Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

Does anyone know anything about Focus Camera? I'm interested in a camera from Amazon. Says it is sold by Focus Camera. Are they grey market or a legit U.S. market dealer?

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Focus is exclusively grey market products

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

Thank you for the heads up. I will avoid them.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

Many people on this forum successfully use Adorama, B&H, and Cameta, the ABC's.

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

Being up here in Alaska where it always takes so long for things to get here, I will likely support my local camera store in Anchorage, Stewart's Photo. They've been in business since before the '64 earthquake. He will price match, I'm sure.

TucsonCoyote Loc: Tucson AZ

I have a friend who tried grey market .....what a scam operation that seems to be!
They get you hooked on low prices then try to sell you this, that and everything that should come as standard accessories with the camera....in the meantime the clock ticks and the product doesn't leave their docks until they've scammed you !
Just my take on the subject ! :roll:

ralphc4176 Loc: Conyers, GA

I bought one item from Focus Camera some years ago. Although I never had a problem with the item or the firm, something about the transaction made me uncomfortable. Never bought from them again. I use B&H almost exclusively; I occasionally buy from KEH for used equipment. Both are excellent. Price may not be the absolute lowest, but prices are reasonable, and customer service is second to none.

pdsdville Loc: Midlothian, Tx

I agree with Far North. I rarely buy off the internet because it's just too difficult to hold the item, ask questions about it, and have that personal contact when you need help. If you don't have a camera store near or they aren't much help, then hit the net. But remember if we all hit the net all the time, the local store would disappear. Hate to put those folks out of work. I doubt many brick and morter camera stores sell grey market stuff.

sueyeisert Loc: New Jersey

I used to buy supplies for a school there and I never had a problem.

jmdarling Loc: Maryland

What about buying a camera from amazon sold by adorama? Not many camera stores by me, and I am looking for a better camera for the photography course I just started.

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

I think, in the end, ya gotta do what ya gotta do, as they say. I will buy off the internet if needed due to unavailability locally, but I learned a long time ago that it's good to support your local merchants as much as possible. It builds a good relationship and helps keep them in business. Good for the local economy and promotes good will with that merchant. I know a lot folks who ride motorcycles, as I do, will go in to their local shop, try on helmets, jackets, etc, find one that fits them, and then go to an internet retailer and pick it up "cheaper." I always found that once I established a good working relationship with a dealer, he would price match internet prices on parts and accessories, and he appreciated the business. Here in Alaska, shipping costs so much more to get stuff up here that by the time I get something off the internet, I haven't saved anything over the local prices anyway.

spphoto Loc: Long Island,N.Y.

Focus camera in Brooklyn is not a grey market dealer .They have a brick and mortor store in Brooklyn,N.Y.I have bought many items from them .

Toment Loc: FL, IL

How about KEH too :)

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

There is "good" grey market... and "bad" grey market.

"Grey market" simply refers to the way the gear is imported... not through official and manufacturer authorized channels. Grey market sellers leverage the fluctuations in currency exchange rates to eke out a little lower price, then bring the gear in via "the back door". In itself, this isn't necessarily a bad thing. B&H and Adorama practically invented the process and still do it a lot today. In most cases, the gear is exactly the same, you just don't have the same manufacturer's warranty with grey market. Most reputable grey market dealers like B&H and Adorama typically offer a "store warranty" instead... where you can return the gear to them for repair, if needed, during a certain period of time.

But there are also plenty of "scammers" using the grey market approach. They use bait and switch tactics, such as deleting necessary items that are normally included, then trying to sell them to you at greatly inflated prices.

You can check out practically anyone who sells online at www.resellerratings.com

If you look there, you'll find Focus Camera (aka digitalfotoclub.com) not getting very good reviews. Compare to B&H or Adorama, for example. Resellerratings.com is helpful, but I always take their 5-star reviews with a grain of salt. It is too easy for a dealer to have fake reviews posted, in hope of increasing their score.

It also doesn't always track that an online seller and a brick and mortar store of the same name will necessarily treat their customers the same. Sometimes online sales are done by a whole different, and much less trustworthy, division. It might even be a subsidiary or separately owned and operated. Plus it's generally harder to "put one over" on people in a brick and mortar store!

I noticed that you were specifically asking about buying from Focus Camera through Amazon... That's a bit different than dealing direct. There are several sales models on Amazon... Amazon direct, fulfilled by Amazon and associate sellers within the Amazon community. If the first two, you don't have too much to worry about. They have a liberal return and refund policy. If the latter, an independent seller you deal with who happens to be on Amazon (which can be a store... or an individual selling a single, used item), Amazon tries to police them and won't tolerate a lot of complaints. So you have some recourse, if there is a problem and you want your money back.

I just did a quick search and found an example being sold by Focus Camera and Fulfilled by Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/T5i-Digital-75-300mm-Telephoto-Accessory/dp/B00COR4Q2K/ref=sr_1_3?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1440960644&sr=1-3&keywords=focus+camera&pebp=1440960652844&perid=1AC0R0K2N5Y4FJ8CWMW9

In one respect I'd be okay buying that, since it's fulfilled by Amazon. But, looking closer at what's bundled in the offer, I see a lot of junk. Much of the "Deluxe Accessories" included trying to make me think it's a great deal are actually next to worthless (the 2.2X and .43X lenses, the filters, the no-name flash and more). Even the telephoto lens in this case is one of the manufacturer's cheapest (and one of their worst).

Caveat emptor!

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

Lot of members are happy with them too. So, A,B,C,KEH sounds good! :thumbup: