Question about camera dealers: Greetings, Looking to buy my first DSLR camera, probably a Nikon D5500--would like to get a kit with a lens as well. Found a website called "Tri-State...

rsumners Loc: Washington

Greetings,
Looking to buy my first DSLR camera, probably a Nikon D5500--would like to get a kit with a lens as well. Found a website called "Tri-State Camera" in New York--they seem to have really good prices, camera body with an AF-S 18-55mm lens, and the usual accessories for $718. Does anyone have any experience with this company? Are they reputable? I have found to my frustration that many of the "highest rated" online dealers--B&H, Adorama, and such--also seem to have the highest prices, and don't offer much in the way of bundled discounts. Any suggestions? I don't have a brick-and-mortar camera shop within 100 miles of me, unfortunately.

jethro779 Loc: Tucson, AZ

rsumners wrote:

Greetings, br Looking to buy my first DSLR camera,... (show quote)

Any Nikon authorized dealer(think warranty) has to sell at a price determined by Nikon. Any price over 10 or 15 cheaper is not being sold by an authorized Nikon dealer. It is also liable to be sold without a battery, charger, english language owners manual, or any of the other things included by Nikon.

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

rsumners wrote:

Greetings, br Looking to buy my first DSLR camera,... (show quote)

Many here (including myself) would only recommend usin one of "the big four" B&H Adorama Cameta or KEH. Many of the discount places sell grey market gear which is why the pricess are lower. The grey market cameras warrantees are not honored by the US dealers. Two words Stay away

Dick Z. Loc: Downers Grove IL

boberic wrote:

Many here (including myself) would only recommend usin one of "the big four" B&H Adorama Cameta or KEH. Many of the discount places sell grey market gear which is why the pricess are lower. The grey market cameras warrantees are not honored by the US dealers. Two words Stay away

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

traveler90712 Loc: Lake Worth, Fl.

Reseller ratings did not have anything negative about them. I scanned their site and the one thing I did not see was a confirmation that their stuff was warrantied in the States (so Nikon here can repair/replace them. I did not see "banners" saying they were authorized dealer of Nikon.
The questions I would ask;
a. Are you an authorized dealer for Nikon.
b. If they are not warrantied by Nikon here in the states.
c. Is the camera a refurbished, if so what is the warranties come with them.

Even though the ABC sites are higher, all of their cameras carry US warranties with generous return policies.

I would advise and suggest you stay with those on line (ABC) stores

rsumners Loc: Washington

There is a company called "BuyDig" that offers a decent bundle with an 18-55mm lens and wide-angle lens, plus accessories, for $896. They specifically state "Brand New, USA Warranty", and I have seen the site listed on online lists of "recommended sites"--unlike Tri-State, which the more I look into it, they shadier they seem. Has anyone dealt with BuyDig?
http://www.buydig.com/shop/product.aspx?sku=E1NKD55001855BK

BebuLamar

rsumners wrote:

Greetings, br Looking to buy my first DSLR camera,... (show quote)

It cost to be reputable. I would buy from reputable dealers.

Macronaut Loc: Redondo Beach,Ca.

There are so many posts by people that went with a lesser known dealer to save a "few" bucks, only to regret it later.

Just sayin'....

hammer531 Loc: Fall River , Ma

rsumners wrote:

There is a company called "BuyDig" that offers a decent bundle with an 18-55mm lens and wide-angle lens, plus accessories, for $896. They specifically state "Brand New, USA Warranty", and I have seen the site listed on online lists of "recommended sites"--unlike Tri-State, which the more I look into it, they shadier they seem. Has anyone dealt with BuyDig?
http://www.buydig.com/shop/product.aspx?sku=E1NKD55001855BK

Adorama has the same kit for the same price as BuyDig .

Pepper Loc: Planet Earth Country USA

It seems that the vast majority of members who have problems always start their threads with the same words "I was trying to save a few bucks".

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

B&H and Adorama also sell gray market but it's usually clear in the description. B&H is my first choice because I haven't had any need to go elsewhere.

boberic wrote:

Many here (including myself) would only recommend usin one of "the big four" B&H Adorama Cameta or KEH. Many of the discount places sell grey market gear which is why the pricess are lower. The grey market cameras warrantees are not honored by the US dealers. Two words Stay away

sinatraman Loc: Vero Beach Florida, Earth,alpha quaudrant

just because the listing says usa warranty DOES NOT MEAN IT IS A NIKONUSA WARRANTY. one of the tricks the scamer use is to list a us warranty but it is not a Nikon warranty but a fly by night third party warranty from bobs school of taxidermy and camera warranties in frostbite falls Minnesota home of whataamatta u. try refurbished equipment from one of the big 3 camera stores or directly from Nikon usa. they are sold at a good price and every refurbished camera is inspected and cleaned. have a canon P+S I got refurbished from adorama, cost me less then half what the new one costs.

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

rsumners wrote:

Greetings, br Looking to buy my first DSLR camera,... (show quote)

There is a reason that some stores charge significantly lower prices than others, and it's not because they are trustworthy.

rsumners Loc: Washington

Cameta offers this package, which looks pretty good.

http://www.cameta.com/Nikon-D5500-Wi-Fi-Digital-SLR-Camera-18-55mm-G-VR-DX-II-AF-S-Zoom-Lens-Black-86652.cfm

traveler90712 Loc: Lake Worth, Fl.

rsumners wrote:

Cameta offers this package, which looks pretty good.

http://www.cameta.com/Nikon-D5500-Wi-Fi-Digital-SLR-Camera-18-55mm-G-VR-DX-II-AF-S-Zoom-Lens-Black-86652.cfm

Cameta is less the miles from me. I do buy 90% of my gear from them.