Pros and Cons of buying on Ebay

mentatDUKE

mentatDUKE

Veteran
Hi guys. Long time lurker, first time poster to this great site. You've all inspired me. I'm ready to bite the bullet, get the camera, and start making movies. I have been shopping around and checked out the items on Ebay. Now, I know that brick and mortar authorized dealers are recommended, but the PRICE! This auction has a package I haven't seen rivaled anywhere and the seller's feedback is great at over 9000(except for a few REALLY bad ones):

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=20332&item=3878647384&tc=photo

He has some accessories I would be remiss to pass up and a good shipping price. Am I making the wrong move here?
He's offering a telephoto lens AND a wide angle lens (does this mean I can shoot anamorphic or do I still need a special adapter?)

He's offering a tripod (is this tripod any good?), a cool hitman looking case, THREE filters, and TAPES. Tapes, Jerry!

Is this deal too good to be true? Talk me out of this, please! Is the battery and AC adaptor supposed to be included? Will I get Barry's book? I plan to call their 800 number during business hours.

Thanks so much. This is the best forum on the Internet, and I've been to a lot of forums. Thanks guys!
 
Re: Pros and Cons of buying on Ebay

Don't do it. The accessories are most likely of poor quality. The lenses will degrade your image unless they are of the best quality. Buy from http://www.evsonline.com or another authorized dealer so that you get the $300 rebate, Barry's DVX book/DVD, a real warranty and a copy of Magic Bullet. Don't fall for the "too-good-to-be-true" scenario.
 
Re: Pros and Cons of buying on Ebay

Thanks for the reply Horse. I definitely want a cam w/ manufacturer's warranty, but I don't really see how I can lose. Assuming the wide angle and telephoto lenses suck, what about the filters, tripod, case and other stuff? Wouldn't I still be ahead? I can pay for repairs, order Barry's book seperately and still end up ahead. Is my thinking flawed in that regard? Thanks.
 
Re: Pros and Cons of buying on Ebay

my suggestion and experience has always been " when in doubt....WAIT".
The answer will show itself eventually....
But, just scimming through the e-bay site, I wouldn't do it. It's too convenient for me as a shopper. I don't know if that makes sense.....
good luck
 
Re: Pros and Cons of buying on Ebay

If it doesn't have the book in the box, it *doesn't* have the manufacturer's US warranty.

The only exception is if it's an old-stock unit from prior to January 1st.
 
Re: Pros and Cons of buying on Ebay

Hi Barry. I'm honored that you replied. I definitely want your book. What you said is really interesting. The ebay seller says that the camera is new in the box. If that is true wouldn't it automatically be the same as what would be in a brick and mortar shop? If the box is sealed, does it come with your book and what would normally be included straight from the distributor or am I missing a step? Thanks again.
 
Re: Pros and Cons of buying on Ebay

"Pros and Cons of buying on Ebay"
amateurs conned by pros just about sums it up
 
Re: Pros and Cons of buying on Ebay

If these guys say don't do it you better listen. You will probably lose your ass on the deal. Get it from a good dealer and buy the extra's as you go along. You don't need everything at first anyway.
 
Re: Pros and Cons of buying on Ebay

Seriously just avoid ebay like the plague...

"You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villany."
 
Re: Pros and Cons of buying on Ebay

I've been contemplating this situation myself for the past weeks, and after hours digging though this site, talking with people, and lots of reflection, this is what I've concluded:

You can spend $3500 on this package, get a camera with a manufacturer's warranty only redeemable in Guam [or somewhere equally far away], get a box load of crap that you wouldn't want to use on your new professional camera anyway, pay an extra $375 dollars for the MB software and Barry's book, and then cry yourself to sleep at night when your camera breaks and you spend hundreds more to ship it back to Guam for six months to be fixed.

OR

You order from Rush at EVS [starting price $3449] who will give you a discount for being a member here, give you another discount if you pay in cash or bank transfer [which, unlike ebay, is actually a safe bank transfer], give you the book and the software free, and give you a check from panasonic for $300 for doing business with him.  Oh yes, and he'll give you a US warranty so if that camera breaks, you can send it to Fix-it-ville, USA and they'll take care of you [do you really want your camera fixed in Guam?].

