70-200 2.8 IS MkII Refurbished - No Box?

S.Horton wrote in post #12885267
It is an issue for resale value. And worth noting that if someone tries to sell you a lens without a box, hmmmmmmmmmmm.

Not commenting on the stupidness of that trend (though I concede it exists) - refurbished lenses never came with the OEM boxes.

klr.b wrote in post #12885483
His issue is he didn't get the white box.

Again - why is this an issue? My 70-200 II from Canon didn't have a white box either. Seriously, it's a white cardboard box. Why does anyone care ?

Just to clarify, my 70-200 came in a brown shipping box with just the cushioning foam padding, NO white "Refurbished" box. I never expected the "original" box, but I certainly did expect the "refurb" white box. My 15-55, purchased 1 week later came with the white box which is what raised the issue in my mind. Lesser lens = box, flagship lens = no box? I may be blonde, but that logic doesn't compute.

Yes, they still charge $15 shipping.

No, I'd never ship a lens just in the lens box - I'd always use a second shipping box. My issue is that without the shipping box, if I ever want to sell this, I have to sell no box, which will likely lower the price, silly though that may be. Even selling a refurbished used lens, buyers want a box.

For S.Horton: Interestingly, with the 15% off coupon, my 17-55 was purchased for less than the various "used" offers I've seen here and on FM recently. Should have bought 2 (or three)

TheBurningCrown wrote in post #12885918
Again - why is this an issue? My 70-200 II from Canon didn't have a white box either. Seriously, it's a white cardboard box. Why does anyone care ?

The question isn't why does anyone care, the fact is some do, and without one, there's perceived lesser value in resale. :shrug:

BurBunny wrote in post #12885929
Just to clarify, my 70-200 came in a brown shipping box with just the cushioning foam padding, NO white "Refurbished" box. I never expected the "original" box, but I certainly did expect the "refurb" white box. My 15-55, purchased 1 week later came with the white box which is what raised the issue in my mind. Lesser lens = box, flagship lens = no box? I may be blonde, but that logic doesn't compute.

The former also came inside of a lens pouch with even more additional foam. That's probably their justification to leave the box out. To me, the logic that you need to put a lens inside of foam inside of a case inside of a box inside of more foam inside of ANOTHER box in order for the customer to be happy...does not compute.

BurBunny wrote in post #12885933
The question isn't why does anyone care, the fact is some do, and without one, there's perceived lesser value in resale. :shrug:

...but in my experience, you would probably getting a greater price knock for having a "refurbished" lens than missing a useless white box. If you bought an OEM box for $20 you would probably increase your price significantly more...

TheBurningCrown wrote in post #12885962
...but in my experience, you would probably getting a greater price knock for having a "refurbished" lens than missing a useless white box. If you bought an OEM box for $20 you would probably increase your price significantly more...

Which is even odder to me. Why is a refurb, which has been hand inspected, less desirable than a general used lens?

But regardless of that, I'm not comfortable putting a refurb lens in an OEM box to sell it. That just is not kosher.

BurBunny wrote in post #12885977
Which is even odder to me. Why is a refurb, which has been hand inspected, less desirable than a general used lens?

Probably because it's somehow "damaged goods." If it's "refurbished," it means it was "bad" or "broken." Even if it wasn't, that's the perception. Even if it was fixed and resold, that's the perception. Even if a formerly "new" lens was abused, that's the perception.

I don't get it either.


But I agree with you on the OEM box thing. Seems unethical.

Actually, the brown box is the box that you're looking for. It has the serial and UPC on the side of the box. For all intents and purposes, that box is your "refurbished" box.

douflag wrote in post #12886189
Actually, the brown box is the box that you're looking for. It has the serial and UPC on the side of the box. For all intents and purposes, that box is your "refurbished" box.

...really? I should check mine then. I was going to throw it away, but it just fits all of my winter clothes so nicely...

TheBurningCrown wrote in post #12886222
...really? I should check mine then. I was going to throw it away, but it just fits all of my winter clothes so nicely...

I think this might vary. I still have the brown box, that came stuffed with paper packaging, and it only has a shipping label on it. My SN and such is on my refurb box (the white one) for my 24-70.

So most of the bigger refurbished items comes with no box but all retail items? Do all the refurb lens sold are in like new condition or they just fix the issue with the lens and sell as is? Let's say a while L lens has paint chips or tiny lens scratches you get what you get?

My refurb 35mm from Canon Direct was shipped white refurb box inside of a brown box. The serial number and lens info was on a "cut to open" label that sealed the white refurb box.

I didn't see anything of interest on the brown box aside from the tracking information.

All the refurbs I've gotten shipped without a box in foam as well. This is a normal practice for them.

jnaks wrote in post #12964308
All the refurbs I've gotten shipped without a box in foam as well. This is a normal practice for them.

can't be considered "normal practice" when I, and others, have stated that we've received our refurbed lenses *with* the white refurb box.

I've gotten my items both ways. Some with the white box and some without. Didn't bother me either way so long as it was properly padded and works good. Here's the real kicker, I saved all my OEM boxes for resale in case I ran into someone that felt like the box added value. However I lost all the boxes in our house fire earlier this year so it looks like I'll be selling my items box-less in the future anyways haha. To anyone reading this, none of the lenses I have left were involved in the fire so buy from me confidently.