Listing an import item on eBay

Number45

Suspended / Banned
Messages
380
Name
Steve
Edit My Images
No
I'm looking to sell my 650D on eBay. I bought it last July from valuebasket.com, and actually wasn't expecting it to be an import (entirely my fault, I should have researched it better), but that's irrelevant to this thread.

Basically, I want to know how you would recommend I list it on eBay. I was going to go with a title of "Canon EOS 650D / Rebel T4i / Kiss X6i 18.0 MP Digital SLR Camera - Black (Body Only)" (assuming that fits) and make no mention of it in the description, but it seems wrong to me not to reference that in some way.

I guess what I'm asking is how you would list (or have listed) an item like this, wanting to be honest but without screaming "DANGER: GREY IMPORT". The box itself says 650D and all the included documentation is in English (with (I assume) Japanese as well, something my UK bought 5D3 doesn't have).

Just want to be safe. Any help is appreciated, I did a search in here and couldn't see a similar question having been asked.
 
It's second hand so warranty isn't really an issue.

Personally I would list it as Canon 650D, but in the description say "Selling my 650D, bought from ValueBasket.com on xx/07/12 and original receipt available" (or unavailable, if you no longer have it).

Keep it factual, but short.
 
Just a question about this guys, are the cameras not built in the same factory? if they are and, out of warranty, what difference does it make where they come from. If they arent built in the same factory then, are they built to a different standard?

Curious thats all.

Phil
 
I would just list it as a 650D. They are all imports in one way or another and they all come from the same factory so it makes no difference.


Steve.
 
It's second hand so warranty isn't really an issue.

Personally I would list it as Canon 650D, but in the description say "Selling my 650D, bought from ValueBasket.com on xx/07/12 and original receipt available" (or unavailable, if you no longer have it).

Keep it factual, but short.
Yeah, I like this idea.

As I buyer, I would prefer to know where it came from.
I agree with this as well, but if I follow the above any prospective buyer can find out in a few clicks.

Thanks for the replies so far.
 
A few weeks back I was looking at a shortlist of possible cameras on 'bay but found the sellers descriptions very very very poor. In fact virtually no description. So I raised questions with several sellers, over a 7/10 day period, thinking the Q & then the A would appear on the first page of the listing but not one seller replied at all.

My questions were source of camera, will the original receipt be sent with the camera, were they the first owner & lastly number of actuations. I can only deduce, from the lack of response, that the buyers had something to hide. Yet all the cameras sold for reasonable prices but it has put me off EBay (as a buyer) big time. But as a seller you can put b*gger all description - then ignore the probing questions & you will still probably sell.
 
A few weeks back I was looking at a shortlist of possible cameras on 'bay but found the sellers descriptions very very very poor. In fact virtually no description. So I raised questions with several sellers, over a 7/10 day period, thinking the Q & then the A would appear on the first page of the listing but not one seller replied at all.

My questions were source of camera, will the original receipt be sent with the camera, were they the first owner & lastly number of actuations. I can only deduce, from the lack of response, that the buyers had something to hide. Yet all the cameras sold for reasonable prices but it has put me off EBay (as a buyer) big time. But as a seller you can put b*gger all description - then ignore the probing questions & you will still probably sell.
I understand the frustration, I hate a lack of communication as well. I'm lucky enough to spend most of my time with a means to respond to questions and I'll do so as quickly as possible without dodging any questions.

This will be the biggest single sale I've ever made on eBay, but I'll be following it up fairly soon with a much bigger one (MBA) so I want to be extra careful here. As I said in my original post, I don't want to deceive anyone but I also don't want to scream it from the rooftops.

I've also just realised the picture I took doesn't have the manual in. >_<
 
Hi Steve

I am dithering on my camera and so was thinking of putting it on 'there'. I bought from DigitalRev but now wonder whether I keep quiet about that bit but like you I'm not sure & I would find it very hard to ignore questions :thinking:
 
A few weeks back I was looking at a shortlist of possible cameras on 'bay but found the sellers descriptions very very very poor. In fact virtually no description. So I raised questions with several sellers, over a 7/10 day period, thinking the Q & then the A would appear on the first page of the listing but not one seller replied at all.

