Fraudulent Ebay sales by arri888

[250swb]

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2 minutes ago, Charles Morgan said:

All the film camera dealers I know were perturbed about Covid, but then saw sales go through the roof, as many people with time on their hands and being paid to do nothing took advantage. Ilford realised rapidly that they needed to up production. So I think his rationale for full scale theft absolutely implausible and the sentence way too lenient.

 

A very good point, Covid was very good for camera sales and eBay was booming in that area. There were people selling to consolidate their reduced income and people buying like mad because they were bored. 

[pgk]

12 hours ago, dkCambridgeshire said:

Shame that the powers that be do not confiscate his remaining stock as 'proceeds of crime', sell it, and distribute the ££ to those who lost out because of his fraudulent trading. 

Unfortunately it would probably cost too much to recompense someone to do so I'm afraid. I would assume that the receivers will repatriate any identifiable stock to its owners (no doubt at their expense) and then send the rest to auction and distribute the proceedson a pro-rata basis to creditors. Hardly a suitable solution but possibly a viable one.

[dkCambridgeshire]

Some of us recall the Fieldgrass and Gale fiasco https://vishvish.com/camera-shops-i-have-known-part-i/

 

 

[Anbaric]

17 minutes ago, dkCambridgeshire said:

Some of us recall the Fieldgrass and Gale fiasco https://vishvish.com/camera-shops-i-have-known-part-i/

I know they folded when he was a director and the person who appeared to deal with the mail order business (I had bought from them not long before), but I haven't heard any of the details. A poster in another forum mentions they and others lost a lot of money over this. A poster here mentions problems selling a lens via him in 2016-17, but in this case they eventually got their money.

[pgk]

20 hours ago, dkCambridgeshire said:

Some of us recall the Fieldgrass and Gale fiasco https://vishvish.com/camera-shops-i-have-known-part-i/

Most have ceased trading due to market conditions and fortunately very few have been fraudulent. I can remember being able to wander around central London from camera shop to camera shop when there were a lot of small dealers most of whom were very knowledgeable. Those days are long gone and relaced by bulk internet shifters with, in my experience, often mediocre knowledge. 

[seneschal]

I bought a Leica 0 Serie brochure from him about a week ago.

it was delivered, very nicely packed and in immaculate condition. Along with a couple of enclosed letters kindly introducing himself as a broker for sales or purchases.

All looked perfectly above board. Yesterday I tried to give feedback and discovered that his user credentials have been removed by eBay.

I was about to give a 5 star review!

Just goes to show, excellent service on one hand… who knows what’s going on in the background? You never can tell.

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

 

[Anbaric]

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5 hours ago, pgk said:

Most have ceased trading due to market conditions and fortunately very few have been fraudulent. I can remember being able to wander around central London from camera shop to camera shop when there were a lot of small dealers most of whom were very knowledgeable. Those days are long gone and relaced by bulk internet shifters with, in my experience, often mediocre knowledge. 

I remember Kingsley in that link (an excellent shop) and West End Cameras that used to be on the other side of the road (another good shop, which still exists in some form online). The only shops I got a poor impression of in Central London were one further up Tottenham Court Road (now also gone) that was still using the long-defunct Spectrum chain branding from the 1980s, with no visible pricing on anything, and Nicholas in Camden, which seemed to be full of cheap old third party lenses, with most of the high quality gear they advertised in AP nowhere to be seen. That one still seems to be around. Neither, shall we say, seemed to consider that the customer is always right. Online, Rocky and MW Classic Cameras appear to be the ones to avoid, judging by customer feedback, though I've never bought from either. I miss Richard Caplan, RG Lewis, York Cameras, Jacobs, Jessops Classic Photographica and even some of the ordinary branches of Jessops, back in the days when they had knowledgeable staff and a decent range of secondhand gear.

[pgk]

4 minutes ago, Anbaric said:

I miss ..... RG Lewis .....

I worked at RG Lewis in the early '80s when I was a student. Across the road was LCE and Brunnings with another LCE within sight further east too. Brunnings was a cave-like emporium and occasionally someone would pop over to 'borrow' stock which would be replaced when their order arrived. I'm sure this frightened the stock manager s it would have been revealed in a sudden stock take. Within easy walking distance were other LCEs, Fox Talbot (TCR) and plenty more including Kingsleys. There were a number of small independents serving their niche of clients too. Virtually all gone now with just one or two still trading.

