Stu Siegal
01-05-2007, 11:43 AM
Right after Christmas, called around on an A1, an HV10, as well as a new bogen head, some small misc. gear, and a Kona card & box, figured I'd save people some effort and let them know what I found. I explained to everyone that I'd be ordering in a day or two, before the end of the year, for tax purposes, so time counted.
B&H
GRADE: A
As many know, B&H is highly trustworthy, but informed advice can be hard to come by there. Not so this time. Every associate I talked to in cameras, audio and lighting knew their stuff, and took time to talk, and not only on big ticket items. And I was in there for 2 plus hours on the last two shopping days before Christmas, and it was a zoo. Best overall price on the hv10, $950 plus free shipping, every other dealer I talked to said to just buy it from B&H, no one will beat them due to the volume of units they move. I did, shipped the same day I ordered on line.
EVS
GRADE: F
My phone contact, Derek, I think (notes illegible), took all my info, incl. mailing address, said he'd call back, then never called back. Late the next day some other sales person called, I could barely hear him over the background din, and he quoted me $3,999 for the A1 and said he didn't even have them in stock.
ZGC
GRADE: B+
Got Christine right on the phone, her price on the cam was $3599, which was not the best, but was close. She admitted B&H had the best price on the consumer hv10, was very nice, and didn't waste either of my time. She was honest and competitive.
CALUMET
GRADE:F
Gave them a try as I know they are big Canon dealers, price was $3999, no negotiating.
ADORAMA:
GRADE: C
Same as above, no negotiating, high price, but at least it was a quick exchange. I did buy a Lenmar plate from them, and that went smoothly, thus the C.
ABEL CINETECH: F
Closed for days after the holidays, no response to voice message left when they reopened, I called them again anyway once they reopened, and after being on hold forever and hanging up and then calling back, finally got through. Price was $3999, and I can't recall, but I don't even think NY had one in stock. Sales guy was pretty brusque, 2 minute conversation.
FULL COMPASS
GRADE: F
Never got through. Sat on hold twice for 5+ minutes, hung up both times, figured there was no way I'd buy from them; if they were that hard to reach for a sale, imagine if there was a problem.
PROMAX:
GRADE: B+
They didn't have the A1, but they were so helpful with info on the Kona card & box that I wish they did. Unfortunately, their quote on the card was high, but if I couldn't find a dealer that sold both, I'd happily have bought the card from them, as they probably would have negotiated and been competitive. Nice people.
ZOTZ:
GRADE: D-
Wow, what an odd experience. Even after two e-mail exchanges and a 20+ min. conversation, I still have not received a quote on anything.
Still, Brian, the owner, did spend a long time on the phone, so they made some effort, but nearly all of his advice ran counter to everything I've read about monitoring on nearly every forum. He was happy to talk for quite a while, but he tried to convince me to sell my my dell computer monitors and buy a samsung and use that to cc, or cc from a marshall on cam monitor, and kept trying to talk me out of the Kona card. Very odd. Despite telling him what I wanted a quote on and that I was buying within 24 hours, never got a quote.
ROSCOR/DISCOUNT VIDEO WAREHOUSE
GRADE: A+
Great experience, best price, best customer service. In the past, I'd never paid them much attention, as the DVW trade ads always look like a grey market shop, but they aren't. Now, I'm a complete convert. They had everything I needed, had the best price on everything other than the hv10 (by far on the Kona), $3538 for the A1, and the follow up has thus far been awesome. Cam arrived sooner than promised, not grey market, shipping was cheap and was upgraded to second day Fedex without my even asking, and the sales guy, Lee Drady, was excellent. He actually picked up the phone to call me and ask if I wanted my partial order shipped (no extra shipping), and then got it out that day. For pro stuff, these are my new go to guys.
Note: I didn't try coffee's seller, one stop ( I think) because I was willing to pay a little more ($38) for the comfort level of what I learned to be a highly rated reseller, as I rely on this cam to make my living. I'm glad he had a positive experience though.
B&H
GRADE: A
As many know, B&H is highly trustworthy, but informed advice can be hard to come by there. Not so this time. Every associate I talked to in cameras, audio and lighting knew their stuff, and took time to talk, and not only on big ticket items. And I was in there for 2 plus hours on the last two shopping days before Christmas, and it was a zoo. Best overall price on the hv10, $950 plus free shipping, every other dealer I talked to said to just buy it from B&H, no one will beat them due to the volume of units they move. I did, shipped the same day I ordered on line.
EVS
GRADE: F
My phone contact, Derek, I think (notes illegible), took all my info, incl. mailing address, said he'd call back, then never called back. Late the next day some other sales person called, I could barely hear him over the background din, and he quoted me $3,999 for the A1 and said he didn't even have them in stock.
ZGC
GRADE: B+
Got Christine right on the phone, her price on the cam was $3599, which was not the best, but was close. She admitted B&H had the best price on the consumer hv10, was very nice, and didn't waste either of my time. She was honest and competitive.
CALUMET
GRADE:F
Gave them a try as I know they are big Canon dealers, price was $3999, no negotiating.
ADORAMA:
GRADE: C
Same as above, no negotiating, high price, but at least it was a quick exchange. I did buy a Lenmar plate from them, and that went smoothly, thus the C.
ABEL CINETECH: F
Closed for days after the holidays, no response to voice message left when they reopened, I called them again anyway once they reopened, and after being on hold forever and hanging up and then calling back, finally got through. Price was $3999, and I can't recall, but I don't even think NY had one in stock. Sales guy was pretty brusque, 2 minute conversation.
FULL COMPASS
GRADE: F
Never got through. Sat on hold twice for 5+ minutes, hung up both times, figured there was no way I'd buy from them; if they were that hard to reach for a sale, imagine if there was a problem.
PROMAX:
GRADE: B+
They didn't have the A1, but they were so helpful with info on the Kona card & box that I wish they did. Unfortunately, their quote on the card was high, but if I couldn't find a dealer that sold both, I'd happily have bought the card from them, as they probably would have negotiated and been competitive. Nice people.
ZOTZ:
GRADE: D-
Wow, what an odd experience. Even after two e-mail exchanges and a 20+ min. conversation, I still have not received a quote on anything.
Still, Brian, the owner, did spend a long time on the phone, so they made some effort, but nearly all of his advice ran counter to everything I've read about monitoring on nearly every forum. He was happy to talk for quite a while, but he tried to convince me to sell my my dell computer monitors and buy a samsung and use that to cc, or cc from a marshall on cam monitor, and kept trying to talk me out of the Kona card. Very odd. Despite telling him what I wanted a quote on and that I was buying within 24 hours, never got a quote.
ROSCOR/DISCOUNT VIDEO WAREHOUSE
GRADE: A+
Great experience, best price, best customer service. In the past, I'd never paid them much attention, as the DVW trade ads always look like a grey market shop, but they aren't. Now, I'm a complete convert. They had everything I needed, had the best price on everything other than the hv10 (by far on the Kona), $3538 for the A1, and the follow up has thus far been awesome. Cam arrived sooner than promised, not grey market, shipping was cheap and was upgraded to second day Fedex without my even asking, and the sales guy, Lee Drady, was excellent. He actually picked up the phone to call me and ask if I wanted my partial order shipped (no extra shipping), and then got it out that day. For pro stuff, these are my new go to guys.
Note: I didn't try coffee's seller, one stop ( I think) because I was willing to pay a little more ($38) for the comfort level of what I learned to be a highly rated reseller, as I rely on this cam to make my living. I'm glad he had a positive experience though.