HVX Low Prices

[stevesherrick]

I've seen the HVX advertised for very low prices (under$1800) brand new from fairly reputable dealers. What is the catch here? Are they providing only the camera(no batteries,no cards)? I'm planning on calling them to find out,but saw it and was really surprised. I was not even thinking of picking one up due to another camera system I'll be getting, but at this price it seems like a steal. Maybe this has already been addressed, and if so, sorry about that.
Steve

[Jason Ramsey]

The catch is that those dealers you are referring to are not "reputable" as you would claim. It is impossible for anyone to sell a new HVX for that price and make a profit.

Check out reseller ratings.

The short of it, is find one of the authorized dealers. The cheapest price you can find an HVX from an authorized dealer is around 5,000. You could potentially go a few hundred lower than that from a non-authorized dealer, but you would run the risk of getting a grey market camera, meaning no warranty coverage or eligibility for rebates. People who are talking crazy low prices like that.... well it's a steal alright.

Just don't trust it. There is quite a bit of information on this topic if you look around a bit, but the short of it is these types of companies basically bait you in with ridiculously low prices, and then they try to up sell you on ridiculously over-priced and useless accessories. Or, tell you thinks like the batter, and cables aren't included, but you can buy them for x hundred dollars, etc, etc, etc.

If you decline... the best case scenario is that they tell you the camera is no longer in stock and you can't get it.

Hope that helps some.
Jason

[DerrickTempleton]

yeah this issue is covered extensively here: http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=70059

"fairly reputable dealers"? Only stores with terrible reputations for being scam sites have it priced that low. Currently $5000 is the magic number.

[stevesherrick]

Kind of what I figured. When I say reputable, I should have clarified that the sites had favorable reviews from third party sites. Not that that is a benchmark by any means, but did raise an eyebrow.

Steve

[nitrofour]

you can get them on ebay legitimately for $4248

[dregenthal]

you can get them on ebay legitimately for $4248

Yeah, I noticed that too. There's a guy up there now offering them at about that but if you'll take the time to read his feedback you'll see that there were delivery issues with the two that he sold over the past month or so . . . there really ain't no such thing as a free lunch.

Good advice is always buy from someone that has been at it a while, has an actual store that you can walk in to, and has established a reputation.

[mikkowilson]

Kind of what I figured. When I say reputable, I should have clarified that the sites had favorable reviews from third party sites. Not that that is a benchmark by any means, but did raise an eyebrow.

Steve

Yeah, guess who runs these "3rd party sites"? Yup, the same scum of the earth. :angry:

- Mikko

[wgzn]

if you see an HVX anywhere for less than about $4700 - wonder SERIOUSLY. why it's that cheap. no authorized dealer can sell for that price - OR THEY ALL WOULD!!!

there are individuals who may be trying to unload a camera for financial reasons. but many of those may be selling a camera that was dropped or submerged (and dried)

ive said this before in other threads - and its still true. if you cant afford to pay fair market value for camera gear - you probably dont NEED it to begin with. and if you are dumb enough to buy from a "budget vendor" you should probably be seperated from your money simply as a matter of principal.

[Lwormack]

The catch is that those dealers you are referring to are not "reputable" as you would claim. It is impossible for anyone to sell a new HVX for that price and make a profit.

Check out reseller ratings.

The short of it, is find one of the authorized dealers. The cheapest price you can find an HVX from an authorized dealer is around 5,000. You could potentially go a few hundred lower than that from a non-authorized dealer, but you would run the risk of getting a grey market camera, meaning no warranty coverage or eligibility for rebates. People who are talking crazy low prices like that.... well it's a steal alright.

Just don't trust it. There is quite a bit of information on this topic if you look around a bit, but the short of it is these types of companies basically bait you in with ridiculously low prices, and then they try to up sell you on ridiculously over-priced and useless accessories. Or, tell you thinks like the batter, and cables aren't included, but you can buy them for x hundred dollars, etc, etc, etc.

If you decline... the best case scenario is that they tell you the camera is no longer in stock and you can't get it.

Hope that helps some.
Jason
Recently purchase the HVX200 for $5,300. I finally placed an order for a $3,500 package with lots of extras..including a tripod, camera bag, azden wireless microphone, and receiver, .5x and 1.5x accessory lenses and 150 watt Vidpro accessory light and battery. Not bad?

How did the price jump from $3,500 to almost $2,000 more, you ask. The vendor added a $600 fee to insure the camera during shipping. I obtained a 4 year warranty and better accessory lenses "they said"...the ones advertized were plastic lenses "they said". Bottom line, this added about $2,000 to the original price as advertised.

OK. I had to spend more..but.. what did I get "really". The Azden wireless receiver came with a short 1/8 stereo plug instead of a XLR adaptor. I can't use it without buying a converter. Accessory lenses: the wide-angle lense was OK. But the telephoto lense introduced vignetting fringes to the frame when videotaping close objects. I haven't found a workaround for this problem. The tripod was O.K. for static shots, but it was hard to obtain smooth transitions.
I'm now in the market for a better tripod and tripod head, tripod dolly, accessory bracket to hold lights and wireless mike receiver or other accessories. Still figuring it out.. One story not to be repeated..