Don't buy a used camera?

I once purchased a used Canon SD750 from a pawn shop for cheap. The shop included a 30 return. Of course I check the camera out first to make sure it worked since the battery still had enough juice, and I had brought my own SD card with me.

While the article refers to the issue of the cost of a replacement battery on a P&S camera I've bought brand new third-party (Lenmar) brand batteries on Amazon for less than $10 a couple years ago and they still hold a charge.

not if you go with a panny camera, they chip their batteries now, and the aftermarkets don't seem to work right.

I just bought a used camera 5 minutes ago!

I would be more concerned about buying into Used News - come on - the source is FOX News.

Dont buy used boats? Seriously?? By that argument - dont buy anything used

I think the author is talking about point and shoot. I understand his point for low end budget cameras. I have seen people spend $40 on a old point and shoot with 6MP and you can have a brand new low end point and shoot for $90 with new technology. In cases like this, the savings are not significant, and sometimes you can not find cheap replacement batteries on ebay, so if the battery is shot, you are indeed looking on a decent amount of dough for a new battery.

EDIT: Well, I have bought all of those things used before. I like buying used for the savings, but I am a savy consumer. I know how to test the things I buy.

Like others have said, you can check pretty much anything before buying it. A boat is not some piece of mysterious alien technology. Everything in it has to meet certain specifications and those can be checked.

I will most likely never buy a new camera again. The extra money could be better spend on glass.

I just spent good money on a new Canon 70-200mm F/4L IS lens. I wasn't adverse to buying used, but most of the nice used ones I saw recently on the forums were $1000+ with paypal and shipping for a 2006-2009 date code lens. I was willing to pay $900 for a nice used one, but didn't find it so I got new with a warranty for a trip next week.