buying the hvx200 - gray market for $4300; US for $5300; or b&h for $5900

[mtlo]

okay, i'm shopping the hvx200, and would love some help looking at these options:

1) i looked at prestige camera. the hvx200 is apparently in stock, but an import model, comes with a prestige camera warranty for $4300 or so. so dumb question, what's the risk of the gray market model? how likely is it that there's a problem, and does the seller's warranty reasonably moderate the risk?

2) zoommania offers a US model / warranty, in their "travel package" (includes some things like filters and case) for $5300. still better than b&h for $5900 and 4-6 weeks delivery.

3) b&h, which is trustworthy, but is $6000 and 4-6 weeks required for delivery.

i would prefer the US warranty, but $1000 less for the import model is very tempting. and likewise, why would there be a $700 difference between zoommania and b&h?

any thoughts?

thanks,

ming lo

[esperman]

stay away from Prestige camera.
Not sure about zoom mania.
Go with Specialized Communcations

http://www.spec-comm.com/hvx200.php

4-6 weeks also. 5399.00usd

[ullanta]

I dunno... with the 72mm filters from zoommania, you can at least use them as prop monocles for period pieces...

[mtlo]

thanks, esperman. just out of curiosity, do you know what kind of problems people have run into with a place like prestige camera or with gray market? i'm asking because i'm sure this will come up with future purchases of other products as well,

thanks,

ming

[Strongbad_2Z]

My personal experience with gray market stuff...AVOID THEM AT ALL COSTS...trust me. In the long run, that $1000 more you spent at B & H or whatnot is definitely worth it. They have better customer service, reputation, and if you have problems you'll actually get it resolved versus trying to call and call and get no results. Pay may, save more time and headache in the long run.

[Strongbad_2Z]

thanks, esperman. just out of curiosity, do you know what kind of problems people have run into with a place like prestige camera or with gray market? i'm asking because i'm sure this will come up with future purchases of other products as well,

thanks,

ming

Yes, if you want, try calling one up and place an order. 30-60 minutes later you'll find out. But the gist is "Yes we have that in stock...what? You don't want anything extra? Well, my computer updated and it seems that it's out of stock until who knows when...if you want it know, you'll have to buy this, and that, and oh yeah...this too." So, it actually isn't cheaper. If there's a sense of bitterness towards companies like prestige...that's because it's well deserved.

[esperman]

Yes, if you want, try calling one up and place an order. 30-60 minutes later you'll find out. But the gist is "Yes we have that in stock...what? You don't want anything extra? Well, my computer updated and it seems that it's out of stock until who knows when...if you want it know, you'll have to buy this, and that, and oh yeah...this too." So, it actually isn't cheaper. If there's a sense of bitterness towards companies like prestige...that's because it's well deserved.

exactly. plus no real warranty.
Stick to an authorized panny rep. Most of the places are waiting for panny for the next shipment...4-6 weeks is typical right now.

[steindj]

It's bait and switch, the perennial bait being the unrealistically low price. When I sold my DVX100 on Ebay, someone e-mailed me telling me that one of these gray shops had a new DVX for sale for $1,000, and why was I selling my used cam for more than that? I told him, hey, if you think you can get a new DVX for $1,000, go for it. Suffice to say I never heard back from him.:)

[mtlo]

thanks everyone. appreciate the input.

let's assume we skip prestige camera (gray market). now any thoughts on zoommania, that claims it's a US product with warranty, vs. b&h? zoommania is $5300, b&h is $5900. by the way, i called EVS in LA today and they were at $5650 or so, plus tax of $170 brought them up to close to B&H.

[Strongbad_2Z]

I dont' know much about Zoommania, but from what I looked at they seem to be pretty legit. I'd call them and talk to them...it's always the best thing to do. If you feel they are a good company (customer service, etc...) then go with them. When I tried to purchase a camera from a company that didn't have as high reputation as B & H and others, it wasn't the best experience. Their website and the representative with whom I talked to said that their camera was a U.S. model with U.S. warranty, and when I actually tried to place an order it was backordered and when asked when it would be in, the representative said that it would be 2-3 months because they came from Japan or something (don't remember because I was so steamed). So yeah, it really depends how much crap you want to put up with in the end.

