The good, the bad & the ugly.
I have read snippets here & there on this blog on the good online camera stores & the bad ones. I would appreciate 1 spot to go to for reference when I need it to know where to shop. So, who are the good ones & who are the bad ones?
birder585 wrote:
I have read snippets here & there on this blog on the good online camera stores & the bad ones. I would appreciate 1 spot to go to for reference when I need it to know where to shop. So, who are the good ones & who are the bad ones?
To be safe - the ABC of on line buying
Adorama
B&H
Cameta Camera
You can add KEH for used as well.
The good ones in my order of preference: B&H, Cameta, & Adorama. I'm sure there are other reputable online dealers. As for others, use the search function at the top of the page. Most of the bad guys have been discussed here. Otherwise, do a google search of the company you're interested in doing business with.
Forgot KEH as a good guy. Have never done business with them.
Russ498
Loc: Pasadena & Ocean City, MD.
Adorama is my number #1 by far followed by Amazon and B&H. I also just posted a blurb about greentoe.com. It is a hybrid auction/bid site that sells only new, USA products at a substantial discount. No shipping, tax, grey marked or refurbs.
Check this link for more info on Greentoe:
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-287619-1.html
My favorite is B&H. I've not used Adorama or Cameta. B&H does not charge me sales tax in Washington State, but it can take awhile getting my stuff here. If it is a routine item like a printer cartridge, Amazon is much faster and equally reliable. But, Amazon has to charge sales tax.
Thanks!
I know there have been some mentioned I should stay away from as well. I think 42nd St was 1 and there was another I can't recall?
Thanks Russ. I saw that the other day. I'd never heard of it before.
Dngallagher wrote:
To be safe - the ABC of on line buying
Adorama
B&H
Cameta Camera
You can add KEH for used as well.
Also Hunts Photo in Massachusetts
Has anyone used Beach Camera? I notice that both Amazon and Best Buy use them as 3rd party sellers.
For my online photo equipmentI have used, and would use again:
B&H
Amazon
Costco
Best Buy
Canon
I have also used Abe's of Maine many years ago, but would probably not do so again.
Is Hunts Photo a good or bad?
B&H, Adorama, and keh are great to deal with. I've never used Cameta, but I've heard good things about them. I don't concern myself with the others. These three have earned my trust and loyalty.
Was Abes of Maine another to steer clear of?
Adorama, B&h and KEH have never disappointed me. I have not had any transactions with Cameta.
I have bought about 2 dozen cameras and lenses on ebay in the last couple of years. I have been hapy with all but one purchase, and the seller gave me a full refund and paid for postage as well. I always check the ratings and read any negative or neutral feedback for content. If a seller has sold many items including cameras and has a 100% or 99.9% positive rating (with the negatives being trivial complaints) it's a good bet you will get a good product, or be able to return it if it's not as advertised, based on the paypal protection.
If you want to reply, then
register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.