[FWIW I have dealt with MW Classic without problems and found them helpful if a bit haphazard at times, especially in terms of shipping and that awful website) and check the gear out when it arrives. And you really need to talk to them on the phone .....😉].

[Pyrogallol]

45 minutes ago, pgk said:

I worked at RG Lewis in the early '80s when I was a student. Across the road was LCE and Brunnings with another LCE within sight further east too. Brunnings was a cave-like emporium and occasionally someone would pop over to 'borrow' stock which would be replaced when their order arrived. I'm sure this frightened the stock manager s it would have been revealed in a sudden stock take. Within easy walking distance were other LCEs, Fox Talbot (TCR) and plenty more including Kingsleys. There were a number of small independents serving their niche of clients too. Virtually all gone now with just one or two still trading.

[FWIW I have dealt with MW Classic without problems and found them helpful if a bit haphazard at times, especially in terms of shipping and that awful website) and check the gear out when it arrives. And you really need to talk to them on the phone .....😉].

I probably bought something off you in RG Lewis. Brunnings was my favourite shop. Full of odd bits of darkroom and enlarger parts. I bought a red swing safelight filter for my MPP enlarger.

[Anbaric]

54 minutes ago, pgk said:

I worked at RG Lewis in the early '80s when I was a student. Across the road was LCE and Brunnings with another LCE within sight further east too. Brunnings was a cave-like emporium and occasionally someone would pop over to 'borrow' stock which would be replaced when their order arrived. I'm sure this frightened the stock manager s it would have been revealed in a sudden stock take. Within easy walking distance were other LCEs, Fox Talbot (TCR) and plenty more including Kingsleys. There were a number of small independents serving their niche of clients too. Virtually all gone now with just one or two still trading.

[FWIW I have dealt with MW Classic without problems and found them helpful if a bit haphazard at times, especially in terms of shipping and that awful website) and check the gear out when it arrives. And you really need to talk to them on the phone .....😉].

I never knew Brunnings (perhaps it had gone before I arrived in London) or the other LCEs. I think some of the better branches of Jessops I remember had formerly been Fox Talbot shops (like TCR and the one on the Strand?).

Independents are now very thin on the ground in Central London - the Aperture & Camera Museum shops, Cameraworld (well, part of a chain of 3), Park, Red Dot, The Classic Camera, Camera City, Mr Cad and Gray's are all that spring to mind. LCE feels like an indy and probably counts now they have moved to employee ownership. Park feels like it's part of some large chain, but they only have one other shop. I've never made it as far out as Chiswick Camera Centre, but did go to High Street Radio in Croydon before Reg passed away (his son is now running the business online as Croydon Photo Centre). Peter Loy (an excellent dealer) and JK Cameras are online only. Other than that, I can only think of market stalls.

Edited June 13, 2023 by Anbaric

[pgk]

10 minutes ago, Anbaric said:

Independents are now very thin on the ground in Central London - the Aperture & Camera Museum shops, Cameraworld (well, part of a chain of 3), Park, Red Dot, The Classic Camera, Camera City, Mr Cad and Gray's are all that spring to mind. LCE feels like an indy and probably counts now they have moved to employee ownership.

And these are quite spread out now too. Part of the enjoyment of visiting the numerous camera shops back then was browsing the secondhand sections, which virtually all had, where you never knew what might be lurking. Trawling the internet is a poor substitute IMO.

[dkCambridgeshire]

One of the aforementioned London dealers has actually gone bust on a number of occasions – each time buying back the stock and assets from the liquidator at an agreed valuation and then recommencing trading under the same name!! Not quite so easy nowadays but it still happens. A few years ago it was common practice and local boroughs' Trading Standards Depts. were powerless to oppose such 'get out of paying creditors in full' games. I'm not mentioning the actual dealer but the business is operated by an experienced 'operator' who 'knows the ropes'. 

Edited June 13, 2023 by dkCambridgeshire

[LocalHero1953]

Campkins in Cambridge was a good sources of s/h stuff as well while it was in Rose Crescent. I bought my M2, a couple of lenses and M9 from them. There is a successor on King's Parade that is quite good as modern camera shops go. It has a good selection of s/h cameras in the window: a couple of Barnacks and a M6, a Contax T, a RB67 and RB645. At least one of their younger staff is quite knowledgeable, some of the others are less so. They sell film, but at desperate prices.

