Buying a camera on ebay???

[Cosi Bella]

Hello all!

My DF and I are looking into upgrading to a DSLR (I love my 35mm, but film is expensive to develop and I'm an instant grat. kinda gal!). I will be keeping my old canon and will still use it, but we've decided to take the plunge and go digital. We've done our research and really like the Canon Rebel SXi.

We found a company on ebay that is selling the camera, plus about 4 lenses, a camera bag, tripod, memory cards etc etc etc, but its an ebay company which makes us a little leery! We have searched and searched online for negative reviews/comments on this company, and can only find POSITIVE things.

OK, For about 1277$ we could get: The camera (duh), a Canon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 lens, and a Canon 55-250mm f/4-5.6 lens, A titanium wide angle auto focus lens, and a Hi Def, 2x telephoto lens... 8 GB mem card (which DF thinks will be a grey market card, adn we'll need to buy a different one anyway) camera bag, digital flash, aluminum pro hard carrying case, wireless remote, 2 UV filters, A memory card reader for the computer, large tri pod and flexible tripod, lens cleaning kit, screen protectors, and lens cap holder. phew!

Basically it appears as though there is a lot of "fluff" included in this package, some things we prob wont use.... When looking up this camera on other more popular (and maybe more trustworthy) websites (like newegg), it is about the same price for the camera, the backpack, a memory card, a digital flash and the two canon lenses mentioned, so we miss out on the other stuff, but I really wouldn't be upset about not having the aluminum hard carrying case

Sounds too good to be true... what do you guys think??

 

[saturndb]

I did not see a battery or battery charger in your post. I would make sure that is included. Also check past auctions and see if anyone else bought the same package and what feedback they left. Though at the end of the day, it's your money and you need to decide. What does your gut feeling tell you, you should do?


By the way.... can you provide a link to the auction.... might help others give thier advice.

 

[ukcatfan]

It sounds like the wide angle and telephoto are the screw on type normally used on a p&s with an adapter. IMO, they are not worth using on the end of a DSLR lens. It sort of sounds like the only good stuff are the camera and two true lenses. Have you checked out Buydig, Beach Camera, B&H, and Adorama? They are all reputable sources.

One last thing, if you already have lenses, do you need a multiple lens package? I can understand the kit lens b/c it is unlikely you have a lens that goes as wide as 18mm.

 

[pjacobi]

Canon cameras are almost exclusively sold at MSRP with few exceptions. About the only legitimate discount from Canon is a volume discount given to large retailers that buy a truckload of Canon gear at a time.

Since Canon prices are basically fixed, smaller retailers usually try to market packages that sound like a great deal, but usually bundle cheep or not needed items. For example, "included filter" really means the cheapest possible round piece of glass. It would most likely hurt your images rather than improve them!

The best advice is to price each item individually at a on-line retailer, like B&H or others. The E-bay description doesn't provide the exact description of each item, so it is impossible to fully price out this package. That's a good clue that it is all junk.


-Paul

 

[WillCAD]

IMHO, you will probably get a better deal by shopping for a sale price on a Rebel XTi or Rebel XT package with two lenses and less fluff (most of the fluff is absolute garbage, anyway), and adding memory, bags, tripod, etc of quality later than by looking for a deal on a Rebel XSi.

For a purchase as expensive as a starter camera kit, which will run you anywhere from $500-$1000, I would not go with an eBay-only company. You may spend a little more to buy from a reputable dealer online or locally, but online dealers like B&H Photo, NewEgg, or Tri-State Camera will offer better service and return policies in case there is something wrong with the equipment, and a local place is best for that, because you can simply take the broken gear back and exchange it immediately.

Best Buy, Circuit City, sometimes Office Depot and Staples typicaly have good sales each week, especially on the Rebel XT and Rebel XTi, which are a little older but still excellent cameras; the Rebel XSi is fairly new, so you will pay a premium for it wherever you go.

 

[fhirleighinn]

If it sounds too good to be true than it probably is. I agree that the two add on lenses are junk, they are meant for video camera use (are are still junk when using them for that). The entire camera may be grey market, so you may not have any warrentee support.
You can get the camera with the 18-55 lens at BHphoto (very reputable) for $800
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/542180-REG/Canon_2756B003_EOS_Rebel_XSi_a_k_a_.html
Then you could add the lens for 279 and get a card and what you want or actually need for a case and it would be about the same. The Fluff is certainly not worth it in this case.

