A question about buying source

telly0050 · 09-28-2012, 06:57 PM

I am interested in buying the tamron 17-50mm f2.8 for my set up.
base on my research, there are a few ebay sellers who are selling it for the best price (about $360 new with 1 year warranty)
amazon and B&H is both selling this lens for $430+tax, which end up around $480, way more expensive than the ebay one.

so my question is, is it safe to buy from those ebay seller? (most of them locate in hong kong)
how do they get the price so much cheaper than US retailers?

sqjaw · 09-28-2012, 07:20 PM

first thjing to check is this web site Store Ratings & Reviews - ResellerRatings.com - Find Trusted Stores I believe you will find your answer there>
Now there are places on the web that do what is called bait and switch, which means they hook you a low price on an Item ,
then they hit you with a sales pitch to get you to buy some thing more or different
Have you tried Adorama.com or KEH.com for the item your looking for:

as they say with buyer beware but I have bought a lot of stuff off that site and have yet to have problem, other than my stupidy:

Roob-N-Boots · 09-28-2012, 11:41 PM

If you go through B&H or Amazon (or any authorized reseller) you get Tamron's six year warranty instead of the one year you get through other sellers.

telly0050 · 09-29-2012, 05:26 PM

thanks for the information.
didn't know B&H and amazon has 6 yrs warranty instead of just 1.
i guess i should spend a little more for better protection..

stormtech · 09-29-2012, 06:27 PM

It's not the vendors (B&H etc.) that give you this warranty - Tamron lenses sold in the USA carry a 6 year warranty from Tamron. So if you buy a Tamron lens from any US dealer it carries the 6 years.

Warranty, Tamron USA, Inc.

And something about gray market lenses:

http://www.tamron-usa.com/lenses/gray_market.asp

atekant · 09-29-2012, 10:56 PM

And it turns out Tamron has mail-in rebates for a bunch of lenses if purchased by Sept 30.
Lens Rebates, Tamron USA

telly0050 · 09-30-2012, 09:29 AM

the thing is even with the rebate it still cost nearly $500 with tax...
comparing to the $360 on ebay (or 350 with ebay bucks), i am not sure the 6 years warranty is worth the extra $150, since the fund may get me another lens..

tibbitts · 10-01-2012, 06:19 PM

It's not as much the 6yr warranty you're paying for, as much as the ability to relatively easily return the lens, maybe multiple times, until you get a decent copy. My experience has been that even with a warranty, you probably won't be able to get a marginally poorly performing lens repaired or exchanged under warranty.

I'm guessing from the comment about tax that you might live in NY or NYC. Although I no longer live there, I'm guessing you legally owe the tax whether B&H collects it or not, and regardless of where you buy an item from.

Paul

telly0050 · 10-01-2012, 07:09 PM

yes i live in nyc.
and it is quite annoying that everything i buy from amazon or b&h collects tons of tax..

09-28-2012, 06:57 PM	#1
telly0050 Senior Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 233	A question about buying source I am interested in buying the tamron 17-50mm f2.8 for my set up. base on my research, there are a few ebay sellers who are selling it for the best price (about $360 new with 1 year warranty) amazon and B&H is both selling this lens for $430+tax, which end up around $480, way more expensive than the ebay one. so my question is, is it safe to buy from those ebay seller? (most of them locate in hong kong) how do they get the price so much cheaper than US retailers?

09-28-2012, 07:20 PM	#2
sqjaw Inactive Account Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Quincy,Ma. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 224	first thjing to check is this web site Store Ratings & Reviews - ResellerRatings.com - Find Trusted Stores I believe you will find your answer there> Now there are places on the web that do what is called bait and switch, which means they hook you a low price on an Item , then they hit you with a sales pitch to get you to buy some thing more or different Have you tried Adorama.com or KEH.com for the item your looking for: as they say with buyer beware but I have bought a lot of stuff off that site and have yet to have problem, other than my stupidy: Last edited by sqjaw; 09-28-2012 at 07:24 PM. Reason: grammer

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09-28-2012, 11:41 PM	#3
Roob-N-Boots Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Palm Springs CA Posts: 393	If you go through B&H or Amazon (or any authorized reseller) you get Tamron's six year warranty instead of the one year you get through other sellers.

09-29-2012, 05:26 PM	#4
telly0050 Senior Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 233 Original Poster	thanks for the information. didn't know B&H and amazon has 6 yrs warranty instead of just 1. i guess i should spend a little more for better protection..

09-29-2012, 06:27 PM	#5
stormtech Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: In the boonies (NW Penna) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,744	It's not the vendors (B&H etc.) that give you this warranty - Tamron lenses sold in the USA carry a 6 year warranty from Tamron. So if you buy a Tamron lens from any US dealer it carries the 6 years. Warranty, Tamron USA, Inc. And something about gray market lenses: http://www.tamron-usa.com/lenses/gray_market.asp

09-29-2012, 10:56 PM	#6
atekant Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Vancouver Posts: 96	And it turns out Tamron has mail-in rebates for a bunch of lenses if purchased by Sept 30. Lens Rebates, Tamron USA

09-30-2012, 09:29 AM	#7
telly0050 Senior Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 233 Original Poster	the thing is even with the rebate it still cost nearly $500 with tax... comparing to the $360 on ebay (or 350 with ebay bucks), i am not sure the 6 years warranty is worth the extra $150, since the fund may get me another lens..

10-01-2012, 06:19 PM	#8
tibbitts Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Oklahoma USA Posts: 2,193	It's not as much the 6yr warranty you're paying for, as much as the ability to relatively easily return the lens, maybe multiple times, until you get a decent copy. My experience has been that even with a warranty, you probably won't be able to get a marginally poorly performing lens repaired or exchanged under warranty. I'm guessing from the comment about tax that you might live in NY or NYC. Although I no longer live there, I'm guessing you legally owe the tax whether B&H collects it or not, and regardless of where you buy an item from. Paul

10-01-2012, 07:09 PM	#9
telly0050 Senior Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 233 Original Poster	yes i live in nyc. and it is quite annoying that everything i buy from amazon or b&h collects tons of tax..