The Canon Direct Store listed refurbished (for the very first time) a number of popular cameras and lenses last Friday. Despite tremendous interest and many purchases, they are all still showing in-stock. Some readers have asked, “how can they have so many available?”
We’ve been told that the primary source for refurbished cameras and lenses are store returns (items that have been returned to the retailer during a return window cannot be resold as new, instead they are sent back to Canon for inspection and refurbishment). As cameras and lenses typically do not show up in the refurb store until about one year after the new product release, the first refurbished listing usually represents a full year’s worth of returns. As a result, this “first” listing is a great time to buy as it’s almost certain that the stock is real. After this initial release sells out, future restocks will be more limited in quantity (and the usual difficulties with Canon store inventory/backorders may arise).
Check out our refurbished stock tracker for a list of all items available. Refurbished items from the Canon Direct Store come with a 1-year Canon USA warranty, and items are typically just as good as new!
