Authorized Dealers - Where to buy

Re: Authorized Dealers - Where to buy

[quote author=Barry_Green link=board=nws;num=1091645002;start=0#0 date=08/04/04 at 11:43:22]As of 8/1/04, the following are AUTHORIZED PANASONIC DEALERS in the US:

B&H
http://www.bhphoto.com

EVS
http://www.evsonline.com

PROMAX
http://www.promax.com

STUDIO EXCHANGE
http://www.studio-exchange.com

WILLOUGHBYS
http://www.willoughbys.com



As of 8/1/04, the following are NOT AUTHORIZED DEALERS:
Profeel
Buydig
A&M Photo World
Broadway Photo
Digital Liquidators
5 Stars Electronics

For U.S. customers, buying from an authorized dealer ensures that you will get the full manufacturer's warranty, as well as the free "Magic Bullet For Editors" software.

[/quote]

Looks like Whilloghby's has the cheapest price at $3300 (3500 at BH)
plus $44 shipping. $200 less than EVS and BH. I have heard very good things about BHPhoto and EVS (I used BHPhoto before).
 
Re: Authorized Dealers - Where to buy

[quote author=watson link=board=nws;num=1091645002;start=15#15 date=08/06/04 at 18:11:57]is beach camera an panny dealer?  I'm looking at either beach camera or Willoughbys, both have the camera for about the same price. any help would be great. [/quote]

Go to Willoughby's, they are authorized.

Jan
 
Re: Authorized Dealers - Where to buy

Jan_Crittenden, thanks for your input. i plan on ordering my camera either today or tomorrow and i'm going to buy from Willoughby's. I think its great that you spend time on this forum. It make me feel better knowing if i have any issues i can get in touch with a panasonic rep.
 
Re: Authorized Dealers - Where to buy

alright so i just called up Willoughby's to try and order my camera. First they tell me they have it in stock, then when i go to order it they tell me they only have "kit #2" in stock but would see if they could spilt it up. When the sales guy came back he said he could sell just the camera but only with an extended warrenty. Does this sound right or is this going to be one of those deals where they wont sell the camera until i buy an extended warrenty or bunch of other stuff? THe sales guy told me they would be getting more in next week.

i think i'm going to call ProMAX and see what they are all about.
 
Re: Authorized Dealers - Where to buy

[quote author=watson link=board=nws;num=1091645002;start=15#24 date=08/11/04 at 09:24:03]... the sales guy came back he said he could sell just the camera but only with an extended warrenty. Does this sound right or is this going to be one of those deals where they wont sell the camera until i buy an extended warrenty or bunch of other stuff? THe sales guy told me they would be getting more in next week...
]

Typical NY camera store crap. Some dealers are 50% honest--meaning that they only scam half their customers. Stick with an authorized dealer that has a great reputation and you'll be happier.
 
Re: Authorized Dealers - Where to buy

That's the thing about Willoughby's... they ARE authorized, but they sure seem like they engage in the same crap the unauthorized dealers do.

Jan, has Panasonic considered reviewing Willoughby's to make sure they're happy with the sales practices? I have no experience with them, but from other user reports as well as perusing their website, I'd have no problem recommending someone go to EVS or ProMax instead of Willoughby's.
 
Re: Authorized Dealers - Where to buy

I am almost embarrased that Willoughbys is authorized..
 
Re: Authorized Dealers - Where to buy

[quote author=watson link=board=nws;num=1091645002;start=15#24 date=08/11/04 at 09:24:03]then when i go to order it they tell me they only have "kit #2" in stock but would see if they could spilt it up. When the sales guy came back he said he could sell just the camera but only with an extended warrenty. [/quote]

I think what is happening here is that Willoughby's bought some cameras, some in a kit configuration and some not. They are out of the plain cameras. If they break up the kit, which isn't that hard to do as they are not in the same box, they then have a soft bag and the other accessories that nobody calls in for. This leaves them with pretty much dead inventory. They probably figured by offering the extended warranty that they could float the cost of the accessories until such time that the stuff sold as a kit, maybe a month or so down the road.

He isn't trying to scam you, he's just running a business.

Promax is authorized, so is EVS, he even offered a smiley above. you might give them a chance as well.

Hope this helps, Willoughby's is a good business place. This just sounds odd, I know.

Hope this helps,

Jan
 
Re: Authorized Dealers - Where to buy

Pooh wrote:
We also got major warranty work done-I don't know how to describe the problem, but it was major. ( gyro-something

What I want everyone to realize is that about 3 months ago, our policies in the US changed. We will be checking serial numbers that are for the US only, some might slip through and others, probably most, will not.

