authorizeduser Loc: Monroe, Michigan

I went to Micro Center today to buy another compact flash memory for my Nikon D200 only to find out that all the compact flash they have is refurbished. Anyone ever heard of or bought refurbished memory? The brand is Sandisk and it looks like retail memory except the back label reads refurbished. If there is nothing to be afraid of it is cheaper!

Thanks

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I had never of that, but a Google search turned up lots of them for sale. I wonder why they had to be refurbished. Customer returns? Cosmetic problems?

authorizeduser Loc: Monroe, Michigan

My exact questions ....... It is not like your going to fix defective memory. My concern is that an 8GB may only really be 7.5 thus was returned. Micro Center told me they are thoroughly tested. Who knows? Maybe a great deal but then I may be buying grief.

Pepper Loc: Planet Earth Country USA

Really??? There's a market for refurbished memory cards? Who'd have thunk it?

tainkc Loc: Kansas City

That's interesting. Did it come out of one of those drawers at the checkout? Those are supposed to be made by Scan Disk but I thought they were new.

Photogdog Loc: New Kensington, PA

Considering that your saving photographs, is the savings of a few dollars really worth thre risk?

authorizeduser Loc: Monroe, Michigan

Refurbished Sandisk is the only compact flash the Detroit Micro Center store carries anymore.. They used to have retail packs but these are sold in small plastic bags. No one else in the Detroit area has compact flash anymore. Not even the few photo shops so it is either refurbished or I shop the web.

sbesaw Loc: Boston

I used a Refurbished Sandisk in a Refurbished Nikon D7000 and wound up with Refurbished Photo's

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

That's strange. Everyone around here has them, even convenience stores.

Pepper Loc: Planet Earth Country USA

Are you talking about the little card that plugs into the camera to store images? And you have a store that only sells refurbished or "used" cards? What's the joke here? These things cost so little to mfg in the first place how could it possibly be cost effective to put the time into one of these to "refurbish" it? This makes no sense at all.

MtnMan Loc: ID

I wonder if they'd do it on my head?

(i.e. refurbish my memory?)

It seems to need it more and more...

mikemilton

I've actually had a local electronics store tell me 'Oh those are not used any more so we do not carry them'

Harumph

Here is the translation:

We only sell low end point and shoots that use SD cards so that is all we carry. Can I interest you in downgrading to junk?

dck45 Loc: El Dorado Hills, CA

There may be another perspective on this. I've always wondered about all of this refurbished product being offered. In many industries, the manufacturers look for second tier marketing opportunities to unload excess product. For instance, take golf balls. I've been told that X-out balls are not in any way different from first run balls except for the marking and price. Manufacturing in larger quantities, lowers cost per unit. To get this lower cost they manufacture more balls than they need, selling the overage at lower prices hopefully to people who would not normally buy the full price ball. I suspect the camera nanufacturers are producing what amounts to discount product to attract those buyers not inclined to buy their product at list price for the samereason. This has the effect of keeping the market prices where they want and still produce at the lowest cost per unit. Otherwise there is way too much refurbished product available given the exacting manufacturing controls Japanese manufacturers employ. Of course there are likely some products that are honest refurbished ones. For the saving available you take some chances.

mcveed Loc: Kelowna, British Columbia (between trips)

Its quite possible that they are not really refurbished at all. They may just be last year's model - i.e. slower than most people want now. I know Apple sells 'refurbished' computers on their website. They not all really refurbished, many are just models that are no longer marketed but are still in stock.

GrahamS Loc: Hertfordshire, U.K

Gollygosh, what a wonderful idea! For me, I mean, not you....