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What exactly is “refurbished”?
Jan 11, 2018 13:06:30 #
There are reputable dealers selling refurbished cameras and lenses. But what exactly does refurbished mean? Some questions:
1) Where do the items come from? Open box returns? Damaged upon receipt by customer?
2) What process does an item go through?
3) What about shutter counts? Is that disclosed? Is there an upper limit? Etc.
4) Who does the refurbishment?
5) What does “certified refurbished” mean?
Thanks for any info.
1) Where do the items come from? Open box returns? Damaged upon receipt by customer?
2) What process does an item go through?
3) What about shutter counts? Is that disclosed? Is there an upper limit? Etc.
4) Who does the refurbishment?
5) What does “certified refurbished” mean?
Thanks for any info.
Jan 11, 2018 13:22:19 #
Quote:
1) Where do the items come from? Open box returns? Damaged upon receipt by customer?
2) What process does an item go through?
3) What about shutter counts? Is that disclosed? Is there an upper limit? Etc.
4) Who does the refurbishment?
5) What does “certified refurbished” mean?
1. Almost certainly all of the above.
2. If done by the manufacturer, the item is thoroughly checked and brought up, or back to, original specifications. I think this process is probably more intensive than the checks that the item receives coming originally off the assembly line.
3. I could not get the shutter count when I ordered my camera body. It arrived (as have Apple items I have purchased from the Apple Store) looking brand new. When I checked shutter count it was so low (less than 50, as I recall) to be explainable by testing at the factory. There is no guarantee that this will always be the case.
4. You will have to read the fine print. Sometimes it is done by the manufacturer, sometimes by a factory authorized center, sometimes by an individual technician who refurbishes things. Stay with the first two, and there should be no issues.
5. I think the word "certified" means little to nothing without knowing who has done the refurbishing.
A refurbished product sometimes, but not always, comes with a shorter warranty. If I can get a warranty that matches the original, and it is from the manufacturer, and I do not need the very latest technology, the purchase becomes a no brainer for me.
1) Where do the items come from? Open box returns? Damaged upon receipt by customer?
2) What process does an item go through?
3) What about shutter counts? Is that disclosed? Is there an upper limit? Etc.
4) Who does the refurbishment?
5) What does “certified refurbished” mean?
1. Almost certainly all of the above.
2. If done by the manufacturer, the item is thoroughly checked and brought up, or back to, original specifications. I think this process is probably more intensive than the checks that the item receives coming originally off the assembly line.
3. I could not get the shutter count when I ordered my camera body. It arrived (as have Apple items I have purchased from the Apple Store) looking brand new. When I checked shutter count it was so low (less than 50, as I recall) to be explainable by testing at the factory. There is no guarantee that this will always be the case.
4. You will have to read the fine print. Sometimes it is done by the manufacturer, sometimes by a factory authorized center, sometimes by an individual technician who refurbishes things. Stay with the first two, and there should be no issues.
5. I think the word "certified" means little to nothing without knowing who has done the refurbishing.
A refurbished product sometimes, but not always, comes with a shorter warranty. If I can get a warranty that matches the original, and it is from the manufacturer, and I do not need the very latest technology, the purchase becomes a no brainer for me.
Jan 11, 2018 13:28:06 #
Certified refurbished means it was done by a technician employed by the camera company.
Many refurbs are returns, some are trade ins, some are overstock. When Canon refurbishes a camera body it is throughly gone oner and tested and cleaned and anything needing repair or replacement is done. The cameras sell for considerably less than new and Canon gives a full one year warranty, same as a new camera.
Many refurbs are returns, some are trade ins, some are overstock. When Canon refurbishes a camera body it is throughly gone oner and tested and cleaned and anything needing repair or replacement is done. The cameras sell for considerably less than new and Canon gives a full one year warranty, same as a new camera.
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Jan 11, 2018 13:45:34 #
A salesman told me that many / most "refurbished" are used items returned because customers don't know how to use them. When a complaint comes in they check it over for the complaint, but because it is used, they can't sell it as new. But, because it was returned as defective, even if it isn't, they will just say it is fixed and sell it as refurbished.
Jan 11, 2018 13:54:09 #
Joe Blow wrote:
A salesman told me that many / most "refurbished" are used items returned because customers don't know how to use them. When a complaint comes in they check it over for the complaint, but because it is used, they can't sell it as new. But, because it was returned as defective, even if it isn't, they will just say it is fixed and sell it as refurbished.
