Reputable & CHEAP Online Electronics Dealers?

garyk · 02-12-2004, 03:54 PM

Thanks for the replies to my camcorder thread.

I'm leaning toward a Canon Optura 20.

And now the fun part.... trying to select a dealer.

Using FROOGLE, you can find a wide range of prices from an equally wide range of dealers. However, I've heard and read a lot of negative things about various discount dealers. Using Froogle, you cannot determine anyone's reputation.

I used to like CameraWorld, but they've been sold or acquired and no longer appear as competitively priced. Plus they don't carry the Optura 20 anyhow.

So how about it, do you have some on-line sources that that you would feel confident buying a camcorder from?

Cool Texan · 02-12-2004, 04:16 PM

Garyk... www.resellerratings.com

Search for your product, show ALL results, sort by price, find the lowest price with the highest rating and number of reviews. I saved a little over $200 on my camcorder that way. Dont pay full price.

If you dont want to go with a no name place, you can probably still find deals. I can help if you want.

Cool Texan · 02-12-2004, 04:36 PM

$528 from digital photo club (i think...check that resellers site). Compare that to $699 at Crutchfield. $170 savings.

Cool Texan · 02-12-2004, 04:43 PM

A few weeks ago you could have gotten one from Dell for $579.

How much patience to you have? You can go with the no name dude today, or wait for a deal to come around later. Personally, I'd roll with the no name dude...that's what I did for my Sony, and had no problems at all.

Sorry for the "rant"...was just looking around to see what's out there.

Pete · 02-12-2004, 04:50 PM

Gary,
I've had good luck watching e-bay auctions. Identify the guys selling volume of what you want ... some of them are major retailers, mostly in New York. Watch it for a week or two to figure the days and time of day when the prices close lowest. Then, within minutes of the end of an auction, call the 800 number for the retailer and ask if they'll sell to you for the price they just closed the auction at. I got an Olympus digital camera doing that at almost 50% off list.

Cool Texan · 02-12-2004, 04:52 PM

I'd be careful with that approach though...unless you look them up on that site first. I have read some real horror stories of people going through the WRONG New York companies and having nothing but trouble.

TheRogue · 02-12-2004, 05:56 PM

A friend got a 5mp Sony camera recently from AMPhotoworld.com .

I believe it worked out well for him, pleasant person he talked with on the phone, price was incredible, and he got it when they said he would.

Canon Optura 20, $469.....

TR

[ 02-12-2004, 06:57 PM: Message edited by: TheRogue ]

Cool Texan · 02-12-2004, 06:56 PM

TR, sounds like your friend is in the minority...

http://www.resellerratings.com/seller1988.html

garyk · 02-12-2004, 10:29 PM

Thanks guys you're input is what makes this site so valuable.

CoolTexan, extra thanks for that reseller rating site. Man, some of the feedback on there is an absolute horror story - and that's exactly what I was looking to avoid.

Looking at some of the sites and their feedback, it's readily apparant that a lot of those
super-low prices are simply a come-on, a sucker-decoy. They're often not going to sell to you at that price UNLESS you buy some accessories that they can make some profit on. I've read these stories on some other sites and you can see the pattern.

Thanks again for the help!

TheRogue · 02-13-2004, 05:33 AM

Wow, that's a cool site.

thanks for the info, CT, I'll bookmark that one.

BTW, my buddy always buys extended warranties and accessories with everything, so maybe he didn't think about getting scammed??

TR

pdxkevin · 02-13-2004, 06:01 AM

A low price and a reputable company do not alway go hand in hand. There is one site that I really like, great choice of sellers and excellent rating system.

Bizrate

02-13-2004, 06:10 AM

My wife is a professional photographer and she deals with B&H .

[ 02-13-2004, 07:10 AM: Message edited by: Keta ]

Cool Texan · 02-13-2004, 06:15 AM

Gary, you are right....that is how a lot of them work. Dont buy the high priced accessories, and suddenly its out of stock.

Do the homework and follow those with the good reviews. We bought our camcorder from a no-name based on that site. We got the high pressure pitch for batteries, tapes, warranties, etc. Declined it all....he was a bit rude...but we had the camcorder 3 days later. It was great.

Good luck!

Smily · 02-13-2004, 08:45 AM

Another couple of good review sites that I like are epinions.com and like cnet and zdnet that gives user reviews also.

For shopping and compairing sometimes pricewatch is great. Depends what you are looking for though. I think they specialize in the computer stores though.

:smile: Smily :smile: