Buying second hand from Amazon

[giellaleafapmu]

Guys, before I start, I couldn't find it but if I am violating some forum's rule about mentioning directly non-sponsor commercial sites such as that on the title, please just let me know and delete what I write.

Well, the matter is the one in the title: did any of you buy from them and does any of you know how much Amazon's guarantee is in the process and how much risk of buying from unknown sellers still remain?

I am asking because traditionally they had few well known internet dealers linked to them but recently appeared a couple of high-end cameras (such as Nikon D3X or D4) being sold at 60% of the usual price from "just launched" sellers and I was wondering what the matter is.

Thanks for all input, apologies if I wasted some moderator's time by braking a rule due to my inability looking for things.

GLF

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

I am asking because traditionally they had few well known internet dealers linked to them but recently appeared a couple of high-end cameras (such as Nikon D3X or D4) being sold at 60% of the usual price from "just launched" sellers and I was wondering what the matter is.

Oh, that's a huge flag for a scam. This has been going on for ages (in Internet years). I remember the first time I heard about the too-good-to-be-true Amazon seller: a friend bought (so he thought) a brand-new Canon 20D at a too-good-to-miss price. I think that was back in 2004. He got the credit card company involved and eventually got his money back. I've heard of many cases that started with "I saw this really cheap [insert highly-desirable high-end camera] on Amazon and bought it right away...yadda yadda..." and being a nightmare from there.

 

[giellaleafapmu]

Ok, I imagined something like this, but I never heard this coming from Amazon. I mean, I am not trying to do any publicity to them but in general Amazon seems to be not too bad as far as service concerns.

GLF

 

[jarski]

Amazon these days is not that different from eBay. there are "bad apples" among third party sellers.

 

[loquax ludens]

I regularly buy books from 3rd party sellers on Amazon. The prices are low enough to make the risk acceptable. I've had mostly good luck, although in a couple of cases, the book condition did match up to Amazon's grade specifications. The seller in one case sent me a replacement book of higher quality, and in the other case refunded my money and let me keep the book.

I'd be very hesitant to buy used camera bodies from Amazon 3rd party sellers. There's a lot more money at play, and hence a lot more risk to you.

 

[Phyllotaxis]

i acutally just bought my x-pro with 35/1.4 and extras from the "amazon marketplace." my purchase was the ideal of person-to-person internet buying and selling, completely perfect. i got a really good price on my stuff, too. saved just shy of a grand from retail for all thing included. but that was totally up to the seller. i did a loooot of corresponding and checking to make sure everything was legit.

that being said, i believe amazon marketplace offers some sort of fraud protection for up to, like, two grand or something. i'm not quite sure. considering that cap, i don't think i'd ever buy from a third-party seller an item totaling more than what amazon would protect.