Would you pay HIGHER THAN REFURB price for used gear?

I contend that Canon Refurbished gear is worth more than used gear (same item, of course). I just discovered that not everyone agrees with me. (My wife is not surprised.) Would you pay more for a refurbished item with a 12-month warranty? Or would you pay higher than refurbished prices to get a used item with no warranty? If so, care to explain?

I don't know why you would ever pay more than the refurb price for used equipment. That makes no sense. For me, used equipment has to be significantly less (20~30%) than what I can get from any legitimate source and refurbed equipment needs to be significantly less (10~20%) than new as I have been burned several times by refurbed equipment.

gjl711 wrote in post #17968084
I don't know why you would ever pay more than the refurb price for used equipment. That makes no sense. For me, used equipment has to be significantly less (20~30%) than what I can get from any legitimate source and refurbed equipment needs to be significantly less (10~20%) than new as I have been burned several times by refurbed equipment.

Please clarify. How did you get burned by REFURBED equipment? I once got a 50 II refurbed that wouldn't focus. Canon paid for postage both ways, AND gave me a 100% refund. My last refurb order was a 70-200 f/4. I changed my mind, sent it back, and ordered the IS version. Again, Canon paid for all the postage and gave me full credit for the returned non-IS lens.

Refurbished Canon gear comes with a warranty. How did you get burned?

If there is no good discount for buying used vs. refurb, then I will buy the refurb.

What about Refurb vs Grey Market?

A lot of times there's not much difference in price. The 50L canon refurb is only $50 cheaper then a new grey market and the 85L is only $75 difference.

Bassat wrote in post #17968091
Please clarify. How did you get burned by REFURBED equipment? I once got a 50 II refurbed that wouldn't focus. Canon paid for postage both ways, AND gave me a 100% refund. My last refurb order was a 70-200 f/4. I changed my mind, sent it back, and ordered the IS version. Again, Canon paid for all the postage and gave me full credit for the returned non-IS lens.

Refurbished Canon gear comes with a warranty. How did you get burned?

Several years back I bought a Kodak compact for my niece. It worked great for about 3 months (had a 90 day warranty) then stopped working. Cost to repair was almost double of what I paid. Took it apart and it was clear that this camera had been heavily used and the reason for failure was a screw had fallen out. Second was a refurb pc for my aunt. It was nothing but trouble from day 1. Trying to return it was a pain in the butt as they wanted to keep fixing it. First 6 months Dell had it more than we did. I know that this is not Canon related but it totally put me off of refurb equipment.

I would never pay higher than refurb price for used gear, unless there were mitigating factors: desperation, rarity, etc. I'll pay close to new for refurb, but no where near that much for used.

The only "grey market" items I ever purchased are watches. The savings can be massive, and I have an amazing watchmaker who is great at not only confirming authenticity but will repair my grey market watchers if required (for a fee, of course).

Thanks for setting me straight. I was referring to Canon, but did not specify.

One has to be very careful about distinguishing the source of so-called 'refurb' equipment. ALL of these are sources:

1. From manufacturer's refurb outlet store
   
2. Manufacturer refurb item being sold by official manufacturer retailer
   
3. Store 'refurb' gear inspected by store personnel before being resold
   

I assume that refurb will continue the win in a landslide over used. The trickier question to me is "Can you be patient and wait for a refurb sale or will you pay more for used to get it now?" For Pros that is not an issue, I suppose, because they need what they need, but for us hobbyists do we have the self-control??

Wilt wrote in post #17968152
One has to be very careful about distinguishing the source of so-called 'refurb' equipment. ALL of these are sources:

1. From manufacturer's refurb outlet store
   
2. Manufacturer refurb item being sold by official manufacturer retailer
   
3. Store 'refurb' gear inspected by store personnel before being resold
   

I would not hesistate to buy #1. If I can get some assurance that the manufacturer sourced the goods to a retailer, I would not hesistate to buy #2. If I have to rely upon the good business practices of a retailer to honor their own 'refurb' practices, I hesitate to buy those goods and only buy them when circumstances seem OK to me.

I did mean Canon refurbished gear, directly from Canon. Should have made that clear.

mpix345 wrote in post #17968153
I assume that refurb will continue the win in a landslide over used. The trickier question to me is "Can you be patient and wait for a refurb sale or will you pay more for used to get it now?" For Pros that is not an issue, I suppose, because they need what they need, but for us hobbyists do we have the self-control??

Oh, don't I know it. I sold my first (used) 100 macro because it focused so slowly. I waited several weeks (months?) for a refurbished copy to be available. No luck. I finally paid full retail for a new copy from Canon. Two weeks later, refurbs were available for sale prices. BTW, the new one focuses just as slowly. I find it pointless for anything BUT macro. It does that very well, though.

mpix345 wrote in post #17968153
I assume that refurb will continue the win in a landslide over used. The trickier question to me is "Can you be patient and wait for a refurb sale or will you pay more for used to get it now?" For Pros that is not an issue, I suppose, because they need what they need, but for us hobbyists do we have the self-control??

It depends upon how severe are your GAS pains!

OK, pretend you want to buy Used. Would you buy a used from new or used from refurb ?
I believe buying Non-refurb used will have edge over refurbished when selling.

mzondeki wrote in post #17968164
OK, pretend you want to buy Used. Would you buy a used from new or used from refurb ?
I believe buying Non-refurb used will have edge over refurbished when selling.

My personal opinion is once it is used by a consumer, it is used. I don't differentiate where it came from before it was used. New, used, refurbished, are all the same to me. Does it matter to anyone else?

More specifically:

Canon currently sells the refurbished 70D for $700. It comes with a 12-month warranty.
I want to sell you my used (8802 shots) 70D for $800. No warranty.

Which one would be more inclined to buy?

mzondeki wrote in post #17968164
OK, pretend you want to buy Used. Would you buy a used from new or used from refurb ?
I believe buying Non-refurb used will have edge over refurbished when selling.

It doesn't make a difference to me.

How heavily something has been used is what makes a difference to me. I'm much more likely to purchase something that has been moderately or heavily used, versus something that the seller claims hasn't been used or has been used lightly.