Bought a lens on craigslist... *sigh*

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II

06/09/2007 01:05:51 AM · #1

Today I bought a 28-135 (on my profile) off craigslist from a local woman who runs a studio.

I tested the lens while I was at her house, and all appeared good. I had a momentary AF problem, but it seemed to clear itself up when I wiped the contacts off. Little did I know.

I got it home, and then went into downtown Portland to work on some shots for Candid and found that the AF problem persisted. But only when the focal distance was over ~20 feet. At short range, it worked fine. Even more, when I set my camera to use ALL AF points instead of just center, which is what I keep it set to, it would work fine at any distance. (Using the other AF points instead of center, obviously.)

I pulled the lens off to clean it and double-check things when I made a discovery - the lens is actually bent. Right at the USM focusing ring, the lens has an upward bend. The top portion of the focus ring is pinched while the bottom portion is gapped.

Needless to say, I'm extremely disappointed and upset. I was ecstatic to get this lens, as I've been wanting it for quite a while. Optically, the thing is great.. and at short distances, it works fine - the IS is amazing (for someone who's never used it before).

I know that she was out doing a shoot this afternoon (I had to pick it up before she left), so I've emailed and left her a voicemail hoping that she'll get back to me in the next 24 hours. If not, I'm not sure what my next step will be. There's always small claims, but I really don't want to do that except as a last resort.

I just wanted to vent.

levyj413

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) for Nikon

06/09/2007 01:23:53 AM · #2

Ouch. Sorry. Good luck!

deapee

Kodak V803

06/09/2007 01:26:55 AM · #3

Take it back. And no, I'm not kidding. The photog is local...walk in, tell them you want your money back and for them to sell their defective, broken lens to someone else. If they say no, just take something worth what you paid for the lens and leave. If they call the cops, tell them you paid for a working lens, which they did not provide you with, so you took what is rightfully yours.

jbsmithana

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom Nikkor 12-24mm f/4.0G IF-ED

06/09/2007 01:28:21 AM · #4

That sucks Jay. Don't think there is much you will be able to do if she choses not to stand behind her sale. Craigslist doesn't have an arbitration system as far as I know.

edit: not sure I'd take dp's advice on this one. The old adage of "buyer beware" you know. The cops would likely haul you in. Better to put on your best face and convince her it is the right thing to do to take it back.

Message edited by author 2007-06-09 01:31:28.

RayEthier

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM

06/09/2007 01:36:10 AM · #5

Originally posted by deapee:

... and for this you will end up being arrested, charged with theft, convicted and find yourself with a criminal record.

Discuss the problem with the person who sold you the lens, it is conceivable that she was not aware of the deficiency and will return your money to you. Failing that, there are legal mechanisms in place to deal with instances where feels aggrieved, both civil and criminal... go that route it might save you some grief.

Ray

wavelength

06/09/2007 01:37:05 AM · #6

Show up when you know she has a client there, and walk up and interrupt her business.

Keep doing it, every time someone starts walking for her door, walk up behind them and demand your money back.

Won't take long.

chimericvisions

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II

06/09/2007 01:40:33 AM · #7

Sadly it's a home studio, but I get the drift. Yeah.. I'm definitely going to try and talk it out with her first. I've already emailed her and told her that it wasn't acceptable. Her story for the lens leads me to believe that she may not have known, because in many circumstances the lens works fine. (If you use all AF points and never manually focus.)

She bought an XTi and the 28-135 for her father, but they had a squable of some kind and he gave it back to her. So, it probably happened while he had it, and her tests just didn't show a problem.

RayEthier

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM

06/09/2007 01:42:24 AM · #8

Originally posted by wavelength:

... Unless of course she asks you to leave and you don't. Then you would fall under the realm of trespassing and could get arrested for that.

Try being nice first, you might be pleasantly surprised.

Ray

wavelength

06/09/2007 02:10:35 AM · #9

Originally posted by RayEthier:

Originally posted by wavelength:
Show up when you know she has a client there, and walk up and interrupt her business.

Keep doing it, every time someone starts walking for her door, walk up behind them and demand your money back.

Won't take long.

... Unless of course she asks you to leave and you don't. Then you would fall under the realm of trespassing and could get arrested for that.

Try being nice first, you might be pleasantly surprised.

Ray

I meant if she didn't take the return obviously.

And yes, leave every time. Then come back. Nothing she can do then.

chimericvisions

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II

06/09/2007 02:29:31 AM · #10

I just got a response:

Originally posted by photographer:

Jay, OMG! Bring it back! I absolutely don't want you to go away with a bad lens. I am totally horrified! Please let me know when you can come by & I'll be happy to give you your money back.

This reduces my stress level a lot.

wavelength

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

06/09/2007 02:34:59 AM · #11

Originally posted by chimericvisions:

I just got a response:

Originally posted by photographer:

Jay, OMG! Bring it back! I absolutely don't want you to go away with a bad lens. I am totally horrified! Please let me know when you can come by & I'll be happy to give you your money back.

This reduces my stress level a lot.

No kidding, that's a load off. Glad she's an up-and-up kind of lady :)

escapetooz

Canon EOS-500D Rebel T1i

06/09/2007 02:49:04 AM · #12

I like happy endings....

well not so much for her, but of course she'll feel better doing the right thing. :)

Retroesque

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

06/09/2007 03:16:19 AM · #13

Originally posted by chimericvisions:

Cool outcome - that sort of situation sits wrong in my gut until it resolves itself - hopefully another opportunity to get a great lens will come your way promptly.

leaf

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

06/09/2007 03:21:18 AM · #14

Originally posted by iamwoman:

Originally posted by chimericvisions:
I just got a response:

Originally posted by photographer:

Jay, OMG! Bring it back! I absolutely don't want you to go away with a bad lens. I am totally horrified! Please let me know when you can come by & I'll be happy to give you your money back.

This reduces my stress level a lot.

Cool outcome - that sort of situation sits wrong in my gut until it resolves itself - hopefully another opportunity to get a great lens will come your way promptly.

exactly.. people are generally kind and wanting to do the right thing. A little friendliness goes a long ways. Happy you got your $$ back.

Prof_Fate

06/09/2007 09:26:55 AM · #15

Originally posted by deapee:

That is theft dude.
Take your truck back to a ford dealer and drive off in a mustang - "well, I paid for a vehicle and this is the one I'm taking" - it's theft, and won't solve this guy's problem, but just make it worse.

idnic