LilRedDog
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posted on October 22, 2000 09:18:14 AM
Hello!
I am currently using my little epson scanner like crazy. BUT....I was thinking of a digital camera. I like the fuji I saw in the store and looked on ebay...wow what a price difference!
Have you bought a digi-cam on ebay?
Have you bought a digi-cam on ebay?
What would/did you ask a seller before the sale?
Here is my list...(suggestions please  )
What is your refund policy?
Do you charge a restocking fee?
Are you a reseller?
Please share your tale of glory or woe.
I have a macintosh...am I alone on that??
So I am thinking USB.
Or firewire...hmmmmm...$$$???
My regular non-digi-cam is okay, but sometimes I get the picture back and could spit because it is too dark or the color won't match...seems like digital would help here.
Thanks in advance!
Rou
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Joanne
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posted on October 22, 2000 09:22:01 AM
Is the camera new or reconditioned?
How much is shipping and by what method? Is insurance included?
You also need to do price comparisons. I've seen digital cameras go for a LOT more on eBay than I could get them for at various online stores.
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keziak
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posted on October 22, 2000 09:30:36 AM
I bought one this week, and got about $50 off the price for the same camera new. I didn't really ask any questions, not Ms. Consumer I guess.
I went lower-end and am finding that the camera is JUST suitable for mounting photos on ebay, not as sharp as my regular camera makes, but I am already thrilled at being released from the develop-film-and-scan-photos racket.
Keziak
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amalgamated2000
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posted on October 22, 2000 09:37:08 AM
I've bought three digital cameras on eBay. The first two were so cheap, I figured I would get what I paid for. I was pleasently surprised.
I also bought my Mavica on Ebay. I agree with all the questions that have been suggested above, and in my case, all of these questions and more were answered in the ad. This, and a very high feedback, gave me a lot of confidence in the seller, and I ended up getting a great brand new camera for more than $100 below retail.
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macandjan
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posted on October 22, 2000 09:38:15 AM
I used one of the comparison search engines and found my mavica cheaper than the final bids were going at eBay. Now the older models are a little cheaper but before they were more than the stores.
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boysmommy3
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posted on October 22, 2000 10:10:35 AM
I purchased my Olympus digital camera right here on ebay last year for about $150 less than price club/ costco price.
I love the camera - great deal and works perfectly. Camera was not new but had all accessories etc.
The seller had all positive feedbacks and no negatives.
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tuition44years
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posted on October 22, 2000 10:25:20 AM
We bought our first digital camera on ebay and it was horrible! Only good for outdoor, family picnic type pictures. Didn't know much about cameras then and took the sellers description as being accurate when he said it was perfect for selling on ebay! We really didn't know what we needed for resolution, etc.
Bought next one at ssdonline.com .. excellent reputation and great prices!! Olympus D-340R .. less than what they were going for on ebay. LOVE it!
I would be leary of reconditioned ... I've bought a cordless phone, a cd/boombox/thingy and a VCR reconditioned (at a store) .. every one had problems and had to be returned.
Good luck!
I have a memory like a steel trap .. unfortunately it's rusted shut!
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BlondeSense
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posted on October 22, 2000 10:51:18 AM
I recently bought an Olympus Camedia D-360L. Ebay prices were a bit cheaper than retail, but since I can get 10% off from my RL job, I bought it at work. I'm not going to spend $300.00 unless I'm sure I can return it if there is a problem. Sorry all, but there ain't no-one on ebay I trust that much!
I buy on ebay and have been very happy with my purchases but I think it is because I still think of it along the terms of lending someone money. If you can't afford to lose it, don't do it!
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eventer
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posted on October 22, 2000 11:04:42 AM
Bought my Mavica on ebay just a few months ago. Paid only a few $$$ more for a new one than the stores wanted for a "reconditioned" one. I found a great seller w/good feedback. The auction closed on a Mon & by Fri, I had it in hand.
One few words of caution:
1. Do you homework, know what it sells for retail & don't get caught up in a bidding war. There are plenty of them available & you'll eventually get it at the price you want.
2. Look HARD at the shipping costs. For fine, I saw prices from $20, to what my seller charged which was actual priority shipping costs plus insurance.
3. Look for sellers with good feedback & look over the feedback, including all negatives.
4. Don't be fooled by low prices. One I noticed was really low, then discovered it had no battery, no manuals, nothing. That low price didn't look too impressive when you added on having to buy a battery.
5. Others may disagree, but I went with the top of the line right away. Having bought the bottom of the line of another camera, I quickly found it was a waste of money if you really rely on clean crisp pictures.
Even though I paid high 3 figures, it has saved me incredible time. I can process things in a matter of hours as compared to scanning which would have taken days. It was worth it alone in time savings.
Good Luck! 
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mballai
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posted on October 22, 2000 11:26:38 AM
I happen to have more than 25 years in the photo/electronic industry experience and I would avoid buying any such if it wasn't new in a sealed box with US factory warranty from a seller with ample pristine feedback and . If a seller won't pay return shipping if you aren't satisfied or it is defective pass it by. Chances are that a lot of merchnadise on eBay is either gray market or is a refurb item--neither of which are a problem if the item works satisfactorily, but it can be a sinkhole for your investment if it is defective.
