Lucky or Sucker?

paymontna
paymontna Posts: 188
edited July 2008 in The Clubhouse
Well, I am either the luckiest Ebayer this weekend or I am the biggest sucker. I have been after the Nikon 200-400mm VR lens for about a year now. Either no one had it in stock or I could not afford it. It was like Big Foot or Nessie an illusive myth. I was surffin around Saturday night after a wedding, and for kicks I did a search for it on Ebay. Bingo! It had only been posted for 30 seconds. I hit the low bid and then put my max a few hundred above the retail. I won the bid at $4511! No one has this USA version for under $5600 in stock. It had been and will continue to be on backorder for an unforeseen amount of time. It would surprise me if it really was the USA version, which only means that it has to be shipped to Japan for repair. I have the smaller version (70-200mm) which is built like a tank. I think you would break pry bar over someone's head before you would that lens. This lens will bring my D3 to life:D. I doubt if the auction is a fraud. They claim to ship out USPS; which is a federal offense just to lie about it, if I am not mistaken. They do have a 99.4 % rating out of almost 400 sales, which is not a lot, but they were mostly semi-high dollar amount sales. Maybe I was the whale they were looking for. What do you think?
And I mean calling all cars, blackhawk down, mushroom cloud, Three Mile Island, lock the door behind you kind of mad.:mad:
Post edited by paymontna on
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • janmike
    janmike Posts: 6,146
    edited June 2008
    With 400 sales and a near perfect track record I would say your package as described should be delivered soon. Things can happen, but all sounds good. Congrats.
    Michael ;)
    In the beginning, all knowledge was new!
    NORTH of 60°
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited July 2008
    unless there is some "fine" print in the add,,,it seems safe as milk. Good luck.
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • paymontna
    paymontna Posts: 188
    edited July 2008
    If it does show up as promised, the question has to be asked. Do I turn it for a profit? I watched a used one sell on a photo forum for $4950. I could get $5500 out of it in a matter of hours maybe even minutes.
    And I mean calling all cars, blackhawk down, mushroom cloud, Three Mile Island, lock the door behind you kind of mad.:mad:
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • janmike
    janmike Posts: 6,146
    edited July 2008
    Which do you want more, the Lens or the Profit?
    Michael ;)
    In the beginning, all knowledge was new!
    NORTH of 60°
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • paymontna
    paymontna Posts: 188
    edited July 2008
    Both, I can use the lens to pay for itself and then turn around and sell it off in a year or two for the price I paid for it. Lenses are like speakers, they lose very little value if you take care of them.
    And I mean calling all cars, blackhawk down, mushroom cloud, Three Mile Island, lock the door behind you kind of mad.:mad:
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • engtaz
    engtaz Posts: 7,664
    edited July 2008
    Congrats. That's a sweet lens.

    engtaz
    engtaz

    I love how music can brighten up a bad day.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • shack
    shack Posts: 11,154
    edited July 2008
    I'm always in favor of cash in hand....
    "Just because you’re offended doesn’t mean you’re right." - Ricky Gervais

    "For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't believe, no proof is possible." - Stuart Chase

    "Consistency requires you to be as ignorant today as you were a year ago." - Bernard Berenson
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • paymontna
    paymontna Posts: 188
    edited July 2008
    The more I look at this invoice the more I worry over it. The shipping to me seems way under-priced at $11 for a lens that is probably in 30X8x8 box and insured for 5K.. Shack may have a point. That money would furnish some more quality audio stuff.
    And I mean calling all cars, blackhawk down, mushroom cloud, Three Mile Island, lock the door behind you kind of mad.:mad:
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • paymontna
    paymontna Posts: 188
    edited July 2008
    LOL...this just keeps getting better and better. I asked them to give me a heads up of when it was shipped. This was their reply

    Q: If I send this UPS overnight, will you be home to receive it Thursday before 10:30AM?
    And I mean calling all cars, blackhawk down, mushroom cloud, Three Mile Island, lock the door behind you kind of mad.:mad:
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • haimoc
    haimoc Posts: 1,031
    edited July 2008
    I won't buy used "expensive lens" without inspecting for their conditions such as scratches or dirts...
    -?¿-
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • paymontna
    paymontna Posts: 188
    edited July 2008
    haimoc wrote: »
    I won't buy used "expensive lens" without inspecting for their conditions such as scratches or dirts...


    I only deal used lenses with a handful of select people, or lenses with really detailed pictures and a series of questions worthy of customs; however, this lens is brand new!
    And I mean calling all cars, blackhawk down, mushroom cloud, Three Mile Island, lock the door behind you kind of mad.:mad:
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • paymontna
    paymontna Posts: 188
    edited July 2008
    UPS tracking number in hand. ETA 10 AM tomorrow. Sometimes you get the bear; sometimes the bear gets you. I lost an amp today, and I all but gave away a set of LSi 9's, but I gained by this lens and another used one that I got in mint condition for about $500 less than the online retail $$.
    And I mean calling all cars, blackhawk down, mushroom cloud, Three Mile Island, lock the door behind you kind of mad.:mad:
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • paymontna
    paymontna Posts: 188
    edited July 2008
    It arrived on my door step today and WOW it appears to be exactly as described. First impression HEAVY, 15 Lbs!. Couple this lens with a D2x or a D3 and you a 21 lb set-up. Does not sound like much..until you lug one around at a ballgame for 3 hours, or a wedding 8 or 10 hours. Lets see, my Sako and Leupold way 11 Lbs together and that is heavy by riffle standards. Second impression (goes with the weight), well built. I plan on writing a full review after I give this thing the full workout.
    And I mean calling all cars, blackhawk down, mushroom cloud, Three Mile Island, lock the door behind you kind of mad.:mad:
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter