Worth a shot? D7100 on eBay

RockyNH_RIP

RockyNH_RIP

Senior Member
Well, it looks promising (price wise)... but then realize it is coming from Thailand so you will likely not have any warranty...

If I was looking at it, I would want to see a bit more feedback than 79... it is 100% but not too re-assuring when most is $3 fridge magnets... As tempting as it seems, I would be passing.... Now if this was a person with 1400 feedback, 100% and most were high end (cameras lenses etc) I would have a warmer fuzzier..

Just me...

Pat in NH
 
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john*thomas

Senior Member
I am reluctant for the same reasons which is why I asked.....

Just speaking out loud here. If it doesn't arrive I'll get my money back. I can add the warranty offered on eBay for $80 which gives me a two year warranty. (even covers drops)

My only reluctance with taking a chance is if it arrives DOA or not what it is supposed to be the cost in sending it back.
 
hark

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
Don't be surprised if it doesn't come with a box or its accessories. I've read where some sellers will add those for an additional cost.
 
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john*thomas

Senior Member
Technically I could send it back if it's not in the box as it's described as new in the box. As noted, that doesn't mean it has anything other than the body in the box. I sent a question asking that and I'll see if I get a reply.

Sending it back under eBay rules is $$$ though.
 
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nickt

Senior Member
I've heard that Nikon will not even service something like that even if you are willing to pay. With that in mind, I would worry about the SquareTrade warranty. If you google, you will find that SquareTrade has opted out of a number of claims and refunded people's payment. I'm not saying they are a bad outfit, I tried them out on my daughter's cell phone and they came through. Do some googling though on "squaretrade problem", you will find instances where they opted out and refunded the premium rather than service the item. Here is one story:
Invalid Squaretrade Warranty: False Advertising an... - The eBay Community
 
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john*thomas

Senior Member
Thanks for the info on "square trade". I think the odds of them taking my money and then refusing to honor the warranty is pretty high. I'm wondering how they have been able to get away with this for so long?

A definite slash in the "no" catagory.
 
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PapaST

Senior Member
That is a very peculiar deal. I'm following that guy to see if he starts getting good feedback for selling cameras. He has a ton of great feedback for magnets and other cheap plastic items... but nothing about camera gear. That kinda tells me it's a scam or he robbed a camera store. He currently has 2 new Canons for sell as well.

Too fishy for my taste.
 
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nickt

Senior Member
There are a lot of satisfied SquareTrade customers. Many happy endings posted on their facebook page. But I think it is very un-cool that on occasion they just say NO and refund your premium. Two problems with that. First problem is that you are left without coverage when you thought you had it. Second problem is the guy who has an ineligible item and never made a claim gets unknowingly screwed. He doesn't even get his premium back because he never got to test the warranty.

Update... As I'm typing this, I checked their webpage. They may have come around and done the right thing, it looks like they cover gray market ebay items. Extended Warranty Coverage - Extended Insurance Coverage - Coverage Plans
I don't think I saw that 2 years ago when I was researching the iphone warranty. It looks like this only applies to ebay items.

Maybe you will get a cheap d7100 after all. I would call squaretrade and ask them questions until you are comfortable.
 
RockyNH_RIP

RockyNH_RIP

Senior Member
john*thomas said:
Thanks for the info on "square trade". I think the odds of them taking my money and then refusing to honor the warranty is pretty high. I'm wondering how they have been able to get away with this for so long?

A definite slash in the "no" catagory.
Click to expand...


Remember.... he has mostly been selling $3.00 dollar magnets.... now he has some feedback.... IF he is going to pull anything, now he has feedback but has not likely pulled anything with the little items... so now at 600+ dollars, now he would pull it.. NOTE, I am NOT saying he is a fraud, only that I would not post my money for it... Do you want to send it to Thailand for warranty work??? Are you comfortable with SQ TRADE maybe not covering it and as mentioned, Nikon USA may not even touch it for a repair..

Somone recently just sent a 7000 or 7100 in for focus calibration... where do you go if you have an issue??? Thailand?? And how long will that take??

Pat in NH
 
BackdoorArts

BackdoorArts

Senior Member
For me, I see a guy with feedback of only 81, and while he's been on eBay for over a year I see no other sales for cameras. Now he has 11 brand new D7100's he's farming out. It's not a shop, so the question is, "Where did they come from?" No telling if they are stolen, broken, or somehow otherwise compromised (did they literally fall off a boat and could not be delivered?). Toss in your money for a questionable warranty and you're saving a couple hundred bucks for a real roll of the dice. No shot that I would buy it.

Now, if it was a camera shop with feedback in the thousands, perhaps.
 
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Jonathan

Senior Member
I bought my D7100 body second-hand off eBay for around $1,150. It apparently had about 50 clicks under its belt. It came with all the bits, except the manual was in Korean (I was warned about that beforehand). I'm very happy with it.

Frankly, if it looks like a duck and sounds like a duck it's a duck. This deal seems too good to be true.
 
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nickt

Senior Member
Good points from Pat and Jake on the seller reputation. If you proceed anyway, a good question for squaretrade would be "what if my camera needs calibration"? Nikon won't touch it, will squaretrade simply send you a US refurb? Lots of questions. What about 4 years from now, its your backup camera and you need a minor repair? Nikon wont touch it and warranty is done. You will probably get more piece of mind to scrape up the extra cash for a US model. Adorama has refurbs for $940. That's $290 more, but you probably won't need the squaretrade warranty so now you are only ~$200 away. Side note... Adorama's drop and spills warranty looks reasonable at $45. I am always skeptical of these things, but that is a price I would bite at.
 
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john*thomas

Senior Member
You never know on eBay any longer......I bought my epson v500 for $99 shipped on eBay off a seller with (3) feedback. It's been great. Turns out it was epson starting their own eBay account. LOL
 
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Ruidoso Bill

Senior Member
Between ebay and paypal you are fairly well protected. I have bought items that were the sellers 1 and probably only sale, my Sekonic light meter. One lens I bought several years ago was not as advertised (different model), when I complained he gave me the lens and refunded all I had paid. I have never been disappointed with ebay except for memory cards which I never buy there now.
 
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john*thomas

Senior Member
They are sold out. The big reason I didn't buy was even if they are 100% legit things happen even with brand new items and it would have been a pain sending it back.

Probably a great deal for the majority that would have no problems.
 
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