Question about buying used photography gear -

3 years 10 months ago #684227 by Juan Anthony
I came close to buying a 70-200mm f/2.8 lens today.  It literally looked new with original box and paperwork.  $500 bucks.  The guy was in full mask and just hit me as being 'off'.  I passed because something told me this might be stolen.  

So, what happens if you buy something and it turns out to be stolen?  Do you have to give it up? I'm sure had the guy not been so creepy and if he had the price close to fair market value, I would have likely bought and never thought different.  Then what?  


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3 years 10 months ago #684239 by Nikon Shooter
Your reflex, Juan, was the right one. Stolen gear and the
possible consequences are not really worth the saving.
Sure, I came across such deals in the past but I knew who
I way dealing with.

OTOH, rarely anyone get unless they are taking part in a
burglar organisation that operates with fencing of stolen
goods.

It is a matter of peace of mind and doing the right thing
to be safe.

Light is free… capturing it is not!
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3 years 10 months ago #684288 by garyrhook
Perhaps the guy was nervous about getting the virus?

Did you ask about why it was being sold? Maybe the guy need the money, now, whatever he could get. And knew that it would move for that price.

That said, we weren't there. But one can always ask beforehand for the serial number, check it against Nikon's database of items that have been registered as stolen. Not that every item gets reported because how many of us have the S/Ns written down?

Then... price has nothing to do with it being stolen. If the asking price had been $1200, you would have taken it? And if it had still been stolen? You'd never have known, nor given it a second thought. So it goes back to determining motivation and history. I always ask about that.

It does occur to me that it might have been stolen off a doorstep...


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