MiroFoto

I am looking for Nikon P900. B&H has refurbished cameras. Yes, refurbished means that something was wrong with the equipment ......but it also means that the glitch was found and fixed, while the new item may have the problem eventually.

Any advice / experience?

Thank you Miro

Ched49 Loc: Pittsburgh, Pa.

Nothing wrong with buying refurbished. Just make sure it's refurbished by the manufacturer and has a guarantee. Good luck.

7awol Loc: Butler, Pa

Buy it! I always look for factory referbs. A real human has put their hands on it, put it through its paces, cleaned and packed it just for you. And it comes with a warranty!
Dean

Reinaldokool Loc: San Rafael, CA

Actually, it doesn't mean that anything was wrong. Often someone buys a camera and then just doesn't like the features or prefers a Canon rather than a Nikon or Sony or whatever. They return the purchased unit, but B&H (And all the others) can no longer sell the product as new. They have a deal where Nikon/Canon etc. will take the product back, put it on a testbench and make sure it is still in new condition--or repair any minor issues. It gets reboxed in refurbish box and sold as refurbished--even though nothing may have been wrong.

I have purchased several "Nikon factory refurbished" (All those words are important) cameras and have had every one come to me just like brand new. All six such cameras functioned perfectly for the years I owned them. The only reason I have not purchased Sony refurbs is that they are scarcer than hen's teeth. I have personally used four of the refurbs, 1 purchased from B&H, one from Adorama and three from Cameta. (I'm partial to Cameta for the very personal quality service I have received.) Each of my daughters is using a refurb and enjoying it. One secret is that some vendors sell "refurbished" equipment, but not "Nikon (or Canon, etc.) factory refurbished." They send product out to third-parties who often do not do as good a job. I purchased a refurbished Lenova laptop that was a dog. I had to hassle with the vendor to get my money back.

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

Refurbished does NOT necessarily mean that something was wrong with the item. Some items are used at camera shows as demonstrators and returned to the manufacturer and refurbished. Some items are opened in the store and passed around to customers, returned to the manufacturer and refurbished. Some items in their boxes are damaged in shipment and refurbished. Refurbished is NOT some "Red Badge Of Shame" that refurb items must wear.

Refurb items have been checked twice (two times) and come with a warranty and, typically, with all accessories you get when you buy a new item.

All refurb items sold by B&H are refurbished by their respective manufacturers, not randomly by by B&H.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

I just purchased a refurbished Nikon DX lens, and it was $200 less expensive than a new one. It came with a 90 day Nikon USA warranty. B&H is a good place to buy refurbished. As well as Cameta, Adorama, and KEH.

Tom G Loc: Atlanta, GA

B&H is the only place I buy photographic equipment. I have purchased from, returned and sold equipment to, them. The are rated AAA-1 for me. Honest, trustworthy, knowledgeable, and fair.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

MiroFoto

Thanks to all of you . So we can close this post.

Miro

jccash Loc: Longwood, Florida

I have owned a number of refurbs over the years. MacBook Pro's Nikon D7200 and D500 as well as some lenses. If someone buys a camera and then returns it, they can't put that s/n back in new stock (innovatory) so they certify it and sell it as factory refurb. You can save a lot of money.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

Interestingly enough, I just bought a P&S that had, what was for me, a new designation, "OB" meaning open box. I don't know at what point a demo (which can be sold as a new camera in some states) becomes a #10 used camera (returned unused in box with all enclosures) and where between those an open box camera would fall. Maybe it's someone being very careful about the description of the camera.

jlrivera Loc: Round Lake, Illinois

Buy from Cameta, they have a 1 year warranty !

MikeMck Loc: Southern Maryland on the Bay

Refurbished DOES NOT mean there was anything wrong with the camera. Most of these units are simply returns that buyers did not like for some reason. B&H is a quality retailer as you will see from all its customers on this site. My only caution is that I would want the camera to be "factory refurbished". All of my equipment have been purchased from the Canon refurbished site. I have never had a problem, I defy anyone to tell the difference between brand new and refurbished if purchased directly from Canon.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I don't buy new if I can find an alternative - ebay, refurbished, KEH. A refurbished camera was probably not defective. No one knows for sure how they got into that pipeline, but they could have simply been returned by a customer shortly after purchase. Aside from the limited warranty and lower price, there is not difference between new and refurbished.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I would like to see what really happens to a camera before it is certified as "Refurbished." It would be very costly for a manufacturer to set up a refurbishing center, only to sell the gear for lower prices. If the cameras are just returns from customers, which seems likely, they're probably just as good as new, so a quick test and cleaning would be sufficient. When it get into disassembly and replacing parts, that's when it gets expensive.