the lens put to good use since it was just gathering dust in his collection. I guess I'd be happier as the seller in that situation than this one where the buyer just bought it to turn around and make a big profit on it. Wow, I sound like a bleeding heart, anti-capitalist, which really isn't like me.

 

[jann1033]

So I really want a long, fast zoom, but I really can't afford one right now. I check Craigslist regularly hoping for a good deal but rarely see anything that interests me.

Well, over the weekend there was a listing for a Nikon 80-200 2.8d. As many of you know, in good condition these typically go for around $700-$800 or more on eBay. KEH currently has one in "BGN" condition listed for $751. This guy was asking $350, which naturally raised a few red flags. But in doing some research, I discovered the same person had listed the lens on eBay with an opening bid of $400. He claimed to be the original owner and that the lens was in perfect optical condition. Had the box, tripod mount, etc. but no lens hood. He received no bids, likely because he had only 1 feedback, though I was still pretty surprised by the lack of interest. Anyway, while I was trading voicemails with the seller to arrange a meeting so I could look at the lens, someone evidently jumped in and just said he'd take it.

And lo and behold, today there's a nice listing on Craigslist for my area for a Nikon 80-200 2.8d for $850. I'd bet $850 this guy bought that lens for around $350 last Sunday. In the pictures for the two listings you can see that the box is bent a bit in the same place. And the thing that really gets me is that part of the reason for my hesitation is that I was feeling a bit guilty at the prospect of paying so little for a lens I know to be worth more. At least I would've put it to good use instead of trying to turn a profit on it.

Thanks for letting me rant! Somehow this only worsens my NAS.

And the ethical question . . . . is it wrong to buy something at a bargain basement price under circumstances like these when you know it's probably worth considerably more? Is it more wrong to do the same thing and then just turn around and sell it?

ahhh, another ethics question...my opinion usually bites me on the butt so i'll be ready for the outraged disagreement i usually get...just let me first state that i am the type of person who tells the cashier she undercharged me so i probably would have asked the first seller if he was sure on the price he was asking but..
imo if you are selling something you ought to check out what it's worth first or that's your dumbness( since i have done just that a couple times, i'm speaking from experience as a somewhat slow learner)

i can see how someone would sell something of no value of him just to get rid of it. I just recently did that to get some money to buy something else. maybe the buyer was a little sneaky and the "no lowball" thing is kind of 1/2 way humorously galling ( ie "don't do what i did", which always kills me when someone complains about anyone else doing something they just did) but i guess just keep looking and hopefully you'll find a good one for your price range. maybe that one has lots of fungus or something you can't readily see, just keep telling yourself that ))

 

[Experiment_626]

maybe it's just that I'm ticked because I really wanted that lens

That would be my guess. I'd probably feel a bit of sour grapes as well, in your position. But there's nothing wrong with it.

SSB

 

[fitzperry]

ahhh, another ethics question...my opinion usually bites me on the butt so i'll be ready for the outraged disagreement i usually get...

imo if you are selling something you ought to check out what it's worth first or that's your dumbness( since i have done just that a couple times, i'm speaking from experience as a somewhat slow learner)

Nah, you seem to be in good company this time! It's not that I think someone shouldn't do their homework before selling something. But this is just something I wouldn't do.

i can see how someone would sell something of no value of him just to get rid of it. I just recently did that to get some money to buy something else. maybe the other guy was a little sneaky and the "no lowball" thing is kind of 1/2 way humorously galling ( ie "don't do what i did", which always kills me when someone complains about anyone else doing something they just did) but i guess just keep looking and hopefully you'll find a good one for your price range. maybe that one has lots of fungus or something you can't readily see, just keep telling yourself that ))

It is galling--the big, fat hypocrite. I was thinking of emailing and asking the guy if he'd entertain a lowball offer from someone who knows he just bought that lens for a pittance. But maybe the original seller knew about that fungus and knew what he was doing all along, and the hypocrite is going to have an angry buyer on his hands when the latent defect is finally uncovered. I feel better already!

 

[seashoreCM]

It is not unethical.

You make an appointment as soon as possible to buy it. After you get there you take some time to inspect it for latent defects, and then buy it on the spot if you are still interested.

Want to go to the new owner and look at the lens saying nothing unusual, and then make an offer much closer to the old price than to the current asking price?

Disney hints: http://www.cockam.com/disney.htm

It is highly unethical if he sells it to somebody else after you made arrangements to come visit and before you got there.

 

[Todd_H]

I
You make an appointment as soon as possible to buy it. After you get there you take some time to inspect it for latent defects, and then buy it on the spot if you are still interested.

Want to go to the new owner and look at the lens saying nothing unusual, and then make an offer much closer to the old price than to the current asking price?

This is definitely worth a try. Be sure to carry cash with you to entice the seller on the spot. Even if you can get it for a couple hundred less than the current market value, you're still getting a great deal

Good luck!