Gilligan is right on - the eastern guys strip out the accessories and try to re-sell them to you. You get a cheap cam, in a brown box. Its new, but its just the cam. This is very common with that ilk. To be avoided.
Oly's eBay store - oh yes... know it quite well. Its an auction store, so the objective is to drive price UP... there are treasures there, but look for the end times. Mid week, late (after 10:00 PM EST) and you'll find those prices are less. Use a sniper program (
www.auctionsniper.com) and you can win stuff while you sleep. Oly's site is reliable, the stuff is in Oly Boxes (albeit generic oly boxes) comes with manuals and their shipping is CHEAP... like $5.00 Thjey charge sales tax to Cal. I have purchased lots from there without issue.
Other eBay sellers - Remember to use eBay's search feature (search, completed items only) so you can gauge current eBay market value of the 5050. I paid $450 delivered for mine a few months ago. Avoid all those packages... cards are cheap, and you'll want to go get your own case anyway. Its a profit grab for those guys trying to get $600 for adding a tripod, a card and 4 AA batts... please.
BuyDig - they had the deal of a lifetime on a refurbished e20 that I bought. It was an Oly factory refurb - just like buying from the Oly eBay site without the price competition. Freight was higher - but no tax. Plus, they often bundle in the MACK ESP (extended service plan) with their stuff. Also a good option.
When buying an Oly refurb, go with price - they all come from the same place and have the same 90 day warranty.
I would NOT recommend buying a used housing. New ones are so cheap its really a non-issue. Get the housing new, get the cam refurb.
Get a 256 or 512 CF card. You'll lose that 32 XD wafer in a few weeks... keep it in cam as a back up.
Don't forget your batts: My man Rip is my guy.
www.ripvan100.com. The Sanyo 2300's rule. Get 3 sets.
Enjoy!
K
