Been a 10+ yrs since I've bought direct from Canon refurbished... If you were buying a R5 and/or RF glass would you buy refurbished now? From what I can tell the warranty is the same as buying new? Anything to watch out for or be aware of? or should I just cough up the extra $$$ and buy new?
The trouble with Canon direct many folks on this forum seem to report is not quality related but stock and delivery related. I have personally bought a few refurb lenses direct from Canon over the years. Never had any trouble with the quality of the items I received. But in multiple instances the delivery was unexpectedly delayed by days or weeks. In every case Canon showed the item I ordered was "in stock". Yet it could be a full week or longer before they shipped it. Everything I order eventually arrived in good condition. I would not hesitate to buy the refurbs direct as long as you are not in a hurry.
I always look for refurbished first. Same warranty, saves money. Right now I have and M50, a couple of adapterrs and a lens or two from the refurb store. The biggest problem seems to be that they have inventory issues on their site. Sometimes it will show up in stock, and then be back ordered when you put it in the cart.
I've bought dozens of refurbs from Canon Direct and only once had to return a product—an EF 28 2.8 IS USM that back focused badly. Everything else was pristine. Like Jeff wrote, the main problem is stock is hard to get ahold of. If something actually comes in stock, it sells out as you click... Nowadays I have to buy new most of the time.
It would need to be a considerable saving on a camera like the R5 to go refurb. I have bought a body refurbished a few years ago, and it was perfect. On lens, I would most likely take a chance for less savings. They have never had in stock any lens I was buying, except on the body I bought.
I have bought a number of Canon Refurbs from Canon and they seem as good as the new lenses I have purchased from Canon direct. It is possible to get a lens that needs to go back from both new and refurb inventory, but it is pretty rare. I have approximately 30 Canon lenses. The last refurb body I purchased from Canon was a 5DSR and it was perfect. My current R5 was purchased new from Canon direct.
Would buy body or lens any day refurbished from Canon. Recently bought RF 50mm 1.2 and RF 35mm 1.8 from there. They both looked and worked like new to me. Only negative is they come in generic boxes. Have not bought a body refurbished from Canon in awhile. Usually I find the used market provides better deals for bodies.
I have bought so many bodies via canon refurbished, and all but one has low shutter counts, ie. below 500. Love the program, but I do only buy when there is a sale, and not at regular prices.
I have purchased both lenses and bodies and they have all appeared and functioned as new, so if the savings are in the 10% arena (which is normal), i would go refurbished in a heartbeat. You just have to be quick, as others have said, they are generally out of stock in minutes.
I think the refurbs also go through one extra QC stage than a new item, at least that would seem likely.👍🏼
I've bought a few lenses from canon refurbished, both on sale and the lenses were great. 50 1.2 had a slight smudge on the front element that came off with a few wipes of lens cloth and the 500 mm looked perfect, even had a new lens smell.
Absolutely buy refurb!!!
The cameras are brand spanking new.
Something they've been owned other times not.
Canon policy to return an item(within the 15 day or whatever it is) is IF it is distinguishable from a brand new item then it CAN'T be returned, it will be sent back or replaced if it has a problem!
And then they are fully checked and re-calibrated etc., then sold as a refurb.
When a camera comes in and it doesn't work, they are destroyed instead, not repaired!
John
If it is important to you to save a few dollars, the refurbs can be great products. I've bought several and I've never felt like I was using anything other than a new product.
Basically the deal is that there was some repairable issue with the gear. It was repaired, to the same or higher standard for new gear. But because it is no longer technically "new," it must be sold as "refurbished." If the law permitted selling it as new and you ended up with one of these refurbed products in the new packaging, you would be unable to detect any difference between it and the technically new stuff. If anything, I'd bet that the failure rate of the refurbs might even be lower!
My best refurb purchase from Canon as actually a pair of image stabilized binoculars — incredibly expensive at the regular price... but I paid half, which is the only way I could have justified the expense.
Generally yes. I just purchased a refurb G1X3 to be backup to my original, cheaper now than what I paid for the underwater housing for the first. Seems good and will use it vs the original while the warranty lasts.
My suggestion is to test and be satisfied while in the return period. I bought a refurb 7D back in the day that I was never happy with. I think it was the nature of that camera and not its refurbishedness, but since then I've been more careful with initial testing.
I don't buy refurbs only because I don't think the discount is enough, plus Canon charges sales tax. I'd rather buy used from the buy/sell forum. You have to patient though but it's worked out well for me. I'm at least the 2nd owner on every camera and lens I've owned in the last decade+ and have had no problems.
Mike_5D wrote:
I don't buy refurbs only because I don't think the discount is enough, plus Canon charges sales tax. I'd rather buy used from the buy/sell forum. You have to patient though but it's worked out well for me. I'm at least the 2nd owner on every camera and lens I've owned in the last decade+ and have had no problems.
I think that's a reasonable choice, too. I like the idea of having a warranty, and buying used can be a bit more chancy.
I do agree that it is worth considering how much the discount is. If it isn't any more than the typical periodic discounts on regular new gear... and you are willing to wait... then the refurb pricing may not be as attractive. But in practical terms you are getting essentially new gear with the refurbs.
I have been a dedicated Canon Refurbished buyer since my 500D. 60D, 70D, 80D, and at least 10 lenses, all without any problems. This year, I've purchased a 90D and a 6DII - both went back immediately. The mode-dial on the 6DII was just random; select M, get P; select Av get [green]; select M again and get Av. The 90D seemed to work just fine as long as I didn't use a flash (all mine are Canon brand). Everything with flash was way over exposed, and it would work at all with my YN-622 system. I'm done with Canon refurbished.
I'm all for Canon refurb. They look brand new, inspected by actual techs instead of just rolling off the line. You get the same 1 year warranty as new. Only thing you don't get is the retail box.
I've ordered lenses and bodies with no issues. I've had an issue with a refurbished lens where there was dust inside. Sent it back and all was fixed.
But the big thing is the savings. It helps if you know someone at Canon as well. I ended up getting a refurbed RF 35mm for $200! I keep missing out on the refurb Control Ring adapter.
bought a few things from them and never had any issues with the items. Most recent was an RF 35mm Macro, got it for $100 off the retail price.
Only gripes I have with Canon Direct deal with getting ahold of customer service, and I do wish Canon wouldn't charge for shipping, seems every other vendor has spending limits attached to their free shipping.
