GH4 Best place to buy GH4?

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FilmBoy77

Veteran
Is there a preferred place to get the GH4 for the best price? I typically buy my gear from B&H with no issues, just checking to see if any of you guys got it anywhere cheaper.
 
FilmBoy77 said:
Is there a preferred place to get the GH4 for the best price? I typically buy my gear from B&H with no issues, just checking to see if any of you guys got it anywhere cheaper.
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All the dealers have pretty much the same price. I think B&H is running a free card deal right now. I really like ordering from Texas media systems. Call them and see if they will do something similar to B&H.
 
It's currently unadvertised but Hot Rod Cameras is offering a free extended warranty with drop/break coverage. You drop it- no problem. It's a $200 value, but you have to call and ask for it, and it will be included with any unshipped GH4 order placed on-line. But of course that's not the only reason to shop from HRC :-)
 
I've had such excellent service from B&H over the years that I'd be hard pressed to buy from anyone else unless it was a significant savings, like 50% off or something.

And that doesn't seem likely.
 
I have to say I really enjoy winning customers over from places that have absolutely terrible service. A few companies serving this industry are excellent at fulfillment, but that's not service. Good luck with having a representative at any box shop these days explain 4K workflow, the first hand comparative technical and qualitative difference between cheap and expensive cameras- or any service dealing with a warranty repair 31 days after a purchase.
 
There's a lot of value dealing with the smaller Pro shops over mega-retailers like B&H, Adorama, Amazon, etc.

One small example: when both my GH4(s) needed the audio fix I dropped them off at Hot Rod Cameras, & they took care of everything, including shipping, for free. I didn't want to send out both bodies at the same time so HRC went thru the process twice.

For cameras with such slim profit margins that's extraordinary service.
 
Illya Friedman said:
I have to say I really enjoy winning customers over from places that have absolutely terrible service. A few companies serving this industry are excellent at fulfillment, but that's not service. Good luck with having a representative at any box shop these days explain 4K workflow, the first hand comparative technical and qualitative difference between cheap and expensive cameras- or any service dealing with a warranty repair 31 days after a purchase.
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I know exactly who that is aimed at... At work we need to buy most things from the lowest bidder, one of these was $100,000 worth of JVC video cameras for our classes. Problems at 7 days were not addressed, our preferred sales rep wouldn't help because he didn't get the sale. It was a huge mess and we have tried to write bids in such a way that the mass resellers can't win so our local guys can get the sale. That specific camera purchase was made at under cost, that's how cut throat this place can be.
 
Greg_E said:
I know exactly who that is aimed at... At work we need to buy most things from the lowest bidder, one of these was $100,000 worth of JVC video cameras for our classes. Problems at 7 days were not addressed, our preferred sales rep wouldn't help because he didn't get the sale. It was a huge mess and we have tried to write bids in such a way that the mass resellers can't win so our local guys can get the sale. That specific camera purchase was made at under cost, that's how cut throat this place can be.
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Why would your commisisoned sales rep bother with a below-the-cost transaction? (which, I assume, was done on a corporate/mass purchase account) For him, it's a lot of work for nothing. Salespeople hate that ****.
 
DLD said:
Why would your commisisoned sales rep bother with a below-the-cost transaction? (which, I assume, was done on a corporate/mass purchase account) For him, it's a lot of work for nothing. Salespeople hate that s*%t.
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They may hate it, but it's called looking after your client base.
 
If the place where they were purchased stuck to cost, out local dealer would have been able to compete. Happened on a cheap tripod purchase a couple years later at about $180 each under cost.

And this isn't a corporate decision, this is our department at a college specifying the make/model that we needed. But it was still 12 cameras and accessories.
 
stoneinapond said:
They may hate it, but it's called looking after your client base.
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The client base has to bring you profits because that's how you're making a living. If your sales have no profits, you're working for nothing. If a retailer - or even wholesaler - wants to service such accounts, a flat-rate/hourly wage employee should be the one in charge of it. Now, if the salesperson is given a retainer, then legally he is responsible for the service part too but it doesn't mean he won't hate it regardless.

Greg_E said:
If the place where they were purchased stuck to cost, out local dealer would have been able to compete. Happened on a cheap tripod purchase a couple years later at about $180 each under cost.

And this isn't a corporate decision, this is our department at a college specifying the make/model that we needed. But it was still 12 cameras and accessories.
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I am not blaming the buyer. It's his duty to look out for himself and/or his entity. But the buyer also has to understand the reality of the transaction. When I was working a (relatively speaking) high end video market way back when, one of our favorite lines was, "Would you want to buy a Mercedes from a junkyard?" We were full service. If you wanted to save a few hundred dollars on a piece and went to a mass discounter, you shouldn't expect to be treated the same way you were treated by a place where salespeople wear shirts and ties.
 
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