ScottWardwell Loc: Maine

Are you going to finish us off with one your tired oft-repeated bromides about the virtues of mirrorless now?

ScottWardwell Loc: Maine

Maybe for Sony.

Double B Loc: South Carolina

I have purchased a refurbished Z6II and 3 lenses from Nikon and have no regrets everything has functioned as new. Nikon has my vote!

DJCard Loc: Northern Kentucky

The Z 24-70 2.8 S is a very nice lens that stays attached to my Z 7 II. I didn’t buy that lens refurbished, but I’ve bought several refurbished lenses and bodies over the the years directly from Nikon USA. Always looked and functioned like new. The box is white and very different from original.

ScottWardwell Loc: Maine

I bought an N90s and grip from an estate auction 5 years for $50 still in their white refurb'ed boxes. Sticker price was $1100 on the box. So it was purchased originally when it was a current Nikon film model. But I don't think it was ever taken out of the box. Pristine. Just put on the shelf in a closet and forgotten about.

jbk224 Loc: Long Island, NY

Everyone has opinions. Some, may even have 1st hand direct knowledge.
Three people in this thread provide just about everything there is to know.
Bill tells us all we need to really know...99.99999% of the items returned likely have absolutely nothing wrong with them. Buyers remorse, dealer returns,......And, a process is in place to 'check' these items and send those that need more attention to the in-house NikonUSA techs. We don't need to care or know how much anyone gets paid and exactly what happens. All that matters is that the purchasers of refurb products from Nikon are happy. This does not mean that there is 100% satisfaction, but enough to warrant their program and process. And when there is a problem..Nikon takes care of the customer 1st and foremost. Should be case closed.
Scott, properly provides the view that no GOOD manufacturer would implement a re-furb program that would damage their reputation. And therefore, returns must go through a process that ultimately results in a successful result.
Now Paul, on the other hand, takes the contrary view. Why would any rational business actually 'test..spend the resources... for something to be like new and sell it at less than retail? (paraphrased). And, further challenges Scott and belittles Scott for is lack of acumen in making his statements. Paul's example 'proves' his claim and that one only needs to run the numbers to see that 'thorough testing' is not possible. And further that Scott's own professional experience does not matter one bit. Nice and constructive.
Back to Bill for the final word '.....Returned items are looked at to make sure they work. End of story. They are not put through any testing by techs..'
This implies, without any stretch of one's imagination, that there is a process in place with people properly trained to determine if items 'work'. And those that don't, or (in accordance with Paul's checklist), are sent through to another team. This does not mean that items that work are put through rigorous testing..it only means, that at a minimum, THERE IS A PROCEDURE IN PLACE TO DO SOMETHING....and clearly this process works for NikonUSA and it's customers.
So, why would any rational company..........? Well, the program seems to be successful. And, products sold at a lower cost than new..with shorter warranties. And, the company has added a program that they deem necessary for the brand and customers. I would guess, with my small brain, that NikonUSA has evaluated the costs and benefits of this program and deemed it worthwhile.
Scott, I am onboard with your concept for this successful program. Paul, what is the point of belittling someone's opinions and experience in order to bolster your view--opinion--not fact? Bill, thanks for your in-house Nikon take of a program that works.

ScottWardwell Loc: Maine

Thank you. Warranty costs are a component of the final selling price.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

If you offer unrealistic assumptions and call it relevant expertise, don't be surprised at the negative feedback. I said in my first comment, refurb is a good bargain. It was another two community members that then chimed-in adding ideas about the process that are not realistic when exposed to the slightest bit of thought-exercise.

ScottWardwell Loc: Maine

Doubling-down? Interesting. The Group-Think is strong with this one.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

I'd be polishing my interview responses and critical thinking skills, rather than digging deeper holes here, but maybe that's just me?

Silversleuth Loc: San Francisco Bay Area

My Nikon factory refurbished Z 24-70 2.8 S arrived packaged as new. Used it to shoot a few commercial events and a week long river cruise, several thousand clicks with absolutely no problems. Razor sharp images and really fast accurate focus. Would buy refurb again and save some $$$

Cheers,
Ed

pesfls Loc: Oregon, USA

I can’t speak to the inner workings at Nikon refurb but can relate what KEH says they do. I queried them a fair bit before spending quite a bit on a Nikon body and lense I wanted.

In their case they said before paying a customer wanting to sell to them they first test all functions of the item. If all’s good thet let the seller what their offer is and how they intend to rate its condition.

Should the item have a flaw requiring repair the item then go
es the the appropriate brand “repair bench” for further analysis and cost estimate.

Hence if all function are ok they buy it and send funds to the seller if they agree to the offered terms. So they fix what needs fixed if they want to purchase the item.

I have made numerous purchases from them and have always been treated candidly and in my view fairly. A bit different than refurb, which I have done a small bit but I like dealing with them.

Food for thought I hope.

jbk224 Loc: Long Island, NY

Only one person claimed any true expertise here....Bill and his in-house Nikon experience.
Not Scott and not me.
Your expertise here seems to be non-existent. Your opinions in this thread are just that...opinions. Whatever positive contribution you could make here, is more than offset by your personal attacks.
None of us, including Scott, needs to be 100% perfect, let alone any %...to come to the conclusion that there is a process that is successful..and, contrary to your expertise and opinions, fully supported as a successful program by NikonUSA.
Paul, you contributions here are generally so good. What's the point in denigrating anyone?
Sometimes, an apology actually works.

kb6kgx Loc: Simi Valley, CA

On the contrary. If you buy refurb from nikon… you do.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

I've sold multiple times to KEH in person and purchased numerous items, including multiple items immediately diagnosed as broken when tested.

They do not "test". They = KEH.

That's the job of the next customer. There's a 2-week no questions asked return policy, with pre-paid return shipping.

Similar to the questions earlier to another community member assuming something more, how could anyone "test" all the various models, brands, formats of film and digital cameras and lenses? How could any for-profit organization operate any level of "testing" of the variety and scale KEH handles and resells? Even charging batteries to simply turn on every digital camera is not cost-effective.

If the next customer (aka non payroll KEH testing staff) eventually finds a problem, there's a 25% restocking charge for failing their assigned tasks within the expected time-limit.

The majority of my equipment is from KEH. I believe in them. I don't believe in urban myths.