Amazon Renewed Lens

[Golfer65]

I am looking to acquire a Nikon z 180-600mm lens and notice Amazon sells a renewed lens. Does anyone have experience buying Amazon renewed lenses?

Nikon also sells a refurbished lens at $1395 but seldom has them in stock. I also track KEH, MPB and Lensrentals looking for good offers. Thanks for any comments.

 

[SoCalAngler]

I am looking to acquire a Nikon z 180-600mm lens and notice Amazon sells a renewed lens. Does anyone have experience buying Amazon renewed lenses?

Nikon also sells a refurbished lens at $1395 but seldom has them in stock. I also track KEH, MPB and Lensrentals looking for good offers. Thanks for any comments.

The store identified on Amazon as selling the renewed is Sixth Avenue Electronics Express (6ave) and is not on Nikon's USA Authorized dealer list.

https://cdn-6.nikon-cdn.com/where-to-buy/nikon_img_auth_dealers.pdf

Mostly poor reviews on review sites on the internet.

I would avoid that seller. The gear is likely grey market and you would not be able to get it repaired by Nikon USA should the need arise.

When I purchase refurbished Nikon gear I purchase directly from Nikon USA.

 

[fotosean]

I am looking to acquire a Nikon z 180-600mm lens and notice Amazon sells a renewed lens. Does anyone have experience buying Amazon renewed lenses?

Nikon also sells a refurbished lens at $1395 but seldom has them in stock. I also track KEH, MPB and Lensrentals looking for good offers. Thanks for any comments.

The store identified on Amazon as selling the renewed is Sixth Avenue Electronics Express (6ave) and is not on Nikon's USA Authorized dealer list.

https://cdn-6.nikon-cdn.com/where-to-buy/nikon_img_auth_dealers.pdf

Mostly poor reviews on review sites on the internet.

I would avoid that seller. The gear is likely grey market and you would not be able to get it repaired by Nikon USA should the need arise.

When I purchase refurbished Nikon gear I purchase directly from Nikon USA.

If you are going to buy refurb, wait for a Nikon USA refurb sales. Amazon "refurb" doesn't mean anything. 3rd party, no QC, and I wouldn't trust any non-authorized Nikon outfit as far as I could toss 'em.

 

[skyrunr]

There are a few stories of failures from Nikon refurbished here, but I've always had good luck with Nikon. Their customer service isn't what it used to be, and every repair seems to be $350-450 these days.

MPB has them with a six month warranty.

The savings could cover a third party warranty. You can buy them through Amazon or directly, and they are generally better than a new Nikon warranty anyway. Amazon has a subscription warranty program that might work well for some, if they read the fine print.

--
SkyRunR
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
"Moderation plays a vital role in all forms of moral excellence." Aristotle

 

[fotosean]

The store identified on Amazon as selling the renewed is Sixth Avenue Electronics Express (6ave) and is not on Nikon's USA Authorized dealer list.

https://cdn-6.nikon-cdn.com/where-to-buy/nikon_img_auth_dealers.pdf

Mostly poor reviews on review sites on the internet.

I would avoid that seller. The gear is likely grey market and you would not be able to get it repaired by Nikon USA should the need arise.

This ^^^. The few times I have asked about similar "refurbished" Nikon gear on Amazon...I always asked for the serial number of the item in question. Almost always, it turned out to be gray market. A few times, the request for the serial number went unanswered. Hard pass, in either case.

 

[fotosean]

There are a few stories of failures from Nikon refurbished here, but I've always had good luck with Nikon. Their customer service isn't what it used to be, and every repair seems to be $350-450 these days.

I have always had positive experiences with Nikon USA refurb. I think I have purchased 2 bodies (one DSLR, one Z) and 6 lenses (4 F-mount, 2 Z). I had an issue with one lens, noticed it right away, contatce them within 48 hours of receipt - authorized the return and the shipping, and had a replacement within a week, which was just fine.

MPB has them with a six month warranty.

MPB (or KEH) is a whole 'nother deal than an Amazon refurb offer where one has any idea who actually did the refurb...or if one does, it ends up being a 3rd party that is a non-authorized reseller who doesn't have access to Nikon parts that may be needed for a proper refurb. MPB (and KEH) y'know what u are getting, and they back it up. With a solid warranty that is DEFINITELY better than Nikon's refurb warranties.

The savings could cover a third party warranty. You can buy them through Amazon or directly, and they are generally better than a new Nikon warranty anyway.

Is this for repairs, or replacement? Asking because I honestly don't know. If it is for repair -- why would one trust a 3rd party reseller that just sent a faulty refurb lens, maybe/maybe not gray market, to do the repair if they are not a Nikon authorized servicer/seller? If it is for replacement - maybe -- as long as it isn't gray market, or do they try to play the old "Abe's of Maine" game ...

