Warning: I got burned on a 'vintage' camera at the Springfield swap meet

I paid $60 for what the seller swore was a working 1970s Kodak Instamatic. It looked cool, but the film cartridge slot was totally jammed with old, hardened gunk. I spent another $30 trying to get it cleaned and fixed, only to be told it's basically a paperweight. Has anyone else had luck spotting real working cameras versus junked ones?

3 comments

3 Comments

cameroncarr21d ago

Fully serviced" means nothing without a video of it working.

lisa_hart261mo ago

Tell you what, this happens with so much old stuff now. Feels like every flea market and online listing calls something "vintage" just to jack up the price, even if it's totally broken. I see it with old radios, toys, you name it. It's turned that word into a red flag for me. Sorry about your camera, that really stinks after paying for the clean-up too. You almost need to assume something that old is broken unless you see it working right in front of you.

nina_harris3929d ago

Watched my buddy get burned on a vintage typewriter last month. He paid extra because the listing said "fully serviced and working." Got it home and the carriage return was totally stuck. Seller just ghosted him after that. You're right, seeing it work in person is the only safe bet now.