Refurbished Cameras

[Tones7McA]

Hi folks,

Im really a new comer to photography, I have a bog standard Pentax digi camera that cost me only £100, it is rubbish, but I try hard.

So to cut to the chase I am upgrading. I want to purchase a Canon Powershot S5 IS.

I can see that "Canon Outlet" have some great deals on "Refurbished" cameras. Has anyone any experience regarding refurbished cameras? Are they as canon say, virtualy new models which have only been used for display or at trade shows, or which have simply had the box damaged... If this is the case I can see no reason not to purchase?

I would be very grateful for your advice or views, thank you in advance.

[piedownjoe]

This probably isn't the total answer you're looking for, but refurbished anything is usually garbage.

I worked at OfficeMax and we sold refurbished HP printers. The return rate at my store for those printers was an ungodly 80% because they didn't perform to the specifications of a new model (printed slower, printed lower quality).

I bet you for a camera that's been sent back to a manufacturer for repairs and has been repacked will have some residual issues with the LCD or even worse, the sensor.

This isn't always the case, but you're trying your luck by buying a refurbished camera.

My advice is to save, save, save, and buy a new model with confidence.

[pas49ras]

As long as the camera does come with a manufacturer's warranty and it was refurbished by Canon, I think you should be ok.

[Tones7McA]

:confused:

Ok well I am thinking of purchasing from an ebay seller that has good feedback and is a power seller. They state they are an official canon distrobuter and that they are run by a company called Digital River. The ebay seller is called "Canon Outlet". The price the camera (S5IS) is going for is around £160-200... I think. Here in the UK you cannot buy from a shop for less than about £350, so its a big saving.

I have e-mailed the Canon HQ here in the UK to check if the seller is indeed official, but have yet to receive a reply.

I must admit I am unsure, and would rather a new model, but I have other priorities, I am going travelling for a year (expensive) and the camera is primarily to capture the wonderfull sights on my journey, thats why I want a good one that is still portable!

Thank you all for your views so far...

[AndyfromVA]

I bought an HP camera for my nephew that was refurbished by HP, and it was in perfect condition. As the previous poster said, as long as the camera was refurbished by the manufacturer, it should be OK.

[TheMayer78]

Has anyone EVER heard of a retailer selling refurbished cameras without disclosing that they are refurbished? Also, when a camera gets refurbished to they re-package it with new manuals and software? If you opened a repackaged refurbished camera is it likely the manuals/software will be sealed in plastic like they are in a new and unused unit?

Just curious.

TheMayer

[AdamW]

There's a difference between "Factory refurbished" and random crap from eBay. "Factory refurbished" means the item was inspected and brought up to like-new condition. It is packaged with everything a new item is packaged with, and is clearly labeled as refurbished. It has a manufacturer's warranty, usually at least 90 days, but often the same as a new item's warranty (as is the case with Apple.) "Factory refurbished" products purchased directly from the manufacturer or a reputable retailer are perfectly safe--if there is a problem they can be fixed or exchanged. Just try to return an item on eBay.

Manufacturers with proper quality control inspect each item before it leaves the factory. Refurbished items are inspected twice, so one could argue that they're actually less likely to have problems.

I've bought refurbished stuff many times without a single problem. I've bought from Apple and Epson. I've bought Canon lenses from Adorama. And I've bought around 10 Canon cameras over the years from B&H (for my school.)

[JPW2020]

:)I bought a refurbished S2 IS from Canon Outlet a couple of years back through eBay.They are an eBay shop apparantly officially sanctioned by Canon UK.

It came at a good price and was packaged as new complete with instruction manuals still shrinkwrapped and 1 year canon guarantee.It looked new and was unmarked.I kept it about a year and it was excellent,fault free.

Dont know if you have now purchased but if not from my experience with this eBay seller there shouldn't be any problems.