Olympus reconditioned sale (20% off)

Good selection this time. Just got a 40-150 F2.8. for about $1000. Been waiting a long time for one.

I ordered a reconditioned 25mm 1.8 two days ago without the discount. I called Olympus and they applied the discount to my order.

Amazing Olympus!

thenomadsoul wrote:

I ordered a reconditioned 25mm 1.8 two days ago without the discount. I called Olympus and they applied the discount to my order.

Amazing Olympus!

Nice.

I got that lens almost two years ago at a higher reconditioned price and no discount....... nah, that's asking too much.

rsmithgi wrote:

Good selection this time. Just got a 40-150 F2.8. for about $1000. Been waiting a long time for one.

I picked one up a couple hours ago too. Just over $1000 including taxes and shipping!

looks like a few more are left.

Got the notice of the sale.  Went to buy a 12-40, put it the cart and then realized the lens might arrive while we're away on vacation.  Had to take telephone call at work; then had to call a relative and ask if I could have the lens sent to them, if they were going to be at home next week.  Yes, they could!!  15 minutes after these calls, I'm back at my cart and ... the lens is out of stock.  The stars are not revolving in my favor today!

I just ordered a reconditioned 12-40 2.8 last night! I'll have to try calling them as well when they are open again on Tuesday and try to get the discount as well. Did you speak with anyone in particular?

Thanks-Maris

cptobvious wrote:

Highlands wrote:

Got the notice of the sale. Went to buy a 12-40, put it the cart and then realized the lens might arrive while we're away on vacation. Had to take telephone call at work; then had to call a relative and ask if I could have the lens sent to them, if they were going to be at home next week. Yes, they could!! 15 minutes after these calls, I'm back at my cart and ... the lens is out of stock. The stars are not revolving in my favor today!

These sales are always buy-first, think-later. The 12-40 in particular seems to sell out in a matter of minutes after a sale starts. FWIW for next time, Olympus outlet usually ships via FedEx, and I believe it's free to set vacation holds at fedex.com after the item ships.

I briefly thought about delivery to a FedEx center, but couldn't remember what shipping company Olympus uses.  Thanks for mentioning vacation holds, that was also a concern.

I'm continuing to watch the sale, the lens might come back in stock.  If it doesn't, there's always next time.  That work-related telephone call just could not have a come at a worse time!

Mavots wrote:

I just ordered a reconditioned 12-40 2.8 last night! I'll have to try calling them as well when they are open again on Tuesday and try to get the discount as well. Did you speak with anyone in particular?

Thanks-Maris

I had a question about an order I made during one of their sales a few months ago.  I just called the customer contact number on the website, gave the person who took the call the order number and they were able to answer my question.  I hope you get the discount!

Mavots wrote:

I just ordered a reconditioned 12-40 2.8 last night! I'll have to try calling them as well when they are open again on Tuesday and try to get the discount as well. Did you speak with anyone in particular?

Thanks-Maris

No just a super nice lady. She said they can apply the discount if they haven't shipped yet.

Good luck with that!

I called this morning and they gave me the discount. Yay!

BTW-I checked out your photos of my old home town. Wonderful!! I "liked" your FB page too.

rsmithgi wrote:

Good selection this time. Just got a 40-150 F2.8. for about $1000. Been waiting a long time for one.

Don't mean to throw water on the parade; but, after buying my initial Olympus setup, the OM-D E-M5, 12-40mm Pro lens, battery grip and a few other trinkets from B&H Photo, I decided to start buying gray market.  I knew that I was building a comprehensive system and "so what" if I have to ship one back to Japan for in-warranty repair; I'm still way ahead in the money game.

So far, no problems and I've saved hundreds, maybe even a thousand or more, haven't added it up.

Alex Ethridge wrote:

rsmithgi wrote:

Good selection this time. Just got a 40-150 F2.8. for about $1000. Been waiting a long time for one.

Don't mean to throw water on the parade; but, after buying my initial Olympus setup, the OM-D E-M5, 12-40mm Pro lens, battery grip and a few other trinkets from B&H Photo, I decided to start buying gray market. I knew that I was building a comprehensive system and "so what" if I have to ship one back to Japan for in-warranty repair; I'm still way ahead in the money game.

So far, no problems and I've saved hundreds, maybe even a thousand or more, haven't added it up.

You found some that were less than $1000? I hadn't found any less than this on eBay.

brycesteiner wrote:

Alex Ethridge wrote:

rsmithgi wrote:

Good selection this time. Just got a 40-150 F2.8. for about $1000. Been waiting a long time for one.

