Would you buy a "Refurbished" Camera?

Zascar · 03-10-2007 9:58am #1

I want to buy a Canon 400D - I have already used it and I know it is the camera for me.

Irish store prices are ridiculous. The Camera Centre on Grafton St sells it for €799 - and others are more expensive again. I cannot justify spending that much money money when i can buy online with ease and save quite a bit.

Anyway, I found this camera on eBay. A canon 400D with Lens, 4GB Card and a few other little goodies for about €600 delivered. The description says:

"This product is Canon Refurbished "A CLASS" to BRAND NEW Condition, in factory sealed box, unopened, everything is keeping in the original manufacturer status. This Kit is in PERFECT BRAND NEW CONDITION."

Would you buy this? Or would you have reservations, and why?

Alternatively I can buy a brand new one here for about €635, and then but whatever extra's I need later on

What would you do?

Paulw · 03-10-2007 10:55am

Personally, I wouldn't buy a refurbished camera.

Have a look at Kea-Photo on ebay. You will hopefully see a good price there.

City-Exile · 03-10-2007 10:57am

I wouldn't either.
I'm a bit slow to trust the guys who sell refurbished cameras.
In theory, they should be tested & work as new, but it's the comeback that I'd be worried about.

run_Forrest_run · 03-10-2007 10:59am

I'm with PaulW, I would not buy a refurbished camera, especially if it is a model as common as the 400D, good prices for brand new models to be had online.

gandalf · 03-10-2007 2:06pm

Kea Photo would be my first choice but he doesn't seem to have any 400D's at the moment. You could also buy a new one from 7Dayshop (body only) at the same cost as the refurb. http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=777_1&products_id=102548

They also do CF memory at good prices as well.

Beano · 03-10-2007 3:52pm

Dont forgot that if you buy the one on ebay that you may have to pay duty and vat on top of that price, which makes it even less of a bargain than it already is.

Spyral · 03-10-2007 4:00pm

go to jessops up the north.. problem solved

Stephen · 03-10-2007 4:08pm

I'd buy a point and shoot camera refurbed, but not an SLR.

Borderfox · 03-10-2007 4:27pm

If the price was right I wouldnt have a problem

PixelTrawler · 03-10-2007 5:43pm

I was in the Camera Shop in Galway on saturday and they had the 400D body only for around 660 (there abouts). I couldnt see the kit in there to see a price.

I got the kit in Saturn (Germanys Currys more or else, except good!) in Munich on holidays recently for 699 which is roughly what pixmania are selling it for online. You can find it a lot cheaper though online if you hunt around. No need to get a refurbished one.

I hunted around myself after buying it and I shouldnt have cos I could have saved a fair bit. I knew not to look then but of course I had to. Grrr!

Baraboo · 03-10-2007 5:50pm

http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=777_1&products_id=102548

Canon Digital SLR Camera Kit - EOS 400D Body Only - UK Stock

Special Price £398.95
inc. UK VAT

£50 cashback on this

Fenster · 03-10-2007 6:56pm

If you go to the Galway Camera Shop you're looking to get ripped off - they're complete cowboys.

Have a look at Currys, when I left in May we had one (my old) refurbished 350D and a few new 350D's in stock for sub-600, in addition to the 400D new dropping to 600.

Kali · 03-10-2007 8:39pm

Zascar... I've a refurbished 400D purchased from that same seller, I paid £100 (sterling) under the cheapest retail price I could find at the time, though this was just before the 50 cashback unfortunaly. Not a single issue with it, lens and camera in perfect condition, not a scratch or bit of dust anywhere. Came shipped from manchester as well (despite it being a US seller), so no import tax... bear in mind it is an american model, so comes with a US charger.

Wez · 04-10-2007 9:33am

Yeh, I won the auction on one of these camera's from 'Global Phoenix Direct' last night.. Such a releif to hear that Kali! Really puts me at ease, sounds like it's the exact same guy.

I'm topping up my 3v today and buying one quickfast!

Zascar · 04-10-2007 3:21pm

Kali wrote:

Zascar... I've a refurbished 400D purchased from that same seller, I paid £100 (sterling) under the cheapest retail price I could find at the time, though this was just before the 50 cashback unfortunaly. Not a single issue with it, lens and camera in perfect condition, not a scratch or bit of dust anywhere. Came shipped from manchester as well (despite it being a US seller), so no import tax... bear in mind it is an american model, so comes with a US charger.

Dam, do does it say "Rebel XTi" instead of 400d?
Does the charger pose a problem or is it just a very simple plug adaptor?

Zascar · 04-10-2007 4:21pm

Baraboo wrote:

http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=777_1&products_id=102548
Canon Digital SLR Camera Kit - EOS 400D Body Only - UK Stock
Special Price £398.95 inc. UK VAT
£50 cashback on this

Cheers for the heads up on the cashback offer Baraboo!

http://www.tekmo.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=205
£339 (€489) with Free Delivery to Ireland!!! So with a €70 cashback that's €419!!! Fantastic Value!

Kali · 04-10-2007 5:08pm

Zascar wrote:

Dam, do does it say "Rebel XTi" instead of 400d?
Does the charger pose a problem or is it just a very simple plug adaptor?

Yep Rebel XTi. I use a simple adaptor works grand. Whoa that Tekmo crowd have a great price.. I'd go for that and the 28-135mm IS from Argos

PixelTrawler · 04-10-2007 8:00pm

Fenster wrote:

If you go to the Galway Camera Shop you're looking to get ripped off - they're complete cowboys.

Are they bad in general or just expensive? I was looking at lenses in there but they were pretty expensive. Its far cheaper online.

They had the Canon 75-300mm IS USM for almost 700 yo yos but its online for closer to 500

Would you buy a "Refurbished" Camera?

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