After seeing an ad for GeorgeUry.com in Shutterbug magazine, I decided to check out the website. Although clearly laid out by someone with very limited web-building knowledge, George had some great prices on used camera lenses--one of which caught my eye immediately.

Since he didn't have an option to order online (instead preferring to do order-by-phone -- red flag: the dude is stuck in the past), I sent him an email to ask about the availability of this lens. He replied in less than 30 minutes ("Amazing, " I thought. "This guys may be old fashioned, but he's serious about customer service!") confirming that the lens was in stock.

My next obvious inquiry was "Do you have a picture of it?" Clearly I'm not going to send $600 to someone online based purely on their description of the product's quality. He has a nice rating system, but, as with all rating systems, they are 100% subjective. His idea of "Mint" might not sync with mine. I figure the guy deals in cameras, so surely he has a small digital camera around to photograph his own products (hell, even eBayers can handle that much).

His response was short and sweet. "I do not have an image of that lens."

Nothing else. No bothering with GETTING an image. No detailed description of the lens to make up for it. Nothing. The implication was, "I've got no photo. I'm not going to take a photo. If you don't like it, get lost."

So basically, the guy is a tool with about one-half iota of customer appreciation in his blood. I certainly wouldn't want to put him out by requesting a photo of his products. But if he won't make that extra effort (if you can call it that) this early in the sale, what are the odds he'll offer competent service in the even that things go down hill AFTER the sale?