[dkCambridgeshire]

2 hours ago, Anbaric said:

I remember Kingsley in that link (an excellent shop) and West End Cameras that used to be on the other side of the road (another good shop, which still exists in some form online). The only shops I got a poor impression of in Central London were one further up Tottenham Court Road (now also gone) that was still using the long-defunct Spectrum chain branding from the 1980s, with no visible pricing on anything, and Nicholas in Camden, which seemed to be full of cheap old third party lenses, with most of the high quality gear they advertised in AP nowhere to be seen. That one still seems to be around. Neither, shall we say, seemed to consider that the customer is always right. Online, Rocky and MW Classic Cameras appear to be the ones to avoid, judging by customer feedback, though I've never bought from either. I miss Richard Caplan, RG Lewis, York Cameras, Jacobs, Jessops Classic Photographica and even some of the ordinary branches of Jessops, back in the days when they had knowledgeable staff and a decent range of secondhand gear.

Keith Rock (Rocky Cameras) died last January after a long battle with cancer. How he managed to keep trading with the reams of negative feedback his business received is a mystery. A very jovial chap who always had the biggest floor area at Photographica and was always willing to 'do a deal'. His Photographica F2F stock was OK; it was the mail order side with its, e.g., 'top bokeh!!' descriptions (requiring very careful interpretation) which resulted in buyers' "regrets" and poor feedback. 

Almost opposite Kinglsey many years ago was Morgan Camera Co., a pre-digital era small shop selling only s/h cameras including large format. Very noticeable that staff in West End camera stores seemed to frequently change jobs, e.g., they'd be working for Morgan and then a few weeks later for KJP ... thence Jacobs followed by a hop across the road to Jessops Classic .... followed by consecutive stints at the then several Pied Bull Yard area dealers. Some of those staff really knew their stuff and I have vivid memories of the late Anthony Valentine being served by a very expert sales manager at KJP – the manager explaining and demonstrating all there was to know to the VIP customer about his intended Hasselblad camera and lenses purchases. This was back in the day when KJP (formerly Pelling & Cross) provided customers with 'folding director chairs' – which made me feel as if the staff really cared about customer service and comfort.  Morgan Camera subsequently (c. mid 1990s?) commenced selling OOB / ex demo / end of line computers and moved to New Oxford Street.  

Edited June 13, 2023 by dkCambridgeshire

[NigelG]

14 minutes ago, LocalHero1953 said:

Campkins in Cambridge was a good sources of s/h stuff as well while it was in Rose Crescent. I bought my M2, a couple of lenses and M9 from them. There is a successor on King's Parade that is quite good as modern camera shops go. It has a good selection of s/h cameras in the window: a couple of Barnacks and a M6, a Contax T, a RB67 and RB645. At least one of their younger staff is quite knowledgeable, some of the others are less so. They sell film, but at desperate prices.

I bought a few items from Campkins back when I was a student at Cambridge and they sometimes have interesting items in their King's Parade shop but my default is always to take my trades + buys to Ivor/Elaine/Ash/Kimberly/Alex etc etc at Red Dot in London.

Their grading is always maybe slightly "harsh" which as a buyer is a good sign and I know they have flagged a couple of my items I put up with them for sale at a lower grade than I thought was my original opinion - but that maintains their grades rather than the "everythings Mint +++" that many online sellers spout

 

[LocalHero1953]

I often give MPB a chance for trades, especially if it is an item that their automated quote system recognises.

They gave me a daft (low) quote to buy my Thambar, but an acceptable one for my Sigma fp. When I sent it in, they upgraded the quote by £50, which was nice. Credit where it's due.

[dkCambridgeshire]

28 minutes ago, NigelG said:

I bought a few items from Campkins back when I was a student at Cambridge and they sometimes have interesting items in their King's Parade shop but my default is always to take my trades + buys to Ivor/Elaine/Ash/Kimberly/Alex etc etc at Red Dot in London.

