Would you guys buy video equipment from Amazon?

ScottyLacy wrote on 5/1/2007, 1:53 AM

Hey all,

Just curious if Amazon is a reliable dealer for the higher-end cameras like the HVX200? Or is it always safer to go the B&H route? The price difference is significant, which is the only reason I'd give serious consideration to buying a professional camera from Amazon.

Anyone have any experiences, good or bad, when buying higher-end gear from Amazon?

Scott

Comments

Jay Gladwell wrote on 5/1/2007, 3:41 AM

In many cases Amazon is nothing more than a conduit or middleman for other sellers. Check to see if it says where the camera is coming from and that may make a significant difference.

On big ticket items like cameras you want to be careful that you're not buying graymarket (hence a "better price")!

<EDIT>

Okay, that camera is coming from Wall Street Photo. Run as fast as you can and get as far away as you can! These folks are scammers!

rique wrote on 5/1/2007, 4:15 AM

Actually it's listed as "ships from and sold by Pavilion Electronics." Wall Street Photo and Adorama Camera are listed on the side as alternate choices.

craftech wrote on 5/1/2007, 5:16 AM

Pavilion Electronics.

Gujarat???

Domain Name is for sale.

Anyone want to buy it?

John

richard-courtney wrote on 5/1/2007, 5:59 AM

The camera or decks.....no same with ebay. Lights, scrims, other supplies you
can save some money going with ebay. Do your research first with any seller.

Jay Gladwell wrote on 5/1/2007, 8:36 AM

Interesting... When I looked at it said it shipped from Wall Street Photo.

riredale wrote on 5/1/2007, 8:38 AM

I bought my first HC3 from Amazon last December. It was a "refurb" unit and was sold by a third-party, not Amazon directly.

No doubt we've all bought something from a local store only to return it a few days later for reasons not having anything to do with performance or functionality. I know that the local Fry's is then required to slap the "returned merchandise" sticker on the product and put it back on the shelf. So getting a refurb unit has never been an issue for me. But in this case the HC3 camera worked great--for about 3 days. Then, suddenly, something made a "snap" noise inside the transport, and from then on the display would be blank when in play mode. Then, suddenly, two days later it begins to work again. I suspect it was an intermittent issue that never got fixed originally because the fault couldn't be duplicated.

Anyway, I returned it and got full credit for the purchase price and shipping.

So my point is that I think Amazon can be trusted to fully back up the items sold through them. As it turns out, I replaced that HC3 with an identical unit bought on eBay, for about $200 less. Even on eBay I've had very good luck, but would certainly put Amazon a couple of notches higher than eBay on the "no surprises" ladder.

ken c wrote on 5/1/2007, 8:58 AM

while buying via amazon.com does provide some price protection, like paypal via ebay does, I'm much happier buying my av gear from...

bhphotovideo.com

because I know I can trust them. one key to success is just working with the best (teachers, consultants, vendors, whatever) and focusing on that... peace of mind is important. and newegg.com for computer hardware.

the time I save in focusing on single-source high quality vendors (from my corporate background), more than offsets any minor 5% price differential or whatever I'd get by wasting a lot of time 'shopping around', and then worrying about whether or not I'll get what I pay for.

a/v gear: buy from bhphotovideo.com
pc gear: buy from newegg.com
books: buy from amazon.com

see that's easy!

ken

Harold Brown wrote on 5/1/2007, 3:56 PM

Hey, my wifes family is from GUJARAT. I buy from B&H.

Former user wrote on 5/1/2007, 4:09 PM

Go to www.resellerratings.com and look for your vendor. Then weigh the complaints and issues and determine if you want to do business.

Amazon will back up the Marketplace sellers, but I don't know about the businesses that just tag on to Amazon.

Dave T2

JJKizak wrote on 5/1/2007, 4:47 PM

No. I buy from B & H and Newegg.

JJK

ScottyLacy wrote on 5/1/2007, 5:42 PM

Thanks all. As always, some good perspectives from a great board.

RexA wrote on 5/2/2007, 1:22 AM

>So getting a refurb unit has never been an issue for me. But in this case the HC3 camera worked great--for about 3 days. Then, suddenly, something made a "snap" noise inside the transport, and from then on the display would be blank when in play mode. Then, suddenly, two days later it begins to work again. I suspect it was an intermittent issue that never got fixed originally because the fault couldn't be duplicated.
<

Just one more data point from my experience.

I bought a refurbished Nikon still camera body earlier this year. Purchase was indirect through Amazon as this thread is talking about. In my case the camera hasn't had any problems that I have noticed and I'm totally happy.

B&H is great and I buy from them many times, but in this instance I took a small chance and saved some money.

As I recall, I had some web advice that this seller (listed through Amazon) was ok before I bought.