Proof That Kind People Still Exist
Last month, I purchased a preowned Diana Mini camera from a local seller. It was an impulse buy following the purchase of a Kodak H35 film camera. It was listed at $55 and was located near my house. I paid in advance and asked my husband for help to collect it later.
When I received the item, it was still in the original box, with the packaging still intact. I wiped down the camera and the strap. It had some yellowing stains from the strap—likely due to long-term storage. I loaded a fresh roll of Lomography 400 film. My muscle memory clearly remembers how to load it, I didn’t need a tutorial to guide me through the process—something I used to rely on. When everything seemed in order, I closed the camera back, locked it, and pressed the shutter button to advance the film. The film counter remained at 'E'. Something was wrong.
I reopened the camera back, expecting the film would have come loose. To my surprise, the film was still nicely wrapped around the spool. I unwound the film slowly and removed it from the camera. I played with the shutter mechanism for a bit. I quickly realized that the shutter was stuck and wouldn't snap properly. I did a quick search and found multiple articles on Flickr that highlighted this to be a common issue of the Diana Mini. Someone mentioned using lighter fluid to get the shutter moving. There were other alternatives too like contacting Lomography etc.
I did not want to go through the hassle of rectifying this issue. Although I believed it wasn't the seller's fault, I didn’t want to pay $55 for a faulty camera. With some hesitation, I messaged the seller, explaining the issue and politely asking if I could return the camera for a refund. I was prepared for the seller to decline my request.
To my delight, the seller agreed. He immediately transferred the full refund of $55 to me, without requesting proof of the issue. I asked when I could return the camera. His reply? "It's fine. No need to return. Sorry for the inconvenience." Wow. With this new information, I felt slightly motivated to get the camera fixed.
Aside from the relief of getting my funds back, I am amazed by the seller's ethics. He took responsibility for the faulty camera and with no further questions asked, he sent my refund without delay. On top of that, he refused to take it back. His kindness stood out to me. It says a lot about the personality of this seller. Thank you, Diana Mini seller, for reminding me that good people still exist. That kindness and humanity still thrive.
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