Let me tell you a story
In 2007 I posted a topic in the For Sale section of this forum. At the time I was a very enthusiastic 20 year old photography student, in the middle of his degree who had just been offered the the Bargain of a lifetime. I haven't posted on this forum since then.
A friend of mine from Secondary School who worked at a reputable pawn shop sent me a txt while I was in a lecture -
"hey man hasselblad imacon camera just arrived worth anything???". He would often call me to help gauge the value or popularity of camera and music equipment that came in the shop.
To say the least, he had sparked my interest, and the lecture I was in was discussing high key lighting techniques which was putting me to sleep rapidly. I left the class, called my dad and asked him to meet me down at the Shop where Andre worked. My dad and I have always shared an interest in a good second deal, and still do.
After heading inside and Andre making fun at my attempt to grow a beard, he took us out the back the show us the camera, which had just arrived and was still being priced up. His manager was there, as it was an expensive item to come through the shop. He left with my dad to look at the paperwork which came with the Photographer to confirm its legitimacy while I talked to the Salesman about what he'd take for it. God knows why the Photographer took it here and not a camera dealership.
After a bit of negotiation I had come to a deal of $10,000 which was absurdly underpriced, but we all knew no one else was coming into this shop to buy this camera.
I left with my dad to talk , and was twisting his arm for an hour with all the things I could do with it if he loaned me the money. "We'll flip it and make 10 grand!" "sell the back for 10 and have a free camera!".
He needed more convincing - So I posted this, Aug 2007 on this forum -
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/forum/index.php?topic=18600.0 - Have a read.. (it makes me cringe a little, not only for what could have been, but also how I wrote seven years ago)
The post ruffled a few feathers - and my Inbox started to fill up. There were messages from photographers all over scrambling for a deal on deal on a specific lens. There were lot of others accusing me of setting up an internet scam, others defending and helping me price it up, reassuring me that I would have no problem selling it. There was even some encouragement with my Photography as I had posted my folio at the time in the thread.
We never ended up buying the Kit... As much as we knew it was a bargain, my parents couldn't justify the risk of me not being able to sell it on.
Seven years later - now working actively in the industry, and having owned & sold a few camera systems including a similar Phase One Kit a few years back - I still poke fun at my dad for not having faith in the 20 year old me. Id still be using all of those lenses, and would have had a trip around the world. Funny hey.
