From Nikon or ??? Other than some vendors, such as Cameta, which add a full one-year warranty to refurbished bodies, is there any advantage to buying from Nikon, directly, as opposed...

kb6kgx Loc: Simi Valley, CA

Other than some vendors, such as Cameta, which add a full one-year warranty to refurbished bodies, is there any advantage to buying from Nikon, directly, as opposed to Adorama, B&H, Cameta, etc.? Are the chances of getting a low or almost nothing shutter count the same regardless of the source?

wolfman

kb6kgx wrote:

Other than some vendors, such as Cameta, which add a full one-year warranty to refurbished bodies, is there any advantage to buying from Nikon, directly, as opposed to Adorama, B&H, Cameta, etc.? Are the chances of getting a low or almost nothing shutter count the same regardless of the source?

For a refurbished body, it would be from Cameta. As far as the shutter count goes, it's a crap shoot.

AndyCE Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

wolfman wrote:

For a refurbished body, it would be from Cameta. As far as the shutter count goes, it's a crap shoot.

Can't you ask them what the shutter count is? (or is reset when the refurb is complete?)
Thanks,
Andy

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

Cameta is where you want to buy refurbished products. As far as I know they are the only one to offer a year year warranty.
Refurbished products, as most probably you know, are demos, open boxes or returned products. The dealer checks the product to make sure it is working to their specs and when necessary adjustments are made. Look at it this way, a refurbished product could have some minor scuffs but in general it is a brand new product.
I have bought from Cameta before and I have never ever had a bad experience with them.

wolfman

AndyCE wrote:

Can't you ask them what the shutter count is? (or is reset when the refurb is complete?)
Thanks,
Andy

You can ask, but I doubt that they would tell you. When they get refurbs back from Nikon, I doubt that they check the shutter count. From what I have heard, Nikon does not reset the shutter count on refurbs.

AndyCE Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

wolfman wrote:

You can ask, but I doubt that they would tell you. When they get refurbs back from Nikon, I doubt that they check the shutter count. From what I have heard, Nikon does not reset the shutter count on refurbs.

Thanks for the info!
Andy

charles brown Loc: Tennesse

camerapapi wrote:

Cameta is where you want to buy refurbished produc... (show quote)

Someone please correct me if I am wrong but I always thought that "Refurbished" cameras were ones that had been returned and sent to the manufacture for one reason or another. The cameras were refurbished and then sold by the manufacturer or sent to a retailer to be sold. I was not aware that any retailer such as Cameta, B&H, etc. did the refurbishing themselves. It is also my understanding that demos and open boxes are not sold as refurbished. As I said, please enlighten me if I am wrong.

wolfman

charles brown wrote:

Someone please correct me if I am wrong but I alwa... (show quote)

Retailers do not refurbish cameras or lenses, that is done by the manufacturer. I would be under the assumption that demos and open box items, would be sent to the manufacturer to be checked out, then sold as refurbished.

Jim Bob

kb6kgx wrote:

Other than some vendors, such as Cameta, which add a full one-year warranty to refurbished bodies, is there any advantage to buying from Nikon, directly, as opposed to Adorama, B&H, Cameta, etc.? Are the chances of getting a low or almost nothing shutter count the same regardless of the source?

Nope. Yep.

charles brown Loc: Tennesse

wolfman wrote:

Retailers do not refurbish cameras or lenses, that is done by the manufacturer. I would be under the assumption that demos and open box items, would be sent to the manufacturer to be checked out, then sold as refurbished.

Thanks, that was what I thought

kb6kgx Loc: Simi Valley, CA

wolfman wrote:

Retailers do not refurbish cameras or lenses, that is done by the manufacturer. I would be under the assumption that demos and open box items, would be sent to the manufacturer to be checked out, then sold as refurbished.

Hence why some have extremely low shutter counts if an open box unit.

avemal Loc: BALTIMORE

Is there a web site that gives you a background where it was made, when purchased grey market,repaired, or other info by putting in the serial number?

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

kb6kgx wrote:

Other than some vendors, such as Cameta, which add a full one-year warranty to refurbished bodies, is there any advantage to buying from Nikon, directly, as opposed to Adorama, B&H, Cameta, etc.? Are the chances of getting a low or almost nothing shutter count the same regardless of the source?

Cameta usually has a better price and a warranty. I've gotten refurbs with shutter counts in the double digits. It's the luck of the draw.

The Villages Loc: The Villages, Florida

avemal wrote:

Is there a web site that gives you a background where it was made, when purchased grey market,repaired, or other info by putting in the serial number?

Don't know of a web site, put I am looking to purchase a used Nikon. Had the retailer provide the serial number, called Nikon and had them look it up. Through whatever means they have, they were able to tell me it was in fact a US unit and the name of the original retailer who sold it., and provided an e-mail to document.

Previously, I had been told by Nikon that the only way they would be able to verify was if the unit had some contact with Nikon such as recording the warranty, sent in for some type of servcing, etc.

Its imprtant to determine the origin of the camera, as "imports" WILL NOT be serviced by Nikon, whether you pay them or not.

BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA

wolfman wrote:

For a refurbished body, it would be from Cameta. As far as the shutter count goes, it's a crap shoot.

Nikon sells refurbished equipment directly

http://www.nikonusa.com/en/Nikon-Store/Refurbished-Cameras.page?CID=SEM-Q116-Google-Nikon-_-Refurbished