Refurbished: a crap shoot or a bargain?

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Pfreddee

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From time to time I look at getting another DSLR, but I really don't want to pay full price if I can avoid it. One route would be to go to Lens Authority and get a used camera. Another would be to buy a refurbished camera from B&H or Adorama. Has anyone tried refurbished gear, and what was your experience, good or bad? I'm not wedded to any particular brand.

Thanks to all who reply.

With best regards,

Pfreddee(Stephen)
 
I've lost count of the # of refurbished pieces of gear I've purchased from reputable online sellers: Adorama, BH, Roberts. Never had a problem w/ one of them. YMMV
 
I've purchased two refurbished camera bodies (EOS 6D, EOS SL1) and two refurbished lenses (24mm EF-S pancake, 18-55 EF-S STM kit zoom) direct from the Canon USA online store. The 6D arrived in like-new condition except for an almost invisible hairline abrasion on the top LCD. The other items were indistinguishable from new. All of them have worked flawlessly.

Canon refurbs have the added benefit of a full one-year warranty, but I've not had to use it on any of the items I've purchased.

I've also purchased a refurbished Nikon kit zoom (18-55mm VR II version) from Cameta Camera. Although Nikon sells refurbs direct with a 90-day warranty, Cameta generally bumps the warranty up to a full year. This lens, too, came in pristine condition and has functioned flawlessly.
 
Fraser said:
just buy used with a warranty.
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Refurbished are better than used. You get a factory warranty plus the mfg have gone over the item, servicing it, to make sure it functions as new.

My refurb Nikon F6 was like new. Same with the 24-120 lens.
 
Huss said:
Refurbished are better than used. You get a factory warranty plus the mfg have gone over the item, servicing it, to make sure it functions as new.
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Another vote for Refurbs. The cameras and lenses I've purchased over the last few years all looked and performed as new. As a note to the OP, if you purchase a refurb from Cameta Camera, they give you a full year warranty, not the 90 day one that the manufacturers offer. They're a great source for Nikon refurbs
 
Pfreddee said:
From time to time I look at getting another DSLR, but I really don't want to pay full price if I can avoid it. One route would be to go to Lens Authority and get a used camera. Another would be to buy a refurbished camera from B&H or Adorama. Has anyone tried refurbished gear, and what was your experience, good or bad? I'm not wedded to any particular brand.

Thanks to all who reply.

With best regards,

Pfreddee(Stephen)
Click to expand...

I would never think of manufacture refurbished as a crap shoot personally. Seller refurbished maybe.

I've had great luck buying camera gear from Nikon refurb. My D7100, 85mm f1.8G, Coolpix A are all Nikon refurbs. I also buy most of my gear used as well. Much better value personally.
 
PaulW128 said:
Huss said:
As a note to the OP, if you purchase a refurb from Cameta Camera, they give you a full year warranty, not the 90 day one that the manufacturers offer. They're a great source for Nikon refurbs
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I was just going to mention this. If you get a refurb, make sure you put it through its paces in the first 90 days while the camera is under warranty. It should be fine -- I've never had a refurb fail on me.

The Cameta Camera 1-year warranty gives you extra peace of mind. When I intend to buy used gear, I tend to look at their inventory first and if necessary, move on to other options from there.
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Huss said:
Refurbished are better than used. You get a factory warranty plus the mfg have gone over the item, servicing it, to make sure it functions as new.
Click to expand...

Indeed. On new items, they take a random item from the lot for inspection. A refurbished one, in contrast, has been individually inspected to pass all quality tests.

I own a camera refurbished by Canon. Five years, no issues whatsoever.
 
Probably ok. Issue being some intermittent problem that checks ok in repair , but surfaces the day after the warrantee expires.

In general, the odds are decent you will get a decent item.
 
My experience has been that buying refurbished from the manufacturer (Nikon, Canon) is a good deal. I hesitate buying refurbished from any dealer though. One of the dealers listed above had a batch of refurbished Nikon DSLR's. I contacted Nikon and they said they had not refurbished the cameras that dealer was selling. So I'm not sure who did the refurbishing on them. Again, buying refurbished from the factory direct, either Canon or Nikon, I find to be a safer bet.

Best,
-Tim
 
I buy returns whenever possible. As mentioned they're completely gone through from top to bottom as opposed to new which undergo random checks.

Cameta Camera is where I go first although Nikon has returns ans sometimes cheaper than dealers. Cameta is often cheaper than B&H and Adorama.
 
It depends on who did the refurbishing and how they define "refurbish." Read the fine print before you buy.

I bought a couple of refurbished bodies (F3/T and FM2n) from Nikon and had no problems with them. Nikon refurbishes to 100% new specifications, but the exterior may have some cosmetic blemishes.

IF the camera or lens is refurbished the right way, refurbs are a good deal.
 
I bought a Nikon refurbished 1 V1 with 10mm kit a couple of months ago. There's a big yellow sticker on the box stating it's "USED", but I can't distinguish it from new in any other way. Comes with a 1 year full Nikon guarantee; all in all it's excellent value for money.
 
Both my D300 and D700 are refurbs from Cameta Camera; as is my 45mm Nikkor-P. Never a problem.
 
I think many "refurbs" are simple returns that cannot be sold as new in the US by law. They are sent back to the manufacturer who runs them through service checks (maybe) and then sells them as refurbs.
 
Hi,

My problem with refurbished, CLA'd etc is that I suspect some are done with an old toothbrush and WD40.

Having said that I'll add that ones I've had from the better dealers were excellent. It's a bit of a mine field...

Regards, David
 
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