Cheapest but good place to buy A1
- Thread starter roxics
- Start date
Chris Santucci
Veteran
B&H... ehm. I don't get it. Their prices really are not that great.
Check this:
http://cameras.pricegrabber.com/camcorders/m/26153931/
And check eBay. You probably won't find lower prices than there.
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cecil995
Well-known member
With B&H, your not shopping there for discout prices, you shopping for reliability and reputation.
Chris Santucci
Veteran
"Reliability" of what? They don't manufacture anything. You can certainly "rely" on them to be closed more often (than other places) for Jewish holidays...
And in terms of reputation, take a look at the "seller rating" of buydig.com compared to B&H on that Pricegrabber page.
Again, I don't get what the advantage is of buying stuff from B&H. I think there is some perceived high value attached to goods purchased from B&H and their service that is completely unwarranted. I've found buydig.com AND Beach Camera to be pretty stellar in terms of follow-through and thoroughness when it comes to orders. Even more so than B&H.
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Jim Duggins
Active member
Being closed on those Jewish holidays sucks--one of them is every Saturday! I mean, being closed on any holiday sucks, but it's worse for ones most people have never heard of and can't anticipate. It's ridiculous! Can't they just hire some gentiles to staff the store? And the website would run itself. Makes no sense to me in this day and age. All I know is I am constantly inconvenienced by their endless holy days. Who can afford to take that much time off?
:badputer:
And B&H is great until they screw up, then they try to stall on making it right, making you wait until it's too late to file for a refund on your credit card so they can wash their hands of you. They ALMOST got my buddy that way, but he filed in the nick of time after getting the runaround for months from their rotten, brain-dead online "customer service." They stiffed him on a light, so he got a refund from his credit card, then bought the missing light for his kit separately, then the damn light self-destucted a few shoots later and he had to send it back to the stupid manufacturer for repairs. Total B.S.
The only real reason to buy from B&H is they can generally be trusted to ship you your stuff and it won't be gray market crapola... Until they screw up, of course, then you're S.O.L.--unless you make an issue of it with your bank (slam-dunk) or raise hell on the forums they frequent and one of their reps takes notice (crapshoot). Of course, most orders will go off without a hitch, but they don't seem to care at all about their online customers. Maybe it's different in the store, or if you know one of the reps, but it shouldn't matter. Customer service is customer service!
:badputer:
And B&H is great until they screw up, then they try to stall on making it right, making you wait until it's too late to file for a refund on your credit card so they can wash their hands of you. They ALMOST got my buddy that way, but he filed in the nick of time after getting the runaround for months from their rotten, brain-dead online "customer service." They stiffed him on a light, so he got a refund from his credit card, then bought the missing light for his kit separately, then the damn light self-destucted a few shoots later and he had to send it back to the stupid manufacturer for repairs. Total B.S.
The only real reason to buy from B&H is they can generally be trusted to ship you your stuff and it won't be gray market crapola... Until they screw up, of course, then you're S.O.L.--unless you make an issue of it with your bank (slam-dunk) or raise hell on the forums they frequent and one of their reps takes notice (crapshoot). Of course, most orders will go off without a hitch, but they don't seem to care at all about their online customers. Maybe it's different in the store, or if you know one of the reps, but it shouldn't matter. Customer service is customer service!
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cecil995
Well-known member
like it was stated, with b&h you know that you are getting a genuine from the factory camera. I don't know about you, but I would rather invest my hard-earned money in a place where I actually know where it is (and I don't think that anyone can really argue that their store is not impressive). Buydig is known for selling gray market equipment, which has been well documented on this site.
The holiday closings are a pain, but what can ya do....they are jewish after all so it makes sense.
P.s. Sorry that this thread got off target.
Scott F
Pug Life
Ha ha, Santucci & Duggins raise some good points.
Regardless, I'm a creature of habit. B&H online ordering has never done me wrong. Their shipping time is ridiculously fast. I need to pick up this camera like yesterday, will probably go with B&H.
Does anyone think they'd give me a price break if I ordered two? (I would guess NO, but just asking)
Regardless, I'm a creature of habit. B&H online ordering has never done me wrong. Their shipping time is ridiculously fast. I need to pick up this camera like yesterday, will probably go with B&H.