Amazon has a subscription warranty program that might work well for some, if they read the fine print.

Dunno about that, never heard of it. Would be interested in reading the fine print. Having said that... saving a couple of bucks in this manner, YMMV (I don't think it does I think u are just pointing out options here) IMHO is just not a good way to go these days.

Camera bodies and lenses are just too expensive to try to shave a few bucks off here and there. There's ways to save money here and there by going thru reputable used gear places like KEH and MPB, or thru Nikon Refurb. Rather than rolling the dice and taking a chance.

 

[AlainCh2]

I am looking to acquire a Nikon z 180-600mm lens and notice Amazon sells a renewed lens. Does anyone have experience buying Amazon renewed lenses?

Nikon also sells a refurbished lens at $1395 but seldom has them in stock. I also track KEH, MPB and Lensrentals looking for good offers. Thanks for any comments.

You don't specify what!!!
Amazon's name is only a seller's container.

Most of my Used lenses are bought on Amazon.EU warehouse.

>>I usually don't buy used from 3rd party.

I normally buy Nital items [Nikon Italy - 4 years warranty] or France Nikon from them.

The last one I bought is the 24-200Z for 30% less than the Nikon price, Nital Official.















--
___.............................!............................ ___
-------- Mid of French/Italian Alps --------- I Love my Carnivores. >https://eu.zonerama.com/AlainCH2/1191151
.
Photography ... It is about how that thing looks when photographed..
( Avoid boring shots )

 

[Golfer65]

Thanks for all your comments, I too have had good luck with Nikon refurbished and that is where I look first.

 

[ajr images]

I've bought a few refurbished bodies and lenses from Nikon and had no problems, but I'd never risk buying Amazon refurbished items.

When I was looking for a 400TC, Amazon had a refurbished lens at a saving of around $2000 but I decided not to risk it and bought a new one from B&H.

 

[rcower]

6th Avenue...run away, do not walk.

 

[sirhawkeye64]

I am looking to acquire a Nikon z 180-600mm lens and notice Amazon sells a renewed lens. Does anyone have experience buying Amazon renewed lenses?

Nikon also sells a refurbished lens at $1395 but seldom has them in stock. I also track KEH, MPB and Lensrentals looking for good offers. Thanks for any comments.

I would only buy lenses on Amazon that are sold and shipped by Amazon itself (many resellers on Amazon are NOT authorized Nikon resellers, so you may be at their mercy for any warranty claims). Amazon itself is a certified reseller for Nikon so you could get warranty service from Nikon but it has to be sold and shipped by Amazon, so I would not buy a "renewed" lens from anyone on Amazon unless it was cheap and you were willing to take the loss if it came down to that. (I sort of fell that renewed is another term used for refurbished, but not by an authorized party of the manufacturer, in this case Nikon).

Plus, since this is likely not refurbished by an authorized Nikon seller, the refurbishment process can vary and may not be as detailed as one that is refurbished by Nikon itself or an authorized party.

Basically, for that amount of money, i would buy a refurbished directly from Nikon or just get a new one, or at the very least, buy a used one from KEH or MPB as they have decent warranties. I would not trust a "renewed" lens on Amazon. It may also be a grey market lens too.

 

[shuncheung]

The store identified on Amazon as selling the renewed is Sixth Avenue Electronics Express (6ave) and is not on Nikon's USA Authorized dealer list.

https://cdn-6.nikon-cdn.com/where-to-buy/nikon_img_auth_dealers.pdf

Mostly poor reviews on review sites on the internet.

I would avoid that seller. The gear is likely grey market and you would not be able to get it repaired by Nikon USA should the need arise.

This ^^^. The few times I have asked about similar "refurbished" Nikon gear on Amazon...I always asked for the serial number of the item in question. Almost always, it turned out to be gray market. A few times, the request for the serial number went unanswered. Hard pass, in either case.

For Nikon Z camera bodies, it is very easy to determine whether it is gray market or not. (The first one or two digits of the S/N is coded for the intended market.) However, at least I am not aware of any way to tell a lens is gray market or not based on the serial number.

However, on certain F-mount lenses, lenses for the US market used to have the US prefix, but that is no longer the case for Z-mount lenses.

 

[ChazJones]

I am looking to acquire a Nikon z 180-600mm lens and notice Amazon sells a renewed lens. Does anyone have experience buying Amazon renewed lenses?

Nikon also sells a refurbished lens at $1395 but seldom has them in stock. I also track KEH, MPB and Lensrentals looking for good offers. Thanks for any comments.

Don't waste your time. I pulled the trigger and took the risk and the images were soft, blurry and the camera (Z8 and Z6) struggled to focus. I packed right back up and returned to Amazon.

By comparison, I've purchased refurbished gear on B&H with no issues.