Where to buy the HVX: a small guide.

Jan I think this would be a service well appreciated by your customers. None of us wants to be scammed. If this service did exist it would make a lot of us sleep better at night instead of finding out after its too late.

I am in Utah, they (AVS), in San Diego. I do have friends there that could call me with camera in hand and give me the serial # off the camera to have it checked out (if this service exsisted). I would gladly be willing to pay Panasonic for the 10 seconds it would take them to key in the serial # and search to see if its legit. It's the exact same 10 second process they do to check it out when they receive the rebate application. It's called GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE, and is something they SHOULD WANT to give their customers.

I have decided on the HVX and physically have the $4702 right now (burning a hold in my pocket). But now I am scared sh!tless to think that an AUTHORIZED DEALER maybe selling grey market goods.

So, if I can't turn to Panasonic, who can I turn too? The only other option is to roll the dice and take the work of the dealer. If it turns out to be a grey market item, then what?

Sorry for venting Jan, nothing personel (you have been great). I just want a U.S. camera with a warranty.
 
They may be legit but his price is not. And since you are in Utah, why not buy from a local dealer. Or one of the other vendors that support this site.

Best,

Jan
 
I can't guarantee that AVS *only* sells legitimate cameras, but the one they sold to me on 2/14/07 apparently was.

After I received the camera, I filled out the rebate info online...a couple of days after, I decided to ask Jan about it. She told me that if a serial #/camera is invalid/ineligible for the warranty that the rebate process will deny you *at that time* while you are applying for the rebate. So, I assumed everything was fine.

For additional assurance, Pansonic themselves list AVS as an authorized reseller on Panasonic's website.

I paid $4775 + $30 s&h for my hvx-200...$4805 delivered.

Barry said on 4/6/07:

"If it's much under $5,000 then it's fake. Simple as that. If it's under $4800 it's absolutely unquestionably completely fake (or gray market or whatever). But there is no authorized dealer anywhere in the US selling at $4800 or less, that I know of. Cheapest I've ever seen from an authorized dealer is $4995."

That is apparently completely incorrect. Barry actually does us the great service of maintaining a list of authorized dealers. AVS is on there. On 2/23/07, I posted that I bought it from AVS for $4775. It's no secret that they have great prices.

1 - AVS sold me a legit camera. I hope they only sell legit stuff, but I obviously can't guarantee it.

2 - This website is supported by a few really great vendors. I highly encourage others to seriously consider them when purchasing equipment. I called for pricing from the top 5 or 6 vendors on this site. However, in my case I chose AVS because their price was MUCH better.

3 - *Someone* has to have the lowest price. If it's not EVS, Abel-Cine, Full Compass, Studio-Exchange, etc. then too bad. Just because AVS has great prices it doesn't mean that everyone should beat them up about it. Maybe they can buy them less expensively than the others can...maybe they have less overhead...who knows other than AVS themselves.

4 - Panasonic has chosen ACB Rebates to handle their rebates. ACB Rebates gave me the confirmation info when I applied for the rebate. So, if I ended up *not* getting the rebate due to a gray market camera, then that is not *my* problem, that would be *Panasonic's* problem. It's Panasonic's & ACB Rebate's responsibility to let the customer know when they are filling out the rebate application form if there is a problem...luckily for us, they *do* this...so, everything is cool.

5- As a final note, after 7 weeks of waiting, I called ACB Rebates an hour ago...she said that my free book and P2 card are actually shipping out tomorrow. What a coincidence that I called today.

So, I guess mine will be arriving while I'm at NAB.

Have a great day everyone, and I hope all of you have a wonderful buying (and support) experience from whichever vendor you choose.
 
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The last time I'd seen AVS list a price it was $4995. I didn't know they'd gone below that, I hadn't heard of any dealer offering less than $4995. If AVS is offering for US-authroized units for $4775, that's hundreds less than anyone else I know of.
 
I'm sure most places will sell for less than their advertised price. I forget who it was (and the exact numbers), but either Full Compass or Studio Exchange quoted me, say, $5200 or so (I honestly forget the exact number), but then about a week later someone on here posted that they either purchased or were quoted the same camera for $200 less.

I apologize that I don't remember which of the two companies it was, but the point is that even the MAIN companies that support this site are going to haggle on the price some.

My point isn't that AVS is less than $5000 and the others are more.

My point is that one of the company's offered somebody else a deal $200 less than what they offered me. That's just like a dang car dealer.

Pick a price. Stick to it. If you want to give a discount to someone who's buying multiple cameras, then fine...then that's a different issue...post the multiple discount info and stick to it.

I just don't get when someone picks on the low price vendor and then turns around and recommends *another* vendor that charges different prices for different people.

I'm not picking on Barry here...I just mean "people" in general.

Anyway, I'm just happy that there are so many vendor options...someone for everybody!
 
I called AVS earlier today and ask several specific/direct questions (do you sell grey markets cameras etc). They assured me that they are an authorized dealer for all the major brands and would not jeapordize their reputaion by selling grey market goods.