The salesman may be accurate in describing what his store does; but he is wrong. What he is selling is a return in box, not a refurbished item.
Jan 11, 2018 13:54:18 #
manpho789 wrote:
There are reputable dealers selling refurbished cameras and lenses. But what exactly does refurbished mean? Some questions:
1) Where do the items come from? Open box returns? Damaged upon receipt by customer?
2) What process does an item go through?
3) What about shutter counts? Is that disclosed? Is there an upper limit? Etc.
4) Who does the refurbishment?
5) What does “certified refurbished” mean?
Thanks for any info.
1) Where do the items come from? Open box returns? Damaged upon receipt by customer?
2) What process does an item go through?
3) What about shutter counts? Is that disclosed? Is there an upper limit? Etc.
4) Who does the refurbishment?
5) What does “certified refurbished” mean?
Thanks for any info.
I can't answer your questions, but I can comment on a fairly recent experience of buying a refurbished EOS 80D body from Canon. It saved me about $300, so about a 33% discount, yet came with the full 1 year warranty from Canon. It came in different packaging from a new item, but with all the expected accessories. The camera looked and is pristine. The manual had clearly been read - how rare is that? - but other than a few dog ears is just fine.
I checked the shutter count - not always simple to do with Canon - and was actually surprised to find it close to 3K, but that isn't an issue for me since I doubt I will get to the 100K -150K expected shutter life any time soon, and a shutter replacement wouldn't cost much more than the money I saved.
I did have a problem. The camera appeared to behave erratically at first. It took me a little while to diagnose that the battery shipped with the refurb package was faulty. I had bought a new Canon battery grip from B&H - at a good price - and also some third party batteries from Amazon. With a little testing I was able to determine that the battery Canon supplied was the problem. I called Canon, they listened and shipped me a brand new battery straight away.
I would not hesitate to buy another refurb product from Canon. The definition of refurb does depend upon who does it, and what kind of warranty they will put behind it.
Jan 12, 2018 08:26:39 #
manpho789 wrote:
There are reputable dealers selling refurbished cameras and lenses. But what exactly does refurbished mean? Some questions:
1) Where do the items come from? Open box returns? Damaged upon receipt by customer?
2) What process does an item go through?
3) What about shutter counts? Is that disclosed? Is there an upper limit? Etc.
4) Who does the refurbishment?
5) What does “certified refurbished” mean?
Thanks for any info.
1) Where do the items come from? Open box returns? Damaged upon receipt by customer?
2) What process does an item go through?
3) What about shutter counts? Is that disclosed? Is there an upper limit? Etc.
4) Who does the refurbishment?
5) What does “certified refurbished” mean?
Thanks for any info.
If anyone knows, they're not talking. Basically, a refurbished camera will be like new, with all the bits and pieces you would get with a new camera. You will not know the shutter count until you try it. "Factory Refurbished" is what you want. Anything else could be some guy in his garage.
I always look for refurbished first.
Jan 12, 2018 09:10:32 #
jerryc41 wrote:
If anyone knows, they're not talking. Basically, a refurbished camera will be like new, with all the bits and pieces you would get with a new camera. You will not know the shutter count until you try it. "Factory Refurbished" is what you want. Anything else could be some guy in his garage.
I always look for refurbished first.
I always look for refurbished first.
Do refurbished cameras come with the manual? I see that B&H lists the D750 refurbished as without the paper manual. I guess the people who do the refurbish don't have the manuals available.
Jan 12, 2018 09:14:04 #
BebuLamar wrote:
Do refurbished cameras come with the manual?
That would depend upon the supplier. From Canon, mine did.
On the other hand, I downloaded the manual and checked it out prior to buying the camera...
Jan 12, 2018 09:15:27 #
BebuLamar wrote:
Do refurbished cameras come with the manual? I see that B&H lists the D750 refurbished as without the paper manual. I guess the people who do the refurbish don't have the manuals available.
Most do, but some do not. Most manufacturers make them available on line. I always buy third party books to assist me in the learning process of the new camera.
Jan 12, 2018 10:08:53 #
Let me make it simple, refurb means a camera or lens that has been checked by the importer to make sure it works to specs. They could be returns or used by the original owner for a short period of time. Usually the shutter count is low. A camera with 1000 shutter actuations in my book is a used camera not a refurb.