 

[jann1033]

truthfully it doesn't sound like a great deal...take the junk away( like the tripod that is probably worth $5 ) and you can buy the body and the 2 real lenses for less almost every place( ie in addition to b&h i mean, adorama, buydig.) Slightly under $800 for body with 18-55, $300 for other lens, leaves you another 180 for assorted stuff ( a decent bag, a battery, a bunch of memory).. I'd google each then go somewhere like that...sometimes adorama has packages that have stuff you use and just a little bloat ( ie maybe a "lens cleaning kit") so you might check there for their packages

 

[Cosi Bella]

Hello everyone!! Thank you all so much for your advice, I really appreciate it!!!!!

DF and I really thought it over last night, and we took everyone's advice... We really looked at the "extras" that were offered through this ebay guy, and it all looks like garbage. Half the stuff we will never use. And my gut was just telling me that if it sounds too good to be true, it is!! So we steered away. We decided to buy through New Egg, and they actually had a pretty good deal with a free carry case and 2 GB mem card. DF Loves Newegg, and they have a great rep, and great return policy so we feel confident that even if something is wrong with it, we'll have no issues getting the problem resolved. Plus, since he was already buying a new RAID (I dont know,... something computer related! lol hes the computer guy) we got their totally awesome no payments for 12 months plan. Score! The camera comes highly reviewed on Newegg too, which is good!

Here is the link to anyone that is interested in checking this guy out... he sells all sorts of cameras and all sorts of packages on ebay....
http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZgetitdigital

ukcatfan - you are right, the wide angle and telephoto lenses were screw on... I'm just getting into photography (used the old canon 35mm for the past year or so, and I looooooooooove photography, so we're investing in the new DSLR), so I'm not too sure I need that right now. I'm sure we can purchase all of those extras at later times, and find good deals elsewhere when we need them.

 

[dr_zero]

Hello everyone!! Thank you all so much for your advice, I really appreciate it!!!!!

DF and I really thought it over last night, and we took everyone's advice... We really looked at the "extras" that were offered through this ebay guy, and it all looks like garbage. Half the stuff we will never use. And my gut was just telling me that if it sounds too good to be true, it is!! So we steered away. We decided to buy through New Egg, and they actually had a pretty good deal with a free carry case and 2 GB mem card. DF Loves Newegg, and they have a great rep, and great return policy so we feel confident that even if something is wrong with it, we'll have no issues getting the problem resolved. Plus, since he was already buying a new RAID (I dont know,... something computer related! lol hes the computer guy) we got their totally awesome no payments for 12 months plan. Score! The camera comes highly reviewed on Newegg too, which is good!

Here is the link to anyone that is interested in checking this guy out... he sells all sorts of cameras and all sorts of packages on ebay....
http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZgetitdigital

ukcatfan - you are right, the wide angle and telephoto lenses were screw on... I'm just getting into photography (used the old canon 35mm for the past year or so, and I looooooooooove photography, so we're investing in the new DSLR), so I'm not too sure I need that right now. I'm sure we can purchase all of those extras at later times, and find good deals elsewhere when we need them.

Congrats! Sounds like you made the right choice.

I'm another happy customer of Newegg and they have great customer service if you ever have to use it.

 

[Cosi Bella]

Congrats! Sounds like you made the right choice.

I'm another happy customer of Newegg and they have great customer service if you ever have to use it.

Thanks!! We've never had a problem with Newegg and they always seem to have the lowest prices around! They are swell.

 

[jann1033]

i almost cried a week or so ago when newegg had the canon 40d body for 799 and i had no extra money to spend..think it was a one day sale since it was gone the next day..that was lower than they had it with the 200 canon rebate and the lowest i have ever seen it!

 

[Cosi Bella]

i almost cried a week or so ago when newegg had the canon 40d body for 799 and i had no extra money to spend..think it was a one day sale since it was gone the next day..that was lower than they had it with the 200 canon rebate and the lowest i have ever seen it!

I'm sorry you couldn't take advantage of that great deal. But isn't Newegg just awesome!? I looked yesterday and our deal was not up either. They did replace it with another equally as good deal though.


** I Just wanted to update this thread to say that Newegg is TOTALLY awesome!!!!!!!!!!!! We got our camera YESTERDAY! Talk about fast shipping. We played with it yesterday and I am SO Happy with it! I really know we made the right choice in going with Newegg and I really have to highly recommend this website to anyone! I'm going to go outside now and snap some early morning pics of my flowers and such, I'm so excited for my new toy!

 

[dr_zero]

I'm going to go outside now and snap some early morning pics of my flowers and such, I'm so excited for my new toy!

So how about some pics with your new addition to the family?