Does anyone think they'd give me a price break if I ordered two? (I would guess NO, but just asking)
It's interesting to consider the advantage of buying grey market vs. the real thing:
1) The manufacturer's warranty.
This is always the big point in favor of buying from authorized dealers. But I wonder if people are actually aware of that the warranty is actually a limited one that does not cover accidental damage, here is a direct quote from Canon:
"
This Limited Warranty covers all defects encountered in normal use of the DV Camcorder, and does not apply in the following cases:
Now most people get their camera with all the accessories in good conditions if they buy from a respectable dealer (not Brooklyn scammers). And I'm assuming you're going to be protecting your $3500 investment like it's your newborn child, so the chance of technical malfunction is rare. Most people, I think, will never have to invoke their warranty.
2) Rebates Offer
This definitely depends on how good the rebate is. Something like the old HVX debate where you actually get a free 8gb P2 card is very attractive and makes it harder to justify buying grey market. But usually a cash back rebate, like the $250 one going on now for the A1, is more easily compensated for by simply lowering the price and offering an instant saving. Keep in mind that a rebate takes a long time, and sometimes you need that money in your pocket now instead of 6-8 weeks from now. So it might be worth it to you to go grey market, assuming that it's a reputable dealer with good customer service.
Bottom line is that I think if you do your research and pick a reputable dealer (that just had to be mentioned over and over), there are bargains out there to be had with grey market goods. This taboo over buying grey market stuff is overrated.
1) The manufacturer's warranty.
This is always the big point in favor of buying from authorized dealers. But I wonder if people are actually aware of that the warranty is actually a limited one that does not cover accidental damage, here is a direct quote from Canon:
"
This Limited Warranty covers all defects encountered in normal use of the DV Camcorder, and does not apply in the following cases:
- Loss of or damage to the DV Camcorder due to abuse, mishandling, improper packaging by you, alteration, accident, leaking batteries, exterior nicks, scratches or dents, electrical current fluctuations, failure to follow operating instructions, maintenance and environmental instructions prescribed in CUSA's instructional manual, or service performed by other than a CUSA Center or Service Facility."
Now most people get their camera with all the accessories in good conditions if they buy from a respectable dealer (not Brooklyn scammers). And I'm assuming you're going to be protecting your $3500 investment like it's your newborn child, so the chance of technical malfunction is rare. Most people, I think, will never have to invoke their warranty.
2) Rebates Offer
This definitely depends on how good the rebate is. Something like the old HVX debate where you actually get a free 8gb P2 card is very attractive and makes it harder to justify buying grey market. But usually a cash back rebate, like the $250 one going on now for the A1, is more easily compensated for by simply lowering the price and offering an instant saving. Keep in mind that a rebate takes a long time, and sometimes you need that money in your pocket now instead of 6-8 weeks from now. So it might be worth it to you to go grey market, assuming that it's a reputable dealer with good customer service.
Bottom line is that I think if you do your research and pick a reputable dealer (that just had to be mentioned over and over), there are bargains out there to be had with grey market goods. This taboo over buying grey market stuff is overrated.
Chris Santucci
Veteran
I don't know about you, and whoever is complaining about grey market stuff, but I have yet to buy a camera from B&H and in fact have purchased 3 A1's from buydig.com/Beach Camera (same thing) in the past 9 months that we're ALL of what I would have gotten from any other dealer.
I'm starting to sound like I work for them, which I don't, but when the guy asks for options to B&H, I can't help but question the cult-like following that B&H has.
I regularly spend money on gear and can't recall ever getting any grey market goods from Beach Camera or buydig.com going all the way back to my first DV camera purchase like 8 years ago. In fact... let's see... I've made 6 Canon camera purchases from Beach/buydig in the past 8 years with no issues whatsoever. None.
cecil995
Well-known member
Well I am glad that you have had good experiences with buydig. I did look at their price for the a1 and it was right around most other places that I saw online (3,300-3,500).
Believe me, I have no devotion to B&H. I have bought from many other places as well. I know some people that have had some billing issues with them. I have been to their store on many occiasions and have seen their operations so that is the main reason I prefer them, plus their shipping is great.
Believe me, I have no devotion to B&H. I have bought from many other places as well. I know some people that have had some billing issues with them. I have been to their store on many occiasions and have seen their operations so that is the main reason I prefer them, plus their shipping is great.