SO

$3500 - ??? for a camera that you're uneasy about, no customer service, usless accessories, and no warranty

$3000 - $3450 for a camera you feel good about, great customer service, accessories you'll actually use, a US warranty, and peace of mind

You wouldn't buy a turd instead of a candy bar just cuz it was cheap, looked like a candy bar and came with free peanuts, would ya?
 
Re: Pros and Cons of buying on Ebay

First his picture is the DVX100, not the 100A. Second, I have found that the ebay guys are gray market. If you buy from a legit resellar, you have recorse if not happy, here you don't, it is yours! You don't get the Magic Bullet Software, the DVX Book/DVD nor the $300 rebate. And then there is that warranty. My experience with the ebay folks is their product is coming out of Japan, so your warranty is in Japan.

Like the other guys here, I join in with the comment "Just don't do it!"

Hope this helps,

Jan
 
Re: Pros and Cons of buying on Ebay

Pro's of buying on eRape....Uh I mean eBAY? If it's more than 50 bux I try to buy it elsewhere. Books, Cd's, etc., are all ok...BUT...when it comes to a 3500 dollar purchase....take the *ask the audience* lifeline and buy from an authorized dealer. I haven't taken the plunge yet myself....waiting on the big HDX news first...but whichever Panny cam I end up with will be from either EVS or B&H. No question about it. Or if I hit the lottery between now and April 18th I'll see if I can get 2 or 3 of them for $1500 each on eBAY. Really press my luck, you know!! Just kidding!! ~reservoir~
 
Re: Pros and Cons of buying on Ebay

[quote author=kidfob link=board=nws;num=1109823368;start=0#5 date=03/02/05 at 22:38:06]If the box is sealed, does it come with your book and what would normally be included straight from the distributor or am I missing a step?[/quote]
If the seller is honest, and the box is actually legitimately sealed, then yes it would include what comes from the manufacturer (not the distributor, the manufacturer).

Panasonic NZ receives the boxes from the manufacturer, then opens them up and inserts the DVX Book/DVD and seals the box up again.

Panasonic USA receives the boxes from the manufacturer, then opens them up, inserts the Magic Bullet Editors DVD and the DVX Book/DVD, and then re-seals the box.

Panasonic Canada, Panasonic Japan, etc... they don't add any additional bundled items. That's one way you can tell them apart. And a unit that got sent to Panasonic Canada or Panasonic Japan will *not* have a warranty in the USA. This is the very essence of gray-market -- the reseller takes advantage of currency markets (or other, perhaps more nefarious methods) to buy product on the "gray market" for less than genuine Panasonic US product. They then sell it to you, and it becomes *your* problem. Need warranty service? Too bad, you don't have a warranty. Actually, you probably do, but it'll be in Japan, so unless you want to pack up your camera and ship it back to a warranty service center in Japan, you're stuck.

Plus you wouldn't get the $300 rebate, and that right there should be enough to convince anyone that gray market is a *bad* idea.
 
Re: Pros and Cons of buying on Ebay

Often when a product is shipped in a "cedar box" it is an indication that the product is garbage and they are just trying to make it look high quality.
 
Re: Pros and Cons of buying on Ebay

One way to tell for sure about the warrenty: Email them and ask for the serial number. If they give you it then ask the guys here to look it up. If they don't send it then just move on.
 
Re: Pros and Cons of buying on Ebay

Yes, be very careful about Grey Market cameres. If the price is under $3,500 than you better bet that it is not legit. Most cameras listed under MSRP are GM. I almost got suckered into one of those too good to be true prices. I'm glad I shopped around!
 
Re: Pros and Cons of buying on Ebay

I was pretty much in your boat 10 months ago. I PM'ed Jan, and she said don't risk it with the ebay, grey market camera.

I took her advice and got it from an authorized dealer.

My camera is currently in the shop for a speck of dust in the lens that will likely be covered under warranty. Had I saved $300 last year, I'd be out $1500 for a new lens now (or at least $400 for the tech to disassemble the lens components and clean it).

I bought my ZR40 from Buydig a few years ago. No complaints. But its a different game when you are talking $450 vs. $3300.

I'm glad I got my camera from an auth. dealer.
~Andrew
 
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