POTN pays it forward

I’d like to relate a true story that unfolded within the past week. It’s the kind of story that not only shows the positive side of human nature at work (even on an online forum!), but also gave me another reason to be proud to be a member of the amazing Adorama team.

Part I: The imperfect crime

It all started a week ago today, when “BucketMan,” an active member of photography-on-the.net, posted his story on the Canon Digital Photography Equipment Talk forum. He got a call at work, from a detective, regarding a Canon lens that he’d purchased last year.  “My heart sank,” he wrote. “I became nauseated. My beloved 70-200 that I got on Craigslist was indeed stolen.”

He related his story: He found the lens on Craig’s List for $950—the 70-200mm f/2.8 IS, which normally sells for around $1,700. “At first I thought it was a mistype. However I talked to the guy and he in fact said it was that version and he wanted $950 for it. He seemed like a legit person, a young kid in fact, with an interest in photography...how dumb am I?”

They met, the seller seemed knowledgeable about photography, even claimed he owned a Canon 50D. “He said the lens was just too heavy for him, and he wanted a lighter zoom,” was the cover story, which seemed plausible as the Canon 70-200 f/2.8 is a heavy lens. BucketMan continues: “The lens was in great condition, worked flawlessly on my camera. Money was handed over and I had finally achieved "L" greatness!”

BucketMan brought the lens home, and writes that “I loved it, we had so many great times together! I bought her a fancy UV filter, 1.4x TC, Macro tubes. Man, we took some nice shots! I cleaned her regularly, she was my pride and joy...well, until we had my daughter in October.”

Then, last Monday, the detective called. About $14,000 worth of camera gear had been stolen from a photo studio a couple of hundred miles away. He asked BucketMan if he’d return the lens. Without a moment of hesitation, BucketMan said yes. He ended his post with the following:

“I do believe in karma, I truly do. I have many things to be thankful for, including a great and healthy family, so it could be worse.

“So, Mr. or Mrs. camera studio owner in King, North Carolina. I babied that lens, took extra special care of her and cleaned her after every outing. It was never dropped and always stored in my bag on my 40D. I hope you will be glad to have her back.

“(sigh)”

BucketMan had no idea what would come in the next 600 posts.

Part II: The online community rallies

First, there was the outpouring of support, telling BucketMan he did the right thing, then shock that (upon learning through follow-up posts) some people actually don’t return stolen items that they unknowningly bought. Posters debated whether BucketMan should have held onto the lens. Some were suspicious that the detective was himself a scammer but that was quickly disproven. The young man who sold BucketMan the lens confessed his crime, and is now in jail.

Then post #33: int2str wrote “PM me your Paypal email address and I'll donate $50 to the "BucketMan 70-200" fund!” BucketMan thanked him, but didn’t think he could accept such a gesture. Other similar offers were made.

We jump to post 247: daveyboi wrote: “BucketMan, I salute you. Can we all finally agree to start a BucketMan 70-200 2.8 IS fund?” People responded with “I’m In!” and “Count me in for $5,” and “how do we set up a fund?” and so forth. Derek, AKA DDCSD, set up a Karma Fund last Thursday, and the money poured in.

Part III: Adorama’s offer

Adorama’s Helen Oster picks up the story here.

“I'm a regular contributor on POTN,” Helen tells me. “For the most part I have found the members to be incredibly kind, helpful and supportive of one another.  When Derek alerted me to the thread which described 'Bucketman's' 'loss' of his Canon 70-200 f/2.8 IS lens, my initial hope was that I might be able to persuade a member of the Adorama management team to let a used or refurb unit go at cost. I didn't expect it to be straightforward. After all, in a business the size of Adorama, you really can't issue discounts and freebies without proper consideration or without thinking about budgets etc.”

But the incredible happened, and, Helen posted the following message on the board: “We have a proposal - which will in any case include free shipping, lens bag and filter cleaning kit. I need Derek to come back to me, to clarify whether you would prefer the older version (retails at $1,799) or the new version (retails at $2499) - and I will advise him how much we are going to contribute.” She then clarified the offer: Adorama would offer the new version of the lens, nicknamed the MK II. “The Adorama Management Team has agreed that I can offer this to you for $2,200 - and we will, as I mentioned before, cover the cost of shipping, plus a lens case and a filter cleaning kit.”

In only 24 hours, the contributions to the 'karma fund' raised far more than was needed for a refurb 70-200 f/2.8 IS lens - or even for a new one; it was a couple of hundred dollars short of the cost of a MK II, which Adorama made up, to enable the POTN members to purchase of a brand new Canon 70-200 f/2.8 IS MK II lens for BucketMan.
 
“I was certainly thankful that the Adorama Management team agreed to make a donation,” remarks Helen. “But more significant, was that on this day Adorama had enabled the POTN members to come together to do something really great.

Part IV: The amazing, happy ending

By early Friday, the goal had been reached, and by Friday afternoon, the lens was on its way to BucketMan.

And here is Bucketman’s response—which shows what happens when bad karma is turned into good, and a group of anonymous strangers get together to help out a friend in need:

“Friends,

“My hands are literally shaking...my typing is terrible to begin with, thank goodness for Firefox spell check.

“Everyone's generosity is truly inspiring. Words can not describe the feeling I have. I would like to thank everyone on here for their kind words, sympathy, donations, a special shout out to my friend Derek for starting this, Rachel (wanyc) for her advice and many phone calls to the police and of course Adorama for their generous contribution as well, you have me as a life long customer.

“Jensen, my daughter, will surely be tired of hearing the story behind the big white lens that daddy points in her face constantly. Additionally my wife would like to thank everyone as well, she saw how bummed out I was over this ordeal and she never once criticized me and has been nothing but supportive, thank you sweety.

“I spoke with the police in Wytheville, nice people. I made a statement via phone and have put him in contact with the police in NC. Next Friday I will be traveling to Wytheville to file the official police report so that may be added to the list of things going on in NC.

“I always had an interest in taking pictures, but only started to get serious about it recently. I know I have found more than a hobby. I have found a community of dedicated people both professional and hobbyist that truly take care of their own. I am proud to be a part of this forum and will share this story with anyone who had the time.

“Thank you all again. I will certainly be sure to update and add plenty of pictures when the lens arrives! I am so excited.”

There were many practical, hard-headed business reasons not get involved, to just sit on the sidelines. But with people like Helen Oster, Joel Meisels, Brian Green, and Harry Drummer working for Adorama, there was one big reason to help BucketMan out: Because everybody knew it was the right thing to do.

And to the kind people of POTN, what can I say? You guys are incredible! $2,265 was raised in 24 hours. Derek broke it down: 26 donations of $5, 31 donations of $10, 24 donations of $20…the list goes on, and is truly amazing. You deserve all the good Karma that you get from this.

Read the entire thread, which now exceeds 640 posts!



Photo credits (Money falling out of can): Devonyo/iStockphoto.com