My questions were source of camera, will the original receipt be sent with the camera, were they the first owner & lastly number of actuations. I can only deduce, from the lack of response, that the buyers had something to hide. Yet all the cameras sold for reasonable prices but it has put me off EBay (as a buyer) big time. But as a seller you can put b*gger all description - then ignore the probing questions & you will still probably sell.

Before bidding for anything I always send off a question, any question, and if the seller does not reply in good time I don't bother bidding simple as that!! good communication is essential when buying whether it be Ebay or here in the classifieds.
 
I've part chopped lots of gear at shops - they never ask where I bought it from !

Once outside warranty it just doesn't matter..
 
Last edited:
I really can't understand the reasoning on wanting to know where the camera came from. If its out of warranty and not stolen, I personally couldn't give a monkeys.

I like the idea of sending a quick question off to someone on eBay to see how quickly they respond. That's something I am going to use myself..:thumbs:
 
I'd sooner buy a new grey from the likes of H dew etc than a used camera with no warranty for what appears to be a similar price on ebay
 
the same factory as one bought it the UK ?

If I was bidding on an item advertised as a Canon EOS 650D I would expect to receive an EOS 650D, with all the packaging, manuals and accessories associated with that product.

If I bid on that basis, but received a Kiss or a DRebel version with a foreign manual and a charger requiring an adaptor plug, and there was no mention of this in the auction listing, I would personally be a slightly miffed as my decision to buy was based upon information provided and the vendor has chosen to withhold this information which smacks a little of deceit.

I know the cameras are made in the same factory and so on, but I feel there is a bit of a principle at stake. Regardless of any warranty outstanding, dealers such as MBP will take in the 650D, but not the Kiss/D-Rebel versions.
 
The camera doesn't have any adapters. The box says 650D (it has some Japanese text, but every piece of text is also listed in English), the manual says 650D (along with Rebel T4i) and is in English (and only in English). It's all at odds with this listing for example. I didn't even think it was import until I plugged it into my Windows 7 PC and that's the model it was recognised as (which was when I checked).

Having never seen a UK sourced equivalent I don't know how different it is, if at all. In fact I can't see any difference between the one I'm selling and this one that's listed without any mention of its origin (and is being listed as under warranty). On this one the manual looks different, but the rest of it looks the same (and who on earth gets bought a £500+ present related to something they have no interest in?).

As I say I'm not looking to deceive. I will keep my originally intended listing name and take Dave's advice about putting where I bought it from, and leave myself fully open to any questions.
 
If the Camera says 650d on it then its a 650d. If it says Rebel/kiss then its a Rebel/kiss
Warranty as I understand it is not transferable so surely it matters not where the Camera hales from , merely that it works correctly is Uk spec and isn't stolen!"

I cant understand all this circumspection about used gear - if you are buying off ebay and are that bothered shouldn't you be buying new?
 
Yep, I managed to find a picture of a US model and it does actually say "Rebel", and I've just Googled the Kiss X6i and it says that on camera too. Mine says 650D. :s
 
I know grey import will affect the warranty, but what about after the warranty period? If it needed to be repaired, would a Canon-authorised repairer still deal with it? That for me would be the clincher - if they wouldn't deal with it then it needs to be declared as a grey import (or just where you bought it from).
 
I know grey import will affect the warranty, but what about after the warranty period? If it needed to be repaired, would a Canon-authorised repairer still deal with it? That for me would be the clincher - if they wouldn't deal with it then it needs to be declared as a grey import (or just where you bought it from).

Its just out of warranty that's all ! The grey reflects the warranty status not the guts of the camera
 
I'm happy enough buying grey second hand, as most are, but I would be annoyed to buy something as grey that wasn't declared as such.

If I bought it on eBay, and the source of the product wasn't mentioned (even just "bought from hkretailer.com") I would be marking the seller right down.

It doesn't take much to add it to the description, so I don't see the issue of being honest about it.
 
Back
Top