Camera Labs

I have wondered what happens to undamaged cameras and lenses that are returned to stores. Are they sold as new, returned to the manufacture for repackaging, used as demos, or what?

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BrianS
D50, 70-300mm VR, 50mm f/1.8

Brain, I'm sure that depends on the store!
I've heard some explicitely saying that a lens coming back has to be sent to the manufacturer. But I'm sure that some just have a look at the lens, blow the dust off and sell it again as new.

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Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses

I'm glad that there is an attempt to send things back to the mfg. But if I bought something with the packing amis I'd be suspicious then.

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BrianS
D50, 70-300mm VR, 50mm f/1.8

Missing original packaging is very serious!
I found out that the state of the packaging is quite telling how many times the item has been sent back and forth!

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Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses

I can envision marginal equipment being resold until someone is willing to accept it.

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BrianS
D50, 70-300mm VR, 50mm f/1.8

Hi Brian, I think you're right...

This could be a real problem for less knowledgeable consumers like myself. You wouldn't know if you got a bad copy or whether the item wasn't wasn't as advertised. I suppose these are typical consumer questions, but the photography industry seems above some of the checks and scrutiny other industries get, except from places like CameraLabs.

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BrianS
D50, 70-300mm VR, 50mm f/1.8

Well, in a way I can understand the dealer. He is only distributiong copies. If they are bad the fault lies with the manufacturer. And if the dealer has slim margins, he is certainly not inclined sending the equipment back.
And the reasons that a customer might give as to why he is sending the gear back: Well, I wouldn't bet on the truth in that. Might be the lens is a bad copy, might be the lens is bad by design, might be the customer lost interest, or his credit line has expired...
As long as the gear has no visible use-marks (hm, you understand that?) I'm happy. If the gear is bad I send it back...

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Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses

Thanks guys, good insight into what goes on.

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BrianS
D50, 70-300mm VR, 50mm f/1.8