Where to buy cameras online

josh.m.sharpe.RemoveThis@gmail.com wrote:
> I'm new to the world of buying a DSLR -- and in looking around and
> googling, etc., I've run across a slew of skeezy websites begging for
> my money. This doesn't exactly make me feel like paying with my credit
> card. There has got to be a handful of reputable websites out there
> that are trustworthy and reliable and have hopefully been around for a
> while. So where are they? What does the community say?
>
> Thanx!!!

B&H Photo-Video is the gold standard. Widest selection and very
competitive prices, and FAST shipping.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com

Canoga Camera has also good prices, similar to B&H.
http://www.canogacamera.com/

Costco.com have has a very limited selection, but their prices can be
significantly better than B&H. They also have the best return policy
in the business.
http://www.costco.com

Circuit City has good discounts online. Their prices (with the on-line
discounts) can be lower than B&H's, but its best to only order on-line
(to get the web-only discounts), but choose their in-store pickup
option (instead of having the item ship from their warehouse). They
ship out items more slowly than B&H, Costco, and Canoga Camera.
http://www.circuitcity.com

- Peter
 >> Stay informed about: Where to buy cameras online 

josh.m.sharpe RemoveThis @gmail.com wrote in news:1166416008.089115.191450
@t46g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:

> I'm new to the world of buying a DSLR -- and in looking around and
> googling, etc., I've run across a slew of skeezy websites begging for
> my money. This doesn't exactly make me feel like paying with my credit
> card. There has got to be a handful of reputable websites out there
> that are trustworthy and reliable and have hopefully been around for a
> while. So where are they? What does the community say?
>
> Thanx!!!
>
>

Some of the better ones are B&H Photo, Adorama, and BuyDig.com.

Check out http://www.resellerratings.com/. Go to 'Store Ratings' and enter
the company’s name, to check out thier ratings.

If you're looking at a specific company, ask questions about it here, and
see what kind of response you get.

Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

--
Eric Babula
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
 >> Stay informed about: Where to buy cameras online 

josh.m.sharpe.RemoveThis@gmail.com wrote:
> I'm new to the world of buying a DSLR -- and in looking around and
> googling, etc., I've run across a slew of skeezy websites begging for
> my money. This doesn't exactly make me feel like paying with my credit
> card. There has got to be a handful of reputable websites out there
> that are trustworthy and reliable and have hopefully been around for a
> while. So where are they? What does the community say?
>
> Thanx!!!
>
Sorry, but I don't quite get this. You're about to make a relatively
large purchase, and you want to do it from a company you've never dealt
with before, that possibly exists purely as some page on the internet -
a medium that is well known for fraud. So to improve your safety, you
want to base your purchase on recommendations from people you've never
met, who could even be being impersonated by someone else. The product
you buy may or may not be covered by warranty in your country of
purchase (if it arrives/exists at all). And your prepared to take these
risks so you can possibly save a few percent on the purchase?
Personally, I'd much rather go into a local store with a good reputation
(or even a chain store). That way I know that the product I buy and the
people I'm buying off really do exist. That way I know that if something
goes wrong I can take it back to them. I know that I don't have to rely
on some delivery guy who is getting paid peanuts to decide that an
expensive item really should go to my address rather than in his pocket.
Ok I might pay a few more dollars, but I can guarantee I won't be
posting a story in here about how I lost $1000 to such-and-such a
website who were offering an awesome deal on a 5D.
 >> Stay informed about: Where to buy cameras online 

Graham Fountain wrote:
> josh.m.sharpe DeleteThis @gmail.com wrote:
>> I'm new to the world of buying a DSLR -- and in looking around and
>> googling, etc., I've run across a slew of skeezy websites begging for
>> my money. This doesn't exactly make me feel like paying with my
>> credit card. There has got to be a handful of reputable websites
>> out there that are trustworthy and reliable and have hopefully been
>> around for a while. So where are they? What does the community say?
>>
>> Thanx!!!
>>
> Sorry, but I don't quite get this. You're about to make a relatively
> large purchase, and you want to do it from a company you've never
> dealt with before, that possibly exists purely as some page on the
> internet - a medium that is well known for fraud. So to improve your
> safety, you want to base your purchase on recommendations from people
> you've never met, who could even be being impersonated by someone
> else. The product you buy may or may not be covered by warranty in
> your country of purchase (if it arrives/exists at all). And your
> prepared to take these risks so you can possibly save a few percent
> on the purchase? Personally, I'd much rather go into a local store
> with a good reputation (or even a chain store). That way I know that
> the product I buy and the people I'm buying off really do exist. That
> way I know that if something goes wrong I can take it back to them. I
> know that I don't have to rely on some delivery guy who is getting
> paid peanuts to decide that an expensive item really should go to my
> address rather than in his pocket. Ok I might pay a few more dollars,
> but I can guarantee I won't be posting a story in here about how I
> lost $1000 to such-and-such a website who were offering an awesome
> deal on a 5D.

