Canon Lens Serial Number -question

[serendipidy]

What happens to all these recently purchased new lenses (from B&H, Adorama, etc) that are returned or exchanged because the original buyer thought it wasn't good enough? Are they resold as new or refurbished or used? Are they checked out by the original seller? Just wondering

 

[iaind]

My 2011 8-15L zoom s/n 8200000xxx like most recently introduced lenses does not have date code either stamped or stencilled on.
It would be nice if Canon standardised the position of the serial number.

 

[zim]

What happens to all these recently purchased new lenses (from B&H, Adorama, etc) that are returned or exchanged because the original buyer thought it wasn't good enough? Are they resold as new or refurbished or used? Are they checked out by the original seller? Just wondering

I'd like to this too, I suspect they are just boxed up and sold on to the first person to come along with lower standards or don't know any better

 

[Dylan777]

What happens to all these recently purchased new lenses (from B&H, Adorama, etc) that are returned or exchanged because the original buyer thought it wasn't good enough? Are they resold as new or refurbished or used? Are they checked out by the original seller? Just wondering

I'd like to this too, I suspect they are just boxed up and sold on to the first person to come along with lower standards or don't know any better

I doubt it...the lens will be sent back to Canon for further reviews. Could be in refurb bucket I guess.

 

[DB]

Date codes on lenses are hit and miss. Many, if not all new models of "L" lenses introduced in the past two years do not have date codes. Most older lenses, even non "L" lenses had date codes.
Lenses that have been repaired by Canon often come back without a date code, apparently Canon commonly replaces the part with the code stamped on it.
It appears that eventually date codes will disappear on new lenses, but it might take 10 years.

7-digit serial will be accompanied by a date code like UAxxxx
10-digit serials will not have an additional date code (built-in to serial)

edit: obviously until all 7-digit serial lenses are 'discontinued' then the UA (2012), UB (2013) UC (2014) et cetera date codes will remain, until eventually all Canon lenses will have 10-digit serial numbers