How I Fell For a LOMO Anamorphic Lens Scam - Part 1/2

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The first part of the story on how I was not the smartest person around, failing to see red flags everywhere and trying to score some LOMO anamorphic lenses.
The full "Anamorphic on a Budget" guide can be found at:
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Soundtrack: "The Racer" by Tristan Barton - Artlist.io
"Hafla (Intro)" by Itai Armon - Artlist.io
"Clarity" by Ian Post - Artlist.io
"Night Of Heroes" by Francesco D'Andrea - Artlist.io
"Enjoy the Game" by Borrtex

[@trevorpinnocky]

I buy and sell camera merch on eBay all the time, since 2001 actually. In that time I have never been scammed. let me qualify. Ebay always sides with the buyer. If you follow their protocol you will never lose money. So, the key is don't make emotional decisions. If it's a scam or a bad seller contact ebay, wait for them to resolve it and get your money back. Never send funds so they aren't protected with buyer protection. And never make transactions *outside* of eBay. 1. Make a proper deal or no deal at all, ever. 2. Never make high value deals with sellers as (0) feedback. 3. Never sell to buyers at (0) or negative feedback. 4. Never buy from someone who asks to be contacted outside of ebay. 5. Always get a tracking number. Biggest rule: never make emotional deals only business deals. If it doesn't make sense, run because it's fake. Easy

[@trevorpinnocky]

Tito Ferradans right for me I'm usually reselling things like an a7r ii or a nikkor 24-70 2.8 so there's more money at risk. Also new buyers don't always realize what a used piece of gear is. Sometimes they expect it to be new and you end up in arbitration over minor things. So, yeah it depends on the amouny of money involved.

[@wakkowarner8810]

I only got scammed a few times. A seller never sent a camera I bought to me and PayPal and eBay refunded me for my loss.

[@greentokyo]

Oh geez Tito! Yeah I was shocked when you sent him money AGAIN! I was like "WHAAATT!!?"

[@JNAStudio]

I like how you told the story with a smile.

[@djinjis]

*stupid smile

[@moneybay]

I've been scammed like this on reduser. The dude had his account for 12 years(looked legit). I sent him wire transfer and he disappeared.

[@alanbesedin]

Loving the storytelling skills!

[@creative_camera_lens]

Мошенники нашли лот на который есть спрос... Жаль что такие особи подрывают доверие к честным продавцам начинающим карьеру на Ebay.

[@gyasis]

The second time?! I can't believe that you would do that. I swear this was a just for the subject of making a video 😂😂😂

[@frankcastle8130]

Did you ever get the scammer's real name? All I need is a name and address, and I can make problems disappear.

[@AnamorphicOnABudget]

Hahahaha sounds appropriate for Frank Castle! I see you have a very special set of skills. ;)

[@RafCamera]

Hi Tito. You paid $3000 for a scenario for 20-minutes documentary :-) Not a worst deal actually :-)

[@animusvisual]

I had a similar situation buying a contax zeiss 21mm which is fairly rare off a seller on fred miranda wesbsite. He asked to send 2k friends and family on paypal and i told him id rather send regular and ill add the 3 percent for the fee. Well he went silent for over 2 weeks and I ended up filing a dispute with paypal and they refunded me after about a month and a half. Lesson learned luckily I wasn't out the money.

[@alexwang007]

I'm hooked. I bought an Otus 55 mm for a really good price in summer, and was pretty terrified about potentially getting scammed, plus it came from japan. turned out to be perfect.

[@alexwang007]

@@AnamorphicOnABudget Hell yeah it was a good time getting heart attacks everyday, for 2 weeks straight(at lease the seller was kind enough to use fast shipping). I paid like 400 dollars for import tax and the canada post lady was REALLY concerned. :D

[@TimucinLeflef]

Sorry to hear it Tito. Hope things worked out well for you in the end.

[@aitoribarra6559]

Looking forward to part 2! Also would love to see you review the Fuji X-T4 with the Sirui lens - no body has done that combination yet! I can't afford such things yet but am getting frustrated with the limitations of mobile video. Have ordered a T-shirt, I hope you keep the videos and articles going.

[@trevorpinnocky]

Hearing the rest of this is going to be fun 😬😬😬

[@Anomaliayt]

Ouch ! Man that must have sucked!! I know what it's like to have tunnel vision and persistence... especially when faced with an amazing deal. I purchased an iscorama pre-36 online, sent the money via transferwise, and asked him to send it undeclared as it was coming from Canada to UK. VERY stupid, but I was lucky the guy was honest (and kind!). I managed to get an almost pristine pre-36 for £1500 with no tax. I did my research, asked for photo verification and it was through a forum. But still, I could have easily been scammed with no recourse. I felt it was safe, and my gut was correct... but definitely be careful. If a deal is too good to be true, it usually is... but not always. I also did the same thing with an URSA mini 4.6k... funnily also from Canada. I did the deal outside of ebay and paid via transferwise. Again, pretty stupid, but it worked out and I didn't pay any tax again. I was also the one who suggested outside of ebay to save him fees and me money. Still super risky though... the camera took about 2 months to come from Canada and I was a little worried near the end. On to watch the second part of your lomo loss. Sorry for your misfortune brother. Edit: I simple thing I did to make sure the guy selling me the iscorama had it on his person was to request a photo of the lens with my name written on a piece of paper next to it.