Don't mean to throw water on the parade; but, after buying my initial Olympus setup, the OM-D E-M5, 12-40mm Pro lens, battery grip and a few other trinkets from B&H Photo, I decided to start buying gray market. I knew that I was building a comprehensive system and "so what" if I have to ship one back to Japan for in-warranty repair; I'm still way ahead in the money game.

So far, no problems and I've saved hundreds, maybe even a thousand or more, haven't added it up.

You found some that were less than $1000? I hadn't found any less than this on eBay.

No, not less but I found the 7-14mm 2.8 Pro for $1024 about three months ago and I think the authorized dealer price in the US was $1299 at the time, a $275 saving. Even if I had a crystal ball and knew about the coming $1000 offering, $24 would not be an inducement to wait.

I found the 40-150mm 2.8 Pro from the same dealer for $1069 with the current-at-the-time price from a US dealer being $1499, a savings of $430.

Both lenses came with one-year warranties from an e-bay dealer who has a five year history with over 99% positive feedback. And unlike other internet stores, a good rating on e-bay cannot be faked. So I saved $705 just on these two lenses.

Add to that, the Olympus 75mm 1.8 which I bought and is now $614 from another dealer, also with similar e-bay history, which was $899 at the time, a $285 savings.

Just those three items saved me $990. And I haven't even added in the OM-D E-M5 Mark II, the 14-42mm EZ pancake lens, the LC-37C lens cap, the MC-14 1.4x dedicated teleconverter, the HLD-8 battery grip and the 14-42 f/3.5-5-6 II R lens and I think my savings may exceed $2000 -- and I didn't have to wait and hope for a pie-in-the-sky sale that may or may not happen.

If this is a contest to see who bought a particular lens at the lowest price, then those who are getting it at $1000 now, win; but, if it is a comparison of buying strategies, then it comes out differently -- and I get mine when I want it without having to hope for a sale.

Now, if every one of these items broke in warranty and I had to ship them back to the dealer in Japan, I would still be way ahead on the money.

Alex Ethridge wrote:

brycesteiner wrote:

Alex Ethridge wrote:

rsmithgi wrote:

Good selection this time. Just got a 40-150 F2.8. for about $1000. Been waiting a long time for one.

Don't mean to throw water on the parade; but, after buying my initial Olympus setup, the OM-D E-M5, 12-40mm Pro lens, battery grip and a few other trinkets from B&H Photo, I decided to start buying gray market. I knew that I was building a comprehensive system and "so what" if I have to ship one back to Japan for in-warranty repair; I'm still way ahead in the money game.

So far, no problems and I've saved hundreds, maybe even a thousand or more, haven't added it up.

You found some that were less than $1000? I hadn't found any less than this on eBay.

No, not less but I found the 7-14mm 2.8 Pro for $1024 about three months ago and I think the authorized dealer price in the US was $1299 at the time, a $275 saving. Even if I had a crystal ball and knew about the coming $1000 offering, $24 would not be an inducement to wait.

I found the 40-150mm 2.8 Pro from the same dealer for $1069 with the current-at-the-time price from a US dealer being $1499, a savings of $430.

Both lenses came with one-year warranties from an e-bay dealer who has a five year history with over 99% positive feedback. And unlike other internet stores, a good rating on e-bay cannot be faked. So I saved $705 just on these two lenses.

Add to that, the Olympus 75mm 1.8 which I bought and is now $614 from another dealer, also with similar e-bay history, which was $899 at the time, a $285 savings.

Just those three items saved me $990. And I haven't even added in the OM-D E-M5 Mark II, the 14-42mm EZ pancake lens, the LC-37C lens cap, the MC-14 1.4x dedicated teleconverter, the HLD-8 battery grip and the 14-42 f/3.5-5-6 II R lens and I think my savings may exceed $2000 -- and I didn't have to wait and hope for a pie-in-the-sky sale that may or may not happen.

If this is a contest to see who bought a particular lens at the lowest price, then those who are getting it at $1000 now, win; but, if it is a comparison of buying strategies, then it comes out differently -- and I get mine when I want it without having to hope for a sale.

Now, if every one of these items broke in warranty and I had to ship them back to the dealer in Japan, I would still be way ahead on the money.

Care to share the name of the ebay dealer. I am not against buying at a discount from a good dealer.

We are all in different situations and willing to deal with different risks/delays. I was contemplating the 40-150 purchase for a long time. Photography is a hobby and I was reluctant to spend $1000 - $1500 on a lens. Ultimately, the $960 price came along at the same time as my wife wondering what to buy me for my birthday and father's day.

rsmithgi wrote:

Alex Ethridge wrote:

brycesteiner wrote:

Alex Ethridge wrote:

rsmithgi wrote:

Good selection this time. Just got a 40-150 F2.8. for about $1000. Been waiting a long time for one.

