LouV Loc: Juno Beach, FL

Funny story. I was in England 2 weeks ago and my wife and I, along with some friends from Bristol, were visiting the beautiful seaside town of Lyme Regis. Of course I was taking pictures. A Canadian tourist walked up to me and asked what camera I was using. I told him it was a Nikon d810. He then explained that he has the same camera and his battery had died and the spare was back at his hotel hours away. He asked if I had a charged spare and if I would swap it for his dead one. I thought how I’d feel if I were in such a beautiful place and unable to take pictures so I said I would. He needed to go to his car to get the battery so I told him where we’d be so he could meet us later.

While we were waiting for him my friends and I were joking that this was some kind of battery scam and this guy was just waiting to find someone with the same camera or, alternatively, he had a large supply of many different dead batteries and prowled tourist areas to unload them. In a little while he showed up with his battery. I noticed it was an after market brand and pointed out mine was a genuine Nikon battery. He agreed that wasn’t a fair trade and immediately handed me £20. I almost didn’t take it but he was insistent.

So that evening when we got back to our Bristol hosts’ home, I plugged it in to charge. It seemed to charge normally and I didn’t give it any further thought. However, days later when I put it in my camera it showed about 3/4 and almost immediately dropped to half. I charged it fully again with the same result. So he got a virtually brand new Nikon battery worth $55 and I got a useless piece of crap plus £20 (about $26). I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt that he didn’t realize his battery was shot and I imagine I’d probably do the same thing in the very unlikely event something like that ever happens again. Better yet, maybe I’ll try the same thing he did when I happen to run into someone else with a d810 ; ).

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

Too many times attempts at trying to do the right thong comes to a bad end. Sad, but people have bad intent, and take advantage.
Your willingness to help this guy was admirable.

LouV Loc: Juno Beach, FL

True but I still prefer to give him the benefit of the doubt. Besides, it that’s the worst thing that happens to me this year, I’m a lucky guy.

thommy

I'm afraid I'd probably do it again too. I believe in the ability to believe in the goodness of people, part of why I've been married for 25+ years, to my third wife

LouV Loc: Juno Beach, FL

[quote=Kmgw9v]Too many times attempts at trying to do the right thong comes to a bad end. ....

True, but I still prefer to give him the benefit of the doubt. Besides, if that’s the worst thing that happens to me this year, I’m a lucky guy.

LouV Loc: Juno Beach, FL

Quixdraw Loc: x

Worth a try to totally discharge the battery and try to recharge again. I'd have probably done the same thing, though I might have wanted to see the camera! Life is short - shorter never taking a chance.

LouV Loc: Juno Beach, FL

[quote=quixdraw]Worth a try to totally discharge the battery and try to recharge again.

I figure it was fully discharged when he gave it to me but I do intend to try what you suggest. Thanks.

Nancysc

I would not have done the trade, not even for the 20 pounds. Just say, No, I can't help you. The guy was stupid for leaving his back up battery in his hotel room. A skilled (and honest) photographer always carries the backup in his kit.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

Looks like you were scammed!!! I would have ask the full price of an O.E.M replacement battery.
At least you do have almost half the price of a new replacement.

FYI-The D800/D810 batteries will interchange with the D7100 batteries.

tommy2 Loc: Fort Worth, Texas

Unless that was an innocent, honest incident I feel sorry for a person like that - I can't imagine how tormented his fake life must be among good folks like you.

ELNikkor

Usually Canadians are nice people; good that you can give the benefit of the doubt. (Non-OEM battery should be a red flag, and a "cancel this" signal.)

billgran

If it were really a scam, do you really think the person would have given you the £20 ?

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Call me cynical, but I'd do exactly what you'd do, for the same reasons. I'd go one further and suggest he use his smartphone.

Or,

I'd carry around a useless, third-party battery in my bag just for occasions like this!

Dannj

If this was a scam I think the “scammer” must have been at the bottom of his class. All this for a camera battery? And it cost him cash as well? I think his story was true and you helped him out. He likely didn’t know the difference in the batteries.
IMO, of course.