The shutter count is usually not disclosed but as I said the majority of the cameras sold as refurb have very low shutter counts. Certified refurb is a term applied to the importer when the camera or lens has gone through the inspection, adjustments or repair they do. When I say importer I refer to the camera or lens company that imports genuine products with full warranty.
Several stores sell refurb along with the original importer and they usually offer a 90 days warranty. In case you are contemplating buying a refurb be assured that you will get a great product at a great price that in the majority of the cases it is impossible to see the difference with a brand new one. I am saying that you can buy refurb with confidence.
I have bought refurbs from the original importer and from Cameta Camera. Cameta offers a one year warranty on their refurbs and they are a reputable store.
The shutter count is usually not disclosed but as I said the majority of the cameras sold as refurb have very low shutter counts. Certified refurb is a term applied to the importer when the camera or lens has gone through the inspection, adjustments or repair they do. When I say importer I refer to the camera or lens company that imports genuine products with full warranty.
Several stores sell refurb along with the original importer and they usually offer a 90 days warranty. In case you are contemplating buying a refurb be assured that you will get a great product at a great price that in the majority of the cases it is impossible to see the difference with a brand new one. I am saying that you can buy refurb with confidence.
I have bought refurbs from the original importer and from Cameta Camera. Cameta offers a one year warranty on their refurbs and they are a reputable store.
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Jan 12, 2018 10:15:34 #
manpho789 wrote:
There are reputable dealers selling refurbished cameras and lenses. But what exactly does refurbished mean? Some questions:
1) Where do the items come from? Open box returns? Damaged upon receipt by customer?
2) What process does an item go through?
3) What about shutter counts? Is that disclosed? Is there an upper limit? Etc.
4) Who does the refurbishment?
5) What does “certified refurbished” mean?
Thanks for any info.
1) Where do the items come from? Open box returns? Damaged upon receipt by customer?
2) What process does an item go through?
3) What about shutter counts? Is that disclosed? Is there an upper limit? Etc.
4) Who does the refurbishment?
5) What does “certified refurbished” mean?
Thanks for any info.
Reputable sites say what they mean by refurbished somewhere on the site. If they do not define it, then you are at risk.
PS. I buy a lot of refurbished and have NEVER had a problem.
Jan 12, 2018 10:18:34 #
manpho789 wrote:
There are reputable dealers selling refurbished cameras and lenses. But what exactly does refurbished mean? Some questions:
1) Where do the items come from? Open box returns? Damaged upon receipt by customer?
2) What process does an item go through?
3) What about shutter counts? Is that disclosed? Is there an upper limit? Etc.
4) Who does the refurbishment?
5) What does “certified refurbished” mean?
Thanks for any info.
1) Where do the items come from? Open box returns? Damaged upon receipt by customer?
2) What process does an item go through?
3) What about shutter counts? Is that disclosed? Is there an upper limit? Etc.
4) Who does the refurbishment?
5) What does “certified refurbished” mean?
Thanks for any info.
If you are looking, Nikon USA has a 10% off sale through Monday. Also, Cameta Camera is great to deal with on refurbished and adds 9 months to the warranty.
Jan 12, 2018 10:50:16 #
TheShoe
Loc: Lacey, WA
Some manufacturers do not include a paper manual with new products. They either include the manual on a cd with the software or provide a link that you can follow to a soft copy manual that you can download. To me, that is preferable to sending a paper manual with 16 translations. It is cheaper for the sender, I don't need a manual that weighs over a pound and requires its own bag, and I can Print anything I need from the soft copy.
Jan 12, 2018 10:55:35 #
billnikon
Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
manpho789 wrote:
There are reputable dealers selling refurbished cameras and lenses. But what exactly does refurbished mean? Some questions:
1) Where do the items come from? Open box returns? Damaged upon receipt by customer?
2) What process does an item go through?
3) What about shutter counts? Is that disclosed? Is there an upper limit? Etc.
4) Who does the refurbishment?
5) What does “certified refurbished” mean?
Thanks for any info.
1) Where do the items come from? Open box returns? Damaged upon receipt by customer?
2) What process does an item go through?
3) What about shutter counts? Is that disclosed? Is there an upper limit? Etc.
4) Who does the refurbishment?
5) What does “certified refurbished” mean?
Thanks for any info.
Most refurbished are simply returns from folks who decided they did not want it. A very quick bench test is run to make sure every setting is at default and that the camera works. It is then put back in the box and sold as refurbished. Refurbished do not carry the same length of warranty as a new camera. Some have very little use, some have more. Most are a good value.
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