[@sebsyoutubechannel4252]

TITO NOOOOOOO 😭😭😭 To be fair I don’t think I would have acted much more rationally than you. When someone waves a great deal in front of you it’s hard to not throw caution to the wind and just pray it all works out somehow.

[@erikdorrmann4443]

Hey Tito, Im about to buy a 50mm square Front. It is in very good shape and had a service. I can buy it from a guy less then an hour away from me. What price would you say is fair? Thank you in advance. I think your experience could help me really well. Greetings from Germany Erik

[@AnamorphicOnABudget]

Hey Erik, first of all, good luck with the purchase. As for price, honestly hard to say. It could be anything between $5k to $15k. It depends on the state of the lens, mount, if the seller knows what the lens is, etc.

[@erikdorrmann4443]

@@AnamorphicOnABudget Perfect, sounds fine. Helped me out a bit. Thank you very much :) A dream is about to come true haha

[@proudindian79]

Hi... I got inspired about anamorphic lenses after watching your videos. video graphy for me is a hobby. recently got 35nap2-4 60/2, do I need keeping lens?

[@miguelschmid2528]

funny. like I said before: THAT is the reason why i don't like to buy a HardCoreDNA - no official purchase/contract, communication only via private message & asks to pay as "friends"

[@NEOMASS0]

10 [game over]

[@RudyGold]

We all make mistakes. It’s your dreams to own a pair of anamorphic lens. You made a very emotional decision but you are not stupid. It could always be worse brother. No ones dead or seriously injured. If you didn’t get your money back you learned a valuable lesson. BUT YOU ARE NOT STUPID. thanks for sharing

[@Lexington101]

On the edge of my seat... 9.5 BTW, I had a similar experience with a lighting kit (but in the 100's, not 1000's) it's the most enthusiasts among us who are most vulnerable - the passionate make good targets for the unscrupulous.

[@eggyolk2002]

Have you heard good things about the Mosty-SC 16mm?

[@OliKember]

More plot twists than your average blockbuster. Holy smokes, I just want it to be okay.

[@AdamLangdon]

Back in 2002 I tried to buy a $5000 Nikon camera for $2000. The eBay seller requested a money transfer and I did. Then I emailed the seller and he said his account was hacked. So I rushed to the supermarket to get the money order canceled it could only have it rerouted back home to me. Lesson learned: “if it’s too good to be true, it isn’t true.”

[@MuwexENG]

I think we all has got scammed sometime somewhere in our life! Mistakes makes us stronger and smarter :)

[@aris5570]

Holy moly this was a ride with scammers!!!!!

[@Bbarm97]

always ask for a photo of the lens next to and id, name doesnt match then nope

[@djkrowa]

I've bought and sold over 100 scopes... Never been scammed. I must admit to one thing - I will bid and back out later... But that's not a crime. I hope you didn't get taken for a 6K ride!!!

[@alexwang007]

Hello from toronto. I got scammed on a 30 dollar sig sauer laser range finder but i didn't lose much.. that's the first and only time that i got scammed, and i didn't bother about getting my money back. (i tried but got confused so i gave up)

[@SpektrikMusic]

arrgh ive been scammed 900aud whilst purchasing a used a7iii. 900 sent as deposit which i thought was a smart choice in case it was a scam and i could send the remainder after receiving it but NOPE. Sent through friends and family too.

[@SpektrikMusic]

@@AnamorphicOnABudget Definitely! NEVER let emotion cloud your judgement too! I was so excited to be getting an a7iii I didn't think it through properly!

[@stoegex]

i also nearly lost over 3000€ on ebay #blinded

[@BogdanSorlea]

a few days ago I got f'kin' scammed for some half a grand for an E-image tripod that was listed on amazon.de so everyone just beware, I think there is a rise in video gear-related scams!

[@shawnkay8649]

Lol, I love this story. Thanks for sharing.

[@VariTimo]

7:38 I can’t watch anymore.

[@bmpcc4ktech852]

Tito! Why.... but why???? You... and I have an addiction that causes irrational decisions. You need REHAB. But never, I mean never send as friend and family unless they are. I hope it works out for you. The addiction is real 🤣

[@djinjis]

I'm with stupid ------> Tito Ferradans 10! 10!10! 10! 11! 11! 12!

[@freejay3]

10

[@kiritokxic]

tito you make me mad this time!!

[@gaboguerra950]

Sorry First time a 2 or 3 Second an 11