GH4 Digital rev - best avoided?

T

the doc

Well-known member
I have been looking around for a GH4 and read that digital Rev seemed OK for other users... placed an order with them as they undercut the competition a bit, and i hoped to get a camera that didn't have the European recording limits.

Pretty crap experience though. After a few days I got an email saying my order was cancelled. No explanation - but a link to my account. Going there - still no explanation and i wasted a fair bit of time trying to work out what happened.

Finally got an email back from online support saying that my order had been cancelled because it did not pass their 'risk assessment' - but no explanation as to what this means. They suggested that if I sent them a copy of a credit card bill or driver licence I might (only might) be able to get the decision reviewed?!

Totally bizarre - never seen anything like this before from an online company. My shipping address was the same as my card billing address - so asking for proof seems like nonsense to me.

Are they just covering up for not having any stock? If not - if they don't want to ship to UK addresses without added proof then they should really make this clear before ordering.

Anyway - few days of delay and annoyance... best avoided I reckon.


Anyone seen a good deal on GH4 in the UK lately? Cheapest seems to be £950 after cashback offer.
 
Word to the wise... Use a trustworthy known retailer that offers a manufacture's warranty rather than trying to save a buck with these greymarket ripoff places.

I would start with one of the many sponsors of this site.

Good Luck!
 
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I wouldn't say Digitalrev is a ripoff. They are legit and they sell to people from all over the world. Obviously they wouldn't want to sell to anyone they deem questionable. I bought a new lens and an adapter from Digitalrev, saved a $300. Their service was actually good. Delivery was as fast or faster than domestic (US). But be aware that that they undercut the competition by selling gray market stock -- less expensive than authorized dealers and no manufacturer original warranty. Digital rev provides their now warranty. Repairs and returns will cost you in shipping.

There are risks in buying gray market and international. Changing your mind about your purchase or got a bad product, you are at the mercy of the dealer with few options.
 
I ordered my A7s from them. Super speedy delivery and good communication.
As I understand it, they offer full warranty. And in Europe you can leave them with dealers here so no shipping.

They are in Hong Kong and deal with fully legit Hong Kong stock as I understand it.
 
VMT said:
Obviously they wouldn't want to sell to anyone they deem questionable.
Click to expand...

What does that mean though? There is absolutely no reason for them to find me questionable... I simply put an order through their website and then had to deal with their crap afterwards. Interesting that other people have ordered from them and got on OK - but i won't be going back.
 
Bought a nice lens from them, no issues, saved a few hundred, fast delivery, real product. I'm in the USA
 
the doc said:
... Anyone seen a good deal on GH4 in the UK lately? Cheapest seems to be £950 after cashback offer.
Click to expand...
Some eBay sellers have it for around $1,275 (also from HK), which is about $150 less than £950.
 
Cheers - had a look at EBAY - but may just go for a UK supplier now after this hassle.

Looks like some happy customers from the US. Weird experience for me then: I can't explain it - all i know is that for me personally their service was crap and their reasoning obscure.
 
There are plenty of grey market sellers in NYC if you want to buy local.

For me, having a proper warranty from a seller that is honestly going to take care of you, like Texas Media Systems is a huge plus.
 
the doc said:
Finally got an email back from online support saying that my order had been cancelled because it did not pass their 'risk assessment' - but no explanation as to what this means. They suggested that if I sent them a copy of a credit card bill or driver licence I might (only might) be able to get the decision reviewed?!

Totally bizarre - never seen anything like this before from an online company. My shipping address was the same as my card billing address - so asking for proof seems like nonsense to me.
Click to expand...

I experienced the same from CVP in the UK a few years ago. I had to send them a picture of my ID.
 
Just wondering, have you ever stopped payment on your credit card? It could also be something about UK laws, or others in the UK they've dealt with that makes them dubious of selling there.
 
Bought a 12-35/2.8 from DigitalRev when it's release was delayed in the USA. Shipped promptly & received it in a few days.

That said I'd rarely do it again. Prefer local warranties & supporting local retailers.
 
blazer003 said:
Just wondering, have you ever stopped payment on your credit card? It could also be something about UK laws, or others in the UK they've dealt with that makes them dubious of selling there.
Click to expand...

Absolutely not. I have a perfect credit history, and many years of online shopping / ebay use etc. There really is nothing that they could have picked up on as far as i am aware. That is why I felt a bit grumpy about it - they didn't explain how they came to the conclusion and they wasted my time trying to find out.

Interestingly they have now said that they would sell me the camera if I did it by direct bank transfer! Yeah right. That is the kind of request you get from Nigerian scammers - not responsible online retailers.

They may well be legit - but I am staying away from now on. Sad to know that crap customer service isn't just a UK phenomenon!
 
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