Buyer Beware
I can remember working at an upscale camera store in Metairie, LA (suburb of New Orleans). A woman came in and wanted to purchase a camera and proceeded to tell me how much less she could purchase it for less online. Let me start here. Here is how pricing works from the retail end. Most cameras have an 8 to 12 % margin. I can tell you that is not enough to keep a store open for any length of time. Stores make money on accessories such as memory cards, batteries, bags, etc. With that said, why would an otherwise intelligent person think they had more buying power then a store when purchasing a camera online? Truth is the don't. So keep in mind if it seems too good to be true it probably isn't true.
Another woman came in and recounted how she thought she had found a deal on a camera that would save her hundreds of dollars online. When she received the camera it was clearly broken to the point where the body was physically cracked. When she called the place she purchased the camera from they told her that they never said it was a working camera in their ad. She had no recourse.
I think purchasing from a local merchant is the way to go. It establishes a relationship in the event you need help of any type you can go to them and handle your issue face to face. The prices may bit a little higher but should be inline with legitimate online sites. And you help your local economy. However if you want to purchase online do so with care. Read reviews, and go to larger sites such as Amazon.com. But you must keep in mind that there will probably not be any one to talk to should you have a problem. The good thing about dealing with a site like Amazon is that returns are usually hassle free.
Below are several links to sites and stores I have dealt with over the years and found them to be professional and priced well. Many also offer services beyond just camera sales. Prices for accessories will vary widely. But Camera and lens prices should be similar across the board. As an added bonus if you buy online if you are not located in the same state as the retailer in most cases you will not be charged tax, which can save hundreds on a large purchase. Good luck and happy shopping.
- http://lakesidecamera.com/
- http://www.bhphotovideo.com/
- http://www.adorama.com/
- http://www.milfordphoto.com/
- http://www.calumetphoto.com/
www.wix.com/georgecordero/best
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