My gripe about some Japanese sellers condition classifications :)

[Schrodingers cat]

This Hasselblad PME5 prism viewfinder was listed as EXCELLENT +++++, whatever the hell that means.
In the seller's defense he included a photograph of the damage, although he ignored it in the text.
Can you imagine trying to photograph while looking through this thing

 

[Brian]

Many of the Japanese Seller base condition on Looks alone. They are for collectors to show, say they own one, and not use it for photography. There are exceptions- and I've picked up some perfect lenses at great prices. Much lower priced than 20 and 30 years ago. Unfortunately, the younger generation in Japan does not have the National Interest that they used to in vintage equipment. That is the explanation given to me when picking up some real bargains such as this:

Canon 50mm F2.2 by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

Canon 50mm F2.2 by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr
Canon 50/2.2 test, Wide-Open by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

Canon 50/2.2 produced for 6 months some 60 years ago. $100, used to go for $600.

 

[Schrodingers cat]

"Much lower priced than 20 and 30 years ago. Unfortunately, the younger generation in Japan does not have the National Interest that they used to in vintage equipment."
I haven't really checked Leica for some time so I don't have a current feel for the pricing, but the crooks people I look at for Hasselblad must not have gotten the memo And I've only got one kidney left to sell. On the limited number of items I have actually researched in detail they are sky high. It's getting harder and harder to disguise my gear addiction from the family.

 

[Box Man]

This Hasselblad PME5 prism viewfinder was listed as EXCELLENT +++++, whatever the hell that means.
In the seller's defense he included a photograph of the damage, although he ignored it in the text.
Can you imagine trying to photograph while looking through this thing

Sorry about your troubles! I too have bought damaged goods before.

We mustn't forget though to make the distinction between "Japanese sellers" and "sellers in Japan" because we don't want to unintentionally blame the Japanese who are on the whole very honest people.

I have first hand experience of buying less than advertised goods having lived in Japan for many years. I bought gear listed as "new" from foreign sellers on a couple of occasions. I found this out as the Japanese characters used in the ad weren't completely correct, or as natural as a native Japanese person would use them.

The buying and selling of cameras is lucrative business in some parts of the world, and unfortunately there are many unscrupulous vendors.