rpavich Loc: West Virginia

I'm cheap...I squeak...I can make a nickle scream but I'll ONLY shop at the big boys...B&H, Adorama, Samy's, Calumet, etc.

It's not worth the potential risk of losing a lot of money to save a bit of money...there are a LOT of shysters in the camera/electronics business.

Bill Emmett Loc: Bow, New Hampshire

Wow, I have only bought one Canon battery for my 50D. I lasted almost a year before it quit taking a charge. I went online and bought two pearstone batteries. I put both of the Pearstones in my 50Ds grip and made my happy way. I shot, I guess over 1000 shots using these two batteries, either in the grip, or singularly in the camera. They charged well and tested good after every charge. Finally, one gave out. So, I went back to the online retailer who sold me the original batteries, and bought two more. They were charged and installed in my 50D on 12/1/2012. (I put a sticky on batteries when installed) These batteries were exactly 50% of the cost of a Canon BP-511a and come highly recommended by the online retailer. Who is this retailer? One you have all come to buy from, none other, B&H Camera and Video. That is why when I need a piece of expendable equipment I go to retailer like B&H. You should too.

georgevedwards Loc: Essex, Maryland.

I always buy batteries online, at ebay or amazon. I buy the cheapest, keeping an eye on the seller, if an individual of course beware. I have been doing this since I got my first digital camera 12 years ago. The new batteries I got for my Nikon D3200 were not only at least half the price, I got 2 of them and when I examined them, they arrived like 2 days later, free shipping, they were even more powerful and longer lasting, when I use them they work fine and don't run out juice like the Nikon battery. You get what you pay for-correct! That means if you spend a lot of money you just get ripped off bigger, that's what I have learned. Of course we are all rich..so what does it matter. I know people who don't care about quality but just want to know they got something exspensive, even if it is the same item. You can always get ripped off, exspensive or cheap.

1eyedjack

www.batteries.com is OK..

nealabello Loc: SB Wine Country

This is their standard MO. They will never have the things you ordered and will offer an alternative. I got stung once with a &D battery and will never deal with them again. "if it sounds too good to be true...

nealabello Loc: SB Wine Country

Should have said 7D battery

bktham

Hi guys, I don't quite agree with generally what you said of not buying non-propriety products. ( I think that's what they are politely called. Some call them "imitation" "non genuine" etc.). I think it depends on how knowledgeable you are.
Almost all manufacturers of complicated products in the world do not make all the components in house. They buy from suppliers. Many of the suppliers are also very well known and even bigger and more reliable than the manufacturer of the product.
Let me give you an example, The authorized dealer of my Lexus quoted me US$3000 for the aircon compressor excluding labor.
I know it's made by Nippon Denso and got it for US$120.

CaptainC Loc: Colorado, south of Denver

When you shop properly, you are correct. Some third-party products are excellent - even better than the proprietary stuff. One just needs to be careful because some third-party products are crap.
Sigma makes fine lenses. Sigma also made the garbage Quantaray lenses sold by Ritz/Wolf. Ritz would have you believe that because Sigma made them, that they were the same quality. NO - Sigma made them to Ritz specs - far lower than their own products.

PalePictures Loc: Traveling

Those batteries are exception to the rule. All of my AA batteries are pearstone that power my flash. They make very good reasonably priced long lasting batteries. B&h pushes these batteries for a reason.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

Jetty,
Funny how you're back there and you have the same law firm as Johnny Carson did in LA.......
By the way, how's your wife? Many of us remember your concern. If this is too personal, reply PM or tell me where to go.

rob s Loc: La Mesa, CA

Well so far you don't seem to have had any replies from anyone who has used them. I have. I've ordered their two for one battery deal twice now. Both times I got the same out of stock call. The first time I took the off brand deal and so far these seem fine. The second time I asked when the Canon brand LP-5 batteries would be back in stock. I was told three weeks. After three weeks I sent an email enquiring when they would ship. No reply. I then sent a somewhat grumpy email pointing out the appearance of bait and switch tactics and to cancel my order - Oh and don't look forward to any positive reports on the internet.
I had a phone call within about 15 minutes from John who assured me that these were now in stock and would be sent later that day. I live close to San Diego where they are based and even so was surprised to get the Canon LP-E5 + the free one on the 2 for 1 deal the next morning. On close examination these appear to be Canon originals and come with the usual Canon snap on battery cover.
My impression is that yes they do try to switch a lot of customers to off brand batteries but their prices on a 2 for 1 deal are so low that the risks seem low and if you complain you will probably get the real deal. The two Canon LP-E5s I got for $21.99. I'd use them again but if I got the out of stock response I'd quit using them and spread the word.
They did NOT bill until they shipped.

rob s Loc: La Mesa, CA

Much has been said about being very careful when buying aftermarket / off brand items. I'm willing to look for non optical stuff and there are some astonishing deals on small items of this type.
I don't treat my camera as gently as many do. Since I'm also prone to losing stuff the first thing I do with a new lens is to remove the nice expensive Canon lens cap and buy a pair of cheap aftermarket center pinch caps, as well as a lens hood. I have used a couple of different people for this and can recommend FocalPrice.com. They have a price break on their products at 3! So that's what I order. From memory their 72mm pinch caps are about $2.50 when buying three, (and free post). I always leave a lens hood on my lenses for protection. The center pinch caps from FocalPrice were excellent and far, far easier to remove with the lens hood on.

Chrishy Loc: New Orleans

Had a friend who got the bait and switch from this company. She wanted a Nikon SB-600 Speedlite that they advertised as New. Nikon hasn't produced that flash for a while. They talked her into a Sigma and even after shipping the wrong and defective unit, they refused to take it back. She ended up sending it back to Sigma for repair. If you look at their ads you will see a lot of discontinued items listed at unbelievable prices. Beware the switch.....