NYC Camera Merchants

[BIGUN]

I know a lot of people this year are in the market for a new digital camera to take pictures of their new tractors, etc. I am and when shopping at the Brick & Mortar Stores there is always a crowd around the digital cameras so I know the demand is high.

You may be tempted to shop online for your new camera, which can certainly save you some money, but…
When searching for camera e-stores online most of them are in New York City. With one exception, everytime in the past when I have tried to do business with these stores they have tried to scam me in one way or the other. I was wondering what your experiences have been doing business with the NYC camera merchants? Oh, and do you have a camera merchant with good prices that you can wholeheartedly recommend?

For the uninitiated read this from http://www.dcresource.com/faq/faq.html

When shopping for a digital camera, I noticed large price discrepancies between various online shops. Why is this?

You know the old saying "if it's too good to be true, then it probably is"? That's very important to remember when shopping online for a digital camera. Let's say you're browsing the price listings for a PowerShot G3. While most everyone else is selling them for $799, you see one place selling it for $599. You order them and here's what probably happens next:
· They call you and try to hard sell you accessories like filters, batteries, and carrying cases
· They try to charge you extra for things that should have been in the box, like the software and cables
· They will tell you that the camera you've bought is "gray market", meaning not sold in the US, and not covered under the manufacturer's warranty
At this point, if you refuse to buy it, they will either hang up on you, or tell you that the camera is out of stock.

This may sound funny, but 9 times out of 10, these resellers will be located in New York City. They lure you in with a low price and then charge you $100 for shipping, or $200 more for the US model. My advice: read ratings of the merchants on PriceGrabber and Reseller Ratings, before you get burned!

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Most of the NYC Camera merchants are the same company who just keep changing their names (especially on ebay, they keep creating new accounts yet they keep their pages and descriptions the same).

So far my only experience was a bad one and one that will not be repeated. I contacted one thru their ebay store and made the deal for a camera package that would cost me $1800. No problem but I needed it in 3 days which I made very clear. I even paid extra for next day shipping. Well, it never showed up when I needed it so I called them and they were sorry /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif but to make me feel better they threw in a extra 32 meg chip and promised the camera would be at my house the next day.

Next day came and still no camera so I called again and they were sorry /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif and to make me feel better they were going to upgrade the 32 meg chip to a 64 /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif and get my camera out to me. Finally showed up 2 days latter, I still got billed for the next day shipping even though it took a week to get it to me but at least I finally got it. I will no longer buy from any store in NYC as I don't trust any of them. I did buy my first camera online but from a trusted store that had a great rating thru the search engines. This is how I will buy my next camera in a couple weeks after Christmas. Stay away from the NYC stores though /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[Gatorboy]

Great site for reviews on digital cameras: Digital Photography Review

I had a very good experience with this eBay Store: Seattle Cameras.
Note: If you use a CC or Paypal to pay, they add 2.95% fee (but it IS stated in their auction description).

They never offered to sell me anything extra, and shipment came very quickly. They provided tracking number, the whole nine yards. None of those NYC tricks which I have grown to loathe.

 

[Bird]

Don't know anything about the NYC stores, but I bought my first digital camera online, direct from Sony. It was defective and by the time I got through dealing with them on the telephone, got the camera returned, and got my refund, I had decided that I'll probably never again buy anything with Sony's name on it. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[Docsknotinn]

A few years back, err about 7 years ago, /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif I bought I 8mm Video camera ( Sony) from one of the NY stores. I think they are still in buisiness if any one wants to know the name I will dig out the receipt. I think it was Beach Photo. This camera was about 4k retail and they had it for $1750. I did have to call a few stores to find one that had it in stock. You do have to ASK if its a gray market product. If it is, just move on. They did try to sell me extras like lenses etc and extended warranty but I did not find it any harder to say no on the phone than in line at Best Buy where they try to sell you a extended warranty so many times you get sick of saying NO . My camera arrived timely and exactly as promised. Its still working great. Just like always you have to ask the right questions but when dealing with theese stores it seems to me you need to know exactly what your after. Dave

 

[Chuck52]

I just placed an order with Hi-Tech Cameras, which is in NY. I found hem using Next Tag, and they had a good price on the low end camera I wanted as a gift for one of the kids. It's an Olympus D-560, and they were about $50 less than the local Wal Mart and Target, but not that much less than the other on-line stores. So far they haven't tried to sell me anything else, and the reviews they had (if they are real) were almost all positive. We'll see. They did immediately e-mail me to confirm my order and said they would send me a review form in two weeks, which I do intend to fill out. Their $20 postage and handling fee for standard delivery is probably higher thn I could have found, but if it gets here in a few days I'll be satisfied.....I saved almost that on the tax for this relatively small purchase, so I'm still almost $50 ahead.

Chuck

 

[BillG_in_TX]

I've bought a couple of cameras from Willoughby's and had good luck both times. They also had near the lowest price on c/net on both items.

 

[dmccarty]

Bigun,

I have used one of the big NYC camera stores for years. The
name escapes me at the moment.... While I have not been
directly ripped off, they have lied to me about products. For
instance I wanted a certain monopod or tripod, I can't
remember which, and the sales guy tells me that they are no
long made. That was bunk. So I did not buy. Their Customer
Service just plain stinks.

Instead I found a great local camera store chain named
Carolina Camera. They try to meet the NYC stores prices
where they can and are danged close other wise. They have
a hard time matching NYC film prices but for the "hardware"
they are on the money. I buy everything I can from one
sales guy at Carolina Camera. They don't have a store in my
city but the sales guy lives in my town. He travels around a
good bit and if I can wait for an order he will personally drop
it off at my house. Even if its just a small order for film. I sure
can't get that service from NYC. He delivers when he says he
will unlike the NYC stores.

Try the local guys if you can. They might not be able to have
everything the big NYC stores carry but they might be able
to get it for you.....

Later,
Dan

 

[F350Lawman]

I have PLENTY of experience with NYC camera merchants, growing up in Brooklyn, NY and having dealt with several. The absolute best most straight forward merchant is FOCUS CAMERA , in Boro-Park Brooklyn.

They give you real prices and none of this grey market junk. The other merchants always quote prices and then you find out it's an extra $100 for a U.S. warranty, doesn't include something, or some other garbage /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif I have dealt with FOCUS for almost 20 years and bought many items without one problem. I have bought several camera, lenses and even replaced some surveillance equipment we "lost" ( don't ask how /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif) at work through Focus

At FOCUS they are so use to having people ask over and over if it comes with the warranty, if its grey market, etc., etc that they get a little touchy. I can understand their feelings, I think being a NY camera merchant in and industry loaded with thieves they get lumped in with all the others. You can't blame the camera shopper either after they've gone to ten stores and been lied to they can't accept a price quote that's legit /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Heres' a summary if my last interaction at Focus

Me: So it's $600, with the WARRANTY, it's not GREY MARKET, that's with the LENS and FLASH?????

Them: (all said good-naturedly in a heavy Jewish-Brooklyn accent) Vhat did I say? Of course... who do yuo think your dealing with? You want the camera or vhat?

Even though I know the answer, I will continue to ask this question partially because I am a little paranoid and because it cracks me up when they respond. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

One thing they are a small store (physically at least) so if you call it's best if you have at least an idea of what you want, they are real busy and don't have time to chit-chat.

Good luck

 

[Docsknotinn]

Hey Lawman ! Good to see ya. Although every time I see a post I throw my arms in the air and shout I didnt do it ! " lol. My cats think I'm crazy, the CFO knows I am /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif