Camera Shop (Page 2): Assuming the deal is nothing special...beware someone offering something that is not offered by reputable dealers....I agree with most here..buy from...

jbk224 Loc: Long Island, NY

Assuming the deal is nothing special...beware someone offering something that is not offered by reputable dealers....I agree with most here..buy from BH..Adorama..or Roberts. Don't bother with the extended warranty.
Question to others...if you purchase with a credit card that extends the warranty on the camera and/or lens purchased-- has anyone ever needed to use it? If so, how did it work out?

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

PeterDragon wrote:

Try Costco they give you a 2nd year warranty on most items, or they used to.
🐕🐶🐩🐈🐱
Semper Fi, Stay safe and well.
Jim

I buy most of my electronics there, but they are limited on cameras. To add to the extended warranty bit. I do buy extended warranties sometimes, especially on refurbs, but I get the drop spill warranty because of the conditions I often shoot in.

olemikey Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida

Extended warranties are just another money maker product, they really have nothing to do with the quality of a product being sold (that is easy enough to validate with any quality brand like Canon, Nikon, Sony etc etc....if the item has issues, it will be public soon enough). If any have noticed, you see a "buy box" for the warranties for almost anything under the sun, even stuff you'd have to attack with a ball peen hammer to damage. Just another money maker, that may or may not ever be used, and may or may not pay off. Focus Camera seems to have a good rep, and it sounds as though recourse would be no problem. I have not purchased thru them.

Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

bnsf wrote:

I need your help again. One of my coworkers wants to purchase a camera from Walmart which is selling it thru a camera company from Brooklyn, NY called Focus Camera. How well known is this camera company and basically how good is the company? He is also going to purchase a 3 year warranty from Walmart as an extra add on.
Thanks
bnsf1991

Extended warranties are good at times, not usually for small items like cameras and lenses. Read the extended warranty agreement. For large TVs for instance they often will give in-home service. You really would not want to package up a 65" TV and return it for service! Like someone else said, with electronics like cameras, if there is a problem, it will usually show up right away. Because of this, the item should be used a lot when it is first purchased. To buy a camera and put it in the closet for 3 months until you go on vacation is not wise. Problems only show up during use! The reason stores push extended warranties on everything from USB thumb drives to toasters to cameras is they consider the sell of the warranty a 100% profit item. I doubt if even 3% of all extended warranties are used.

Fredrick Loc: Former NYC, now San Francisco Bay Area

billnikon wrote:

For the same price they should just go with B&H or Adorama. No fuss, no muss, just great service without the worry.

And if you get B&H’s credit card they pay the sales tax for you!

Mike1017

Why not go to a real camera store to buy a real camera why Walmart makes no sense just to save a buck Mike

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

I have a pro-photographer friend who lives in Flatbush (Brooklyn)- He deals with Focus frequently and finds the, to be honest, fairly priced, and service orientated. Good Pizza joints and delis in the neighborhood too!

gpc

MrBumps2U wrote:

Extended warranties are huge money-makers for the retailer, probably more profitable than the product itself. With electronics, the item will generally fail immediately, and be covered by the manufacturer warranty, or not at all. Unless your coworker requires absolute piece of mind, i would suggest skipping the extended warranty.

Every time I buy a new car, after dealing with the sales person and then a "sales manager", there is the closer who tries to sell add-ons like rust proofing, window etching, and yes an extended warranty. I explain that given all the money I've saved by never before buying an extended warranty I could afford another new car.

Boosesb

I believe the Walmart warranty a) goes into effect after the Canon warranty b) covers accidental damage including drops, spills, water and other damages

Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

Mike1017 wrote:

Why not go to a real camera store to buy a real camera why Walmart makes no sense just to save a buck Mike

Reread his post. He is going to a real camera store, not WalMart. WalMart will get a few cents for directing him to Focus Camera which has gotten favorable reviews here. They may not be B&H or Adorama, but they are a legit camera store and if the OP checks their price vs. the others and comes up with a better price, then everyone will win on this deal. By the way, go to Amazon -- you'll end up at B&H a lot of times. All the e-trade biggies do the same thing -- JC Penny, Sears, etc.. They all earn a little extra by advertising for others.

Paul Diamond Loc: Atlanta, GA, USA

I sell on ebay, amazon and walmart. Do not let him buy the Walmart warranty. It literally covers nothing for what I sell (watches and jewelry). And, I assume the coverage is similarly lame for cameras. I know Focus Camera from years ago. No recent experience. As a buyer, you have 30 days to return a walmart.com purchase. If something is immediately wrong, broken or missing, your friend can get restitution through Walmart. If your friend has trouble of any other kind including how to use it beyond the first 30 days, probably he is out of luck. Camera equipment that is grey market is sold on ebay, amazon and walmart all the time because the selling price is lower. Get an extended warranty from a reputable company serving the photo community with a history of having been in this business for many years. Research them before you buy from them.

aellman Loc: Boston MA

rmorrison1116 wrote:

Focus Camera is an authorized dealer of Canon, FujiFilm, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic, Sony and a few other DLSR, MILC, Bridge and P&S brands. From what I've read they are a reputable retailer and they operate two physical stores and a retail website. Personally, I wouldn't waste the money on the 3 year warranty. I own around 2 dozen Canon, Nikon and Sony digital cameras and I've never had one fail in under 3 years; in fact I've never had one actually fail.

There are opposing views on warranties. Neither one is "correct." Yours is based on anecdotal evidence, and so is mine. I have had two cameras fail, and the warranties saved my *ss.

Joexx

jbk224 wrote:

Assuming the deal is nothing special...beware someone offering something that is not offered by reputable dealers....I agree with most here..buy from BH..Adorama..or Roberts. Don't bother with the extended warranty.
Question to others...if you purchase with a credit card that extends the warranty on the camera and/or lens purchased-- has anyone ever needed to use it? If so, how did it work out?

Yes, a few years ago I used a visa extended warranty. Video monitor. They replaced it. Worked out well

jbk224 Loc: Long Island, NY

Joexx wrote:

Yes, a few years ago I used a visa extended warranty. Video monitor. They replaced it. Worked out well

So.....if you use a cc that offers an extended warranty, you may not want to purchase another. Keep in mind that if you do buy an extended warranty, the cc warranty will no longer be valid as the one you purchased will take precedence.

ecunnar

Camera MFG warrentees cover MFG defects whereas extended warentees from Walmart cover damage even if caused by the owner. The only thing they don't cover is loss or theft and they are serviced by Allstate.