Stolen lenses

[Davide B.]

Its a complex issue. As a consumer you want a good deal and are looking for "A steal" not literally but a bargain. As a seller when scare tactics have spread the only place to turn to is a "Known" dealer when the situation is like that you are completely at their mercy and don`t expect to make too much of a turn over from your investment. And of course the "Dealer" turns around and does a ridiculous markup. I had that happen to me here with a "Known" dealer who gave me a absurd quote knowing full well that the price he said the glass was worth was a blatant lie.

DogDay

I disagree (although I may be interpreting your post differently than you intended). Authorized dealers have to compete with each other. If one is selling at ridiculous markup then it's going to go out of business because people will buy from a different authorized dealer that sells at better prices.

If we're at the mercy of anything it is the companies making these products that set the msrp. But even then, if one company seems to marking up their product higher then you think they should you can just by from another.

 

[Nick Wolf]

Yes I see your point...They do however have proffesional agreements and usually try not to step on each others toes by under cutting too drastically.

There is a lot of glass out there and the % of black market stuff is very low, Waiting for it to all finally get into their hands ( Established dealers ) instead of pouncing on it when the opportunity presents itself I think is foolish.

All business has its sharks and pirrannas there are no good guys just different strategies for making a profit.

There already exist monopolies on certain brands and exclusive dealerships...there are no ways around that except for finding a private person who wants to sell.

To create an epidemic of fear based on the exception to the rule rather than the norm is just a tactic to block possible competitors from making independent deals.

How many transactions from Mandy, kitmondo, ebay, etc etc etc in the last year were bogus or stolen? enough to warrent more than the obvious caution one would exersize when buying anything from a stranger?

Also do you think a "Known" dealer is going to stop picking up the jems at the same time that a lot of consumers let the offers pass by because of fearing something is tainted...The opposite applies, now the "Dealer" doesnt lose a single bid and picks it all up.

I love the companies that are here on the boards and they have great stuff to offer but I will be damnded if I dont do massive reasearch hunting for a deal world wide before I pay 60 % 80 % more for certain items.

Its pretty annoying when the dealers around the world have made a pact with each other ( I think its called a cartel ) no matter what the region is you do your search for a certain item of optics...The only hole in that net is the person to person transaction.

Once those opportunities vaporize ( For whatever reasons ) the skys the limit as to where the prices land. Good for some ( Those with access and ownership ) bad for those who are in need.

I have stuff to buy and I have stuff to sell. I am a very cynical person bordering on misanthropic so yes I am careful. But I have found that 99.9 % of the time people I have dealt with out there in the world have held their end of the bargain.

This is all pretty basic its just to connect the dots.

Who stands to gain is always a good question when hearing any story whether it is true or false doesnt matter. Also what purpose does it serve.

DogDay

P.S.
The above is just my opinion. Everyone is entitled to their own...Right?

 

[Mitch Gross]

Please don't insinuate that stolen gear is an "inside job" in an insurance scam. For the rental house it means that insurance premiums rise and it is a hit on their reputation. Certainly it happens but there is real thievery going on here and as noted in a previous post, it is getting fairly rampant. That list didn't cover 1/3 of the recent thefts I know of personally, and I'm sure there are plenty more that I don't know about.

 

[Nick Wolf]

Lamenting the tarnished reputation of the sacred rental houses...Please Mitch, BABE I LOVE YOU, but arent you spreading the sanctimony a bit thick on this one?

The next time I am in New York City I promise to swing by and purchase something from Abel as a gesture of good faith. I have no beef with Abel.

That aside, at times as charming as you are remember not to break the 11th commandment when over extending.

"Don`t try to bullshit a bullshitter"

These woods are crawling with wolfish preditors, the only thing that distinguishes them from one and other is that some are wearing Cardigans.

That would also explain the incessant itching going on here.

DogDay

P.S.

We are not at war. Have the last word. I have made my point. Hope you at least got a good chuckle out of it ... I did.


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[Nick Wolf]

Actually Mitch I do want to give you a genuine compliment and that is that you are always yourself and don`t hide what you are up to. You are always very direct when you say you can blah blah blah at Abel...You are proud and you stand for your products and services. You create so much value with your helpful input. I don`t mean to drag you through the mud. You don`t deserve that.

Alright?

DogDay

Plus you are always very articulate, polite, funny, and entertaining even when involved in a heated debate. That says a lot about you.


Done.


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[Mitch Gross]

Gifts & snacks can be sent to me care of Abel Cine Tech.

 

[Nick Wolf]

Your a riot!...Love it.

The "Snacks" are in the mail...


DogDay



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[Tim Naylor]

I work as a DP in NYC and I've noted a few changes in what's acceptable insurance. Some rental houses no longer take short term unless their guys are actually transporting the gear. Believe it or not, a music video I recently shot, production had to pay one of the staff from TCS to transport the gear uptown.

Mitch is this a result from the rash of thefts? I saw a recent theft list, can't remember where but I couldn't believe how rampant it is, especially in NYC. The Hand Held lenses ended up in Sao Paulo only to "disappear" again.

