Recommendations on, not if, but WHERE to buy the HMC150...

RANT ALERT

I like B&H, but to have to wait 3 weeks sucks. Today is Wed and this Mon is the 14th business day - they tell me that they "expect it early next week" but when I try to peg them on when exactly it will come they stick frustratingly to the script.

Dealt with B&H before, but this is the first time where they're out of stock. When they said "not a regularly stocked item" - should have immediately gone somewhere else. When you make that kind of investment, get excited about something after spending so long reading about it - it's hard to be patient. Did not anticipate that the wait would drive me this crazy.
 
I am also in this situation. It seems it is on Panasonic's end. Almost every dealer is going through this. Amazon gets more in 3 days.. doubt that applies to other dealers.
 
So is the HMC going through something similar to what happened with the dvx100b's? When I ordered my DVX nobody had them in stock except for newegg.

Either way, I'll be following this thread closely! I'm on the lookout for a good deal on an HMC.
 
About 6 months ago I tried to find a Wii console, but no luck anywhere. Yesterday I went to Costco and walked by a pallet full of those suckers.

Eventually they'll have the 150 in stock everywhere, as well as the 5DMkII :-/
 
Studio Exchange out of Burbank has some in stock. They charge $3299 per unit. I almost went with them but opted to just get it from B&H where I purchased all of my accessories.
New here. Seems like a great place to learn about my new rig! Based on chrisgentile's recommendation, I got mine at Studio Exchange in Burbank for $3299. Looks like they have a bunch left, but no add'l batteries. Be warned: they will charge an add'l 3% if you use a credit card. Would have loved to use EVS, because they rule, but, like everyone else, they are back ordered.

Anyone have any recommendations on a protection package? If I'd used B&H, I'd get the SageMax deal. I've heard a lot of discontent with Mack. I REALLY don't want to have to stress about dropping my new baby.
 
Guys, I am not feeling lucky enough..... :(
Here in India, the Indian dealer company of Panasonic Professional Products is giving the price that is nearly twice than the US price.

Its 4424 USD without receipt, and 5845 USD with receipt. And this is even more than US price of HPX170. :undecided

I Don't think it is company's original price, but I still cant figure out the current Asian Price of the HMC152.
But it seems something is going wrong here, either with dealers or panasonic.

Otherwise I am thinking about buying HMC150 from B&H myself, but it is back-ordered there and I want the cam before 26th of May.
Is this B&H - HMC150 Package really available on B&H? since there is no sign of Back-ordered or out-of-stock?
A week before, I confirmed that B&H ships HMC internationally.

Anyways, Is there any way to determine the average Asian price of HMC152?
 
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It does say "Accepting Orders" and there might be a wait time of 7-14 days...
I talked to B&H not this monday but the past monday (about 10 days ago) and they told me they had 20 units coming in so i would have to wait. Instead i order it from Videotex from Dallas Texas http://videotexsystems.com/home.php (GREAT SERVICE BTW) they were nice enough to pricematch B&H at $3199 (before they went up) i got lucky =)
 
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Be warned: they will charge an add'l 3% if you use a credit card.

In the US, almost every merchant account processor forbids extra charges or minimum purchases for using credit cards. It's in their merchant agreement, but then, who ever reads all that stuff...

In some states, there are even laws that forbid any merchant from charging fees or requiring or implying minimum purchase requirements. California even allows the purchaser to recoup up to 3 times the charged fees in penalties - and legal fees, if any were required - in the event of such an action by a seller.

Let them know you want your 3% back - especially if it's in California - or else you'll just go get it back, and then some.
 
Let them know you want your 3% back - especially if it's in California - or else you'll just go get it back, and then some.

Yes, I thought that was a little shady, but on the other hand, they were selling it cheaper anywhere else that had it in stock. I just ended up paying by check, so we're all square.
 
Hmm. It is frustrating. It seems the backorder thing happened right after I ordered it. I wouldn't be that upset except for that fact that when I bought mine b and h said it was "not a regularly stocked item - allow 7 - 14 business days" - now it says back order.

I understand it's not b and h's fault but they could have been straight with me from the get go. Every time I inquired about when I would get it, they sent me a stock response: "7 - 14 business days"

So after waiting two weeks - finally on Wednesday I got with live chat:

[FONT=&quot]*B&H:[/FONT][FONT=&quot] We expect it by early next week at the latest.
[/FONT][FONT=&quot]*B&H[/FONT][FONT=&quot]: We will then ship it out to you.
Denz: So I have emails that say "7 to 14 Business days" - and now you say "Early next week" - Am I correct in assuming that there is no certain date?
[/FONT][FONT=&quot]*B&H[/FONT][FONT=&quot]: We were consistent from the beginning.
[/FONT][FONT=&quot]*B&H[/FONT][FONT=&quot]: We have always stated 7-14 business days.
[/FONT][FONT=&quot]*B&H[/FONT][FONT=&quot]: Early next week would be the 14th.
[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Denz[/FONT][FONT=&quot]: Great. Thanks ;)
[/FONT][FONT=&quot]*B&H[/FONT][FONT=&quot]: You're welcome![/FONT]

So then today I saw it now says backorder on B and H's page - which seems like it's consistent with what everyone in here is saying. Got on with live chat again today:

[FONT=&quot]Denz[/FONT][FONT=&quot]: Hello - I was told to expect this Panasonic camera "early next week at the latest" - but I'm worried that it will not arrive. Just wondering what to expect
[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Denz[/FONT][FONT=&quot]: Monday will be the 14th business day
[/FONT][FONT=&quot]*B&H[/FONT][FONT=&quot]: unfortunately it seems that this item is going to take a little longer than expected and should be here in 2-3 weeks
[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Denz[/FONT][FONT=&quot]: I've already been waiting almost three weeks.
[/FONT][FONT=&quot]*B&H[/FONT][FONT=&quot]: I am sorry, however it has been back ordered by Panasonic
[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Denz[/FONT][FONT=&quot]: thanks[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]So I think it's fair for me to whine a bit... looks like I landed right on line between whatever is going on. I just wish they would have told me when I ordered or even in some email at some point that it was going to take two months. I scheduled a project for the 29th thinking for sure it would be here by then.[/FONT]


[FONT=&quot]Now I have to wonder if B and H is going to keep saying this 2-3 weeks thing and then at the last minute say - whoopsie like they did today.[/FONT]


[FONT=&quot]Funny, I've seen posts like this in different places - like NewEgg - where everyone is really happy and there's one dude who has to RMA five times and he posts a big old rant - I guess everyone gets a turn sooner or later ;)

I still think B and H is probably the best place to order stuff - when it's in stock.
[/FONT]
 
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there is a used one on the other board for $2800 with an extra big battery. I would jump on it if I needed another one
 
Be WARY of JR.com. They sold me an HMC70 promising a Blu-Ray player. No player. The camera was used, so I couldn't send in the stuff for the rebate. Every day I would call them and get the runaround. The manual was marked up, and the camera had scratches. From trying to get the Blu-Ray player, at least, I ran out of time to return it. Their is nothing I can do since I'm out of state.
 
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