Don't mean to throw water on the parade; but, after buying my initial Olympus setup, the OM-D E-M5, 12-40mm Pro lens, battery grip and a few other trinkets from B&H Photo, I decided to start buying gray market. I knew that I was building a comprehensive system and "so what" if I have to ship one back to Japan for in-warranty repair; I'm still way ahead in the money game.

So far, no problems and I've saved hundreds, maybe even a thousand or more, haven't added it up.

You found some that were less than $1000? I hadn't found any less than this on eBay.

No, not less but I found the 7-14mm 2.8 Pro for $1024 about three months ago and I think the authorized dealer price in the US was $1299 at the time, a $275 saving. Even if I had a crystal ball and knew about the coming $1000 offering, $24 would not be an inducement to wait.

I found the 40-150mm 2.8 Pro from the same dealer for $1069 with the current-at-the-time price from a US dealer being $1499, a savings of $430.

Both lenses came with one-year warranties from an e-bay dealer who has a five year history with over 99% positive feedback. And unlike other internet stores, a good rating on e-bay cannot be faked. So I saved $705 just on these two lenses.

Add to that, the Olympus 75mm 1.8 which I bought and is now $614 from another dealer, also with similar e-bay history, which was $899 at the time, a $285 savings.

Just those three items saved me $990. And I haven't even added in the OM-D E-M5 Mark II, the 14-42mm EZ pancake lens, the LC-37C lens cap, the MC-14 1.4x dedicated teleconverter, the HLD-8 battery grip and the 14-42 f/3.5-5-6 II R lens and I think my savings may exceed $2000 -- and I didn't have to wait and hope for a pie-in-the-sky sale that may or may not happen.

If this is a contest to see who bought a particular lens at the lowest price, then those who are getting it at $1000 now, win; but, if it is a comparison of buying strategies, then it comes out differently -- and I get mine when I want it without having to hope for a sale.

Now, if every one of these items broke in warranty and I had to ship them back to the dealer in Japan, I would still be way ahead on the money.

Care to share the name of the ebay dealer. I am not against buying at a discount from a good dealer.

We are all in different situations and willing to deal with different risks/delays. I was contemplating the 40-150 purchase for a long time. Photography is a hobby and I was reluctant to spend $1000 - $1500 on a lens. Ultimately, the $960 price came along at the same time as my wife wondering what to buy me for my birthday and father's day.

Pick one. Just be sure they have a history several years long and at least a 99% rating.

The 40-150 2.8 pro is there for another two hours at $969 ; but, I didn't examine the dealer.

mine was einfinityshop4 and dwi-international

Lew wrote:

Alex Ethridge wrote:

No, not less but I found the 7-14mm 2.8 Pro for $1024 about three months ago ...

I found the 40-150mm 2.8 Pro from the same dealer for $1069 with the current-at-the-time price from a US dealer being $1499, a savings of $430.

FYI, using Greentoe.com in December 2015 I bought the 7-14 for $1069 and 40-150 for $1189 -- these came from authorized US dealers with US warranties. What today's prices may be I do not know, they'll vary based on what the dealers are willing to do and what incentives exist from Olympus they can use.

I'm not saying your choice was incorrect. You still saved nearly $150 on the two lenses. My only point is that substantial savings can sometimes be found with US dealers via alternate channels.

I congratulate you on your choice; but, the problem I have with lesser-known, on-line, US dealers is there is no solidly-reliable way to evaluate their reputations.  I'm sure there are good ones; but, it is just too easy for so-called consumer review sites to be packed with fake entries.  The news of that finally became so common that no one pays attention any more.

At least with e-bay, you can be certain that every feedback is backed by a real purchase and a real buyer.

That is my choice based on that logic and I respect others' choices.

Getting back to the sale, I just double checked to see what was left and it looks like all of the Pro lenses are gone. There is still a M.Zuiko ED 14-150mm f4.0-5.6 (Black) left for $399 but in my opinion it isn't that great a deal as you can purchase a brand new M. Zuiko Digital ED 14-150mm f4.0-5.6 II for $499.

Alex Ethridge wrote:

So far, no problems and I've saved hundreds, maybe even a thousand or more, haven't added it up.

I would think that a refurbished lens runs a higher risk of having been returned due to being on the poorer end of sample variance. Buying new lenses, from overseas or anywhere else, eliminates that risk. Obviously you may still get a bad copy but the chances are reduced.

Just a theory but it seems to make sense.