[bluetuned]

zoommania has a rating on resellerratings.com that's a whopping 2.75 out of 10. some of the comments talk about bait and switch, so i'd think you ought to stay away.

[ullanta]

Dude - seriously - buy from an officially-sanctioned Panasonic dealer. Barry Green announced a reputable dealer recently selling for the same $5300, and actually had stock. Spec Comm is what, 5399 with USEFUL extras (battery, free shipping). Unknown places listing crap extras and useless extras (72mm filters) are likely not worth the trouble. They'll play games. They'll take your money and not ship a camera. They'll send you an open-box unit. They'll call two weeks after the order, see if you want to buy a Professional kit (crappy filters, cheesy bag, junky tripod worth $30) for $399, and if you don't, there'll be mysterious delays in delivery.

Really, check bizrate and such and see what people have to say about the place, then decide. But authorized dealers have similar prices now, and certainly $100 out of $5300 is worth it.

Except for the monocles. But you can buy the ones they give you for $5 each anyway...

[Barry_Green]

do you know what kind of problems people have run into with a place like prestige camera
Read this:
http://www.resellerratings.com/seller1995.html

Skip past all the newly-added fake positives and get to the real meat to see how this place (actually many names, all the same place) does business.

[Strongbad_2Z]

Exactly my point!

[steindj]

Skip past all the newly-added fake positives

That's the other point that needs to be driven home. Quite a few of these scam places have their employees posting rave reviews of themselves!!

[pmark23]

Don't confuse gray-market with rip-off artists selling stripped-down packages (making their money back selling you accessories that are included with the camera everywhere else.)

Gray-market is simply a camera imported from another country where prices, taxes, and duties are lower.

My camera is gray-market, AND I have a full warranty from Panasonic.

[David Saraceno]

Buy from a Panasonic authorized dealer.

You don't save by risking one of the largest professional purchases you will make.

[Barry_Green]

My camera is gray-market, AND I have a full warranty from Panasonic.
But not in the USA. Gray market goods are imported from outside the US, so they're covered by warranty only in the country they came from. You'd have to ship it back to the country of origin if you wanted warranty service.

[WestEnd]

I ran across a place that openly states the camera is imported, but they are including a MACK warranty free of charge so you dont' have to ship it overseas for repair

[psts]

I ran across a place that openly states the camera is imported, but they are including a MACK warranty free of charge so you dont' have to ship it overseas for repair

Mack warranties require much patience. It can and will take weeks at best (and I mean like 5 or 6 at best) until they look at your camera. It will get done though eventually. I guess if you can get on without your camera for a while- theyr'e not bad.

[TimeKoder13]

Barry Green announced a reputable dealer recently selling for the same $5300, and actually had stock.

Link please. I just wanna see what other stuff they have for cheap. Looking for a few knock around cams, probably GL2s. My HVX purchase is a good 6 months away, unles XYZ happens like now. And why did this guy in Jersey tell me that the 100As on his site were $500 more than 100Bs because of their (100As) being discontinued? It is a reversal of the laws of supply and demand but shouldn't the newer tech be more expensive.

[Barry_Green]

www.lerro.com

[Gopher_Greene]

They just sold out 10 minutes ago.

[aedude01]

Missed it here by 2hrs. Damn.

[pmark23]

But not in the USA. Gray market goods are imported from outside the US, so they're covered by warranty only in the country they came from. You'd have to ship it back to the country of origin if you wanted warranty service.

That's right -- an important point to remember if you're worried you camera is going to break (personally, I've never had a camera break **knocks wood**.)

Here (butt-hole of the world) manufacturers are responsible for their own products no matter where they were purchased. The only stipulation is that you have to have paid local taxes on it (which you have to anyway), and it has to be new (warranty-card in the box). But the government here is very socialist -- consumers have all the rights.