MT Shooter Loc: Montana

There seem to be many lenses being sold on Ebay as "NEW" by individuals who buy a kit and then sell off the lens since they do not want or need it.
I have a customer who bought a Canon 24-105mm F4L lens this way last month for $750, a pretty good bargain, and it had the USA warranty card with it. She filled out the warranty card and submitted it to Canon.
10 days ago the AF quit working in the lens, I even tried it on two of my bodies and it would not AF so she sent it in to Canon for repairs. Today she got an email from Canon that the AF drive motor needed to be replaced and it would cost $385. They would proceed with repairs when she authorized them and made full payment. She called Canon, in my presence, to protest the charge and try to get it repaired under the warranty as registered. Canons response was that the warranty is valid only to the original purchaser and that her "receipt" from an unauthorized retailer (an individual) constituted a "resale" and voided the factory warranty. She is stuck for the repair costs, or Canon will return the lens to her as-is at their expense should she decide not to have it repaired.
Bottom line here is, learn the lesson, there are no great "bargains" to be had on Ebay by buying a NEW item from one of the hundreds of unauthorized resellers listing "new" bodies or lenses there. If the item was not purchased through an authorized retailer in the USA, you simply have NO WARRANTY to fall back on. My customer is now having the lens repaired at her expense and she will now have more money in that lens than if she had bought it new through any retailer in the country, even if she had bought direct from Canon, and she still will have no warranty on the lens.
Trying to save a few bucks on quality camera gear will pretty much always cost you more than if you bit the bullet and bought the new product from a proper source.
Just a friendly warning for anyone out there on UHH looking at some of these "bargains" they may find on Ebay. There are authorized retailers using Ebay, such as Adorama, Cameta, Roberts and KEH, but there are a LOT more that are not authorized retailers. Beware.

Also, there are a lot of retailers on Ebay that state they are "authorized", but are selling grey market. Same caution here.

wrr Loc: SEK

Interesting, I just called Canon repair at 1‐800‐828‐4040 and gave them this scenario, saying that I planned on buying this lens from a friend. That the lens was new, had the USA warranty card, would the warranty transfer over to me. The answer was yes it sure would...the rep was very friendly and knowledgable, said he understood my concerns but indeed the warranty would be valid.

So whats up with that?

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

Thanks for the information. I sold a lens this way and assumed that if I provided the original warranty card with the lens that it would have a warranty. Now I know this is wrong. I purchased all of my lenses used and I guess I've been lucky that none of them have needed warranty repairs. Even I thought that if the person I purchased my lens from provided a box and warranty card that it was as good as buying one new.

lighthouse Loc: No Fixed Abode

I agree.
"Warranty valid only to original purchaser" sounds like a crock of $#!^ to me, and if it is in any way true then Canon needs to be taken to task over it.

wrr Loc: SEK

dang jeep daddy, you not read what I wrote?

Bill MN Loc: Western MN

That's interesting. It depends who you talk. I called Nikon and was told warranties are not transferable. MT knows what he is talking about.

wrr Loc: SEK

exactly...here's is a quote from their warranty for Canon lens...
"A Product, when delivered to you in new condition in its original container, is warranted against defects
in materials or workmanship as follows:for a period of one (1) year from the date of original purchase,
defective parts or a defective Product returned to Canon, or its authorized service providers, and proven
to be defective upon inspection, will be repaired with new or comparable rebuilt parts or exchanged for
a refurbished Product, as determined by Canon or the authorized service provider n their sole
discretion. Replaced parts and exchanged Products will become the property of Canon."

this comes from the lens link on this page...
http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/professional/standard_display/support_pro/pro_product-warranty

Maybe MT can clear up this confusion as he surely knows about this stuff...

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

I suggest you try an actual scenario rather than a theoretical one. First hand experience teaches well.
You need TWO items for a warranty repair. First is the warranty card, second is the original sales receipt.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

You left out one VERY important line that appears DIRECTLY above your quote. It reads:
"This Limited Warranty is only effective upon presentation of this warranty card and proof of purchase."

lighthouse Loc: No Fixed Abode

Maybe that is so.
That lens has a serial number.
Canon KNOW that it is a genuine lens, initially sold through genuine channels, that has failed in less than the warranty period.
The lens has a warranty card.
How can Canon justify wanting someone else to pay for mechanical or electronic failure of substandard equipment that Canon themselves have manufactured and distributed?

wrr Loc: SEK

alrighty, I called back this time asking for the super, talked to Jim...and indeed MT's case is correct. The first rep I talked to Roger, will be getting some additional training starting tomorrow...lol

RJM Loc: Cardiff, S Wales, UK

These lenses cost manufacturers little to produce so why can't they honour the period and not the owner?

If I was selling a camera or lens under warranty I'd tell the buyer to return it to me if there was any warranty issues and I'd send it off for repair! What's the difference???

You'd think these company would honour their warranties for the good of their reputation.

So Canon tell one owner one thing and another something else according to this thread!

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

As with most any other products, the warranties cannot be transferred...I'm always emailing sellers on eBay who state that their is still time left on the warranty. Now if they send you the original sales receipt along with the warranty card, you might be able to get the warranty service. That I'm not sure of. Unless they look to see who it was originally registered to (provided the original owner did register it & who doesn't ?) & who is requesting warranty service, how would they know?

chelesphotography Loc: Greenville, NC

Sometimes the first person you talk to isn't always the correct person. So glad you found out it could be fixed!

farmerjim Loc: Rugby, England

Consumer protection laws are different depending where you are. I'm 99.9% sure that Canon would be required to repair under guarantee if it was in the UK or EU.
Over here you don't even have to fill in the warranty card, just proof of purchase would be enough.