M8 Refurbished on Ebay? And used M8 or new M9, what is the better value?

[eleskin]

What does "refurbished" mean regarding a used M8 for sale on Ebay? Willoughby's is selling one for around $3000 and I may consider this as a cheaper alternative to a new M9 (Originally I was planning to make my perfectly functioning M8 my backup camera, but it may make more financial sense by keeping it as my primary camera, and just getting a used M8 on ebay. I am just curious what "Refurbished" means.

I will eventually get an M9 (Next year sometime), but I am finding almost all of my M8 photos are perfectly acceptable. I print on the Epson 3800 on 17"x22" Exhibition Fiber and am blown away by the quality, even when I compare it to my Medium Format Fuji GSW 690 shots. So it may seem the M8 may have the most user value here, especially when I consider the 15mm Super Wide Heliar I recently bought for the M8 with the 21mm finder.

 

[Pickett Wilson]

There's a nice M8 updated in the classifieds right now.

 

[Merkin]

i think 3 grand is a bit steep for a refurb m8. if it were an 8.2, perhaps. i think the best answer is to wait and get an m9.

 

[JNewell]

If $3400 is truly new not refurb'd, that's quite a deal. All of the refurb M8s I've seen (~half a dozen) were indistinguishable from new without a magnifying glass. Even if you're careful, a truly new M8 or M8.2 probably would look the same after a week or so. The packaging, however, is sometimes a little worn (big deal).

Given the scope and cost of what might go wrong with an M8/M8.2, I wouldn't touch one used for over $2k unless it had either at least a 60 day MBG from an established and well-regarded retailer or the seller could provide evidence of a recent Leica overhaul (because, according to Stefan Daniel, M8/8.2s that go through Solms get a 100% check for faults and defects - don't know whether that's true for US-serviced cameras, though).

 

[JNewell]

As to which is the better value, a used M8, a refurb M8 or a new M9, that is for you to decide. I am personally wary of buying a used digital camera and when I was shopping for my own M8.2's I felt I could live with a one year warranty rather than two years. I feel that is enough time for a problem to be revealed.

I agree, especially since they've (1) already had a chance to fail and (2) been checked completely by the factory. I've bought several refurb digital products - in some ways it's safer, I think.

 

[JNewell]

"So buy from a great dealer."

Truer words were never posted.

My best out-of-warranty story. Got to the car after a hike, put the Garmin gps on the roof (!), drove off. Remembered half an hour down the road, drove back. GPS had been driven over...screen was black. Called Garmin, told them I had a problem, and GPS was out of warranty (as if it were ever under warranty for THIS). They said: send it in. They sent back a new GPS. Whoa...

 

[bolohead]

I picked up a "used" M8 from Popflash Photo. I was surprised when I received it that the shutter count was virtually nil and it looked brand spankin' new. I used that Bing (formerly Microsoft Live) cashback deal on Ebay and saved a nice chunk of change. It came with a 1 yr warranty and I got the 2 IR filters. I think the final price was under $3k with the rebate.

 

[RJ Willo]

The M8u in the classifieds @ $3000 is not a refurbished M8. I plan on selling this today, so please feel free to make offers!
-Ron