Jump to content
🇩🇪 Neu: Leica SL3 Reporter ×
🇺🇸🇬🇧 New: Leica SL3 Reporter ×

Ebay Noctilux scam {MERGED}

zombii

By zombii
in Leica M Lenses

Recommended Posts

  • Replies 126
  • Created
  • Last Reply
algrove

algrove

Posted
Posted

I was trying to buying R lenses last year and two times when it got down to serial number photos or payment via Paypal, I either could not get the true serial number or the seller asked me to pay outside the eBay system. Very disturbing stuff. Hope you get it Zombii.

Link to post
Share on other sites
michali

michali

Posted
Posted

I've bought several lenses on eBay over the past few years, from sellers in Hong Kong, UK, USA, Europe, Israel, South Africa, Russia and Ukraine with no issues whatsoever.

The most expensive item being a Leica R 280mm APO for several thousand Dollars.

 

The rules I always follow are:

  • Is the price too good to be true? If yes- ignore and move on.
  • Does the seller accept returns? Obviously it's always a better sign if he does.
  • Read the seller’s recent & past feedback.
  • Number of transactions and the value of these as well as the number of similar and similarly priced items previously sold by the seller.
  • Are the values of items previously sold by the seller on average in line with what I'm buying?
  • Only pay with Paypal.
  • I ALWAYS communicate with the seller beforehand, even if it's just a couple of random questions. This usually flushes out a dodgy seller or hacked account.

 

Zombii thank you for sharing your unpleasant experience with everyone.

Good luck! I hope it gets resolved quickly for you.

Link to post
Share on other sites
earleygallery

earleygallery

Posted
Posted

The rules I always follow are:

  • Is the price too good to be true? If yes- ignore and move on.
  • Does the seller accept returns? Obviously it's always a better sign if he does.
  • Read the seller’s recent & past feedback.
  • Number of transactions and the value of these as well as the number of similar and similarly priced items previously sold by the seller.
  • Are the values of items previously sold by the seller on average in line with what I'm buying?
  • Only pay with Paypal.
  • I ALWAYS communicate with the seller beforehand, even if it's just a couple of random questions. This usually flushes out a dodgy seller or hacked account.

 

Good advice.

 

For more expensive items especially I will always send a message to the seller, just to see how/if they respond. A good one is to ask if you can collect in person (even if in another country) just to see what they say. A refusal in itself isn't a negative sign, some people don't want the hassle of waiting for someone to turn up/not turn up, but it's the way they respond which can give you a good insight into whether they're genuine or not.

 

However even then you can't be sure that you'll receive your item. I bought something a while back, seller with good feedback, exchanged messages etc., but still no show, no response to chasers and no further items put up for sale.

 

It's just possible that they dropped dead I guess. Paypal reimbursed me anyway.

Link to post
Share on other sites
jaques

jaques

Posted
Posted

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I have been on ebay since 2001- and I have sold well over 2000 thousand cameras- and maybe 1000 lenses and accessories over that time. I must have purchased over 100 cameras and 100 lenses as well. Amazingly I still have 100% perfect feedback...

 

I have never been completely robbed- I have had items not work as well as described- and items that don't work at all. But these dud transactions are far outweighed by all the incredible bargains I have got- like the #800001 Leica M3 with MINT V1 35 goggled and collapsible 50 summicrons for $1850 a few months ago.

 

I have seen most of the scam types- I learned to read between the lines. Zombi seems to have met a rather clever scammer who knew how to make a good deal not look 'to good to be true'- it is a fine balance. Usually the scams are far more obvious- M9 Titanium for 5K anyone? How about a Noctilux for $1500? Just email me direct- no need to go through ebay... act quick there are only 5 available...

 

As a seller I have been scammed by buyers and Paypal has been their greatest helper in doing so... I can categorically state as an absolute fact that Paypal and ebay are heavily weighted in the buyers favour. It wasn't always so but gets worse every year. Ebay treats sellers like dirt. Their attitude is simple: we have the buyers- let the sellers come crawling. And if one gets mad when payapl robs them- plenty more where they came from. As for Paypal it would be a joke if it wasn't so insulting bordering on criminal... I can also guarantee that they are both mega-corporations who do not give a shit about anyone beyond (maybe) shareholders and the Bildeberg Group... Whilst it is true that Paypal will generally pay out to a buyer- it is not guaranteed- read their policies: they are all provisional- there are NO absolute guarantees.

 

Paypal may not pay out a buyer- if the scammer manages to remove the money from their account and close it before Paypal comes a'looking.

 

My message to Zombi: if you paid by credit card into your paypal account- and Paypal delays or obfuscates in refunding your money in full, in any way- immediately consider asking your credit card provider to reverse the transaction.

