Kalina54 Loc: Flagstaff, AZ

If you were going to sell something bogus It would most likely be a much more expensive item. PayPal will protect both buyer and seller for a small fee. Everyone has to start somewhere. If it were for a Nikon I would purchase it in a heartbeat.. Good luck..

Pablo8 Loc: Nottingham UK.

Most posters extol the virtues of this lens, yet it seems to be the most lenses offered for sale, are this Sigma.

LGilbert Loc: Earth

I'm not sure why anybody would automatically categorize a new user as suspicious just because they don't do post processing or feel the need to display their results. This type of profiling is simply not acceptable in any type of social community. Being a new member doesn't mean squat relative to reputation or respect, either positive or negative, nor does being a constant poster relegate anybody to a superior status. Why this photographic community tolerates these prejudicial statements at all is mystifying. If you have had problems in the past with first timer posters at least have the decency to not dump your past experiences on innocent new members. New users should feel the warmth of the community, not instant suspicion or prejudice.

The last time this type of prejudice erupted, somebody was complaining that a seller did not identify their location to the satisfaction of some unwritten, artificial standard. Both cases are the same arrogant, condescending attitudes that are simply not acceptable.

ptcanon3ti Loc: NJ

Great price on a great lens. GLWS.

I hope you can overcome the skepticism.

jds53 Loc: San Diego, CA

It probability would help if the poster was not in hiding.

LGilbert Loc: Earth

I have no idea what this means. There is no requirement that anybody give a location. I live in unincorporated Sharon Township, Ohio. Does that tell you anything? More accurately, I changed my location to "Earth". That should be very clear. I'm certainly not "in hiding" any more than the original, innocent poster of the for sale lens.

At this moment, I am placing an offer with the seller. The attitude of a small minority of self-designated, non-authorized forum police accusing members of offenses for which there is no specification or code is particularly disappointing.

jds53 Loc: San Diego, CA

I was just replying to what some people think about newbies placing things for sale. If someone really wants to rip someone off they could say they are in one place and could actually be somewhere else.

Macromad Loc: New Zealand

Hi if this lens is still available. please let me know if you are willing to ship to new Zealand will pay all costs and insurance. And can you please post some pictures taken with this lens and of the lens itself.

Grassyhill Loc: Mass

Lens sold thanks

LGilbert Loc: Earth

There is nothing that should be said about a newbie placing an ad on the forum than for any other member. I see nowhere in the forum that stipulates that new members are subject to different ad placing rules, a member has to post (text or pictures) to attain any meaningful status, or that any other member has the right to complain about their newness, any other members lack of posting (by giving them the adverse title of 'lurker'), or limit any members participation in any way as a result of their particular choice of participation.

As for location: It makes absolutely no difference where anybody lives unless you are intent on picking up the object from the seller. How would this information be of value, correct or not? I assume, that because my location is 'Earth' (changed from Sharon Township to reduce confusion), and I'm not a newbie, you won't complain.

Prejudicial treatment, profiling (being labeled a 'newbie'), putting members in classes (posters or lurkers) or any other form of good old boys clique behavior is not part of this forum's doctrine. If I am mistaken, please let me know.

Gifted One Loc: S. E. Idaho

I guess that I missed the, DOCTRINE part. There issues when you have a society that can lose trust, (and real assets). I for one as a newer member am glad that the whole looks after the few and that few are willing to risk to protect the vulnerable. I believe that you by your response are reading something more into what has been brought forth. "JR"

LGilbert Loc: Earth

Thank you for your reply.
In the last few months I have witnessed members of this forum criticize or suggest that others be suspicious of (1) newbies selling, (2) anybody with a blank location, (3) buying from a Jewish owned business that closes on Saturday for religious reasons. Happily, the last comment caused most of the rest of the forum to roundly condemn the original poster with hundreds of posts supporting the photographic business in question.

Number three above was a correct response, the majority looking after the few. Number one and two are simply prejudicial comments that should have garnered the same majority looking after the few response. If the forum has lost trust in 'newbies' then have a rule that 'newbies' cannot post in the sales forum until they satisfy some criteria that is uniformly enforced. The same goes for the location field. There are no forum rules about posting in the sales forum or about leaving the location field blank, so the negative comments towards those that leave the field blank or those who are new to the group and decided to sell something are not warranted.

It has nothing to do with society losing trust. It has all to do with guilt by association, unwarranted suspicion. I lived through the dark periods of the J Edgar Hoover '50s and McCarthyism, both operating illegally, both ruining lives of innocent people and watched what happens when the individual civil rights built into our Constitution are violated. Unless an individual exhibits overt behavior not becoming a member of the forum (breaking a forum rule, for example), criticism of their individual choices of participation breaks their trust that this is an open and accepting forum.

Gifted One Loc: S. E. Idaho

- - - and we can agree to disagree agreeably. Everyone has the stripe shirts and no one has the striped shirts. "JR" "It is mostly interesting." and the lens got sold - I hope with good results to all.!

LGilbert Loc: Earth

I only regret that I didn't get the lens.... Curses!

DB Loc: Myrtle Beach, SC

So glad your lens sold. Its a great lens but not everyone likes it for different reasons. As for newbies posting items for sale... this is the section of the forum that is entitled Buy/Sell/Trade Classifieds.... I would expect people to be selling items here.