Thank you Helen for sharing the info with us, it's amazing how the whole chain is working and products are delivered excactly where they should get.

As I explained to the OP when he emailed me a few days ago, Nikon refurbs are refurbished by Nikon in their factory. They come into us with the refurb sticker already on the bottom of the unit in sealed boxes.

The guys in the warehouse are picking from over 20,000 separate locations, and believe me, do not have the time for, the opportunity for, or anything to gain by, opening a box to remove a sticker.

They pick using a bar coding system, which matches up the bar code on a bay and a carton with the code on the order.
The video below shows how picking is is done.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKwydXTTIKo&feature=related

Best wishes

Helen

Helen Oster
Adorama Camera Customer Service Ambassador

You're right, if I was parting with that kind of money I'd be pretty cheesed off "IF" they tried to do that to me, but assuming you can't see ANY difference, and your covered by the full new warranty, I suppose it doesn't matter?

I'd have to imagine like the lower end lenses it will come with some sort of markings on the packaging, and the warranty card is the dead giveaway, the refurb warranty is 90 days and has a different card to denote this fact. I haven't handled any big money lenses in refurb form, but it should be more or less the same in regards to the warranty card etc. I really doubt Adorama would try and bait and switch you, but you can always contact them like NikoDoby said.

Did you ask Adorama? Helen Oster is there rep around here:
Helen Oster
Adorama Camera Customer Service Ambassador
HelenO@adorama.com

I'm sure she can help you out. If not then call Nikon and they can tell you. It depends on the serial numbers. There's no visual difference between new and refurbished.

I back ordered a new Nikon 500mm 4.0 vr2 from Adorama two days ago on 10-24-10 and to my surprise it shipped out two days later on 10-26-10. My concern is that adorama may be sending me the one refurbished 500mm lense that was listed on their website on 10-24. The refurbished lens was delisted on the same day they shipped me the lens.

I am sure the refurbished lense is a fine lense but that was not my intention and I paid full retail price for this lense. How can I be absolutely sure that the lense I will be receiving on Monday (11-1-10) is brand new and not refurbished?

Adorama says they place refurbished stickers on refurbished items but it seems way to easy for them to just remove the sticker and ship.

Any thoughts on this situation.