Greentoe - overhyped and be careful

Amamba wrote in post #17931209
I know that if I got a misbehaving lens from Amazon, they would exchange it without giving me any grief..

This is EXACTLY how is works thru greentoe. I've had to return on 2 different occasions, lenses purchased thru greentoe, to the vendor for different problems with each lens. NO issues whatsoever.

I was not talking about the returns.

Long time ago, I bought a Tamron 70-300 VC for Canon from a vendor who had good reviews. The box looked like it was opened more than once but the lens appeared brand new. The lens was randomly just switching off if I held the camera in portrait orientation. Working fine in landscape or when the camera was held in portrait "upside down" (grip vertical shutter button on the bottom). I really liked the rendering of that lens so I called the shop to exchange it. They told me they would not send me another lens & I could only process a return. When I returned that lens to them they emailed me asking to call them before they process the return. During my call the owner claimed they put it on three different bodies and it wasn't malfunctioning, and just stopped short of calling me a liar. I later bought the same model lens used here on POTN and had no problems with it.

A hard lesson I learned is that a returned lens that doesn't show visible signs of use would often be repackaged and resold as new.

When I bought a lens on Amazon that appeared decentered (right side softer than left) I didn't even have to explain what my problem was. They just replaced it, no questions asked. It was sold by Amazon, not 3rd party.

With B&H and Adorama, if I have a genuine issue, I know I can get someone knowledgeable enough and willing to help - like Helen or Henry here. I assume it would be a tad harder than Amazon to get a replacement, but perfectly doable. With an unknown vendor, not so much. And the chance of vendor selling me someone else's reject through a discount intermediary is higher.

This still makes it worth the risk if the savings are good. I can deal with potential return if I am saving $ 70. Especially if I am saving a couple hundred. But for $30, they can have it. This is just my approach, it's neither right or wrong.

Rather unfair title, they never said the guarantee this much discount on every deal. You can offer whatever you are comfortable with and stick to your gun.

It's the age of innuendo and slander. You can say anything you want if you have an opinion and keyboard.

photoguy6405 wrote in post #17930346
I think many of the people here are being argumentative just to be argumentative. Personally, I found the OP's warnings to be of value. I have never used Greentoe, and never really investigated it, but the OP brought up a couple points that I would be uncomfortable with, so now I am better informed should I ever decide to try them in the future.

howiewu wrote in post #17932899
Rather unfair title, they never said the guarantee this much discount on every deal. You can offer whatever you are comfortable with and stick to your gun.

I think the unfair title has helped foster the argumentative tone. What the OP has said about returns is certainly logical and reasonable. GT is going to be a bit more risky than Amazon or B&H, so be sure the savings is enough to make that risk acceptable. Unfortunately the title doesn't reflect that tone.

Used GT five times without issue.
> $6000 in gear.

mpix345 wrote in post #17932947
I think the unfair title has helped foster the argumentative tone. What the OP has said about returns is certainly logical and reasonable. GT is going to be a bit more risky than Amazon or B&H, so be sure the savings is enough to make that risk acceptable. Unfortunately the title doesn't reflect that tone.

The title was based on their FAQs stressing that once you put the bid in it can't be retracted so you're locked at GT for 3-7 days even though you don't always get a counterbid right away. Which could be a problem if you were bidding on an item currently on sale elsewhere. This seemed unfair. However what I did not realize as I started this thread - and admitted it the moment I found out - is that GT allows you to revise your bid to zero, which kind of negates the entire "can't withdraw your bid" rule. Unfortunately I can't go back and change the title.

I used GT once, for a Fuji 56mm f/1.2 last fall. Sale went without any issues and I saved about 10%. Nowhere near the 25-30% testimonials, but $80 is still $80. I will definitely try them again in the future.

Dj R wrote in post #17933771
Used GT five times without issue.
> $6000 in gear.

How are you liking your switch to Nikon so far?

mickeyb105 wrote in post #17937865
How are you liking your switch to Nikon so far?

love!
dynamic range and high mp of the D810 is awesome.

D610 is FF and so cheap right now! great sensor. around $1100!

their G lenses are cheap, super light, and awesome.
20, 28, 50, 85 are their best,
the 35 is ok.

but it's mainly the dynamic range. the shadows can be bumped SO much more.

cheers

Amamba wrote in post #17931209
Well, this is a good approach. But my position is, having been nearly burned before, that there should be a good reason to not buy from the vendor who would work with me should I get a less than ideal copy of a lens. And by that I don't mean the hassle of returning it for a refund, wasting time and effort, and starting at square one.

I know that if I got a misbehaving lens from Amazon, they would exchange it without giving me any grief. B&H and Adorama can also be worked with. Any other store should give me some incentive to buy from them, and $30-40 on a $450 item doesn't seem enticing enough. Take the family out for a dinner on a Friday night and you'll spend double that.

Anyway, this is a non-issue.

I've returned an item purchased through Greentoe. The return wasn't flawless but it wasn't anything I wouldn't expect when buying directly from a retailer. I've had as much or more problems returning items though Amazon than I had with my Greentoe items' return experience.