They are expecting a new batch of cameras (HVX's), any day now, and hoping to hear something from Panasonic on a new rebate. I know the price sounds too good to be true, but they sound pretty convincing. They will reserve a camera for me when the new shipment comes in and will call me as soon as the new rebate is anounced.


There are four people on this thread along that seems to be satisfied and scam free. To me those are pretty good odds.

One more thing. They also have the U.S. military as clients so I am willing to take my chances with them. Nothing in life is guareenteed, but I have a good feeling about them. And just as a precaution, I am getting ready to e-mail them the direct questions I ask earlier today on the phone. I will use their written response if something does go wrong (i.e. panasonic declines the rebate etc).
 
AVS is an authorized dealer. There are no worries there. Barry was just unaware that they had lowered their prices recently. 5k was the bottom price for authorized dealers selling the HVX until... well, now, I guess.

AVS = Authorized dealer

Jason
 
Buying my HVX200 at NAB + acessories

Buying my HVX200 at NAB + acessories

Dear Friends.

After 6 months of researching I finally decided to go with HVX200. (I was also considering a hd200).

Fortunatelly I raised the funds enough for going to NAB next week. But I was wondering if I can buy my HVX200 at NAB? I will buy Two units, actually.

Do you think I will find some good prices, or special offers within NAB or I will have to find some seller in Las Vegas City?
Could you suggest some sellers over there?

Another issue is that I will buy acessories, as well. Which do you think is basic for a perfect workflow to FCP (I have a Powerbook 13 Core 2 Duo, 2Gb RAM, 120 HDD):

- P2 cards + Store or FS100?
- Spare P2 (8GB?), How many?
- External HDD (maybe 250 GB)?
- Batteries (lithium-Ion)? Chargers?
- Marshall Monitor? Is there another cheaper?
- Matte Box (Chrosziel)? Other? Which Filters?
- Camera Stabilizer (Varizom or Manfroto)? Which is the best (also cheap) Model for HVX?
- Could I use instead a FIG RING? Which model?
- Tripod, Dolly, Crane (seriouslly!)? Which Models?
- Did I forget something?

I know that these are several questions, but I just changed my mind about the camera model, last week, so all my former research was wasted. I will have only 6 days to decide the new list till NAB!

I came from stage plays background (Writer, Director and Producer) now starting my first video production.

But I fortunatelly raised a small fund for producing a local TV Drama Series
(9 episodes). We (I am my team) have interest in multicamera + hand-camera techniques. But I am sure that we will have to use some dolly, crane, as well.

So if some of you guys, was kindly enough, to provide your personal set ups, whith models (maybe prices, as well) be sure that you will make a Indie Brazilian Newbie Happy!

Best Wishes

Luiz Roberto Meira
Brazilian Producer


* Sorry about some possible language mistakes!
 
Regarding AVS (& taking off my "vendor" hat for a second and putting on my "customer/business owner" hat) I wonder why a legit dealer trying to sustain a good level of service is choosing to lose money on a camera with such a popular demand?

The healthy level of skepticism in me can't help but be suspicious of this based off the laws of simple supply and demand. I'm not saying they are wrong for choosing to drop their price below dealer cost, but it just begs the question: "Why?"
 
I'm not sure your post is meant to imply they are getting better pricing than us or not. It's certainly something I've already considered.

1 - How much does AVS pay for each HVX-200?

I don't know for sure, but it will be based on how many cameras the dealer buys. At the best level pricing *any* authorized dealer can get, they are still asking less than that for the camera.


2 - How many do they sell per month?
The quantity they sell per month won't matter if they are using the camera as a loss leader. As far as I can gather, they are losing money on each HVX200 they sell.
I don't want to discredit your experience because it was obviously positive. I'm just asking a question to which I cannot figure out the logical answer.
 
AVS currently has the HVX200 listed at $5669. Anyone bought one from them recently for under $5000?
 
I bought my camera from Studio Exchange out of necessity. Although they have a pretty good price on the camera I would not suggest buying from them. They made several mistakes and at one point were extremely rude and there lack of good customer service meant delays that translated to me having to spend an additional $100+ to ship overnight in order to get the camera in time for the shoot I had scheduled.

Also the owner laughed at me when I mentioned the RED camera and was like all these guys are getting excited for no reason (mind you this is less than a month ago)... they dont' even have the camera..blah blah... you'd need a portable xserve to run this...blah blah well I think this experience has reaffirmed one thing...just because you are in the business doesn't mean you understand the direction it is going in. Conversely Apple recognized immediately what was going on has been in on this camera since the beginning stages; you can edit live with their new pro compression, etc...

The product arrived okay and the owner was apologetic but if you are looking for a knowledgable, organized, and friendly staff do not buy from them.
 
that completely goes against my experience (Excellent) from studio exchange, as well as others who bought from them listed in this thread.
 
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