havasu_photo
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 p.1 #1 · My Craigslist horror story | |
This morning, as I often do, I browse Craigslist to see if there are any good deals out there. Well, I open the Las Vegas Craigslist(I'm in Lake Havasu-3 hours away), and what do I see but a Sigma 50-500mm DG lens in Nikon mount, for $200!!!
Well, at that price, I would buy them all day long. They normally go for over $700. So, I call the guy. He's a 67 year old professional photographer, who shall remain nameless. I ask him a few questions about the lens. Nothing wrong with it, it's just not as sharp as he thought it would be, and he shoots a Nikon D3, and normally a 200mm F/2.
Well no kidding it's not that sharp. One, he's using it on a full frame, and two, he's handholding it, at 67 years old.
So I tell him I'll take the lens, but, that it will take me 3 hours to get there. He hims and haws about it, but finally says OK, he will sell me the lens.
So, off to the ATM I go, get the cash, then go to the gas stations, fill up the SUV, and away I go. I get to around 81 miles of his house, and I think of a question I want to ask him, plus I'm bored, stuck in traffic at a construction zone.
So "Bob" answers the phone, and I tell him who I am, and OH, BTW, I'm still 81 miles from your house, but I have a question. He tells me he has already sold the lens!!!!!
WAHT THE FU##, I say to myself. I ask Bob, are you kidding me?? He says no, he has already sold it.
So, in the calmest way I can, I tell him that I would have been there in another 1 1/2 hours, that I had already driven 1 1/2 hours and 80 some odd miles, for....and he hangs up. Well, it's time to cut my losses, so I turn around and head home.
So now I'm pissed!!! I mean really angry. But I'm confused. Should I be angry at him for not holding the lens, or angry at myself for not making it more clear to him just how far I was driving.
I felt that at his age, 67, and being a professional photographer(I've seen his web page, he's really good), that when he said he would sell ME the lens, that we had a deal.
Maybe he thought I had to go to Vegas anyways, and it wouldn't be a wasted trip. He said he didn't have my phone number when I called, but I had included it in my E-mail to him.
This whole event has seriously shaken my faith. Not only in dealing with people from Craigslist, but in dealing with any other "professional photographer".
I have always been honest my whole life, and sometimes brutally so. When I sold my second D300 to a guy in Vegas, off of Craigslist, I actually drove 30 miles round trip to meet him just off the Interstate, so he wouldn't have to drive all the way into Lake Havasu.
When I sell photography equipment on E-bay, or here, I ALWAYS include a 7-day, no questions asked, money back guarantee.
Quite frankly I'm stunned!! This whole thing has shaken me up, and maybe I should just chalk it up to a mis-communication. But, I talked to the guy for 15 minutes on the phone before I left.
I was really looking forward to seeing his D3, and the Nikon 200mm F/2 lens he had, and I had even commented on how great his work was.
So, this whole event cost me the $3.00 fee for using the ATM, plus $25.00 in gas, plus 3 hours of my semi-valuable time, for nothing. Thank god I had the presence of mind to call him when I did.
I just feel like such an idiot!!! I guess I can't blame him too much, and should probably just blame myself.
Just remember, if the deal sounds to good to be true, it probably is.
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The guy should get run over by a train...twice.
. Baby step...baby step....