Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED ?? Why is this lens 1/2 the price on E bay? It is advertised as "NEW" on E bay, and over $1K on Amazon? Ebay Link:...

Boone Loc: Groundhog Town USA

Why is this lens 1/2 the price on E bay? It is advertised as "NEW" on E bay, and over $1K on Amazon?

Ebay Link: https://www.ebay.com/itm/184391212292?epid=12034397785&hash=item2aee929d04:g:U9YAAOSwsvtfKwRF

Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003ZSHNEK/?coliid=I1PGGXSA74BG9T&colid=2F6VP84VLBHBM&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it&th=1

I am not a user of E bay, so I have no experiance with them.

Thanks for any and all your answers. "THANK YOU ALL"!!!

Thanks,
Boone.

Quixdraw Loc: x

Full list new vs.? B&H has a Nikon Refurb for $599. Roberts Used Photo Pro has a dozen, Mint to Good condition, Just under $500 to a bit over $600. Have done a lot of very satisfactory business with them. You might look there. Condition has always been better than advertised on my purchases.
https://usedphotopro.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=nikon+24-120+G+ed+vr

nervous2 Loc: Provo, Utah

It is advertised as New in a White Box. I would make sure it is a USA version and then go for it. You have a 30-day return policy and you are pretty well protected by eBay and PayPal. Could be a good deal. I should note that while a seller rating of 99.2 sounds good, it is not that good in the eBay world. Still, it's a purportedly new lens with free shipping.

rcarol

nervous2 wrote:

It is advertised as New in a White Box. I would make sure it is a USA version and then go for it. You have a 30-day return policy and you are pretty well protected by eBay and PayPal. Could be a good deal. I should note that while a seller rating of 99.2 sounds good, it is not that good in the eBay world. Still, it's a purportedly new lens with free shipping.

The seller provides no warranty which implies that it is grey market and is non-repairable if anything is wrong with the lens.

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

rcarol wrote:

The seller provides no warranty which implies that it is grey market and is non-repairable if anything is wrong with the lens.

It could also be that the seller bought it from a camera shop that recently went out of business and needed to sell its inventory quickly. In that case, the lens may very well be not grey market at all. There have been countless camera shops which have gone belly up over the past year. All those leftover cameras and lenses had to go somewhere!

A quick inquiry to the eBay seller before purchase should determine if the lens is grey or not. If the seller lies, then return it.

therwol Loc: USA

Boone wrote:

Why is this lens 1/2 the price on E bay? It is adv... (show quote)

You can't tell if the lens is gray market until you have it in hand. There should be a Nikon USA warranty in the box. There probably isn't. So then you call Nikon and give them the serial number to find out for sure. Notice that they're also trying to sell you a third party, Square Trade warranty on the lens. Since Nikon won't supply any parts to anyone else at this point, such warranties on gray market Nikon goods are worthless unless they will replace a broken or defective lens.

Do you feel lucky? Gray market cameras and lenses are made in the same factory to the same specs as those imported by Nikon USA. You may get years of good use out a gray market item, but don't expect much if you sell it. I own exactly one, and it happens to be the same lens you're looking at. No problems in 3 years.

flip1948 Loc: Hamden, CT

rook2c4 wrote:

It could also be that the seller bought it from a camera shop that recently went out of business and needed to sell its inventory quickly. In that case, the lens may very well be not grey market at all. There have been countless camera shops which have gone belly up over the past year. All those leftover cameras and lenses had to go somewhere!

A quick inquiry to the eBay seller before purchase should determine if the lens is grey or not. If the seller lies, then return it.

The listing says 20 sold and more than 10 still available...that would have been a lot of inventory for a store that might have gone out of business as you suggest.

The seller also states in the description that there is no warranty. I am at least 99% sure that these are gray market lenses and personally would not touch one with the proverbial 10 foot pole.

KLambar Loc: New Jersey

I noticed on Ebay where it shows what's in the box no mention of warranty card.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

Chances are excellent it is a gray market lens. If you read the specifications it clearly says NO WARRANTY. That alone is enough to keep me away although I do not buy from Ebay.
If you are in need of a lens like the Nikon 24-120 AF-S, VR and you do not want to pay full price dealers like MPB, Adorama, Robert's Camera and B&H have excellent used lenses under their warranty. I am sure you know those are reputable dealers. My experience with MPB has been the best of them all.

therwol Loc: USA

Boone wrote:

Why is this lens 1/2 the price on E bay? It is adv... (show quote)

After reading all of the replies, I think that a refurbished or lightly used copy of this lens is a better buy, so long as it is a USA model. The cost is similar. You can get it worked on if something happens. Refurbished is actually a great deal. Someone from Nikon USA went over the lens and made sure that it is undamaged and meets factory specs.

The other way to look at it is that you can buy two of these for the price of a new one (USA). Forget the warranty that you pay $500 bucks for. Buy another one if the first breaks.

Will you let us know what you decide?

ronpier Loc: Poland Ohio

Boone wrote:

Why is this lens 1/2 the price on E bay? It is adv... (show quote)

Keep in mind that EBay can still be the Wild West. If it sounds too good to be true it probably is. Weigh your pluses vs the minuses and determine whether the risk is worth it. I have purchased used lenses on eBay in the past and have been very satisfied.

Boone Loc: Groundhog Town USA

therwol wrote:

You can't tell if the lens is gray market until yo... (show quote)

Thanks for your reply, and I want to thank everyone "THAT DID THE SAME"...and "I THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH"!!!

I will buy this lens one way or the other, however, I will make sure it has a US Warranty! I have looked at this lens for quite a while, and I am sure that I will order one this week.

Thanks to all of you for your opinions!

Thanks,
Boone.