is it safe to buy the Digital SLR Camera on ebay?

Question

the price is much cheaper compare to circuit city/best buy, is it safe to buy it on ebay? the seller has a very good feedback.

i wonder how they can sell it at much lower price than retailers?

anyone has bought any camera on ebay before? pls advise

thanks

mike

Answer 1

Koko has given good advice. Read the auction carefully and be sure of what you are buying. Read SEVERAL feedback reports, including the positive ones which might have a tinge of negativity in them.

You can often find cameras cheaper on eBay. If you want REALLY cheap, you might find a private seller who has just moved up into a new camera for Christmas and has a perfectly good, very slightly used camera to sell. Check feedback scores and decide about buying from a private individual.

Otherwise, I'd say to buy from an actual dealer who has chosen to use eBay. I'd say to avoid buying from foreign countries, just because shipping can be such a hassle. Cameta Auctions and 47th Street Photo are two dealers who used to advertise in Popular Photography all the time but seem to be doing all of their advertising on eBay now. I've bought from Cameta a few times and I've been very well satisfied.

I have bought SEVERAL cameras - including relatively expensive cameras - on eBay with no problems, but I have bought from trusted sources.

Answer 2

Might be safe, but it might not be. Here's some things to check that may be affecting the price:
1. Is the camera refurbished or an open box item? With a very good feedback score I doubt the company is misrepresenting them, so check the entire ad and see if those descriptors are used. Refurbished isn't a major deal if it's refurbished by the manufacturer, they bring them back up to factory standards. Open box might be interesting cause that means regularly included items may be missing or the camera may be cosmetically damaged (scratch on the surface) that does not impair the camera's function. Little riskier, but if you have to go buy a $40 battery after saving $100 on the camera that's still pretty good.
2. Is the item from the US? Some companies import cameras at lower costs. Doesn't mean that the camera is bad, just that the warranty will be no good. Kinda risky and I wouldnt suggest it unless it's a tremendous deal.
3. Is the camera soon to be replaced or already discontinued? Check the manufacturer's website, if you don't see the camera listed with the rest of the Digital SLR's, then it's been discontinued and the company is selling it at a reduced cost to get rid of the stock. If it is there, but it's the oldest one on the list the company is probably making room for the newer models. If that's the case, then you've got great timing cause they might be selling it at their cost to make room for more profitable stock.
4. Is the auction a 'buy it now' or a bid auction? If it's a bid auction, then chances are the price you see now isn't what it will end up selling for. Lots of bids process in the last hour of an auction, often raising the price dramatically. My apologies if you're an experienced eBay user who knew that already, but you'd be amazed how many times I get that question daily.

If it doesn't seem like any of those are the case, then you might want to try contacting the seller over the phone. If it's a company they should have a contact number and business hours posted. EBay prices are commonly lower than retail due to a lower cost of business, but if it seems too good to be true, than it probably is. Happy hunting!

Answer 3

Read the fine print. If its an imported model you will not get the warrienty if you live in the US. Make sure that this person is a power seller with over 95% satisfaction maybe even 99%. Nothing less. Just read the fine print such as 2 easy payments, no refunds, no warrienty included, etc.

Answer 4

Used ones are cheap, but brand new ones are not really cheap. Make sure they do not do the trick such as camera body only. and it means that no manual, no charger, no trap. They took of those and sell separately.

While on real local stores and bhphotovideo.con (I trust this site only) they include original everything in the manufacturing box.

Answer 5

yeeep ..I got my camera on e-bay it was the most risky e-bay transaction I ever did. Bottom line: everything was OK. Check the feedback reputation of the seller. If is possile look for a local pick-up and some warranty - at least factory warranty.

Answer 6

I buy stuff from eBay and am satisfied with eBay but personally for expensive equipment I would rather not take the risk.

Answer 7

I really wouldn't recommend buying something as valuable as a dslr throughebay. if someting were to happen it and you needed to get if repaired or replaced, a camera shop/company wouldn't even consider looking at it without proof of purchase and a warranty.