Yeah, some may have no love for the local rental house, but when it comes to choice of glass you can't beat them. And in the end the theft gets passed on to the renter.

 

[M Hsu]

PERA doesn't seem to have a publicly accessible database. maybe we should start one here?

 

[Jorge Díaz-Amador]

Its pretty annoying when the dealers around the world have made a pact with each other ( I think its called a cartel ) no matter what the region is you do your search for a certain item of optics...The only hole in that net is the person to person transaction.

I can imagine the frustration that many RED users are feeling when they are trying to buy used cine glass that has gone up in price 400% in the last four years.

But I assure you - there is no conspiracy. I don't call Ken Rich or Jim Budzilek and promise them that I won't sell a set of 35mm Super Speeds for less than $40,000 because "those uppity RED users deserve to suffer".

It's just simple free market capitalism. I look to see what other sellers are charging for the same item, and I ask for the same price or slightly less. And before you put it down, its that same system (free market capitalism) that created the product you want in the first place. Have you ever noticed that the Russians never produced any f1.2 lenses during the Soviet years?

I feel that the prices I charge for used lenses are justified, since I completely disassemble and overhaul each lens prior to sale. I make sure they are 100% free of fungus (to the point of exposing the lenses to intense UV to kill any hidden mold spores inside them). I frequently change out lens elements with new ones, even for minor edge chips or coating scratches. And I make sure the focus is within .015 mm.

There seems to be a tendency among many RED users to always look for the cheapest price out there regardless of who they are buying it from.

But there are consequences to this. I have had more than one new RED owner (or prospective owner still waiting for delivery) bring me a lens they bought on eBay or from a private seller. As soon as I look at the lens I can tell it is badly infested with mold. One recently brought me an Angenieux 35mm zoom that had so much fungus on the optics that it was beyond economical repair. What do I tell him?

Do you know what Carl Zeiss will tell you if you send them a Master Prime you bought used that turn out to have fungus inside it? I'll give you a clue: They have an established procedure for getting your lens out of the building and the workers that take it out are not allowed back in the building until they decontaminate themselves.

"Genießen Sie Ihren netten Papierbeschwerer."

At the moment, prices of used gear from private sellers (who are aware of prices and also want to get the most their gear is worth) are only slightly lower than prices from used equipment dealers. And unless you really know what you are doing, you have no way to know that you are not buying an interesting paperweight.

 

[Michael Brennan]

A serial number and receipt is obvious proof of original ownership so possession is 9/10ths of the law is not relevant.

Without exception those that by a "ringer" stolen car with altered identification plates have to return the car to the original owner and lose 100% of what they paid for the car.

In respect of gang strategy, in the UK as physical and administrative security has been improved on premises, more thefts are taking place by organised gangs following the pickup vehicle and pouncing at an opportune moment.

Most rental houses are aware of the risks but increasingly owner operators need to be super careful renting to unfamiliar faces.



Mike Brennan

 

[Victoria C]

Stolen Gear Database

Stolen Gear Database

I'm working on a web app right now to enable filmmakers to share/rent their equipment and services, searchable by area.

I'm still in the database development stage. I could mod this and launch a simpler app much sooner, allowing users to register stolen equipment or search for equipment by serial number.

Is that something you would be interested in? If so, I'll start a thread so everyone can submit feature requests.

Victoria

 

[Robert Horwell]

I lost my money to camera theft.

I lost my money to camera theft.

I bought an Arri SR3 HS, sent it in for service and it turned out to be stolen. I lost all my money, the local CID told me I had no chance of recovering my money their very words were "Less than zero chance". It hit me hard and financially took me quite a while to recover. The guy who i bought from was never prosecuted for stealing, even though they had him on CCTV taking it. The owner got their camera back, it was a college. Students had been filming in what you might call a "dubious" area then decided to go to the local supermarket for some lunch ..duh!!. leaving all the kit in the car boot, even though they had seen this guy following them around locations. As a result the college was not insured - because the kit was left un-attended - the college was very un-sympathetic to me, even though i had the camera returned to them without quibble, they refused to buy accessories i had purchased for the camera. I got hit every way. Theft hurts everyone, in the UK the system more often that not protects the thief. My money dissapeared, the thief didn't get prosecuted, the college got the camera back...who lost out??..me.

 

[Bob Gilles]

Pera does not have a searchable database

Pera does not have a searchable database

I buy used lenses often and I always check the serial numbers, but there is no centralized place to check, so I never know if I will be stopped at US Customs with
unknowingly nicked gear. I see great deals on Craigslist and I check the message boards to make sure, but it is impossible to protect yourself as a buyer, this has to change.

 

[David W. Jones]

Learn from our mistake… Always record the serial numbers of your lenses as soon as you get them and keep them in a safe place.

We lost a complete set of Cooke Speed Panchros Series II/III in Arri standard mount to thieves. The week before we had written down all the serial numbers, as we were going to send this set off to Van Diemen for rehousing, but had left the sheet inside the lens case.