Used SD cards? Greetings. I went online today to buy some SD cards and Amazon had used ones for sale. Has anyone ever bought used cards? Do you trust them? There are some things you...

lollyonline Loc: Oregon

Greetings. I went online today to buy some SD cards and Amazon had used ones for sale. Has anyone ever bought used cards? Do you trust them? There are some things you just don't buy used. Is this one of them? Thanks for your feedback.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Well, I've had some cards for ten years. Maybe some people replaced the ones they had with larger cards and don't want the smaller ones anymore. Don't know from where the seller may have procured them? Unless it's an individual. I'd be leery of them not having been handled correctly. Static damage can degrade them. How much cheaper? Seller in the US? Might not be worth it.
I bought all mine brand new from Office Depot, Staples, Target, B&H,... sometimes on sale.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Personally, I wouldn't trust them.
--Bob

lollyonline wrote:

Greetings. I went online today to buy some SD cards and Amazon had used ones for sale. Has anyone ever bought used cards? Do you trust them? There are some things you just don't buy used. Is this one of them? Thanks for your feedback.

lollyonline Loc: Oregon

There's that. But can you tell me why you wouldn't trust them?

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

I wouldn’t even trust new ones on Amazon - lots of knock-offs, and hard to tell. I buy locally or from B&H

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

TriX wrote:

I wouldn’t even trust new ones on Amazon - lots of knock-offs, and hard to tell. I buy locally or from B&H

lollyonline Loc: Oregon

Thanks for all the advice. I will steer clear. --Laurie

Country Boy Loc: Beckley, WV

I don't think Amazon would sell cards that are extensively used. Mostly where someone ordered a card and found it was the wrong card or they need a larger or smaller one and returned the original one. Since they stand by their products you could return it yourself if it did not meet your needs. That said, I would not purchase one just on principal.

TomV Loc: Annapolis, Maryland

Country Boy wrote:

I don't think Amazon would sell cards that are extensively used. Mostly where someone ordered a card and found it was the wrong card or they need a larger or smaller one and returned the original one. Since they stand by their products you could return it yourself if it did not meet your needs. That said, I would not purchase one just on principal.

The issue with Amazon purchases, as well as ebay, are the quantity of counterfeit cards that buyers complain of. This is why I have steered clear and purchase cards only through camera shops, such as B&H. Their reviews do not include complaints of counterfeits. Otherwise, I buy a lot of products from both Amazon and ebay.

lollyonline Loc: Oregon

Thank you, everyone for your thoughtful and helpful advice. --Laurie

JRFINN Loc: Plymouth, MA

Most likely they've come from an open package return or a return because someone purchased the wrong type as there are numerous types. Either way you will be fine just format with camera.

manofhg Loc: Knoxville, TN

These days, SD cards are pretty cheap. Yes, you can buy super fast ones and they cost more, but in general, class 10s aren't all that expensive. The reason that many cameras have double card holders is because they can go bad. I had never experienced a problem with a card and then one day at work I lost some images. I thought I had downloaded all the images and was short some of what I knew I had shot. I returned to the card and found what I was looking for. I downloaded the remaining pictures and have since bought replacement cards. I know that I did lose some images, but they weren't especially important. The important stuff didn't show up when I downloaded the majority from the card. Glad I was able to still find and retrieve the rest. I considered that a card failure.

steve49 Loc: massachusetts

32g or larger cards are really cheap now.
I can't think of a reason to risk a possible card error.

Nikon1201

Why . why.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

Unless you know the person selling the used cards the chances are you do not know how those cards have been treated. I have bought used and refurb memory cards in the past but I bought from another photographer I knew and from a reputable dealer.
Memory cards are pretty cheap today and I do not see the reasons to buy them used unless you are buying from a reputable dealer.