Re: Heads Up

[Stark <astark@suffolk.lib.ny.us>]

Dear Ben,
If it's too good to be true it usually is and what's the other one,
Caveat Emptor.  Having been in the antique business, buying an selling
and also buying and selling cameras I have gone thru this type of
misrepresentation many times.  If I only had a dollar for all the miles I
have driven only to find the items offered grossley misrepresented
(age,condition,etc) either due to ignorance, someones price guide,or just
plain out to burn your tush, take it or leave it.  We all get burned
occasionally, and maybe this will work out O.K. for you, hope so. Tony

                       TEMPUS VITAM REGIT

On Sat, 5 Jul 1997, Ben Holmes wrote:

> Dear Leica Users,
> 
> I just received M3 ser. no. 786311 COD from a man named Bruce Hansen in
> Hawaii. BTW, anyone know him? Anyway, it's going back because the
> description does not match the reality. I bid on it on eBay auction, paid
> $511.00, and expected a user that was, er, usable. Truth is, I have NEVER
> seen an M that was this trashed.
> 
> The speeds are way out o' whack, the insides are full of cemented in crumbs
> - food, junk, rust, twigs, berries, etc. The RF window glass is pushed in
> several mm., the prisms are desilvered, the back is full of some sort of
> goopy adhesive, and badly pitted with rust. The top cover is beat to sh!t -
> dented, scratched and gouged. EVERY fitting - every one - looks as though it
> has been removed and replaced using a pair of pliers! Best of all, the
> "small dent" that was disclosed via a photo on eBay, has turned out to be a
> large crushed area which has deformed the underlying chasis and has frozen
> the counter. none of this - save the "small dent" was made known by the
> seller. Amazing what lighting and a low res scan can hide. Even more amazing
> is his belief that this M3 is actually worth his reserve price (it would not
> have traded under $500).
> 
> Anyway, heads up to all. It will no doubt be back for sale via the WWW.
> Should you find yourself in the position of being shown this "gem", say "no
> thank you" and walk.
> 
> Or, if you want to pick up chicks (tongue in cheek), buy a Domke vest, some
> chinos from the GAP, buy this beast and wear it to clubs. You'd pass as a
> man who had been to hell, and had fought his way out with his Leica. Come to
> think of it, it has a ton of character...
> 
> Do I hear a bid?
> 
> 
> Regards,
> 
> 
> 
> Ben W. Holmes
> Boulder, CO
> 
> visit my web site at http://www.frii.com/~bholmes/
> Leica serial numbers and Leica classifieds at
> http://www.frii.com/~bholmes/photodat.htm
>