He's come to the right place, because if he'll follow the very good advice
he's been given regarding which sites are reputable, he'll not only be very
happy with his experience, but he'll save a good bit of cash, to boot.

There's no need to tell him he's being foolish. To the contrary, he's made
a wise choice by asking here FIRST.


--
Images (Plus Snaps & Grabs) by Mark² at:
www.pbase.com/markuson
 >> Stay informed about: Where to buy cameras online 

"Graham Fountain" <ask RemoveThis @and.find.out> wrote in message
news:4586730c$0$21914$5a62ac22@per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au...
> josh.m.sharpe RemoveThis @gmail.com wrote:
>> I'm new to the world of buying a DSLR -- and in looking around and
>> googling, etc., I've run across a slew of skeezy websites begging for
>> my money. This doesn't exactly make me feel like paying with my credit
>> card. There has got to be a handful of reputable websites out there
>> that are trustworthy and reliable and have hopefully been around for a
>> while. So where are they? What does the community say?
>>
>> Thanx!!!
>>
> Sorry, but I don't quite get this. You're about to make a relatively large
> purchase, and you want to do it from a company you've never dealt with
> before, that possibly exists purely as some page on the internet - a
> medium that is well known for fraud. So to improve your safety, you want
> to base your purchase on recommendations from people you've never met, who
> could even be being impersonated by someone else. The product you buy may
> or may not be covered by warranty in your country of purchase (if it
> arrives/exists at all). And your prepared to take these risks so you can
> possibly save a few percent on the purchase?
> Personally, I'd much rather go into a local store with a good reputation
> (or even a chain store). That way I know that the product I buy and the
> people I'm buying off really do exist. That way I know that if something
> goes wrong I can take it back to them. I know that I don't have to rely on
> some delivery guy who is getting paid peanuts to decide that an expensive
> item really should go to my address rather than in his pocket. Ok I might
> pay a few more dollars, but I can guarantee I won't be posting a story in
> here about how I lost $1000 to such-and-such a website who were offering
> an awesome deal on a 5D.

There is the possibility that there is not real camera store in his locale,
and big box stores don't always carry a full lineup of cameras, in fact,
they seldom do. Sure, you can buy a Rebel XTi at Circuit City, but you
can't buy a 5D, nor can you buy a 70-300 f4.5-5.6 IS USM. Sometimes, on
line is the only way to get what you want.
I'm lucky enough to live within 10 minutes of a Calumet location, but not
everybody does. Coming here to ask for recommendations is a good move.

--
Skip Middleton
www.shadowcatcherimagery.com
www.pbase.com/skipm
 >> Stay informed about: Where to buy cameras online 

I'm assuming - you don't say - that you are in the USA.
If you're in the UK - I recommend Bristolcameras.co.uk

--


www.srsteel.co.uk
http://www.srsteel.co.uk/Panorama
http://www.srsteel.co.uk/landscape
http://www.srsteel.co.uk/Peru
"Mark²" <mjmorgan(lowest even number here)@cox..net> wrote in message
news:reqhh.21499$Zb5.12158@newsfe13.phx...
> josh.m.sharpe.DeleteThis@gmail.com wrote:
>> I'm new to the world of buying a DSLR -- and in looking around and
>> googling, etc., I've run across a slew of skeezy websites begging for
>> my money. This doesn't exactly make me feel like paying with my
>> credit card. There has got to be a handful of reputable websites out
>> there that are trustworthy and reliable and have hopefully been
>> around for a while. So where are they? What does the community say?
>>
>> Thanx!!!
>
> If you stick with www.bhphotovideo.com, www.adorama.com, and
> www.calumetphoto.com, you can rest easy, knowing you won't be swindled.
> My long-standing favorite is B&H. I've bought more than $20,000 of gear
> from them over the years, and they have yet to make their first
> mistake...and that includes going OVER and ABOVE with regard to gracious
> handling of returned items.
>
> Please...for your own sake...money and sanity...BEFORE you go trying an
> unfamiliar on-line or magazine shop...check here FIRST!!!! Don't make the
> classic mistake regulars here are so used to hearing about--how someone
> got screwed out of something because it "looked like the best deal, blah
> blah blah." Believe me. We've heard literally hundreds and hundreds of
> personal accounts. It's not worth it.
>
> Mark²
>
> --
> Images (Plus Snaps & Grabs) by Mark² at:
> www.pbase.com/markuson
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: Where to buy cameras online 

Personally unless your a seasoned buyer who knows exactly what you
want and what its worth and the quality of the product. I'd find a
local well established walk in shop or camera specialist chain where
you can touch and feel the cameras and ask questions. Query the
return policy and full refund no questions asked grace period. You
may also want to consider an extended fix or replace warranty from the
camera shop if its reasonable and available.

