This is the first time I've ever heard Canon performs a "maliciously inspected" process on returned items. That must be some inspection.
--Bob
[quote=goldstar46][quote=OldShooter]Has anyone dealt with this company? I'm interested in a used lens they have on eBay where they have very high activity and rating.[/quote
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Hi Old-Shooter... Just thought I would 'chime-in' with an opinion & respond to your question...
...... My response is "Where's the BEEF" in buying from MapCamers ?????
To begin with, No, I have never heard of MapCamera on the eBay network and I do a lot of buying there
... But, from time to time, just like you, I have continued to give consideration to buying from Japan
SO, I have revisited the issue today & I did a search for a EF 300mm F/2.8, which is something I want...
... And I found one at the below link which is being sold my MapCamera
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Canon-EF300mm-F-2-8L-IS-II-USM-16/353062959890?epid=1502891782&hash=item5234313b12:g:rvIAAOSwl4xegZb5The above listed "Used 300 MM" is selling for US $3,849.79 - It is missing a 'Hood' and 'Lens (soft) Cap'
....AND, it make NO mention of if this includes or Excludes the carrying case ??? & has signs of use ??
... The purchase of a Canon ET-120 Hood on eBay is going to cost you around $ 500 bucks ?? see below
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Canon-ET-120-WII-Lens-Hood-Genuine-Original-for-EF-300mm-400mm-200-400mm/264701274683?hash=item3da16cea3b:g:9RUAAOSwKKpel6OUThe next question you must ask yourself... Do you know for a 'fact' that the IS or Image Stabilization in this 'Use Lens' has NOT been damaged and/or compromised... ?? This is a big lens, it weights a lot, and very easily be 'out of focus' because it has been 'mis-handled'...?? This is something which you will never have an answer for even when you actually have it directly in your own hands... unless you actually send the lens to CPS and find out/ or actually have the lens IS calibrated... Here, you will spend about $200-300 Plus shipping and insurance of a 20 LB package via FedEx to Canon Repair...'CPS'....NO... I would NOT use any local outfit !!!! CPS is BEST
NOW....... As our dear friend "Paul Harvey" would say... Here is the rest of this story...
I can buy the same above lens as a "Refurbished" from Canon USA, for $ 4,391.. and it include the below:
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... EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM Refurbished
... 52mm Drop-in Gelatin Filter Holder 52WII
... Lens Cap E-145C
... Lens Dust Cap E
... Lens Wide Strap B
... Lens Hood ET-120WII
... Lens Case 300B
... Strap For Hard Case
... Instruction Manuals (CD-ROM)
... 1 Year Refurbished Camera Limited Warranty
Please NOTE, the above includes the Lens Hood, the Lens Cap, and the Hard Case,, AND, a 1 year warrant.... NOT a six month warrant... which I might add is a U.S.A. Warranty...NOT a Japanese Warranty which requires you to ship the unit back to the seller in Japan ????
SO, as I stated in my original statement above......... "Where's the BEEF"... for now BUY... U.S.A.
==== I hope the above words of guidance will help in your decision... especially when you just don't know if the IS has ever been compromised...
NOW, you may question the use of the term "Refurbished"... by Canon USA... Let me say this... I have been a 'Canon' owner and user since 2010 and a member of the Canon Professional Service (CPS) group for over 6 years... I have a number of close contacts inside of CPS and my last four purchases has been 'Refurbished' from Canon...
Canon 'Refurbished' means one of two things... A) The equipment is an item or items which have been sent back to Canon directly from an Authorized Canon Dealer because of some reason,, or B) the item is a unit which has been sold through Canon, and then, 'Returned' within the allow 14 day allowable return period.. Under each of the above circumstances, the item goes back to a 'Different Division' of Canon, and the unit is maliciously inspected and/or reconditioned to put the unit back into 'Original Manufactured Condition" THEN, it is sold with a "Full 1 Year Canon USA Warranty"... I have NEVER, EVER, been disappointed by buy 'Refurbished' directly from Canon...
Per 'Christa' who is a moderator & Admin for Canon 'Community' website, she said what is listed below:
Here's what we qualify as a refurbished product here at Canon:
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Products are returned to Canon for a variety of reasons, including overstock balancing, miscellaneous returns from retailers, suspected mis-operation, and minor damage to the box. The products that are serviced have undergone rigorous function and cosmetic inspections by trained Canon technicians and fully meet new product operational specifications and selected cosmetic standards established by Canon U.S.A. Inc. These refurbished products must pass a comprehensive quality assurance inspection before final packaging and shipment to customers.
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So, Old-Shooter, that is my 2-Cents, for what it is worth.. I am not telling you to do, just only offering observations and opinion, and I hope the above information can be of some help to you,,, and I wish you all the best in your photography endeavors...
Cheers
Geo VZ
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