No way I can comment on the rights/wrongs of this particular issue.
But for what it's worth (which is bugger all of course), just think it is
generally a very bad idea to get involved with "partial" refunds either as
buyer or seller for any reason. One should either stand by the deal or
offer/ask for a full refund - too much scope for ill feeling (& possibly bad
faith) otherwise.
Regards - Martyn Smoothy
-----Original Message-----
From: olympus-owner@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:olympus-owner@xxxxxxxxxx]On
Behalf Of ScottGee1
Sent: 11 January 2007 20:09
To: olympus@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [OM] Advice needed: list transaction going poorly
I need some advice about a transaction for one of the items I posted
FS on the list last week. It was the first time I've offered anything
for sale here. To this point, I've only bought.
My hope is to offer a neutral overview of what occurred. Here's the
original description of the item:
> Olympus OM 50/1.2, s/n 105xxx - $225 (Seems fair though I rarely see
> these so comparisons are rare too.)
> This is the 1.2 that uses 49mm filters. Clean glass. Focus smooth.
> Diaphram clean and snappy. Some wear on front edge of aperture ring
> which, of course, doesn't affect performance. Front and rear caps
> included.
Buyer inquired if: " . . . glass is clean on the inside of the lens.
Have you looked from back to front of the lens, with a light in front,
and looked for excessive particles or haze?"
I wanted to make sure and double-checked the lens at home that
evening. It met the stated criteria so the buyer agreed to follow
through and transferred $$ via PayPal.
I normally send such items via FedEx, but used Priority Mail at his request.
Buyer received the lens on January 8 and emailed me on the 9th, to wit:
"Once opening the lens I noticed the lettering is very dull/dirty and some f
stops have been colored (2, 2.8, 8). The wear on the front ring isn't
normal, with one area appearing to be shaved down. Moving the lens in my
hand to mount it on the camera I noticed it rattles. A closer look revealed
that the focus ring is very loose with some play side to side, but worse,
more front to back. If I hold the ring in my fingers it takes almost no
pressure to move it in a diagonal direction. The aperture dial also moves in
this manner. If I hold the aperture ring with two finders and the focus ring
with my other hand its very surprising how loose everything is with this
lens. In all 100+ Zuiko lenses I have seen over the last year or two I have
never seen one with the mechanics in such poor condition without signs of
being dropped or abused. Maybe this lens had heavy (possibly regular
specific use in an industrial/commerical application) use, which wore down
the front ring so heavily and oddly, and pushed the mechanical limitations
of the lens? Lastly, and I almost hate to bring it up at this point, but the
caps were even a let down. The rear cap is a sigma cap for a Pentax K mount.
Most people I've dealt with on the OM list (including myself) will list a
lens as coming with generic caps if it doesn't have some good ol' OM caps.
But, a Pentax cap?"
He asked for either a full refund or $75 toward repair of the lens.
I was very surprised as I have not had extensive experience with OM
lenses but the more I thought about it, the mechanical problems he
described simply didn't square with my use of the lens so I concluded
it must have been damaged in shipping. I've used it quite happily
without any problems and offered to check with my local, long-term
service person about repair.
To reassure him, I said he could choose either a complete refund or
I'd credit the $75 he requested. I also asked for a bit of time to
find out what USPS would do since it was likely damaged in shipping
and I had paid for insurance.
I called USPS and learned that they require an *estimate* if a claim
is for repair and that the item and all packing material be presented
to them with all appropriate shipping paperwork (which I have). I was
about to relate this to the buyer but his next email arrived less than
a day later and he said he decided to take the $75 and asked for the
refund "soon" because he had already sent it out for repair.
So I can no longer make an insurance claim because the lens is,
apparently, already gone and cannot be presented to the USPS. It's
very likely that the lens was indeed damaged during shipping and I
have, or rather *had* a valid claim to help defray my cost.
BTW, he said, "If I can do anything to help with the USPS complaint
let me know. I had to deal with them on a lost package that was
insured, and it was a real pain. Even though the item was signature
delivery, and never got delivered, I had to jump through all sort of
hoops including writing a letter to the Postmaster General. Over five
moths later I got my money back."
In short, he had experience with and knows about USPS claim procedure.
BTW, I bought the lens in the cosmetic and operating condition it was
in last year from another list member. I'd never seen one before so I
wasn't even sure the wear on the aperture ring was abnormal, but the
lens seemed fine otherwise so I enjoyed using it. I certainly didn't
abuse it.
The original front cap was in bad shape and my local dealer didn't
have any Oly ones so I replaced it (along with a few others) with a
new generic. The Pentax rear cap was a simple oversight and a bit
embarrassing -- but it apparently fit because I've been using it on
the lens and it worked fine.
I told the buyer that since he decided to jump the gun, my inclination
was to tell him he's on his own. However, I'm recounting the steps of
the transaction here to get input from you-all and will abide by the
consensus.
Please advise any input/questions.
Thanks for reading!/ScottGee1
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