On 1/9/04, Kostas Kavoussanakis, discombobulated, unleashed: >The seller also had a K200/2.5, my current object of lust. > >http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? >ViewItem&rd=1&item=3835670668&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT > >Kostas
I had that lens once many moons ago. Early 90s I think it was. A super lens, big and heavy but beautiful. Get one and you won't be disappointed. When it came time to sell, about 1992 or so, I advertised it through the classifieds in AP if I recall. Some drudge came all the way from Gloucestershire or something and he was a real dead-beat. Anyway he was huffing and puffing and going on about how there was a scratch here and a missing bit of cardboard box there, really nitpicking. I was just wishing he would quite honestly naff off. He muttered a lot and was obviously building up to a piss-poor offer. Anyway this was in the days when cell phones weren't mega big like they are today, and I had one with my job. While he was fussing and tutting, I told him that someone else was interested in the lens and they were due to telephone me shortly. He continued fussing and tutting, but I went into the kitchen, dialled my home number from the cell phone and when it rang in the hall - which was right next to the room the dead-beat was in - I went to answer it, pressing 'end' on the cell phone. I then had a conversation on the land line with myself that went something like this: 'Oh hello, you rang earlier about the lens? Yes, it's still for sale......I think. (pause) Yes well someone is here right now looking at it but I think he's offering less than the asking price, so.....(excruciatingly long pause, I glance through to the dead-beat who is eyeing me nervously). Well, yes of course I must give precedence to the full asking price, but the gentleman here did arrive first....(pause) Okay, hang on, I'll just check - ' (to the dead beat, my hand covering the mouthpiece of the phone) 'The chap on the phone is willing to pay the full asking price, so really as you're already here I must give you first refusal.......' The dead-beat takes one nano-second in thinking time and nods vigourously. 'The full asking price?' I enquire. He nods again. (back on the phone) I'm terribly sorry but the lens is now sold. Thank you for calling, good-bye.' The dead-beat paid immediately in cash and left. True story. The thought of starting a bidding war did cross my mind but that would have been too wicked. And, yes - in case you were wondering, wine did play a part ;-) Cheers, Cotty ___/\__ || (O) | People, Places, Pastiche ||=====| www.macads.co.uk/snaps _____________________________
