Camera Sources

I am shopping for a Nikon D300. I normally buy from B&Hbut I Googled "Nikon D300" and a website - www.diduprice.com - came up that listed several suppliers selling for way under retail, even under $1000.

Enterprise photo.com, Photo Dynasty and Shop Digital Direct, for example.

They claim complete bodies, batteries, etc - no cards; and US Warranty.

Anyone have any idea about these sources? Saving money is good, buying aggravation is not needed

Thanks

Neal

I am shopping for a Nikon D300. I normally buy from B&Hbut I Googled "Nikon D300" and a website - www.diduprice.com - came up that listed several suppliers selling for way under retail, even under $1000.

 

Enterprise photo.com, Photo Dynasty and Shop Digital Direct, for example.

 

They claim complete bodies, batteries, etc - no cards; and US Warranty.

 

Anyone have any idea about these sources? Saving money is good, buying aggravation is not needed

 

Thanks

 

Neal

The chances are if a price is way too good to be true, there may be something. My general benchmark if it makes B&H look expensive proceed cautiously

FYI http://www.epinions.com/msg/show_~threads/...7/forum_id_~145

Usually do a quick google on places where the prices are too good (name and scam usually picks them right up) and you will see things like that. I have not had dealings with any of those places one way or the other.

The website reselleratings.com is your friend.

James

I would be extremely suspicious of these sites advertising newer bodies at very low prices. They may take your money now and deliver a year from now. Ask if they have them in stock, get a delivery date IN WRITING and check their refund and return policies carefully... very carefully, before giving CC info. If it seems too good to be true and they claim to undersell B & H (which is almost impossible to do and still make a profit) something is up which will not be to your benefit.

you won't get the camera from those places.

use reselleratings.com, or see if they are on pricegrabber

scott

A common tactic is that in order to fulfill your order you'll need to talk to someone on the phone. Once you get on the phone, they try to sell you all sorts of extra garbage that you don't need for exorbitant prices... and even if you do need it, they're selling you over-priced versions of 3rd party junk.

If you end up not buying a certain amount of their junk, they then suddenly find the camera back ordered and it never seems to be available.

Another trick is to hold your money for 90 days making excuses about why its not shipping. Then refund your money when you're frustration reaches lawsuit level. Imagine 10,000 people getting duped for a $1000 bucks a pop for 90 days. I could imagine that's a pretty nice interest payment. Anyway, here's two companies I've dealt with directly. Cameta actually replaced a camera that had an issue and did so with no fuss. Adorama also has a pretty good reputation. http://stores.ebay.com/Cameta-Camera_Digit...3QQftidZ2QQtZkm

Stay away from any of those places, they are scams. You are stuck paying retail.

Stick with a well-known dealer. I normally use B&H, but when they weren't taking orders for the D300, I used Hunt's Photo & Video on the net and would purchase from them again.

Thanks to you all - a reality check is really helpful.

resellerratings.com was eye-opening; basically reported how these scams work.

Again, thanks and I am off to shoot my D70 on the Channel Islands out of Santa Barbara

Neal

Brooklyn Camera Stores

Typical Scam Technique

Generally rule of thumb: If you find it for more than 5% less than B&H or Adorama, it's a scam.