The reason for the change is the rate of warranty repairs was outpacing the national average and we found that we were fixing about an equal number of gray market product vs. the cameras for which we are responsible. Since we are not reimbursed by the factory for warranty service but rather have to support service by the sales of product, we had to start to figure out a way for customers to recognize a gray market product from a US product. Thus the Magic Bullet idea.

Things have changed since you bought your camera Pooh, so those that have read Pooh's words and found solice in them, please recognize that the rules have changed. Buydig is not an authorized source of supply. And yes if you choose to buy from them you should also buy their warranty as you will not have one when you show up at the Panasonic Warranty repair facility.

Hope this helps,

Jan
 
Re: Authorized Dealers - Where to buy

Jan,

Thanks for the helpful insights into Willoughby's and the Panasonic warranty situation. Unfortunately, there are so many dishonest NY dealers pulling "kit scams" that the Willoughby's story sounded the same. What you described is reasonable, if that's the case. So giving them the benefit of the doubt, they should actually get more non-kit cameras in and sell at the advertised price. It wasn't clear until your post that Panasonic actually distributes DVX100's in kit form.
 
Re: Authorized Dealers - Where to buy

If you go to ResellerRatings.com, you will see that Willoughby's has a full 10 rating. EVS is the only other reseller of those mentioned with a 10. Even B&H has only an 8.55/8.84 (last 6 months/lifetime).
 
Re: Authorized Dealers - Where to buy

Re: Where to Buy

Following much research, and actual filming w/ a PD150, etc. I finally purchased a DVX100A a month ago from Buydiig. A phenominal DVR.

As the assembled are likely aware, The Video Bullet software offer came up on the Panasonic Web Site ~ 1 July, and I thought I was out of luck as the postings here reflected that BuyDig is not an "Authorized" dealer, despite their insistance that they are.

Well, equipped with the info from the forum, I called to see if BuyDig Customer Service would send me a copy of the software. Long story short, Today it arrived, FEDEX and at no charge.

So, if Buy Dig is not "Authorized", they sure act like they are, up to the supplying of the software. I have to say they have the best Customer Support I have experienced in the longest time. Oh by the way, The price was highly competative also, despite the overpriced CGP-D28 battery.

This is not to diminish the excellence of B&H also.

Thanks for the exceptional clarity this forum allows.

In focus
jwl
 
Re: Authorized Dealers - Where to buy

[quote author=Jan_Crittenden link=board=nws;num=1091645002;start=30#30 date=08/12/04 at 05:13:24]
The reason for the change is the rate of warranty repairs was outpacing the national average and we found that we were fixing about an equal number of gray market product vs. the cameras for which we are responsible.  Since we are not reimbursed by the factory for warranty service but rather have to support service by the sales of product, we had to start to figure out a way for customers to recognize a gray market product from a US product.  Thus the Magic Bullet idea.

Things have changed since you bought your camera Pooh, so those that have read Pooh's words and found solice in them, please recognize that the rules have changed.  Buydig is not an authorized source of supply.  And yes if you choose to buy from them you should also buy their warranty as you will not have one when you show up at the Panasonic Warranty repair facility.
[/quote]

Jan-
That's very interesting. I know this is lame, but isn't Panasonic somewhat "responsible" for all the cameras it makes? Or are you saying that you have some that aren't quite up to par??

The camera that needed the major work was purchased from Armatos, actually. I'm sure they had nothing to do with the problem, but just to clarify..

(sorry, this is just a small beef about the fact that all our Panasonic DVX cameras have had to be serviced in less than a year...these are DVX100.)

I'm not being defensive about buydig or the camera we bought from them at all. I do appreciated your input. I would not want anyone to run into a scam or bad purchase experience, or have a WARRANTY repair need and be SOL. Thus good information is important.  I will say tho, ASFAIK, I have a US Warranty for all the cameras, buydig, Armatos, etc. At least that is what I was told over the phone by both and that is what the paper materials that came with BOTH claim. Paperwork is exactly the same. And ASFAIK, both are registered now as US warranty cameras.

I have also once tried buying from a totally different retailer whose name I won't mention, but the experience was horrifying. Good luck all, there are plenty of good businesses that deserve your patronage.
 
Re: Authorized Dealers - Where to buy

Hey ! we're feeling left out here....Barry, please enclose us on your list of REAL dealers......Birns and Sawyer.....and we have been the low priced guys in town....since February of last year......and we also make alot of accessories for the DVX, XL1-XL2, Sonys, etc.......our site is www.birnsandsawyer.com
..........Jim Martin
 
Re: Authorized Dealers - Where to buy

Hi Jim! Didn't mean to leave you off the list, I was just posting all the ones I could think of off the top of my head. Anyone else with the names of authorized dealers, feel free to send 'em in.

