Well, I just got my new (to me - used) 5D a couple of weeks ago, and had been really itching to get the grip. I have been shooting with an original Digital Rebel (300D) with a grip and really liked the feel for both portrait and landscape shooting.
I was doing some shopping on Amazon for a repair manual for my Chevy Blazer ZR2 and needed to get the one day shipping for some work that I was doing on the truck last weekend, so I figured, why not see if they have the BG-E4??? Turn out that they do, and it was actually a decent price - $206.33! I went ahead and ordered it on Thursday and received the package on Friday. Worked on the truck all weekend, and then finally got around to checking out the grip on the 5D. . . .
Good news: the camera powered on without any problems and the two small buttons worked just fine. . . .
Bad news: the shutter button didn't work at all!!!
Man, was I frustrated. Took the grip on and off about five times. . .batteries in, batteries out, different batteries in and out. . . .nothing worked. Took a real close look at the contacts on the grip and inside the battery compartment of the 5D, but nothing looked suspicious.
So, I got back on the Amazon website, and proceeded through their steps for replacement. They sent me an e-mail, including a link for a pre-paid shipping label to return the defective grip. The following day (this was Monday) I received e-mails stating that Amazon had received my request for replacement of the defective grip, and that they had processed the request and shipped out my new grip (next day air, no less)!! I got home today, the package was on my doorstep!! I promptly opened the package, and cautiously installed it on the 5D. . . . . . . . . .
No Problems!! Works perfectly, just like it should. Now all I have to do is drop my defective grip off at my local UPS, and it will all be taken care of!! Thanks to Amazon and their great customer service!!!!
with grip 
