Buying Used Strobs

fjcvisualfjcvisual Registered Users Posts: 201 Major grins
edited December 22, 2010 in Accessories
I am thinking of buying a used, lightly used, SB900. For some reason I don't like the idea of buying used strobs. I will buy a used lens, but I reason that more can go wrong with a strob than a lens, although I have never had a problem with a Nikon strob. Does anyone feel the same way, or would you be just as inclined to buy a used sb900?

thanks, Jim
http://fjcvisual.smugmug.com/

Comments

  • Art ScottArt Scott Registered Users Posts: 8,959 Major grins
    edited December 21, 2010
    I do not mind used strobes and such if off ebay and I can get it covered by a 3rd party warranty, like square trade ......
    "Genuine Fractals was, is and will always be the best solution for enlarging digital photos." ....Vincent Versace ... ... COPYRIGHT YOUR WORK ONLINE ... ... My Website

  • angevin1angevin1 Registered Users Posts: 3,403 Major grins
    edited December 21, 2010
    fjcvisual wrote: »
    I am thinking of buying a used, lightly used, SB900. For some reason I don't like the idea of buying used strobs. I will buy a used lens, but I reason that more can go wrong with a strob than a lens, although I have never had a problem with a Nikon strob. Does anyone feel the same way, or would you be just as inclined to buy a used sb900?

    thanks, Jim


    I've bought used Strobes and will again. I will say eBay is not my first choice! I use it, but more for selling!
    tom wise
  • fjcvisualfjcvisual Registered Users Posts: 201 Major grins
    edited December 21, 2010
    Yea, i am not a fan of ebay, I am looking to purchase this from a third party for $400. It has me thinking twice as amazon just lowered their price to $449. So it is only $50 premium for brand new...
    http://fjcvisual.smugmug.com/
  • Jeremy WinterbergJeremy Winterberg Registered Users Posts: 1,233 Major grins
    edited December 21, 2010
    I'm always buying and selling equipment used. It all depends on the seller and how well they took care of the equipment. I try to stay away from ebay and Amazon marketplace for camera equipment. I always buy from here, fredmiranda's buy/sell forums, or photography-on-the.net from other hobbyists and professionals who take care of their gear.

    Look at their feedback, look at pictures of the gear, pay with regular paypal, and you'll be fine.

    To answer your question more directly. I have purchased an SB600 and 580EXII used and never had issues with either of them.
    Jer
  • Art ScottArt Scott Registered Users Posts: 8,959 Major grins
    edited December 21, 2010
    fjcvisual wrote: »
    Yea, i am not a fan of ebay, I am looking to purchase this from a third party for $400. It has me thinking twice as amazon just lowered their price to $449. So it is only $50 premium for brand new...

    At $400 for used I pay the extra for a new one....if I am not saving well over $100 then it just is not worth it to buy used and I will not buy used strobes if I can't get a 3rd party warranty.....if the strobe is under $100 then I will considewr it....
    "Genuine Fractals was, is and will always be the best solution for enlarging digital photos." ....Vincent Versace ... ... COPYRIGHT YOUR WORK ONLINE ... ... My Website

  • Art ScottArt Scott Registered Users Posts: 8,959 Major grins
    edited December 21, 2010
    Jeremy Winterberg wrote: »
    It all depends on the seller and how well they took care of the equipment.

    A person can tell you that something is just like new and then when it arrives it is not as advertised and if off a forum that does not allow NEG feedback then you are screwed.......happened to me lens adverted as like new received and tried to remove the filter from it and the threads and lens showed perfect signs of being banged before the filter was forced on it.....could not leave negative feedback and seller got off with out a scratch...give me ebay with PayPal any day........I will never buy off that forum again............or any other probably that does not allow for negative feedback, as the public needs to know of these transgressions................
    "Genuine Fractals was, is and will always be the best solution for enlarging digital photos." ....Vincent Versace ... ... COPYRIGHT YOUR WORK ONLINE ... ... My Website

  • Jeremy WinterbergJeremy Winterberg Registered Users Posts: 1,233 Major grins
    edited December 21, 2010
    Art Scott wrote: »
    A person can tell you that something is just like new and then when it arrives it is not as advertised and if off a forum that does not allow NEG feedback then you are screwed.......happened to me lens adverted as like new received and tried to remove the filter from it and the threads and lens showed perfect signs of being banged before the filter was forced on it.....could not leave negative feedback and seller got off with out a scratch...give me ebay with PayPal any day........I will never buy off that forum again............or any other probably that does not allow for negative feedback, as the public needs to know of these transgressions................

    Fred Miranda has an excellent feedback system. It allows for you to give Poor, Fair, and Great feedback, and its listed under their avatar on every post. And I always use paypal. You obviously weren't very careful, and got screwed. Happens to everyone. Even me. But I'm more careful now.

    I forgot to mention that you also leave comments with your feedback, and can read feedback left from others.. for instance, this is my feedback page: http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/feedback/188889 - You'll have to be a member of their forums to see that page though.. but I highly recommend registering. Their buy/sell forums are amazing.
    Jer
  • Art ScottArt Scott Registered Users Posts: 8,959 Major grins
    edited December 21, 2010
    Jeremy Winterberg wrote: »
    Fred Miranda has an excellent feedback system. It allows for you to give Poor, Fair, and Great feedback, and its listed under their avatar on every post. And I always use paypal. You obviously weren't very careful, and got screwed. Happens to everyone. Even me. But I'm more careful now.

    I forgot to mention that you also leave comments with your feedback, and can read feedback left from others.. for instance, this is my feedback page: http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/feedback/188889

    Dropped FM due to having to pay to be able to sell and buy there and this was all discussed on here years ago....as to my being careful I asked for numerous photos, also he had supposedly fantastic feedback on several different forums....I even had a background check done by a police officer relative....no the jack wagon just out and out lied, I finally found out that he works for a camera store and was sending photos of a lens in the display cabinet....but I am not done with him yet.....and I still every copy of correspondence between us...so it is not over.......still I broke my own cardinal rule of buying something I could not get a 3rd party warranty on and that is my fault............
    "Genuine Fractals was, is and will always be the best solution for enlarging digital photos." ....Vincent Versace ... ... COPYRIGHT YOUR WORK ONLINE ... ... My Website

  • Jeremy WinterbergJeremy Winterberg Registered Users Posts: 1,233 Major grins
    edited December 22, 2010
    Art Scott wrote: »
    Dropped FM due to having to pay to be able to sell and buy there

    You dont have to pay to buy or sell. You only have to pay if you want to post a for sale or wtb ad. You can search the other ads and buy/sell that way, you'll just have a hard time selling if you're waiting for wtb ads to pop up. And its worth the $30 per year for me.

    I'm sorry you had a bad experience buying used. But that doesn't mean everyone is gonna screw you over.

    Anyways, enough of this. Sorry for hi-jacking this thread.
    Jer
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