Buying a used lens from Adorama

[Mt Spokane Photography]

24-105mm can be had for $700 new from good dealers often. Check canonpricewath(dot)com for price changes on that lens. Its getting very difficult to sell the used lens right now for more than $650 on ebay.

I've been checking them out but mainly see unauthorized dealers or lenses marked as grey/import version for anything less than $1049. Although I do see something that says I can contact CPW for info on obtaining the lens that the "street price" of $659.99: http://megmo.me/1z2wom7. I'll contact them but I wasn't sure if that was legitimate or shady.

Its real. Dealers can't advertise equipment below Canon's MSRP, but they can sell for any price they want.

 

[celltech]

I have bought many refurb lenses from Adorama and have never been let down: 50 f/1.4, 85 f/1.8, 24-105 f/4, 135 f/2, 70-200 f/4.

The last 3 in the list showed up *brand new* with warranty cards and all accessories. I am not sure why they did that, but I have not bothered to ask And even the true refurbs looked and performed as new.

Adorama has a buyer for life in me...

 

[CanonOregon]

'White box' is not used or anything like that, it's a 'kit lens' not in the kit anymore. Just be sure the warranty card is with it (which I'm sure Adorama would include!) and you'll be fine. I would think the lens hood would be with it, I bought one that way (of course, I worked at the camera store it came from!). And the bag, front and back caps.

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

'White box' is not used or anything like that, it's a 'kit lens' not in the kit anymore. Just be sure the warranty card is with it (which I'm sure Adorama would include!) and you'll be fine. I would think the lens hood would be with it, I bought one that way (of course, I worked at the camera store it came from!). And the bag, front and back caps.

The Warranty card does nothing. For service, you need a receipt from a authorized dealer (Like Adorama). You can toss the warranty card.

 

[jdramirez]

'White box' is not used or anything like that, it's a 'kit lens' not in the kit anymore. Just be sure the warranty card is with it (which I'm sure Adorama would include!) and you'll be fine. I would think the lens hood would be with it, I bought one that way (of course, I worked at the camera store it came from!). And the bag, front and back caps.

The Warranty card does nothing. For service, you need a receipt from a authorized dealer (Like Adorama). You can toss the warranty card.

I know this is the case... but what is the warranty card... a vestige of years gone by? I had a 1.3mp Olympus p&s and the usb connection went bad, so I called them and they said that my online registration was for marketing purposes alone and I needed the receipt... I was so angry that I never considered another one of their products...

But still

 

[Helen Oster]

I have bought many refurb lenses from Adorama and have never been let down: 50 f/1.4, 85 f/1.8, 24-105 f/4, 135 f/2, 70-200 f/4.

The last 3 in the list showed up *brand new* with warranty cards and all accessories. I am not sure why they did that, but I have not bothered to ask And even the true refurbs looked and performed as new.

Adorama has a buyer for life in me...

Very good to hear - thanks!

 

[Helen Oster]

The Warranty card does nothing. For service, you need a receipt from a authorized dealer (Like Adorama). You can toss the warranty card.

I know this is the case... but what is the warranty card... a vestige of years gone by? I had a 1.3mp Olympus p&s and the usb connection went bad, so I called them and they said that my online registration was for marketing purposes alone and I needed the receipt... I was so angry that I never considered another one of their products...


[/quote]

So if you have purchased from an authorised retailer - and why wouldn't you??!! - they should be able to take your zip code and / or email address at the time you placed your order, ID your order and send you a copy invoice.

If they can't, you should've bought from Adorama :-*

 

[jdramirez]

The Warranty card does nothing. For service, you need a receipt from a authorized dealer (Like Adorama). You can toss the warranty card.

I know this is the case... but what is the warranty card... a vestige of years gone by? I had a 1.3mp Olympus p&s and the usb connection went bad, so I called them and they said that my online registration was for marketing purposes alone and I needed the receipt... I was so angry that I never considered another one of their products...

So if you have purchased from an authorised retailer - and why wouldn't you??!! - they should be able to take your zip code and / or email address at the time you placed your order, ID your order and send you a copy invoice.

If they can't, you should've bought from Adorama :-*
[/quote]

This was in 2002... purchased from staples... and I believe that outdated the rewards tracking system... and I may have paid with cash...

I just bought a card reader and it was fine... but I guess I could have asked staples if the kept those kinds of records.

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

The Warranty card does nothing. For service, you need a receipt from a authorized dealer (Like Adorama). You can toss the warranty card.

I know this is the case... but what is the warranty card... a vestige of years gone by? I had a 1.3mp Olympus p&s and the usb connection went bad, so I called them and they said that my online registration was for marketing purposes alone and I needed the receipt... I was so angry that I never considered another one of their products...

So if you have purchased from an authorised retailer - and why wouldn't you??!! - they should be able to take your zip code and / or email address at the time you placed your order, ID your order and send you a copy invoice.

If they can't, you should've bought from Adorama :-*
[/quote]

Most reputable online dealers let you retrieve a invoice online. Local ones keep records and usually can duplicate one. I almost always buy from either Adorama, or from a small local camera shop in Couer D Alene Idaho. They employee real photographers, and I like to do my share of keeping a few of the old fashioned shops around. One small local photo store for Pros just closed shop recently.

I buy a ton of stuff from Amazon, but not Cameras.

 

[jdramirez]

Most reputable online dealers let you retrieve a invoice online. Local ones keep records and usually can duplicate one. I almost always buy from either Adorama, or from a small local camera shop in Couer D Alene Idaho. They employee real photographers, and I like to do my share of keeping a few of the old fashioned shops around. One small local photo store for Pros just closed shop recently.

I buy a ton of stuff from Amazon, but not Cameras.

Doing a quick inventory of my gear....

used... out of warranty
new... with receipt in email and account, but out of warranty
used... out of warranty
new... with receipt in email, still under warranty
used... out of warranty
used... out of warranty
used... reported stolen... there's a whole backstory here... but the story isn't done yet...
new... with receipt in email and in account, still under warranty
used... out of warranty.

Honestly, I've never had a lens or body go bad on me... so either I keep it well protected or I've been very lucky.