Local Camera Dealer vs On-Line or Franchise

Mark#1

I guess low price is the biggest advantage of buying on-line or from a place like Argos.

As an example:

Conn's Cameras & Hall's Cameras are both selling the EOS 400D with the 18-55mm kit lens + "free" 2G CF card for €900.

Dixons are selling the same for €830: €70 cheaper, but without the CF card.

Argos are selling it for €770. That's €130 cheaper, but again with no CF card.

Does a 2G CF card cost €130?

Probably more like €50 - €70 or so? If that's the case, then the price gap is down to maybe €60, which I'd be more than happy to pay if I was getting something more than, say Argos, are offering.

Conn's offer free sensor cleaning for life, but isn't one of the 400D's (for example) hot selling points its self-cleaning, dust-free sensor?

They also offer a free replacement camera while they have yours for any work. That's impressive, but I would expect that a camera that cost me the guts of a grand (though I do realise that's cheap in DSLR terms) wouldn't need to be back in the shop too soon or too often...

Some guys on here seem to have bought the 400D for as little as €620 on-line.

My question is whether saving the cash by buying from Argos (or similar) or on-line is worth it over buying from a local camera-specific dealer.

Do local Dublin dealers offer more than the standard warranty (not to mention statutory cunsumer rights), or anything at all, to justify that extra cash, albeit just €60 or so?

Very interested in opinions. Thanks for any replies.

Mark

Paulw

The sensor cleaning on the 400D is ok (better than none) but it will still require actual cleaning from time to time.

Recently my girlfriend looked at buying a 400D. After looking and shopping, she eventually bought it online, on ebay from Hong Kong. She saved a lot of money doing it that way. I think the end price was about €850, which included 2gb memory card, extra battery, 50-200mm lens as well as the standard kit lens and camera.

The standard warranty on a camera body is only 1 year.

I still fail to see how shops can charge so much.

minikin

i suspect the free cleaning for life deal in conns just refers to pro bodies, the extra €60 or so that you're paying pays for the boys to stand in a lovely shop (but it also means you get handle the gear before buying it, and you don't have to wait for it to be delivered)

the_manchine

Just a quickie on buying online vrs. shops

I bought my 300D online almost 4 years ago and saved over 200 quid - and that was buying from an EU site.

I've also just bought a Sigma 24-70 f2.8 from Hong Kong on ebay. This came in at about 350 quid. That includes the shipping and being stung from the import duty/tax. But it's still waaay cheaper than the 600 quid Conns charge.

If you're worried, check out the online shops history etc... and ask around (here!) for peoples experiences.

Personally, I'd buy online every time.

latchiko

It really depends on how much you are willing to pay for peace of mind.

I bought my 400D online along with a 17-85mm lens and a CF card. I bought a budget (but perfect) 4GB card for €30, so €130 for a 2GB card is definately not right.

While the sensor cleaning on the 400D is one of it's main selling points, in truth it really isn't very effective. I don't have a link to a review, but I'm sure if you google it you will find reviews where people have tested it and it hasn't proven very effective in these tests. Having said that, a lot of people here clean their sensors themselves so it can't be that hard. I've used my 400D a lot in the last few months and I haven't had any dust that a quick blow of an air blower hasn't sorted out. When I do get some stubborn dust I'll be looking into a copperhill cleaning kit.

You could expect to save a lot more than €60 by buying online, closer to €200-250 but there are some risks involved. You need to weigh up your options. If you did have to send your camera away to be repaired, would you need a replacement camera or could you live without it? Would you feel comfortable cleaning the sensor yourself should you need to? Would you prefer to walk into a shop afterwards and ask questions about the camera or would you be ok with researching any questions online?

feileacan

heres my tuppence

i bought my 5d from Conns even though i could have saved approx €300 by getting it from HK.

but its piece of mind as well - any problems or questions - straight back to conns where as from HK several weeks turn around, additional cost of getting it there, hassle etc. the sensor cleaning costs about £30-40 in the UK (Jessops Birmingham) so this might seem a bit of a gimmick but its not. all DSLR's will pick up dust irrespective of built in sensor cleaning.

i have bought two lenses from HK via ebay and its very efficient and much cheaper (saved €200 on a 100mm macro).

conns are excellent and take the time to discuss what you need etc so in this regards i would highly recommend them. but (!) they are expensive but most camera shops in dublin are.

memory cards - http://www.mymemory.co.uk/

SanDisk 2GB Extreme III Compact Flash Card - £17.99
SanDisk 4GB Extreme III Compact Flash Card - £39.99
SanDisk 8GB Extreme III Compact Flash Card - £79.99
SanDisk 12GB Extreme III Compact Flash Card - £118.99
SanDisk 16GB Extreme III Compact Flash Card - £169.99

next time your in conns or dce - ask how much there 4Gb Extreme III card is and have a chair ready...

FreeAnd..

got my 5D from HK, saved around 750 on the conns price...also had to return a lens and there was a turn around of less than a week. At first i was wary of larger purchases on line but Kea sorted all that out, cant fault on the return procedure or the new sales procedure and the difference in price on many items is astronomical. If you are only saving 50-100 i would probably have bought in town but with a service like kea i would nearly buy if they were the same price as town..+ it gets delivered to me in 2-3 days so i dont need to trudge into the shops for it..

Fey!

FreeAnd; did that include paying the courier the taxes (I've been hit for this on a couple of lenses from HK).

I bought my both my D50 and D80 from Galway Camera Shop; I couldn't find much of a saving online, and prefer to deal with a bricks and mortar shop in case there's a problem.

But that's just a personal preference.

Got my 2GB SD cards from Aldi for about €16 each, though.