eBay and serial numbers

I'm curious as to why from time to time people ask for serial numbers of cameras on eBay. I can imagine maybe they want to know where in a production run a camera lies, but are there other reasons?

But I'm even more curious as to why some sellers are very reluctant to give complete numbers. Why would this be? What could anyone possibly do with a serial number that would count as "nefarious purposes"?

John,

One possible reason for both asking for and refusing to give serial numbers

http://www.ephotozine.com/topic/t-77182

Yes, thanks for that, it's one possibility.

Thats very interesting and a little disturbing to say the least.

You can see why people can become disillusioned with E-bay and the police for that matter. I hope it all turned out well for that guy.

Reading the feedback from the buyer it appears he got the camera, i'm curious as to how it all worked out.

John,

It is probably the principal reason many ask for the serial numbers. I used to use ebay but with their outlandish allowances for shipping, the chance of getting not what you bargained for, and the possibility of stolen goods has soured me to using them anymore. I got stuck for a few purchases there, and finally saw that there were few real true bargains, So now I rely on purchasing what I want by seeing it first and dealing with someone that is reputable and can rely on to resolve things when something is not right.

The Photomonk

So by asking for the serial number, Photomonk, you get a reply and know the dealer is above board?

I thought the idea was to prevent this happening: you advertise and sell a lens, the purchaser receives it and tells you it is faulty and returns not your good lens but a similar faulty one. You can prevent this scam by quoting the serial number.

Hmmm, I've had 2 lenses that carried different serials to the ones advertised.

In both cases there was no problem but I can see that if there had been I would have had a valid case to open a dispute. Maybe I should put the serial number in the description next time I sell a camera/ lens.

A while back I was in the process of buying a 12-24 off an ex member here. I had agreed to his asking price after he lowered it voluntarily. I was on the point of sending him a cheque when another member pointed out that he had been posting on other forums to the effect that he thought he was being ripped off. This set alarm bells ringing and I PMed him asking for a serial number. I got no repluy so I PMed him twice more and still got no response.

I wonder If I had a lucky escape.

A slight digression, I know, but about7 years back, an item appeared on Ebay for a "Rare Z1 Nikon". Now Nikon have never made a Z1 (that I know of) and the word NIKON was a piece of Dymo embossing tape stuck on the front of the pentaprism housing on a Practica, so it was a fair bet that there was a fraud going on.
I tried to find a way to alert Ebay to this, but I could only do it if I signed up. I assumed that they were not interested in honesty, only profit. And, I still have not signed up.
Geoff

If I am asked for a serial number, I provide it, but I understood that some sellers were reluctant to do this as it could lead to problems for them. I was curious as to how a serial number could be used fraudulently as I'm at a loss to imagine how.

In terms of this, I wonder if you were being a little harsh in that it's not unreasonable to only accept reports from people who are identified - that is, members? The internal reporting system is not accessible to non-members and I should imagine that keeps things more secure.

Having bought and sold a lot of guitars on eBay I know serial numbers are often requested as proof of authenticity. Many of the main manufacturers still have detailed listings on their websites, so it's not uncommon for sellers to provide serial numbers to allow potential buyers to check for themselves. Without this you're really at the mercy of the seller's honesty, and could end up grossly overpaying for something (as there can be a substantial difference in value of two seemingly identical guitars).

In terms of using a serial number fraudulently, if I asked you for a serial number of a lens you were selling, I could then use this and set up a fraudulent auction selling a knock-off lens, but quote the genuine serial number to prospective buyers. It could conceivably also be used in a fraudulent insurance scam (i.e. hello Mr. Insurer my camera lens was stolen/lost on holiday, no I don't have the original receipt but here is the serial number).

The best option when being asked to quote a serial number is take a picture of it, but watermark the picture with your eBay ID or aomething similar.

Some interesting points there - thanks robbie_d!

I thought this was the reason too, in fact I adopted the method myself.

I do agree with one thing though, and that is ebay has become a minefield with regards to scams and stolen goods, I have avoided many an auction because something in a description or the sellers feedback started alarm bells ringing.

I don't seem to see many genuine bargains on ebay now. Certainly lens prices have got especially silly of late. I can remember seeing Pentax-A 50mm f2s for £20 three or four months ago, the same lenses seem to be going for a lot more now. I even saw a fungus-infected (and sold as such) A 50mm f1.7 go for over £36 - I had paid £42 for my mint example only a couple of weeks before!