I’ll admit it. I’m a sucker for a bargain.
When one of my former students Michael Lambert emailed me about Canon’s Customer Loyalty program, I was skeptical but I had to look into it.
Did I need a newer camera body? Not really, but I had been looking for a DSLR with video capability for quite some time.
If you follow this blog, you might have read my trusty Powershot G3 headed to its happy-picture-hunting ground recently.
Even though it was a Point-and-shoot camera, it had video recording capability.
So does its replacement, the Powershot G11 which I bought recently.
So how long was I expected to do without video on my DSLR?
I love my workhorse 40D, but it is almost 3 years old and doesn’t have video capability.
If I wasn’t teaching, I would be alright with just stills.
After all, I have to justify every purchase I make, if not to myself, then surely to the general or the Chief Financial Officer of the house.
Here’s the step-by-step if you’re interested in following this fool jumpstart the economy
- Visit Canon’s refurbished camera page to check the DSLR you want is in stock. If it is, get the serial number of your trade in Powershot camera ready.
- Call 1-866-443-8002 (At prompt choose Option 2)
- Tell them you’re interested in upgrading and buying one of the refurbished cameras (subject to stock in hand)
- Canon will require you to give them the serial number of your trade-in camera
- Provide your credit card number, address and other details, complete the purchase
- When your upgraded camera (in my case 5DMark2 ) arrives, you ship your trade in camera (my dead powershot G3) in the supplied box, shipping paid by Canon.
My Trade-in Camera
I paid close to $500 for my Powershot G3 when it was new.
I was ready to chuck it into the electronic junk heap. Imagine my delight when I saw not only was the refurbished 5DMark 2 a good deal at $2,099, by sending them my dead G3, I was getting $419.80 Â back !
It’s almost too good to be true, isn’t it? The final damage? $1934.88 for the body and a spare battery.
The first time I called Canon to look into this, the best DSLR they had was a refurbished Canon 50D–not an improvement over my 40D, so asked if I could be placed on a waiting list.
The lady on the other end said, all I can do is call back and check or bookmark the following page to see their stock of refurbished cameras.
So what you are guys especially those here in the US waiting for?
Canon 5DMark 2 on the way!
My Canon 5D Mark 2 supposedly shipped and should be here on Wednesday. By the way, I also ordered a spare battery because what else? “Without batteries, all you’ve got is a ugly ……
Now I’ll have to pinch my pennies and buy 16GB compact flash cards as well. I’ll probably need at least 4 of these bad boys. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
Hey Peter on a side note the best deal I’ve seen on 16gb Flash is the Kingston Elite Pro I got mine on for $40 —
I saw that you said in another article to throw away flash memory when it goes bad… SEND IT TO ME Kingston and SanDisk (my two favorite brands of flash memory) both have LIFETIME warranties and my experience is it very easy to exchange (the 1 time I had to exchange PC memory for Kingston)
I got my 5D mark II yesterday, since I ordered Zeikos Grip I ordered batteries from China (from a CA supplier actually) 4 batteries with 2 chargers to charge 2 at a time since the external grip requires 2 batteries at a time) for $40 including tax and shipping lol and the batteries actually have a higher capacity rating than the Canon Brand Batteries
Anyways Cheers for a great deal my new camera is awesome… now I’m just waiting for my 430 EX II and my Zeicos grip to arrive
I’m so cheap lol but I have to be 🙂
I just ordered my D300s. I’m sooo stoked.
The reality is this: it’s the first new camera for me since March 2006. Yeah, those who mock the D200 have not put it through the trials I have.
So the saying is true: It’s not the camera, It’s the photographer.
Thanks Pete.
Hi Paul!
It’s always great to hear from you. I wouldn’t get too envious about my refurbished Canon 5D Mark 2. There’s always going to be a Nikon Dxxx (insert number) every fall. It’s a good thing in a way.
The downside to this is, photographers as a group get so totally seduced by new versions of software and gear, they forget to take good pictures, me included.
It is wonderful to have my wide angle zoom back. I’m working on a post about the new camera. Thanks again for stopping by.
Always makes my day
Pete!
How is everything? Hope all is swell.
I, too, wish Nikon had this program. I have soo much used gear I bet I can a D3 for free. Yeah, right.
Good post and you must write about your new toy when you get it.
Thanks Peter.
Hi Maria,
I think it’s just a matter of time before Nikon does the same thing. Keep your fingers crossed. It’s definitely a savings. I heard people going on ebay to buy a broken, for parts Powershot or any Canon digital camera just to get their discount.
I was lucky that I happened to have a broken Powershot G3. Great hearing from you as usual.
That’s good to know, I wish Nikon had something like that:) Thanks for sharing Peter!