The so called "open box" rule means that if you investigate closely enough, you can actually purchase a brand new, top-of-the-line digital camera for a significantly reduced price, solely because someone else returned it out of its original packaging. Also, unlike buying a used camera, a factory refurbished camera should come with all the accessories that you would expect from a new product: memory card, USB/Firewire connection, batteries, wrist strap, owner's/user's manual, plus a protective case.

Why is it then that more and more people choose to buy refurbushed digital cameras knowing that they are almost new and cheaper? Nowadays, only very few people are knowledgeable about these great deals. In fact, manufacturers and electronics stores keep "open box" and refurbished cameras hushed up because if you don't know about them you'll be much more likely to purchase a brand new, full price model, generating more revenue for the retailer. Of course, this is not the only reason you may not have considered buying a refurbished camera.

There are, as with every good deal, some possible negative aspects to purchasing a refurbished camera. The fact is that while many are returned unused or hardly used, some refurbished models have actually been used enough to need replacement parts or other repairs making the product's system more vulnerable to defects and more likely to cause problems. Because refurbished cameras don't specify the amount of use prior to return or the reason for return, consumers are often left in the dark. This fact has led to many urban legends of refurbished electronics malfunctioning, but the truth is, in most cases refurbished digital cameras are almost as good as new.

How will you know that you have purchsed a good refurbished camera? The most important way to make sure you don't end up with a poor product that malfunctions on you is to only consider refurbished products that include a manufacturers warranty for at least ninety days. This will prevent you from getting a broken camera which is impossible to return or to be exchanged for another one.

In spite of the possible negatives inherent in buying a product that admittedly may have been used before, the cost benefits and positives greatly outweigh the bad. Buying a refurbished digital camera can cut the cost significantly while still providing you with an excellent product. If you are considering buying a digital camera, be sure to check the internet and your local retailers for refurbished models ? they are worth the time it takes to investigate.