The Canon Store’s Black Friday refurbished sale is one of the biggest events of the year for Canon shooters. Every year, we see incredible prices, instant sell-outs, and plenty of happy photographers who managed to score like-new gear for hundreds off retail. If you’re new to this sale, or if you’ve missed out in the past, this guide explains everything you need to know — what “Canon refurbished” really means, how good the deals can get, how to be lightning-fast at checkout, and how to use our tools to give yourself an edge.
What is Canon Refurbished?
“Canon refurbished” refers to products sold through the Canon Store’s Manufacturer Refurbished program. These are cameras and lenses that were returned to Canon — often for reasons like retail returns, excess stock, or packaging damage — then fully inspected, cleaned, tested, and repackaged for sale. In many cases, the gear looks and performs exactly like new, except it comes in a plain box instead of retail packaging. Most importantly, refurbished items sold by Canon carry the same 1-year Canon USA warranty as new gear.
If you’re wondering about reliability: Canon’s refurb program has been running for years, and we (and thousands of readers) have had consistently excellent experiences. It’s like-new gear at a better price. (Read our FAQ)
How Great Are the Deals, Historically?
CanonPriceWatch has tracked the refurb Black Friday sale for more than a decade, and history shows that it’s often the best pricing of the entire year. When the sale hits, prices drop sharply across bodies, lenses, and accessories, and popular models can sell out within seconds or minutes.
In our past coverage, we’ve seen incredible discounts, often hundreds below the best new-item deals. When stock drops, don’t hesitate. Buy first, think later. You can always cancel your order before it ships.
When to Show Up
Historically, the Canon Store refurb sale hits around midnight Eastern (12:00 AM ET) on Black Friday. This isn’t guaranteed — in past years it’s shown up as early as the week before Thanksgiving or as late as Cyber Monday.
Your best move: sign in 30–60 minutes before midnight on the key nights, check CPW for what’s in stock, open the Canon Refurbished Store, go straight to the exact item you want, and refresh.
There’s often a small “percolation delay” before the new prices go live, so don’t give up too early. Once prices flip, the hot items can disappear in under a minute — be ready to jump the moment you see the drop. Buy first, think later!
The Canon Store also occasionally drops hints: a big restock the day before is a common tell. Subscribe to CPW and we’ll flag any of these early “warning signs.”
How to Be Fast at Checkout
Speed is everything. If you wait even a few minutes, that dream lens could be gone. Create or log into your Canon Store account before the sale begins, and make sure your shipping address and payment information (credit card or PayPal) are saved. Decide in advance what you’re targeting so you can move instantly when it becomes available.
When the sale goes live, the entire process, from clicking “Add to Cart” to completing checkout, should take under a minute. The fastest shoppers often succeed because they’ve rehearsed the process in advance.
The Tools We Provide
CanonPriceWatch offers tools designed to give you an edge over the competition. Our Refurb Stock Tracker monitors every Canon Store refurbished listing and detects restocks within seconds. You can also create a Watchlist for the specific body or lens you want and set alerts to be notified the instant it’s back in stock. On sale night, also keep an eye on our refurbished livestream — it updates in real-time as prices change and as items come in-stock.
Subscribe to Our Site
If you’re not already subscribed to CanonPriceWatch, now’s the time. During the holiday season, we post multiple times per day, and the best deals often vanish within hours. The best way to not miss the Canon Store sale is to subscribe — you’ll get an email alert as soon as the sale starts or when restocks happen. Many of our readers who score big each year credit these alerts for giving them the jump.
Warranty, Returns, and Price Adjustments
Canon refurbished items are backed by the full 1-year Canon USA warranty, identical to new. Canon also offers a 14-day return policy on most refurbished purchases, and during the holidays (usually between early November and late December), the return window is often extended to January 15. Canon has been known to honor price adjustments during the return period (while the item is still in stock), but they are never guaranteed. If you see the gear you want at a great price, buy it — there’s rarely a better opportunity later.
Will the Sale Restock?
Restocks do happen, but they’re unpredictable and extremely limited. They’re usually the result of canceled customer orders or payment failures being released back into inventory. These mini-restocks can occur at any time during the sale period, but items often sell out again in minutes.
The first wave of the sale is your best chance to secure what you want. If you miss it, keep your alerts active and your watchlist ready — but don’t rely on a restock as your main plan.
Wrap-Up
- Identify the camera or lens you want (and a backup in case your first choice sells out).
- Create your Canon Store account and save your shipping and payment info.
- Add your target items to your CanonPriceWatch Watchlist and enable alerts.
- Subscribe to CPW email notifications.
- On sale night, log in 30–60 minutes before midnight ET, and check CPW to see what’s in-stock.
- Head over to the Canon Store, find your refurb item, and stay ready.
- When you see your item in stock and discounted, move fast — Add to Cart → Checkout.
- Keep track of your 14-day return window and 1-year warranty.
- If you miss out, monitor for restocks — but assume the first wave is your best shot.
Stay alert, act fast, and good luck hunting this year’s Canon refurbished Black Friday deals. As we go through the shopping season, we’ll be posting the hottest deals and finds, so please check back often.
