BjarniM Posted April 13, 2015 Share #1 Posted April 13, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) I've been looking at a lens on ebay. The seller unfortunately isn't so willing to answer my questions. How can i check the origin and history of the lens, so i don't end up in a situation buying a item that's "hot"? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted April 13, 2015 Posted April 13, 2015 Hi BjarniM, Take a look here How to check if a lens is stolen?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
wattsy Posted April 13, 2015 Share #2 Posted April 13, 2015 Personally, I wouldn't buy from a seller who is any way uncommunicative or evasive, no matter how much I might want the item being sold. 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer Posted April 13, 2015 Share #3 Posted April 13, 2015 (edited) Personally, I wouldn't buy from a seller who is any way uncommunicative or evasive, no matter how much I might want the item being sold. I'd agree. You should certainly ask the seller for the serial number. A quick call to Leica with that will usually give you some sort of idea as to the provenance though not necessarily whether its stolen. IMO, given the large active market in previously owned Leica cameras and lenses it's a great shame that they don't manage some sort of database of stolen equipment. Edited April 13, 2015 by Jennifer 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BjarniM Posted April 13, 2015 Author Share #4 Posted April 13, 2015 Thanks for your help so far.I already have the serial number. I've been searching the internet, but hasn't found anything that indicates that the lens is stolen. I just want to be 100% sure, before i buy. That's why i did hope, that someone in this forum did know other possibilities how to check the serial number. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer Posted April 13, 2015 Share #5 Posted April 13, 2015 Thanks for your help so far. I already have the serial number. I've been searching the internet, but hasn't found anything that indicates that the lens is stolen. I just want to be 100% sure, before i buy. That's why i did hope, that someone in this forum did know other possibilities how to check the serial number. As I said it's certainly worth giving Leica a call. In similar circumstances I've done that on several occasions. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Henry Posted April 13, 2015 Share #6 Posted April 13, 2015 That's why i did hope, that someone in this forum did know other possibilities how to check the serial number. Bjar , per example here ("objectif" means "lens") http://www.summilux.net/numeros/index.php Best Henry 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Henry Posted April 13, 2015 Share #7 Posted April 13, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) As I said it's certainly worth giving Leica a call. In similar circumstances I've done that on several occasions. Jennifer if the seller does not answer , suspicion ! Another reason given , seller living in a place and lens at another location , also suspicion ! Best Henry Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted April 13, 2015 Share #8 Posted April 13, 2015 (edited) Jennifer if the seller does not answer , suspicion ! Another reason given , seller living in a place and lens at another location , also suspicion ! Best Henry There are reasons a seller wouldn't respond, but it depends on the questions asked by the OP and if the seller themselves feel selling to any potential buyer is going to be more trouble than it's worth in the long run. I mean, if the seller has a few thousand transactions and a 100% feedback they may feel their word is good enough and they don't want to get into nit picking. But if they have a couple of feedbacks for items unrelated to photography you could be suspicious. Not answering a question could be ignoring what they think is an insult, or an admin oversight, but the bigger picture is in the feedback and what they've sold in the past, that can't lie, unlike an answer to a question. Steve Edited April 13, 2015 by 250swb 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer Posted April 13, 2015 Share #9 Posted April 13, 2015 Jennifer if the seller does not answer , suspicion ! Another reason given , seller living in a place and lens at another location , also suspicion ! Best Henry I'd have to agree. And in any event, if the seller, whether he be legitimate or not, hasn't the courtesy to reply to your perfectly reasonable enquiries I'd be minded not to take any risk and look elsewhere. A while back I tried to buy a Summilux 21, but when the vendor suddenly asked to be paid by bank transfer rather than, as stated in his eBay offering, by PayPal I gave him and it a wide berth. That being said I've successfully bought five Leica lenses off eBay. I checked out the serial numbers in each case, with Leica coming back with worthwhile information on all but the 1987 Summilux 75 for which there were no useful records. Fortunately, I've been lucky (so far) and am very happy with both the price and condition of all my purchases. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bocaburger Posted April 14, 2015 Share #10 Posted April 14, 2015 I must be getting dyslexic in my old age because when read the title "How to check if a lens is stolen?" my first reaction was, if one of mine has gone missing that's probably what happened . But I agree with everyone, if a seller is evasive, Idrc why, I would take a pass. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted April 14, 2015 Share #11 Posted April 14, 2015 (edited) But I agree with everyone, if a seller is evasive, Idrc why, I would take a pass. And if somebody asked you if you had stolen the lens you were selling, or the car you were selling, or the same question to any shopkeeper, what would you think as an honest person? Personally I'd tell them to 'f-off', but perhaps if I were a thief I'd continue along my dishonest path and say 'no, of course it isn't stolen, trust me and buy it', and feel that I really did have a sucker on the hook. Steve Edited April 14, 2015 by 250swb Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IWC Doppel Posted April 14, 2015 Share #12 Posted April 14, 2015 (edited) I have bought and sold over 20 lenses via the forum and ebay and so far all has been well. I have however walked away if I am not comfortable. Leica will tell you if they have a record of the lens being stolen, they wont tell you if it has been. Trust your gut, if you are not comfortable then look for another lens is the best advice, the worst scenario you wait a little longer Edited April 14, 2015 by IWC Doppel Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill W Posted April 14, 2015 Share #13 Posted April 14, 2015 Just curious what lens it is you are looking at. At any given time there are so many choices for most, I would look else where. What is it that makes this lens so desireable. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS Posted April 23, 2015 Share #14 Posted April 23, 2015 Just look in your bag and if its missing then its probably stolen Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted April 23, 2015 Share #15 Posted April 23, 2015 Just look in your bag and if its missing then its probably stolen Post #10. Jeff Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS Posted April 23, 2015 Share #16 Posted April 23, 2015 Post #10. Jeff Are you stalking me Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted April 23, 2015 Share #17 Posted April 23, 2015 (edited) Are you stalking me It's called forum discussion….I do that a lot here with many folks. Lately your comments (and even whole threads) have been provocative…and amusing...that's all. Not reading others' comments (especially in short threads) before posting just happens to be a pet peeve. Jeff Edited April 23, 2015 by Jeff S Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS Posted April 23, 2015 Share #18 Posted April 23, 2015 It's called forum discussion….I do that a lot here with many folks. Lately your comments (and even whole threads) have been provocative…and amusing...that's all. Not reading others' comments (especially in short threads) before posting just happens to be a pet peeve. Jeff mutton deaf the stalker . Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS Posted April 23, 2015 Share #19 Posted April 23, 2015 I bought my 21mm lux from a guy on here that I have never met only spoke to via email and wired him 5000 euros into his account and he sent me the lens. All my mates said I was crazy but at the end of the day the lens arrived, I was chuffed to bits with it and still am Would I do that again...... Maybe not Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manoleica Posted April 23, 2015 Share #20 Posted April 23, 2015 Would I do that again...... Maybe not Funny, thats what my ex said....... Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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