Anyone bought camera's off ebay?

I just found a canon 5d II with a 24-105 lens for 2555.00 on there. I am just skepitical about buying from ebay. Have any of you used them to make a big purchase?

eBay is anything but cheap. If a deal is too good to be true, either it is fake, or is gone within seconds of item listing.

That said, I have bought and sold plenty of stuff on eBay. It is not eBay as a website that matters, it is the seller. Look at the seller ratings and location, item description, pictures, etc.. Ask seller questions. Post the item link here (at the risk of other people jumping on it before you do).

Also check for ebay warranty. eBay now insures many items for free against defect, fraud, etc.. The link should be on the item page itself.

I have sold and bought some cameras and lenses on ebay. Turned out okay - as mentioned before, just make sure you are buying from a good seller. If you pay someone, do it through paypal, with a credit card, not funded through your bank account. You can always chargeback on a CC if the guy screws you over. Not the same as if you funded through your bank account.

Yep, PMI Digital. Got my 5D2 from them. They are an authorized US Canon dealer.

I bought my camera off ebay. came with 7000 shutter count and was in great condition, no issues in over a year. Just make sure the seller has good feedback and has sold other photography equipment of equal value. No sense in going with a new seller when there are hundreds of people selling gear.

Also, look on the forum for sale page. There are sometimes lower prices here than ebay.

If it is an auction with more then 1 minute left it will likely go up to market value

Caveat Emptor !

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I don't buy much expensive stuff on eBay, but I do buy a fair amount of cheap stuff. I do sell a lot there, however. Last week I sold my T1i kit, and whoever bought it made out like a bandit. There are good sellers there. Paying attention to feedback is key.

Please, actually read the feedback for the seller. Often people will inflate their rating with insignificant purchases. Be sure that you are fully capable of evaluating the item within the return period.

I just bought a used 7d kit with a 24-105 l and 430ex flash and got a great deal. But, you do have to be very careful and do your research. Always pay with a credit card on paypal.

Yes, but only from private sellers w/ good feedback.

I've bought a lot of cameras off eBay. I feel more comfortable buying from someone with a very low feedback. They seem more sincere. Someone with thousands of feedbacks makes me think pawn shop. I'm worried about buying from them more.

I've bought and sold higher-end bodies and lenses on ebay. I've not had any problems. However, I am very careful.

If an eBay item is over a grand, such as the 5D2 kit you're considering, then I would message the seller and ask them to give you a phone call. You can usually get a much better sense of someone's integrity via a phone conversation than you can via internet communication such as messages and emails.

Purchased my 5D2 from canon's authorized refurb dealer in the UK off ebay. No problems at all

I've purchased lenses & a couple of camera bodies, all of which were in excellent condition & I've sold probably 30 or 40 camera items on ebay. I like to buy primarily from sellers like me who are just primarily selling gear they don't use anymore. They are typically painfully honest and they usually take excellent care of their gear. Everything I sold was immaculate, except for 1 camera body, which had a battery problem upon arrival. I refunded the buyer upon return of the camera. The other option is to buy from someone like Adorama. You can often buy the same item for a little less, free shipping, get eBay bucks, plus the exact same care & service. It's a true win/win if you're buying new.