Panasonic silver paint and serial number worn away

Since an image contains EXIF presenting camera and lens serial numbers, the imprinted numeral is moot. Not that having it rub off isn't annoying, but the shop's rationale is empty.

Good luck!

Rick

Trevor Carpenter wrote:

I'm trying to sell a GX7, I have the silver model and it is showing much sign of wear. That silver paint scratched very easily and has put me off ever buying another silver camera. Second hand the going rate seems to be about £220. Given the condition of mine I thought I would be lucky to get £100 for it. I took it into our local CEX (UK chain buying and selling electronics, DVDs and games) and they offered me £110 subject to passing inspection. More than happy to take that so went back half an hour later for them to tell me they couldn't take it because the serial number had worn away. Now that is rubbish and I'm not sure who I am more annoyed at, Panny for not placing a more permanent serial no or the system that relies on having a serial number that is far from permanent.

That sounds like a good thing.  Having a worn relic look give the camera some character.  If it still functions no need for upgrade.

Skeeterbytes wrote:

Since an image contains EXIF presenting camera and lens serial numbers, the imprinted numeral is moot. Not that having it rub off isn't annoying, but the shop's rationale is empty.

Good luck!

Rick

Cex staff do not know enough to deal with phones and tablets (their most popular mechandise) properly, never mind cameras.

From the company's point of view, additional trouble such as getting the SNO out of the camera's internal storage and dealing with the complications expected in their selling it on should be avoided - training staff to deal with this properly is much too costly, and potential customers cannot be trained. Hence I can understand this thing being in the official policy.

Trevor Carpenter wrote:

I'm trying to sell a GX7, I have the silver model and it is showing much sign of wear. That silver paint scratched very easily and has put me off ever buying another silver camera. Second hand the going rate seems to be about £220. Given the condition of mine I thought I would be lucky to get £100 for it. I took it into our local CEX (UK chain buying and selling electronics, DVDs and games) and they offered me £110 subject to passing inspection. More than happy to take that so went back half an hour later for them to tell me they couldn't take it because the serial number had worn away. Now that is rubbish and I'm not sure who I am more annoyed at, Panny for not placing a more permanent serial no or the system that relies on having a serial number that is far from permanent.

How frustrating, especially to have the offer snatched away.  Interesting to have confirmation that the silver GX7 is painted - I thought it probably was, but it’s hard to tell for sure until wear occurs.  Probably mag alloy then.

I remember a kerfuffle about the G7 (which I recall you used to have) which on launch had its serial number rubbing off in days.  Hopefully you avoided that issue (I think it was the G7 ...).

Skeeterbytes wrote:

Since an image contains EXIF presenting camera and lens serial numbers, the imprinted numeral is moot. Not that having it rub off isn't annoying, but the shop's rationale is empty.

Good luck!

Rick

Indeed there is an internal serial number but it's not the same as the number on the bottom of the camera. From PhotoME, EXIF of my G80:

The number on the bottom being WE6JA......

Trevor Carpenter wrote:

I'm trying to sell a GX7, I have the silver model and it is showing much sign of wear. That silver paint scratched very easily and has put me off ever buying another silver camera. Second hand the going rate seems to be about £220. Given the condition of mine I thought I would be lucky to get £100 for it. I took it into our local CEX (UK chain buying and selling electronics, DVDs and games) and they offered me £110 subject to passing inspection. More than happy to take that so went back half an hour later for them to tell me they couldn't take it because the serial number had worn away. Now that is rubbish and I'm not sure who I am more annoyed at, Panny for not placing a more permanent serial no or the system that relies on having a serial number that is far from permanent.

Regardless  of the [lack of visible] serial number and of allocation of fault, i doubt whether any camera shop would want a camera that looked like a hedgehog having a bad hair day. It would be a hard sell indeed, at any price. I’m afraid that a rough looking consumer camera is worth more to its current owner than to anyone else and certainly to a business that has to gamble with some kind of warranty plus make a margin of markup on top of its purchase price from you.

Best of luck trying, but either retail it privately, which is as easy for you, or easier in fact, than for a shop, or resign yourself to keeping it.