Are these guys legit? HVX200 for sale

As a former Assistant AG in fair practices and consumer protection, I find it so hard to understand how these companies can stay in business.

I wonder if it is a federal issue and the feds don't want to pursue it.

But bait and switch, etc. are clear violations and the internet is full of examples.
 
Snide comments aside, I'm in film school. I NEED an HVX200. (Film student translates to: no $5000, and no way to get a loan on top of tuition loans) I've saved $2100, and was wondering if anyone knows of a student program, or help for film students, or any way to get one less than $3000? I don't need a P2 card or warranty or anything either, just the cam is fine.
 
Even used HVX200s cost atleast $3500.00.

BHPhoto has some educational discount, but it's in the high four thousands.

No new cam will run $2100.00.

Not even a used one.

Don't through good money after bad money.
 
There is no such thing as a new HVX for under around $5,000. If someone claims to have one for $4,000 or less, they are liars or it's stolen. Pure and simple. No other alternatives exist.
 
New? Who said new?

New? Who said new?

I don't care if it's new or not. I don't care if it has a card or a case, or tapes or warranty. I want a camera I can use. I'm trying to work with my school right now to see if I can get one of theirs at cost, or maybe ebay one, but I have to have one. I have to start getting an HD demo reel together, and HDV BLOWS.
 
How do you intend to shoot HD with cards?

Borrow a card?

As BHPhoto - I've seen posts here where people claim to have gotten an education discount.

Whether that is true or not I don't know
 
The school has cards, batteries, everything. I just can't check out the camera iteself until I've had the advanced HD class that 'teaches' me how to use it, and besides, the hours they expect you to use the cameras is unrealistic to say the least: after 4p.m. - 7a.m. How am I supposed to get any work done like that?
 
On a side note, I reported best price cameras to the Federal Trade Commission. This was their response.

"Thank you for contacting the Federal Trade Commission. We entered the information you provided into our shared law enforcement data base. We share this data base with Federal, State and Local law enforcement agencies. Attached is your electronic response, which includes your reference number. Any enclosures can be found at www.ftc.gov under Consumer Protection and Consumer Information section.
Information from consumers like you helps Federal, State and Local authorities investigate possible illegal practices and enforce our laws. Someone from the Federal Trade Commission or another law enforcement agency may contact you if they need additional information to help them in an investigation.
Please visit the FTC's web page, www.ftc.gov "

I urge anyone who was ripped off or knows anyone who was ripped off to report them as well. The more people complain, the more flags will go up.
 
David S. said:
And the good responses are usually plants.

Not the kind with leaves.
Click to expand...
You mean like these from Best Price Cameras and 42nd Street Photo reviews? The former appears on BPC's website, and the latter is a review on NexTag. Different 'reviewers', different products, but the same sentences...
 

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So even these guys selling on ebay are crooks?
http://photography.search.ebay.com/...trksidZm37QQcatrefZC12QQfromZR40QQsacatZ23781

The listings with the HVX box in the picture, that company has 11,000+ auctions, 99.3% positive feedback. Are they all fake feedbacks? If you search their feedbacks for HVX200, you will find dozens of happy buyers. Yet they sell the HVX200 for less than $4k.

I am not defending them. I was just considering buying from them or one of the other sellers that *seem* to have enough positive feedbacks to appear legitamate.

Please don't blast me. I'm just asking what you make of it.

Thank you,

chris
 
tangent said:
So even these guys selling on ebay are crooks?
http://photography.search.ebay.com/...trksidZm37QQcatrefZC12QQfromZR40QQsacatZ23781

The listings with the HVX box in the picture, that company has 11,000+ auctions, 99.3% positive feedback. Are they all fake feedbacks? If you search their feedbacks for HVX200, you will find dozens of happy buyers. Yet they sell the HVX200 for less than $4k.
Click to expand...

The answer is yes, and no. They are a step above your Crooklyn dealers, but they are definitely NOT authorized dealers. Meaning you're not going to get the 16GB P2 card in the box, and you're not going to have a smooth transaction with them. Order from them and they WILL make you call and "confirm" your order, at which point they will try to sell you "upgrades" that you don't need or overcharge you for shipping. How do I know this? I purchased my first camera (an FX1) from one of these ebay dealers. Was quoted a shipping cost of $175, and I had to spend literally half an hour on the phone with a guy trying hard to upgrade me to the "made in Japan" model of the camera for an extra $200. I gave in, and I got my camera promptly, but I didn't really save any money, and I was stuck wondering if I even have a warranty on the camera. All the extra accessories were junk that I would never use, and in retrospect it would have been easier to just buy from a place like B&H, where they don't give you BS.

So to answer your question: the feedbacks aren't fake. They're just from people who don't know better.
 
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