Anyone buy AMAZON RENEWED cameras or lenses?

Recently I noticed Amazon Renewed cameras, but didn't see much info on the item's sale page. While browsing today, I found this web page that detailed what sellers must do to sell cameras as Amazon Renewed.

https://feedvisor.com …oods-with-amazon-renewed/

The requirements are numerous. For example, the camera that got me curious, was a Canon 5DS, fulfilled by Amazon, for $1360.00 That's about what used Canon 5D mk iii are selling for now, which look near identical, but have only one processor wheras the 5DS has 2 processors.

If Amazon Renewed actually has that many hurdles, it may be promising.

Where I would be concerned would be any warranty by Canon, and hence I would suggest the purchase of the 3rd party warranty offering, if available. Why? I did a search on a 5DS and came up with a listing (see https://www.amazon.com …ewedProgramDesc​riptionBtf) for $1835. Good price for sure as a Canon provided refurb is $2500. But scroll down to the vendor "6ave" which is highly likely to be 6th Avenue Electronics in New York City. You can click on "6ave" and see some Amazon review, mixed at best. 6th Avenue is not very reputable as can be seen by checking some of the links at https://www.google.com​/search?safe=active&so​urce=hp&ei=v_YyXfK5BJC​Q5wKehZnYDw&q=6th+aven​ue+camera+reviews&oq=6​th+avenue+camera&gs_l=​psy-ab.1.1.0j0i22i30.3012.​6327..8527...1.0..0.33​0.1422.17j3-1......0....1..gws-wiz.....10..35i39j0i13​1j0i67j0i20i263j38.1g7​7kXRIxNE.

I would also suspect that many of these cameras might be gray market.

So I guess, your approach is probably worthwhile to find a deal, just check out the vendor as best you can for reputation.

John from PA wrote in post #18896793
Where I would be concerned would be any warranty by Canon, and hence I would suggest the purchase of the 3rd party warranty offering, if available. Why? I did a search on a 5DS and came up with a listing (see https://www.amazon.com …ewedProgramDesc​riptionBtf) for $1835. Good price for sure as a Canon provided refurb is $2500. But scroll down to the vendor "6ave" which is highly likely to be 6th Avenue Electronics in New York City. You can click on "6ave" and see some Amazon review, mixed at best. 6th Avenue is not very reputable as can be seen by checking some of the links at https://www.google.com​/search?safe=active&so​urce=hp&ei=v_YyXfK5BJC​Q5wKehZnYDw&q=6th+aven​ue+camera+reviews&oq=6​th+avenue+camera&gs_l=​psy-ab.1.1.0j0i22i30.3012.​6327..8527...1.0..0.33​0.1422.17j3-1......0....1..gws-wiz.....10..35i39j0i13​1j0i67j0i20i263j38.1g7​7kXRIxNE.

I would also suspect that many of these cameras might be gray market.

So I guess, your approach is probably worthwhile to find a deal, just check out the vendor as best you can for reputation.

That's why the renewed offering where Amazon was listed as the provider, with "PRIME" would be my preference. Amazon may not always be in the list, but it was when I looked for one yesterday, and today ($1318.00) ... it would connote Amazon has it in warehouse, and shipping in 2 days after order received. As for the warranty, the link I read said 90 days, which would be shorter than 1 yr. from Canon USA refurbished.

I see the offering at $1318.62, definitely good price but I would suggest you drop the extra $58 for the 3-year protection plan.

I would think that these items were probably returns, due to buyer's remorse, that were returned back to Amazon. Since these items have been opened and returned, they can't be sold as new. Amazon probably now uses their own "Geek Squad" techs to check and "Amazon certify" these products prior to being offered for resale. For me, I'd rather purchase an actual "manufacturer refurbished" item rather than from a 3rd party vendor's own in-house techs. At least with "manufacturer refurbished" products, the techs have been factory trained to service these items.

If this is like other Amazon Renewed offerings then the cameras likely ship from Canon’s own refurb program. Amazon will just be a new outlet for Canon while operational costs of the Canon Refurbished program are reduced. Makes sense for both companies if agreements are made to keep the refurbished listings from detracting from new sales.

For example, a Callaway golf club that normally sells for $399 can be purchased from Amazon Renewed for $185. It ships from the Callaway Pre-Owned program and carries a Callaway warranty. The product looks virtually new or never used, but is shipped in a brown box with the Amazon smile logo. The packing list reads “Amazon for Callaway Pre-Owned”.

NDAPhoto wrote in post #18903794
If this is like other Amazon Renewed offerings then the cameras likely ship from Canon’s own refurb program.

One key difference is the warranty offering. Canon refurbs come with a full year whereas many of these offerings are 14 day return and an optional 3rd party. I would suspect that many, perhaps not all, are returns of grey market cameras. The pricing structure, when compared to the refurbs, would also support that.

John from PA wrote in post #18903826
One key difference is the warranty offering. Canon refurbs come with a full year whereas many of these offerings are 14 day return and an optional 3rd party. I would suspect that many, perhaps not all, are returns of grey market cameras. The pricing structure, when compared to the refurbs, would also support that.

I see you are right. A quick look at the “Amazon Renewed” listings for Canon products shows many different sellers, including 6ave and Global Camera USA. So definitely NOT Amazon or Canon. It is not the same as the Callaway example where the item is actually sold by Callaway Pre-Owned.

Anyone been in any of these fulfillment centers ? As far as I know, Amazon does not have any brick and mortar stores. They are all just huge warehouses/fulfillment centers. I have and even worked at one for a short time. All merchandise comes in one side, processed to be placed on shelving. When they receive an order, it's pulled, and sent to packaging and shipping. There are no inspections done on the merchandise. Amazon is just a drop-shipper.

It's sort of amazing for an old geezer like me, to see how these function. There's a department, which accepts the on-line orders. Someone standing at a table with a laptop. The order is received on this laptop. Then barcode labels are printed, placed on the correct box sizes. It's then sent on to be filled with the customer's order. The fulfillment center I worked at, Jet.com, there were pickers, shoppers. The boxes are placed on carts, and then you go to town, going throughout this massive building. Up and down aisles, using an ipad to tell you where to go to find the merchandise, and which box to place it in. Once you're orders (boxes) are filled, you go to a "check-out" line, which the ipad tells you which one. These are the inspector/packers. They check that all the ordered items are there, not damaged, and then pack with paper, and seal the boxes, place a shipping/mailing label, and send it down the conveyor to be loaded on the trucks. IIRC, Jet's policy is that no order remains in the building for more than 12 hrs, MAX!!

So anyway all that to say, no Amazon does not have a department or store that deals with renewed or refurbished. It's just existing merchandise they receive, to be shipped out.

FWIW, Jet.com is owned by Walmart now. They grabbed it a few years ago to compete with Amazon. Both have huge centers outside of Gardner, KS. There's a large railroad shipping hub there. There's a lot of shipping/fulfillment type centers there. Buy a camera through them, and you should have it within 5 days, most of the time sooner.

Canon Bodies, 80D, 6DMK II, 5DMK IV at Jet.com
Nikon Cameras