So you’ve decided you’re ready to take the plunge on one of the most talked-about FDM printers on the market right now for its ease of use and quality print jobs. Now the only question left is this: where should you buy a Bambu from?
This is a debate that comes up surprisingly often – particularly, whether it’s better to buy a Bambu off Amazon or Bambu Lab’s official AU website. It’s a question I had to answer for myself recently, so I dug into it. I’ve gone over warranties, read over user experiences from across the web, and run through mock checkouts to determine final costs. I’ve also compared Bambu’s warranty with a few other manufacturers for my own peace of mind. It’s an expensive piece of hardware, after all.
There is a table towards the end of the article here for an at-a-glance reference.
The verdict after all of my research is “you are probably fine with both”, but it’s slightly more reassuring to just wait for a sale on Amazon simply for their extended returns window. If you can’t wait and Amazon has the printer at almost $500 more, just get it from Bambu Lab.
Regardless of where you get it from, pay close attention to how the printer runs after it arrives so that you can make a claim regarding any issues within the first 14 days (up to 30 with Amazon). Here’s the full breakdown.
For full disclosure – this site makes small commissions off affiliate links such as those that lead to Amazon. While that didn’t skew my review in any way, I’ve aimed to steer clear of picking a “clear winner” of where to buy your next printer (there isn’t one) and you should conduct your own research at the time of purchase. That said, please leave a comment or shoot me a message on the contact page if you’ve had a particular experience with either Bambu Lab or Amazon in relation to buying a Bambu printer. They’re awesome machines, however you get your hands on them.
Bambu printer used in this example: Bambu P1S with AMS Bundle
For this review, I used the Bambu printer that is currently among the most popular. It lets you print in multicolour and at great speed and volume.
Checking out on Amazon:
Initially, the printer I wanted (a Bambu Lab P1S with AMS bundle – perfect for printing multi-colour plastic FDM models with no fuss) cost $1719 – that’s an easy $400 more than on the Bambu store!
However, there was a 20% discount code I could apply from the product page that reduced the ultimate cost down to $1,375.20, including free shipping. This is in line with what it ends up being on the Bambu Lab official store, which we’ll get to next.
Found here on Amazon. Discounts come and go periodically.
Pros:
- Quick Shipping: Free, quick shipping
- Good change of mind window: 30 day change of mind window
- Good return window for damages or defects: 30 day (and potentially longer) window if you experience a major defect or other issue
- A second customer support option: Having the middleman between yourself and Bambu is a nice bonus regarding customer support and resolution, if it comes to that. And you still have the option to contact Bambu Lab directly.
Cons:
- Printer cost before discount: Significantly more expensive when not on sale – it not being on sale would be a dealbreaker for me, because it’s between $400 – $500 more for some 3D printers when not on sale.
Here’s the quote for returns from Amazon at the time of writing (October 2024):
“Eligible for change of mind returns within 30 days of receipt.
This item can be returned in its original condition within 30 days of receipt for change of mind. If this item is damaged or defective, you may be entitled to a remedy after 30 days.”
Checking out on Bambu Lab:
Bambu Lab has the same printer bundle at $1,299, but shipping will be an extra $50, taking it to $1,349.00. I tried switching states and that didn’t seem to impact the $50 flat rate.
Found here on Bambu Lab AU. Discounts may or may not apply.
Noteworthy, on second glance, there is the onus on you to check whether your card issuer will charge a foreign transaction fee on the Bambu official store. Given that fee is typically around 3.50% at time of writing, you’d potentially be stung an added $47.25 on the purchase. Which would just break even on Amazon selling the printer on sale – more or less. Not all cards charge this, but it’s definitely worth checking your own.
Pros:
- Cheaper Printer Base Cost: The printer is cheaper on the official site, likely because Bambu doesn’t have to add on top Amazon’s margin.
- Discounts at time of purchase: Bambu sometimes has some additional deals going, such as the ability to buy filament and other consumables at a discount at the same time you buy the printer. If this matters to you, have a look at the product page for the printer you want on their official website to see what’s available at the time. Here’s a photo of a few discounted items available at time of writing:
Cons:
- Narrower return window for change of mind: Only 14 day return window for change of mind
- Narrower return window for defects or issues: Only 14 day return, replace or refund window for critical defects or issues. Is this normal? For comparison, I looked at Elegoo, a brand I really like and trust, and their window is also 14 days. Nothing too worrying there in my opinion.
- Shipping times vary: Potentially longer shipping times than Amazon, although it appears the days of them shipping from offshore are in the past – their website suggests shipping will take between 2 – 7 business days. User experiences seem to vary.
- Foreign transaction fees may apply: Potential that “Foreign transaction fees may be charged by your card issuer”. The onus is on you to check with your card issuer if this is the case, as it can slap on an average of 3.50% – which on a Bambu P1S with AMS is close to $50.
Comparison table:
For a Bambu P1S with AMS bundle for multicolour FDM printing, at time of writing. Keep in mind this is based off their websites and product pages.
* According to their website at time of writing – October 2024. Actual user experience may vary.
** Bambu now ships direct from Australia when I last checked – but I would enquire if you’re unsure.
Typical Warranty in Australia?
Review it here. This should be checked on the Bambu Lab site as it can change, but at time of writing I read it listed as 1 year for Australia. You also have some protections under the ACCC – our consumer law branch. Here’s a PDF from them on that.
A note on consumables with new printers:
Upon reading the warranty, you’ll notice that certain aspects such as hot-ends, extruders, tubes and build plates are deemed consumables, and so don’t fall under the warranty at all. This is the same case for a few other 3D printer manufacturers I looked into. This may or may not mean there would be a replacement charge if these items arrived damaged. I am not sure whether Amazon would cover you here either. Either way, I’ve seen suggestions that you should check your printer over on receipt so that you can reject it on delivery or get in touch with the place you bought the printer from right away with as much proof as possible. It seems a bit idealistic you’d manage to make a delivery person wait while you go over your printer, but it’s worth keeping in mind. These parts are the cheaper bits so I wouldn’t stress if they did arrive damaged. It’s simply a point worth addressing.
The full warranty is here if you’d like to check it out. It’s a lot of legal-speak, but again, it’s nothing out of the ordinary.
The alternative?
Buy it local. You can always visit your local 3D printing store and buy a Bambu from them. They’ll likely charge $200 or so more, but there’s a friendly face to talk to if things go wrong or you need help.
The verdict?
Bambus are great machines and their product reviews attest to overwhelmingly happy customers. I would feel at ease purchasing it from either Amazon or Bambu Lab direct. Don’t fall into any online spats about where to buy your new 3D printer. In the real world, it’s just a matter of preference based on the table above.