Where is the Best place to buy HVX200

N

Newbie85

New member
Hey everyone, I am 100% ready to buy a HVX200 but have some concerns. I am seeing a wide range of prices..... is some shaddy dealings? Take a look at this:
http://www.shopcartusa.com/Product/...orders/Panasonic_AG-HVX200/PT_Y/?ic_campID=98

Some places are 5,500 with manufacture accessories, yet some are 4,500 with manufacture accessories. I don't know what to do. Does 5,500 B&H have something on 4,400 from photoconnection? Because I could really spend the 1,100 elsewhere. Please help me get the HVX200 and the standard manufacture accessories (battery, strap, cables, and so on) for less. Thanks. please help.
 
Most of these are gray market and yest something shady is going on. $5500 is about the going rate, $4400 is no warranty. Go to the Panaosnic wesite and do a search for dealers near you. You may find that they will meet B & H's price and you will have someone local on you team.

Best,

Jan
 
define "gray market"

is it the SAME camera and actually built by Panasonic?

I can live without a warranty to save a thousand bucks

or are these low cost cameras actually made with less quality or defective cameras that have been recycled?
 
Gray market means that the camera has been imported directly from Japan or purchased through another non-US dealer channel. The way it works is that each manufacturer has its US offices which import the gear and run marketing, service, support, etc for their respective product lines. You say that you would be satisfied with saving some money up front (and Jan, I think the gray marketers are commanding more than that $4400) until your camera goes down and you wonder what you will do next. Panasonic USA will not talk to you. So, you could spend lots of money getting it serviced, lose money and time sending it to Japan or maybe even have a totally defective unit with nobody standing behind it (it is rare, but any piece of electronics can be DOA). The point is professional gear demands professional support and the vendors give it to their pros.

Let's take an unrelated example. I had a PD150 go down several years ago while still under warranty. Since it was US and from Sony's pro division, I sent it to Atlanta and had it back in 3 days. If I had purchased the consumer VX2000, I would have waited weeks. If I had bought gray market, the repair would have cost me $500, thus eradicating any potential savings in up front $$$.

And, to pile it on, we kind of like having Jan around here. She is here because she works for Panasonic USA and is tasked with representing a particular segment of the product line. As generous a person as she might be, she likes to be paid for her work. She is paid because product sold through Panasonic USA generates income for her, the service people, regional reps, etc etc... all there to keep you running and gunning.

The fact is... you don't know what you are getting when you buy unauthorized. You might never have a problem. But then again...

Sorry for the long-winded tirade. We seem to go through this all-too-often on boards I moderate or boards I frequent and I just hit the boiling point.

BTW, Newbie85, one of the things always to consider in price is the relationship you build with a pro dealer.

Ned Soltz
 
Hey, Thanks! Most helpful. You are right about the buy domestic. That is def the way to go. I want that warranty!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top