A Rant about HVX 200 Camera Sales

[Arrow]

Is it that the truth is out there and we do not recognize it?

Or is it the there is so much pontificating, preaching and postulating about cameras as to where to buy that we miss the small things.

I was recently on the Final Cut User Group LA site and went to their store, checked out there hardware and found the HVX 200 at a very good price, part of the sale supports the User Group (Great Organization)

Just checked the Authorized Dealers Thread on this site and found a post from Jan that specifically states that it is a Gray Market Camera.

Is this an honest mistake, or is it this part of what I feel is going on in all quarters of industry right now.

Your opinions would be appreciated without the pontificating, preaching and postulating.

Thanks in advance

 

[HorseFilms]

There are a TON of dealers who sell gray market electronics. You have to look around to find authorized dealers.

 

[Barry_Green]

There are lots of dealers who carry gray market goods. Some are good dealers who sell unauthorized product, and some are lying scamming thieves. I would expect that the FCPLAUG to fall into the former category.

A third option is a group that is not authorized to sell a product, but sells authorized product anyway. They buy it from some authorized dealer under-the-table and under-Panasonic's-radar, and then they resell it. I believe Newegg was offering authorized DVX100Bs for a while, even though they're not an authorized dealer.

There's a mix 'n' match set of facts you have to consider, which basically consist of:
1) an authorized US product or not, and
2) an authorized dealer or not, and
3) whether the dealer is a deceptive lying scamming bait 'n' switch shop.

It's possible to find just about any combination, such as a deceptive lying scamming bait 'n' switch shop which just happens to have authorized US product on their shelves (unlikely, but possible) or an authorized dealer selling gray market goods (unlikely, as they could lose their dealership's authorized status, but it has happened) or a good but unauthorized dealer selling authorized goods, or a good (but unauthorized) dealer selling gray-market goods. It's all possible.

If you're getting an authorized unit (whether from an authorized dealer or not) then you'll have a US warranty and be eligible for any rebates.

If you get a gray-market unit, you won't have any warranty and won't be eligible for any rebates.

An authorized dealer is contractually bound to offer authorized units and only authorized units. If they deviate, they could lose their dealership, and you have an awfully big hammer over them to force them to comply (being that you can bring Panasonic into the fray and use them on your side).

An unauthorized dealer is under no contractual obligation to do anything for you. You're on your own with that. You have to decide what you're comfortable with, and whether you feel they're telling you the whole story, and whether you trust them, and if you're comfortable buying gray-market goods.

And if you're dealing with option 3) (the lying scamming bait 'n' switch shop) then they'll tell you whatever you want to hear, but you cannot believe a word of it. And if you continue to deal with them, you get what you get.