Their grading is always maybe slightly "harsh" which as a buyer is a good sign and I know they have flagged a couple of my items I put up with them for sale at a lower grade than I thought was my original opinion - but that maintains their grades rather than the "everythings Mint +++" that many online sellers spout

 

Regarding Campkins Cambridge,  I've probably posted this story before but it's worth a repeat:  

C. summer 1995? I was browsing through Campkins overpriced and 'multitudinous' s/h stock in one of their Cambridge stores when I noticed a sales assistant pass over to a customer, the ordered copies of an important family portrait - which Campkins had previously passed to their D&P lab for copying and printing. The customer looked at the copies and did not appear pleased with the result. Customer mentioned, " ... but I requested oval vignette copies of the portrait ...?? These are not 'vignettes' .... they're only 'ovals' and with no vignetting !!"  Sales assistant with a very worried look on his face then produced the original portrait and passing it to the customer, said, "I'm very sorry, but something appears to have gone wrong ... "  Customer took the original portrait from the assistant and looking at it in disbelief, exclaimed rather loudly, " BUT ... What the ---- has happened to the original photograph of my grandfather !! It was a 10 x 8 print !  Now look at it !! .... It's b----- well OVAL !! ...   Some idiot has CUT IT INTO A B-----  OVAL SHAPE !!!"       More words of complaint followed from the customer with more apologies from the sales assistant. I then left the store in disbelief and walked to University Cameras – where I was offered their sole remaining copy of Laney's 'Leica Collector's Guide'.  

And I have not entered a Campkins camera shop since  

I subsequently entered the true story into an Amateur Photographer magazine "Photography Anecdotes" competition – but it was not one of those chosen for subsequent / immediate publication. However, my story was eventually published a few months later by AP – but was credited to another writer / reader. I complained – but no apology was given. 

BW, dunk

[dkCambridgeshire]

4 hours ago, seneschal said:

I bought a Leica 0 Serie brochure from him about a week ago.

it was delivered, very nicely packed and in immaculate condition. Along with a couple of enclosed letters kindly introducing himself as a broker for sales or purchases.

All looked perfectly above board. Yesterday I tried to give feedback and discovered that his user credentials have been removed by eBay.

I was about to give a 5 star review!

Just goes to show, excellent service on one hand… who knows what’s going on in the background? You never can tell.

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

 

Should more correctly state:

Fortunately and at long last this fraudster has received a suspended prison sentence and is ineligible to receive Feedback 

[250swb]

5 hours ago, seneschal said:

I bought a Leica 0 Serie brochure from him about a week ago.

it was delivered, very nicely packed and in immaculate condition. Along with a couple of enclosed letters kindly introducing himself as a broker for sales or purchases.

All looked perfectly above board. Yesterday I tried to give feedback and discovered that his user credentials have been removed by eBay.

I was about to give a 5 star review!

Just goes to show, excellent service on one hand… who knows what’s going on in the background? You never can tell.

 

You are lucky it was only a brochure.

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Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[dkCambridgeshire]

7 hours ago, seneschal said:

I bought a Leica 0 Serie brochure from him about a week ago.

it was delivered, very nicely packed and in immaculate condition. Along with a couple of enclosed letters kindly introducing himself as a broker for sales or purchases.

All looked perfectly above board. Yesterday I tried to give feedback and discovered that his user credentials have been removed by eBay.

I was about to give a 5 star review!

Just goes to show, excellent service on one hand… who knows what’s going on in the background? You never can tell.

 

 

As per UK Citizens Advice Bureau: 

Running a business after you’re bankrupt:

If you're self-employed as a sole trader, you can start trading again. It's worth remembering that you'll find it very difficult to get credit. This is because bankruptcy stays on your credit report for 6 years from when you become bankrupt.

The people you do business with can check if you’ve gone bankrupt. They can search a public list called the ‘insolvency register’. Your name stays on the register until 3 months after your bankruptcy ends.

While you’re bankrupt, there are some restrictions on the involvement you can have in running a business. If you break any of these restrictions you'll be committing a criminal offence. They include:

You can't be a company director without permission from the court

You can't be involved in setting up, promoting or managing a limited company without permission from the court

You can be self-employed or trade in a partnership, but if you run a business under a name that's different to the one in which you were made bankrupt, you must tell everyone you do business with the name under which you were made bankrupt

 

Thus appears that with permission of the court it's possible for a bankrupt person to recommence trading