New vs Open box vs Refurbished vs Used

[SharpShooter702]

Hey Everyone,

Was just asking myself, I wonder what people like to buy the most here on DPreview. So I decided to start a thread with a poll to see the numbers.

Do you guys like buying New, Refurbished, or Used camera gear?

I also want to hear if someone bought new but had bad experience, meaning the gear had to be sent out for warranty numerous times. Or if you bought refurbished and had to send out the gear for warranty as well. Or maybe you bought used to save some money, but then your gear died 3 weeks after buying it.

Sorry guys, had to redo the Poll in order to add the other 2 choices you were requesting. If you want, copy what you wrote in the other thread before it gets closed.

 

[Finsbay]

Hey Everyone,

Was just asking myself, I wonder what people like to buy the most here on DPreview. So I decided to start a thread with a poll to see the numbers.

Do you guys like buying New, Refurbished, or Used camera gear?

I also want to hear if someone bought new but had bad experience, meaning the gear had to be sent out for warranty numerous times. Or if you bought refurbished and had to send out the gear for warranty as well. Or maybe you bought used to save some money, but then your gear died 3 weeks after buying it.

Sorry guys, had to redo the Poll in order to add the other 2 choices you were requesting. If you want, copy what you wrote in the other thread before it gets closed.

I like good quality gear, but hate devaluation so buy semi professional quality out of date camera bodies, at least 3-4 years old. Never had any trouble with them.

Lenses seem to keep their value better and some seem to want 85 or even 90% of the new price for a used lens, not worth the saving at all, so I’ve bought new mostly.

 

[Cato1040]

It depends on your level of comfort and the time you have. If you have no time and don't like risks, new is best. I am quite comfortable with camera equipment reliability and am willing to take time so I patiently buy things used off of classified ads and wait for deals so good, I know I could sell them for the same amount or more if I need to. This way, I am not only saving money, I am potentially making money. I have now made over $1000 in selling equipment I've bought for less and I have also acquired a lot of free equipment in bundles. I've also been tracking my equipment purchases and I've spent around $7000 on my current equipment (8 cameras and 10 lenses). If I bought it all new, I would have spent over $18000. So, as you can see, one can save a lot of money if they are willing to take the time to patiently buy used.

 

[Martin_99]

Cameras - new with full waranty, looking for discounts, sales with extra accessory etc. Eg. last time I got 50mm lens for free.

Lenses - mostly used or with good prices on ebay. So far no problems, satisfied with purchases.

 

[pcgould]

I've bought quite a few bodies and lenses that were Open Box or Demo and they were discounted but still carried the manufacturers' warranties, even the extended 3 years for Panasonic.

In addition to the Open box (from Best Buy) and Demo (Adorama), all the rest of my equipment is used from Adorama, KEH, B&H, UsedPhotoPro, Samy's. Never any problems with any lenses or bodies and all these sellers offered from 90 days to 1 year warranties that I haven't had to use.