Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/11/13
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Date: Sun, 12 Nov 2000 20:36:42 -0600 From: Mike Johnston <michaeljohnston@ameritech.net> Subject: [Leica] Pepperminty cameras > while i see the dilemma you've pointed out (i.e. how else would you > describe such an item), i do think that labelling a damaged camera 'mint -' > is going more than a little too far. there are plenty of ways to assure > potential bidders that the camera in perfect in every way *except* for the > two dents, without obliquely lying about it. > > guy Guy, I have to agree. "Grading inflation" is a brief two-step shuffle away from fraud. I bought an R4s on eBay last summer that was described as being "9 on a 10 scale." When the camera arrived, it was dirty, well worn, had touch-up marks here and there, and the eyepiece was caved in. I had paid for overnight mail, and although the seller did offer a refund, he refused to remburse me for that expense... The whole concept of "mint" is ridiculous IMO. It was intended to mean a camera that is LN but without the box or accessories it was originally sold with. Now it's applied to just about everything that isn't actually broken. - - --Mike - --------------- - -DD here- My Dad is a coin collector. Mint means never touched- as in "from the mint." A coin which has been touched has lost some value through skin acids, micro scratches and so forth. To stamp collectors and other legitimised collectors "mint" means the same thing. That is the reason for the different grades! Anyone who sells a camera as mint, which has been used at all, is using the internet for mail fraud... a federal crime. Since Leica is certainly one of the premiere (if not THE premiere) lenses in the world, "mint" should, in fact, be supported by this list to mean exactly the same thing. Let's start a movement of improvement in this! "At Standard-" Dave