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RB
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posted on October 22, 2000 11:29:47 AM
I bought a (very lightly) used Mavica for my wife a few months ago from an eBay seller. I paid about 3/4 of what it sells for at Future Shop, and came with more accessories. She uses it everyday and loves it - never any glitches at all. I was more than a little nervous sending the money order (big dollar item for me!), but the seller was first class.
I am now looking around for lenses and other accessories for the camera. My wife has found a self-tutoring site on the internet and her pictures are getting better and better ...
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uaru
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posted on October 22, 2000 11:32:08 AM
The advantage of buying a digital camera at Walmart or Office Depot is the price. You purchase the latest model with the best picture quality and then take a couple months of pictures. Return the camera after your photo session and in 3 or 4 months go to another store and do the same thing again.
No I don't do this. I've got a digital camera but I'm still using a film camera because of the results I get.
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ShellyHerr
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posted on October 22, 2000 11:40:21 AM
I sold my Casio on ebay, had it for 2 years, but had bought a Mavica and had no use for it. Sold the Casio, I think for about $100, and that was last year.
I am assuming the buyer was ok with it, never heard from him, I hope it wasn't you tution44years 
I had used the Casio and it worked fine for auctions, needed very good lighting but worked well, but I like the Mavica better because of the pics on disk thing more convienent and way easier!
[ edited by ShellyHerr on Oct 22, 2000 11:41 AM ]
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pettinos
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posted on October 22, 2000 11:55:55 AM
I have purchased two different cameras on ebay at two seperate times. The first was an Olympus D340R which was new. Purchase price wat approx $185.00. The second was used, an Olympur D400Z. Purchase price on it was only $150. I have been very pleased with both and saved appriximately $75-150 on each. No worries here. BUT BE SURE TO RESEARCH YOUR SELLER! DO YOUR HOMEWORK!
Have a great day!
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deco100
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posted on October 22, 2000 01:36:06 PM
I bought my Sony Mavica over 2 years ago on ebay. It was almost $200 cheaper than the online stores and none of the stores in my area even had them yet.
Kinda held my breath sending $500 to someone with little feedback yet but it came new sealed in box, warranties, books, strap, case, battery charger, the whole works. I never regretted it and am still using it. In fact, I wish it would break or something so I could justify getting one with the zoom lens!
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traceyg
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posted on October 22, 2000 01:56:56 PM
Most of my friends are computer geeks (some say I am also). Anyway they have bought both on Ebay and UBid. They seem to think you get better deals on UBid. That is pretty much what they sell there computer stuff. I need to get a new scanner for scanning high pixel art work and that is where they suggest I go for the best bang for my buck. So, I will check both ebay and ubid. Maybe you want to also.
PS I got my digitail camera dog cheap at sears. I went in and ask if they have any older models they were trying to get ride of that weren't on display. They did and they gave me it for pratically a song! and included a free battery charger 4 extra batteries and the eletric plug so I wouldn't always have to use the batteries all the time. I have done that many times when I am in stories and have gotten some real good deals of the years.
I paid about 150.00 for a 400 Camera plus the extras.
Remember the, USS Cole.
http://members.tripod.com/Setonspath/usscole.html
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roadsmith
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posted on October 22, 2000 03:06:27 PM
RB: Where is the self-tutoring site your wife used?
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kleavitt
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posted on October 22, 2000 04:46:46 PM
I bought two Sony Mavica 73 cameras on eBay. One, it turned out, was a new camera from my next door neighbor who was unbeknownst selling on eBay. Delivery was not a problem! The second was used and I bought it doing a local area search. I kept the used one ($275) and re-sold the new one for exactly what I had paid. Both were good deals. I did try some of the price-scam (er-scan) deals but got a lot of phony sounding rhetoric. I would not hesitate to buy anything on eBay but would certainly check out the seller.
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yisgood
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posted on October 22, 2000 05:55:37 PM
Obviously, you want to check the seller's rating first. Second, make sure you know if it is new or refurb. There is nothing wrong with a refurb camera that has a warranty, but make sure you dont pay new price for a refurb. I have seen sellers advertise "new" and buried in the small print "newly refurb." Also, new has a one year warranty and refurb has 90 days and I have seen sellers advertise 1 year for a refurb. When I emailed to "remind" them that it was only 90 days, they said "thanks for pointing out my mistake" but weeks later they are still saying 1 year.
For camera reviews and detailed explanation of new vs refurb, you can email me or visit my web site.
http://www.ygoodman.com
[email protected]
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Borillar
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posted on October 22, 2000 11:44:42 PM
When I went looking for Nikon Coolpix cameras on eBay I figured that I'd get a beter deal than other places. NOT! All of the auctions that were selling NEW -In The Box were priced higher than some drop shippers on the Internet. Like any other auction: do your homework first!
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