I've added Birns & Sawyer to the list!
 
Re: Authorized Dealers - Where to buy

What are the specifications of the full manufacturers warranty
 
Re: Authorized Dealers - Where to buy

Barry, so you're saying that Pansonic only has to honor their warrenty if you buy a Panasonic product from one of five stores in the US? LOL, what if I buy a panasonic camcorder from Sears? I'd like to talk to a lawyer about this "authorized dealer" crap. Like I've said before, the general public doesn't know anything about "authorized" anything. They look at the box, it says 1 year warrenty, and they buy it (and they don't care where they buy it). I've never had any company reject my warrenty because of where I bought it... and if they did, I'd take them to court. I think this whole "authorized dealer" BS is a marketing scare tactic to make certain websites more money.

[quote author=JIM MARTIN link=board=nws;num=1091645002;start=30#34 date=08/12/04 at 17:07:13]Hey ! we're feeling left out here....Barry, please enclose us on your list of REAL dealers......Birns and Sawyer.....and we have been the low priced guys in town....since February of last year......and we also make alot of accessories for the DVX, XL1-XL2, Sonys, etc.......our site is www.birnsandsawyer.com
..........Jim Martin[/quote]
Hey, you share the name of Faith No More's first guitarist  ;)

[quote author=Barry_Green link=board=nws;num=1091645002;start=30#35 date=08/12/04 at 18:59:14]Hi Jim!  Didn't mean to leave you off the list, I was just posting all the ones I could think of off the top of my head.  Anyone else with the names of authorized dealers, feel free to send 'em in.

I've added Birns & Sawyer to the list![/quote]
What about Adorama?

By the way, Jan, are you saying on the record that you will not honor a DVX warrenty from a camera bought at BuyDig.com?

I like buydig.com and all, but what sucks is that they will flat out lie to you. I ordered a camera from them a few weeks ago and later that day I changed my mind and decided to go with something else. So, I called to cancel my order. As soon as I called he asked me my order number and before I had a chance to say anything, he said "oh, that one's been shipped". I said, "It shipped already?" in disbelief. "Yup", the guy said. So, I said OK and hung up the phone. About four days go by and no camera. Then I check my email and get a shipping confirmation email. The guy totally lied to me so I wouldn't cancel my order.
 
Re: Authorized Dealers - Where to buy

[quote author=Tony_H link=board=nws;num=1091645002;start=30#37 date=08/12/04 at 23:48:03]Barry, so you're saying that Pansonic only has to honor their warrenty if you buy a Panasonic product from one of five stores in the US?[/quote]
No, there are probably hundreds of authorized Panasonic dealers.  We only ever seem to talk about five web e-tailers, so those are who I checked and who are listed.

As far as "me" saying it, I'm not saying anything because I'm not a Panasonic rep.  It is my understanding that Panasonic is saying that they will honor the warranty for product bought through authorized channels, and they will not honor the warranty if the product is bought outside authorized channels.  If I have that wrong, Jan will have to correct it.

LOL, what if I buy a panasonic camcorder from Sears?
Click to expand...
Different lines are authorized at different stores.  Sears would probably be authorized to carry the consumer line, but not the professional line.  The DVX is from the professional line.

I'd like to talk to a lawyer about this "authorized dealer" crap.
Click to expand...
There are a few on the board, maybe they'll weigh in.

Like I've said before, the general public doesn't know anything about "authorized" anything. They look at the box, it says 1 year warrenty, and they buy it (and they don't care where they buy it).
Click to expand...
I agree, and I think it'd be responsible on Panasonic's part to do something to make sure the public knows whether they'll have warranty coverage or not.  Somehow people have to be told, and there has to be a better information dissemination system than a few postings in dvxuser.com.

I've never had any company reject my warrenty because of where I bought it... and if they did, I'd take them to court. I think this whole "authorized dealer" BS is a marketing scare tactic to make certain websites more money.
Click to expand...
I've heard reports of people who bought through unauthorized sources who did receive warranty repair work.  However, Jan just said that they're cracking down on that.  I hope they have a good advertising/PR blitz planned to alert people to the idea, because I know that a lot of people have no idea who is or is not authorized, and I'd say a tremendous percentage of the public would have no idea that they would be getting an un-warrantable camera if bought through certain stores (some of which will lie to the customer).
 
Re: Authorized Dealers - Where to buy

I recall on the Cineswitch ads a few months ago they started this PR.. by making a little banner on the page that said something about authorized dealers.
 
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