"Demo" or Refurbished

[hark]

Congrats and I think you made the right choice! Refurb would have had only one owner and cared for (more than likely). Demos get beat up.

That's a really good point!

 

[Sandpatch]

... A demo model....eh...might have been dropped or banged around ...

Agreed! I was killing time for a few minutes at an HH Gregg store looking at the latest DSLRs. They were all mounted on ridiculously puny pedestals and every camera that I removed and carefully replaced then fell seconds later and hit the countertop. I cringed, but then thought how dumb the retailer was for having such a poorly engineered display. I'll bet every one of those demo cameras and kit lenses has fallen a hundred times.

 

[Whiskeyman]

Agreed! I was killing time for a few minutes at an HH Gregg store looking at the latest DSLRs. They were all mounted on ridiculously puny pedestals and every camera that I removed and carefully replaced then fell seconds later and hit the countertop. I cringed, but then thought how dumb the retailer was for having such a poorly engineered display. I'll bet every one of those demo cameras and kit lenses has fallen a hundred times.

I hear you about what goes on at self-service camera counters; I've witnessed a camera falling further than the countertop. But what if those are the units that get sent back to corporate to be refurbished?

It's a case of what product you're looking at, in my opinion. The way I see it, there aren't many 70-200 f2.8 VR II lenses on display where they can be handled by a customer w/o a salesperson there. My travels to camera stores don't include any of the New York, Chicago, or Los Angeles stores that cover the better portion of a city block, but I've never seen one of these lenses not behind the counter. Not saying there aren't drops and knocks with the sales staff there, but it seems less likely.

No matter, I got a great deal on the lens, at a lower price than some used copies are selling for, and a no questions return policy that I like. So when it gets here, I'll run it through its paces and see if it's good. Likely, it's a better piece of equipment than I am a photographer.

WM

 

[Whiskeyman]

Ahhhggghhhh! It came today, at 12:47, when no one was home. Therefore, it left today shortly after that since it requires a signature. :chargrined:

I mean, when's the last time I needed something delivered early and actually had it happen? Usually they deliver after 5 PM.

Hopefully tomorrow...

WM

 

[Whiskeyman]

I picked it up from the UPS will-call operation yesterday. So far, very nice. I've had it on a camera for jus a few photos so far. Plan to do a lot with it this weekend. (Had planned to do so today, but I had to go into work unexpectedly.) I'll post photos in the recent purchases thread when I get them.

WM

 

[bigal1000]

I'm looking at a new lens which is available as a used "Demo" or refurbished. The prices are within $10 US of each other, so price isn't a driving factor. The used lens has a 30-day warranty and the refurbished has a 90-day warranty.

So my questions is, would you buy the refurbished or the used?

Thanks for your input.

WM

30 vs "90" day warranty no contest in my opinion !!

 

[carguy]

I'm looking at a new lens which is available as a used "Demo" or refurbished. The prices are within $10 US of each other, so price isn't a driving factor. The used lens has a 30-day warranty and the refurbished has a 90-day warranty.

So my questions is, would you buy the refurbished or the used?

Thanks for your input.

WM

Based on that, Refurbished for sure. Be sure it is NIKON refurbished, not a third party refurbished