A question about Fieldscope differences and pitfalls of shopping on eBay for used scopes. (1 Viewer)

[2Gunns]

Trust me, I was equally surprised. I'm well enough versed on buying used in person and on eBay, that I can usually tell by the way people display their items with photos, they language the use etc. if it's worth my time. His description was accurate and what you'd expect if you're judging just by the exterior. Optically everything is a mess.

The paint and everything else is perfect, couldn't be happier. But the final straw was the fog which developed, not from temperature or getting submerged, but just being in a humid environment for an hour. It's now at the point where I feel like some level of refurbishing must have happened in the life of this scope. Of course I have no idea if the seller actually knows anything.

I shouldn't lump all the sellers together, but boy they do look the same on the surface, I have given another seller a try that I directly asked about refurbishing or any maintenance performed, we'll see how that goes.

I'll try and find the name of the ebay seller for you give me a minute....

I found the name as, all underlined from what I can tell,

cool_japan_123

I'm on mobile so not sure if it's all underlined and or hyphenated but that's the name and that's the link for anyone who is interested

Security Measure

www.ebay.com

 

[kimsrk]

I'd like to come on on this discussion from Ebay sellers from Japan regarding optics.

In my case I purchased a vintage circa early to mid 1950s KowaTS-1 spotting scope from an Ebay Seller in Japan.

The pictures were accurate. Near Mint the eyepiece and focus knob all function excellent. The seller was very good about keeping in touch with me. I even have connected with the seller in Instagram for messaging purposes which is nice for more instantaneous, efficient, and accurate, allowing digital translation.

I decided to purchase this as a collectors piece for the pure pleasure of it bc I have recently gotten into birding with and got myself and son. We picked up a Kowa next generation, most recent, Kowa 55A spotting scope. It's excellent but I'll save that for another post.

So the two kind of go together. One of the first models Kowa TS1 with a 25x Eyepiece and a premiere top of the line flagship Kowa 55A.

I would, depending on your financial position, typically kissy contact the dealer and start an ongoing dialogue. At that point you can really get a feel for whoever the person is and what the condition of the product is. At that point if you are leaving confidence in your decision making process it can help give you direction in making the purchase or looking elsewhere.

Do I need the Kowa TS1? No, not at all. Is it cool and a legacy antique collectible that I was able to get in near perfect condition? Yes, absolutely.

Did I do as much research and consideration into the product and the purchase and variables that I could? Yes.

Did I buy with considerable confidence bc I had communicated with the seller/dealer? Yes

Is the Kowa TS1 in excellent condition and optically works just like the day it was made yes other than a slightly loose sliding sun shade cover.

Just thought I'd throw that out there.

Oh one other thing..... I know can contact that guy in Japan and ask him to look for specific products directly. I have sent him pictures and descriptions of some of the Japanese specific products in looking for. He is quick to respond and gives me accurate information and whether or not he can find/aquire said product.

All the best!

2Gunns

I shouldn't lump all the sellers into one group, but it's hard because the listings look exactly the same. Like exactly, exactly. So you can't really pick out the honest ones vs. the sellers like the one I bought from.

My main purpose with this thread was to discuss, the pitfalls of buying optics on eBay. I don't know how much of it is me trying to vent, but I do genuinely want to share a negative experience as a reminder that it's tricky out there and people need to stay on their toes. To go in with a distinct plan to test the optics immediately, including testing for fog build up internally. And accept the risk of repeated failures coupled with shipping back and forth.

The seller was very responsive and customer oriented otherwise. But my preference would be some legitimate action against them as a seller by eBay. There aren't many options though.

 

[2Gunns]

I think a helpful reminder is always in order for the masses.
One other amendment or addendum I'd like to bring forward to the peanut gallery is in the idea of a business contract further having in writing before making a purchase with the dealer seller is to guarantee in writing email whatever the thing is to have as a backup to present to PayPal to present to eBay in the off chance that the particular item was not as presented and or represented and or in function.

I'd also add and or query if we cab put together some sort of group affiliated purchasing.

I think others or yourself mentioned an interest in watches. Well I also enjoy a fine timepiece. I believe it's on what you seek.com that they had a group project where they actually came together ordered cases and lugs and decided the dial in the face and the hands in the bezel and bezel insert and ceramic this and metal that colors of this and designs of that labels and whatnot dates and no dates.


The watch you seek Forum guys, point is that if we are able to consolidate buying power under some kind of standard where if there's an issue with the seller on eBay or Nikon Swarovski miopta power or others the negative feedback upon that seller on mass has an effect just go and check out some of the watch you seek Forum purchases and they actually know specific wholesalers and dealers and stuff and they can get discounts per the website affiliation all I'm saying is perhaps Birds Forum can get an affiliation purchase as well and some greater guarantee of quality purchase power and warranty respect I don't know just a thought.