Noctilux4me Posted January 13, 2011 Share #1 Posted January 13, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Can anyone shed some light as to why an ebay seller would refuse to disclose the serial number of an advertised lens until AFTER a sale is complete? It is one of those situations that seems obvious, but I thought, maybe I am missing something here because it doesn't make any sense for a seller to withhold such information.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 13, 2011 Posted January 13, 2011 Hi Noctilux4me, Take a look here Ebay Seller. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jaapv Posted January 13, 2011 Share #2 Posted January 13, 2011 Dodgy - stay clear. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted January 13, 2011 Share #3 Posted January 13, 2011 Can't imagine why they won't disclose it, or at the very least confirm the year of manufacture - then as for the full number before you pay them. Or it could be a stolen item? Or maybe they haven't got the lens at all! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted January 13, 2011 Share #4 Posted January 13, 2011 It's possible that the seller is legitimate but reluctant to give out the serial number to third parties because he/she is worried what could be done with that information (I guess the same thinking behind blurring out serial numbers in photos of lenses shown in the forum). That said, it is a bit weird and a good reason to steer well clear. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted January 13, 2011 Share #5 Posted January 13, 2011 He could be worried that someone would then report the lens as stolen. Ask they to provide the first 5 digits of the serial number instead of the full one. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted January 13, 2011 Share #6 Posted January 13, 2011 It's possible that the seller is legitimate but reluctant to give out the serial number to third parties because he/she is worried what could be done with that information (I guess the same thinking behind blurring out serial numbers in photos of lenses shown in the forum). That said, it is a bit weird and a good reason to steer well clear. In all this time I haven't been able to figure out what harm anybody could do with knowledge of a serial number. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yogibear Posted January 13, 2011 Share #7 Posted January 13, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) In all this time I haven't been able to figure out what anybody could do with knowledge of a serial number. Maybe to find out the year of manufacturing? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeicaBraz Posted January 13, 2011 Share #8 Posted January 13, 2011 Play the Lotto? If he wins, then is the original owner entitled to a share? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noctilux4me Posted January 13, 2011 Author Share #9 Posted January 13, 2011 Very simple...I always call Leica directly and ask if the serial number is legitimate and if it has been reported as stolen. The seller is reporting that the lens is new so I don't understand the reluctance to share the serial number. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted January 13, 2011 Share #10 Posted January 13, 2011 I could understand the reluctance if it is indeed stolen... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted January 13, 2011 Share #11 Posted January 13, 2011 If the seller is legitimate, they would surely have some proof of ownership? OK someone could claim that they owned lens X with serial number 123456, but they would also have to prove ownership to the insurer. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted January 13, 2011 Share #12 Posted January 13, 2011 ...Ask they to provide the first 5 digits of the serial number instead of the full one. +1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeicaPassion Posted January 13, 2011 Share #13 Posted January 13, 2011 Having sold 7 R lenses and 2 R bodies in the last 2 months (to buy M), I always provide the full serial number to the buyer. I would not do business with a seller who decines to do so. Period. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestMichigan Posted January 14, 2011 Share #14 Posted January 14, 2011 My only 'theory' is that -if- the item really is "New" or is an item someone decided wasn't to their tastes aesthetically or whatever, but hadn't 'Registered' yet... it's possible the Seller is trying to avoid someone creating a problem by 'falsely' Registering the Item or 'falsely' Claiming it as Stolen. The 'World' is a big place, there are a LOT of People on it, and while the percentage of 'bad guys' may be low.... in aggregate They Really Add Up! Almost Every Conceivable Scam-Gambit-Ruse or just plain attempt to be a Pain-In-The-A@@ has been done to folks. Further, they'll likely be run again and again. If it's a 'private seller' and the sale is 'complete' I would be quite reluctant to proceed without a lot of circumstantial/peripheral evidence it isn't a scam being run out of eastern europe or west africa! If it's a long term eBay Seller with good reputation and good sized presence AND! the sale is utterly & completely within eBay & PayPal... I'd probably need a bit less evidence to proceed. Still A Lot Though. Richard in Michigan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted January 14, 2011 Share #15 Posted January 14, 2011 Don't forget that scams can just as easily be run out of Michigan, as Eastern Europe or West Africa... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestMichigan Posted January 14, 2011 Share #16 Posted January 14, 2011 Good Point Andy! I was just trying to make as 'scary' a location reference as I could in that sentence. To re-phrase an earlier part of my post in a more emphatic way: It's a big planet with lots of people All Over It and there are Bag Guys to be found wherever people are ergo There Are Bad Guys Found All Over The Planet. Fair Enough Statement? R in Michigan Don't forget that scams can just as easily be run out of Michigan, as Eastern Europe or West Africa... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramosa Posted January 14, 2011 Share #17 Posted January 14, 2011 Agreed. I would stay clear. At worst, the seller can tell you the number with a few XXXs over the last few digits. I wouldn't buy a lens without knowing the serial number (or near range of such), so I could determine the age of the lens. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmldds Posted January 17, 2011 Share #18 Posted January 17, 2011 I would stay away from that seller. Tri:) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mauribix Posted January 18, 2011 Share #19 Posted January 18, 2011 I think I wouldn't buy any lens on the ebay, anyway, if I were the seller I wouldn't share the complete s/n for sure. I'm selling a lens right now here, and I "covered" the last four digits. I second what Steve said "He could be worried that someone would then report the lens as stolen.". That said, in the case he's the legitimate owner but someone reported the lens as stolen I can just think of a big hassle for him to demonstrate the opposite. Especially since, most of the times, the lens s/n is not indicated in the buyer's receipt, and stolen lenses are notified to Leica. Can you just think of the pain for letting your lens go to Solms for any needs, and then discover that someone else reported your lens as stolen while it is not? Anyway, my suggestion is to ask the seller to see the lens personally, if he's condescending, I wouldn't bother that much. my2cents Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
roguewave Posted January 21, 2011 Share #20 Posted January 21, 2011 I have purchased & sold many a lens on Ebay with no issue. I always include the S/N and often a suggested link to the sites that include the manufacturing dates and a review of the lens. I believe it has allowed me to get a stronger valuation for the lens & a positive response from the buyer. They are better informed and keyed into what are the strengths & weaknesses of the lens in question. Until the launch of the M9, M lenses where much cheaper on Ebay. Now, many are more expensive than what I pay with my local dealer. I project that with M9 sales still booming & the user base growing, but unsophisticated, that many lenses will end up being resold, as the buyer doesn't really have an experience or knowledge about what they are buying & will be seeking out other solutions. Overall, that's good for Leica, Zeiss & us. There will be much more product coming to market and at some point prices will moderate in the used market, giving more users a lower entry point to try various lenses and explore their image making, while knowing they can "trade" to get a new experience. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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