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This is meant as mini-guide for anyone looking at wanting to buy an HVX.
It is similar to this excellent sticky post.
Buying an HVX is a big investment for most, so the pursuit to buy it at the lowest cost is very tempting. Unfortunately "lowest cost" doesn't always mean "best deal" or even "lowest end-cost".
When checking pricing of a particular product we often resort to online searches, like google, or price listing/comparing sites. Unfortunately those sites collect revenue from advertisers, and those advertisers aren't always "good companies".
- A good company will provide help in selecting the right product with you with knowledgable staff, and sell top notch, new equipment, and stand behind its products; will aid when there are problems, and will offer other, good customer support.
- A bad company will take as much money they can from you, and once they have sent you the product, they do not want to hear from you again, unless it is to sell you something else. Good customer support costs money, so it is not offered by a bad company.
- A really bad company will take your money and not deliver the goods you are expecting, or not deliver any goods at all.
Okay, as far as the Panasonic AG-HVX200 is concerned. Current retail price is $5995.00 USD. That's as much as you should be paying, although many reputable companies are now discounting that price by as much as $800 to $1250.
You have three choices:
1)
The BEST, and most recommended place to buy an HVX is from an authorized dealer. These dealers are authorized by Panasonic, and this should be a safe and simple transaction, and one that you shouldn't have any problems with. If a problem arises, you will get good support as you will have purchased from a company that stands behind its products. Any warranty issues will be swiftly dealt with. The HVX will come with all current Panasonic USA rebates, special offers, promotions, etc.
Expect to pay about $4800.00 to $5500.00
2)
Greymarket. This is a tricky and far more risky deal. You will get a BRAND NEW HVX, but one that was IMPORTED from overseas into the USA by the company that is selling it to you, not one that was imported by Panasonic USA. Although this HVX will come with ALL accessories and is made to the exact same standard as the HVX mentioned above, it will most likely NOT include rebates, special offers, etc. The warranty will be VERY VERY limited, maybe not applicable at all. So if the cam goes wrong, you might find you have to pay FULL PRICE to have it fixed.
There are some very decent companies that are selling greymarket products. The decent ones should be ones that TELL YOU that it is greymarket. They might tell you by stating that it was "imported". Make sure that manuals are in English too.
Expect to pay about $3900.00 to $5000.00
BUYER BEWARE OF RISKS!
3)
Scams. These are just about ALL HVXs that are offered for $3500 or lower. Many will see an HVX advertised for as low as $1800 and think "GREAT!" they can save money. However, this cam simply can't be sold for that amount. If it were sold for $1800 the company would be LOSING money and will go bankrupt. There are NUMEROUS companies that use a tactic of luring you into their website (which look legitimate) and then get you to buy their products with a credit card. The scam they use is mostly one whereby they sell you a completely useless PRO KIT for far too much money, so that you spent more in the end than if you'd purchased from an Authorized Dealer. Alternatively they will state that the HVX won't come with ANY accessories, no battery, nothing; but they will sell you those things at an inflated price. if you were to decline the accessories, they'd simply turn around and tell you the cam is now out-of-stock. Many have reported that shipping costs are also INFLATED, costing you hundreds where it should cost $35.00.
Other scams include taking your credit card information, charging your credit card but not sending you any products at all.
BEST TO CHECK http://resellerratings.com if you are unsure of a company, and see for yourself what feedback the company is receiving.
Expect HVX to be advertised for $1500.00 to $3500.00 (although you will either end up paying more, or not getting anything at all)
DO NOT BUY FROM OR WASTE TIME WITH THESE COMPANIES. THESE COMPANIES ARE ONLY IN BUSINESS BECAUSE THEY FIND SOME GULLIBLE PEOPLE WHO BUY FROM THEM. DON'T FEED THEIR EVILNESS!
This post is USA biased. If you are wanting to buy a PAL HVX in the USA you can find them at B&H although they are selling at a slight premium at around $5500.00 USD.
It is similar to this excellent sticky post.
Buying an HVX is a big investment for most, so the pursuit to buy it at the lowest cost is very tempting. Unfortunately "lowest cost" doesn't always mean "best deal" or even "lowest end-cost".
When checking pricing of a particular product we often resort to online searches, like google, or price listing/comparing sites. Unfortunately those sites collect revenue from advertisers, and those advertisers aren't always "good companies".
- A good company will provide help in selecting the right product with you with knowledgable staff, and sell top notch, new equipment, and stand behind its products; will aid when there are problems, and will offer other, good customer support.
- A bad company will take as much money they can from you, and once they have sent you the product
- A really bad company will take your money and not deliver the goods you are expecting, or not deliver any goods at all.
Okay, as far as the Panasonic AG-HVX200 is concerned. Current retail price is $5995.00 USD. That's as much as you should be paying, although many reputable companies are now discounting that price by as much as $800 to $1250.
You have three choices:
1)
The BEST, and most recommended place to buy an HVX is from an authorized dealer. These dealers are authorized by Panasonic, and this should be a safe and simple transaction, and one that you shouldn't have any problems with. If a problem arises, you will get good support as you will have purchased from a company that stands behind its products. Any warranty issues will be swiftly dealt with. The HVX will come with all current Panasonic USA rebates, special offers, promotions, etc.
Expect to pay about $4800.00 to $5500.00
2)
Greymarket. This is a tricky and far more risky deal. You will get a BRAND NEW HVX, but one that was IMPORTED from overseas into the USA by the company that is selling it to you, not one that was imported by Panasonic USA. Although this HVX will come with ALL accessories and is made to the exact same standard as the HVX mentioned above, it will most likely NOT include rebates, special offers, etc. The warranty will be VERY VERY limited, maybe not applicable at all. So if the cam goes wrong, you might find you have to pay FULL PRICE to have it fixed.
There are some very decent companies that are selling greymarket products. The decent ones should be ones that TELL YOU that it is greymarket. They might tell you by stating that it was "imported". Make sure that manuals are in English too.
Expect to pay about $3900.00 to $5000.00
BUYER BEWARE OF RISKS!
3)
Scams. These are just about ALL HVXs that are offered for $3500 or lower. Many will see an HVX advertised for as low as $1800 and think "GREAT!" they can save money. However, this cam simply can't be sold for that amount. If it were sold for $1800 the company would be LOSING money and will go bankrupt. There are NUMEROUS companies that use a tactic of luring you into their website (which look legitimate) and then get you to buy their products with a credit card. The scam they use is mostly one whereby they sell you a completely useless PRO KIT for far too much money, so that you spent more in the end than if you'd purchased from an Authorized Dealer. Alternatively they will state that the HVX won't come with ANY accessories, no battery, nothing; but they will sell you those things at an inflated price. if you were to decline the accessories, they'd simply turn around and tell you the cam is now out-of-stock. Many have reported that shipping costs are also INFLATED, costing you hundreds where it should cost $35.00.
Other scams include taking your credit card information, charging your credit card but not sending you any products at all.
BEST TO CHECK http://resellerratings.com if you are unsure of a company, and see for yourself what feedback the company is receiving.
Expect HVX to be advertised for $1500.00 to $3500.00 (although you will either end up paying more, or not getting anything at all)
DO NOT BUY FROM OR WASTE TIME WITH THESE COMPANIES. THESE COMPANIES ARE ONLY IN BUSINESS BECAUSE THEY FIND SOME GULLIBLE PEOPLE WHO BUY FROM THEM. DON'T FEED THEIR EVILNESS!
This post is USA biased. If you are wanting to buy a PAL HVX in the USA you can find them at B&H although they are selling at a slight premium at around $5500.00 USD.
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