Depending where you are manufacturers warranty may be different or not
covered if purchased externally from your country. For example, here
in Canada, Nikon watch for grey market cameras and will only warrant
cameras puchased from Nikon Canada authoized resellers. Although
Nikon Canada comes with a 2 year warranty I still purchased from a
large established retailer and took a third year on an extended
warranty.

Heres why. My knock around P&S, a Minolta A1 powered on a few weeks
ago and its wavy, pink, distorted, and totally unusable from an image
standpoint. Something in the CCD or image processing system has gone
I'm sure. Minolta is out of the vamera game now and repairs are done
here by Sony. I dont want to think what it would cost to repair. Its
old but still cost me a pretty penny 2 1/2 years ago. I remembered I
took an extended fix or replace warranty from the dealer and dug up
the paper work. Covered for 3 years. Took it into the dealer and no
questions asked. Its off to Sony and it will be fixed on their dime
(or replaced with an equivalent camera).

On 17 Dec 2006 20:26:48 -0800, josh.m.sharpe DeleteThis @gmail.com wrote:

>I'm new to the world of buying a DSLR -- and in looking around and
>googling, etc., I've run across a slew of skeezy websites begging for
>my money. This doesn't exactly make me feel like paying with my credit
>card. There has got to be a handful of reputable websites out there
>that are trustworthy and reliable and have hopefully been around for a
>while. So where are they? What does the community say?
>
>Thanx!!!
 >> Stay informed about: Where to buy cameras online 

"Graham Fountain" <ask.DeleteThis@and.find.out> wrote in message
news:4586730c$0$21914$5a62ac22@per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au...

> Sorry, but I don't quite get this. You're about to make a relatively large
> purchase, and you want to do it from a company you've never dealt with
> before, that possibly exists purely as some page on the internet - a
> medium that is well known for fraud. So to improve your safety, you want
> to base your purchase on recommendations from people you've never met, who
> could even be being impersonated by someone else. The product you buy may
> or may not be covered by warranty in your country of purchase (if it
> arrives/exists at all). And your prepared to take these risks so you can
> possibly save a few percent on the purchase?
> Personally, I'd much rather go into a local store with a good reputation
> (or even a chain store). That way I know that the product I buy and the
> people I'm buying off really do exist. That way I know that if something
> goes wrong I can take it back to them. I know that I don't have to rely on
> some delivery guy who is getting paid peanuts to decide that an expensive
> item really should go to my address rather than in his pocket. Ok I might
> pay a few more dollars, but I can guarantee I won't be posting a story in
> here about how I lost $1000 to such-and-such a website who were offering
> an awesome deal on a 5D.

I disagree. I am looking to buy a Canon S3 IS.
I went into my local high-street camera shop last week to look at the camera
and hopefully purchase it.
After 5 minutes of handling the camera I liked it and decided to buy it.
I asked the assistent how much it was (expecting somewhere in the £280 -
£300 range) only to be told they were charging £350.
Thats an almost 60% markup on the internet prices!

I am prepared to spend a small amount extra for the convienience of a local
shop but there is a limit.

In my opinion 10% is about right.

I have orderred thousands of pounds of goods online and as a result saved
hundreds of pounds.
I am careful who I chose to buy off and the usual rule of "steer clear if it
is too good to be true" always applies.
I can afford to get one rogue-trader who doesn't deliver the goods and I
will still be better off than if I had bought the items at high street
prices.
Hopefully that won't happen provided I use common sense and do my research
each time.

Buying from a shop is almost always safer and a more enjoyable experience
but it it is far more expensive.
 >> Stay informed about: Where to buy cameras online 

I agree.

Dave
 >> Stay informed about: Where to buy cameras online 

You can't go wrong with B&H camera (USA). I bought from them via credit
card from Australia and had no issues at all. Except 10% GST on
arrival, which is still a much better deal than local prices.


I recently published articles on DSLR camera and lens selection on my
personal blog. You will find lots of tips, saving you time and money.
Pls have a look.

http://tr-photo-blog.blogspot.com/

Thanks,
T


josh.m.sharpe.RemoveThis@gmail.com wrote:
> I'm new to the world of buying a DSLR -- and in looking around and
> googling, etc., I've run across a slew of skeezy websites begging for
> my money. This doesn't exactly make me feel like paying with my credit
> card. There has got to be a handful of reputable websites out there
> that are trustworthy and reliable and have hopefully been around for a
> while. So where are they? What does the community say?
>
> Thanx!!!
 >> Stay informed about: Where to buy cameras online