Link to post
Share on other sites
iedei

iedei

Posted
Posted
I agree eBay is totally unsafe and no one should do business there. That is exactly what everyone is saying here for sure I can see why you have reached that conclusion.

 

i can't tell if you're being sarcastic or not?

 

eBay is a nice place to buy stuff...just make sure it's a reputable seller ALL the time. I bought my M5 from ebay and it was perfect....bought a few lenses from ebay and they've all been great. I, myself, have sold higher priced items on ebay with no issues. It's a great way to buy things, especially 'rare' things.

Link to post
Share on other sites
Guest

Guest

Posted
Posted
i can't tell if you're being sarcastic or not?

 

eBay is a nice place to buy stuff...just make sure it's a reputable seller ALL the time. I bought my M5 from ebay and it was perfect....bought a few lenses from ebay and they've all been great. I, myself, have sold higher priced items on ebay with no issues. It's a great way to buy things, especially 'rare' things.

 

I have bought 4 items on eBay this week ( max £100.00 ). All went perfectly and in each case arrived faster than estimate. A lot less hassle and cheaper than the high street etc.Two of the items in the local John Lewis at double the price. Nothing wrong with eBay if you use a bit of common sense.

BrianP

Link to post
Share on other sites
macjonny1

macjonny1

Posted
Posted
i can't tell if you're being sarcastic or not? eBay is a nice place to buy stuff...just make sure it's a reputable seller ALL the time. I bought my M5 from ebay and it was perfect....bought a few lenses from ebay and they've all been great. I' date=' myself, have sold higher priced items on ebay with no issues. It's a great way to buy things, especially 'rare' things.[/quote']

 

Yes as I noted I was being sarcastic I have bought and sold numerous expensive items on eBay. Much easier to get scammed as a seller though

Link to post
Share on other sites
Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS

Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS

Posted
Posted
How did this end up - got your money back I hope?

+1 I wanted to ask that question as well...............did you get your money back:eek:

Link to post
Share on other sites
Bill W

Bill W

Posted
Posted

I had been looking for a Noctilux and noticed that one became available locally. I did what most sellers hate and emailed the seller to see if he wanted to sell it for cash and skip the fees. I figured if it was not legit, I would not hear from him. The lens was new he had a receipt from the dealer in the Netherlands. We met at my bank. I inspected the lens. It was virtually untouched. He got cash, I got a great deal. The wife blessed the deal if I bought her a watch. I bought it off ebay from a dealer that had done thousands of transactions. It was also a very good deal on a mint used watch.

Link to post
Share on other sites
zombii

zombii

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Ok, finally good news. After a somewhat laborious process, I got the refund today. Because of the high value, Ebay had to have sign off from higher level supervisors but they told me last Friday that they were fairly sure it would go through and I just got the email that it was done. Checked Paypal and it's already been credited to my credit card. Needless to say, that's a big relief.

 

Thanks to everybody on here for your support. It helped.

Link to post
Share on other sites
zombii

zombii

Posted
  • Author
Posted

BTW, the package that was sent was returned to the sender and is being held at his local post office as they were unable to deliver it. Ebay sent him a message telling him what they did and why and advising him that if the funds weren't available to refund to Ebay, that they would use a collection agency if necessary to get the money. I hope they do but I wouldn't count on it.

Link to post
Share on other sites
Karl G

Karl G

Posted
Posted
Ok, finally good news. After a somewhat laborious process, I got the refund today.

 

Great to hear zombi, and glad that EBay stood by their buyers protection and took the loss on themselves. Thanks for informing the forum and potentially saving someone else from going through what you did.

 

 

Congrats Zombii. Its always nice to see the good guy triumph against eBay/PayPal.

I agree zombi is a good guy but he didn't triumph against eBay/Paypal. He triumphed against a scammer who used the company to attempt to defraud people. EBay/Paypal stood behind their Buyers Protection guarantee and took the fraud and financial hit from the scammer, as they should have.

Link to post
Share on other sites
algrove

algrove

Posted
Posted
I had been looking for a Noctilux and noticed that one became available locally. I did what most sellers hate and emailed the seller to see if he wanted to sell it for cash and skip the fees. I figured if it was not legit, I would not hear from him. The lens was new he had a receipt from the dealer in the Netherlands. We met at my bank. I inspected the lens. It was virtually untouched. He got cash, I got a great deal. The wife blessed the deal if I bought her a watch. I bought it off ebay from a dealer that had done thousands of transactions. It was also a very good deal on a mint used watch.

 

And here I thought you were going to give her the first iWatch on the market.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...