Where to buy equipment at negotiable prices in NYC

surfjungle · 08-09-2008 11:28am #1

Hi all,

I'm planning to buy a significant amount of photo equipment (lenses/tripod) in NYC next week and was wondering about shops where I can negotiate a fair price. Originally I was thinking of going to BH but have since decided against it after being informed that it was like "Argos for camera stuff", so I won't be able to talk to anyone. Adorama is the current place I am place I'm looking at - and funnily enough, it works out about ever so slightly cheaper overall.

Summary: I need to be able to demo the products I'm buying with a salesman who knows his stuff and negotiate a price.

Thanks in advance for suggestions,

Surf.

Rael · 08-09-2008 1:05pm

surfjungle wrote: »

Hi all,

I'm planning to buy a significant amount of photo equipment (lenses/tripod) in NYC next week and was wondering about shops where I can negotiate a fair price. Originally I was thinking of going to BH but have since decided against it after being informed that it was like "Argos for camera stuff", so I won't be able to talk to anyone. Adorama is the current place I am place I'm looking at - and funnily enough, it works out about ever so slightly cheaper overall.

Summary: I need to be able to demo the products I'm buying with a salesman who knows his stuff and negotiate a price.

Thanks in advance for suggestions,

Surf.

The Argos comparison isn't fair. If you know what you want and have the product code off their website then you can just go up to the till, ask for the product and pay. My brother did this for a battery he needed.

On the other hand, B&H has loads of assistants and staff that you can talk to. I spent at least 40 minutes with one staff member back in January going through my requirements and his recommendations for equipment and letting me look at cameras, cases and other accessories before making my mind up.

I'd advise you to get in there early on a weekday morning so it'll be quiet, but then again it was abut 3:30pm on a Sunday when I was there.

magicbastarder · 08-09-2008 1:33pm

i'd say adorama would be too big to be able to easily find someone with the authority to negotiate.

surfjungle · 08-09-2008 2:51pm

Thanks Rael and magicbastader.

I have heard that BH don't do negotiations so, if that wasn't the case, I could possibly do better with Adorama. But, if there are any other places ye or other people know, I would appreciate a listing.

I am aware that the prices are very good over there so one can't be too greedy but for what I plan to buy, I think an offer could be negotiated providing I was talking to the right person.

I know I'm going to end up going into BH and Adorama anyways, just don't want to let it dominate my trip : )

Thanks again, Surf.

Kinklee · 08-09-2008 9:24pm

There a few good camera stores in NY that sell at negotiated prices. When you get there when in the yellow pages or else go online here and google the stores, Midtown is usually good, then pinpoint them on google maps, so you know where you are going. Another idea is to go to New Jersey as the sales tax is only 3% compared to 8.5% in NYC. Most of these stores have good second hand areas on their websites. Remember that most camera shops in NY are owned by Jewish people and as such will close early on Friday, close all day saturday(sabbath) but will usually be open on a sunday if you are going for a short weekend. There are also some very good wholesalers in Brooklyn as well and even though they are not mad on walkins they love cash and they will haggle a bit. If you tell them you are from Europe they will know you are spending euros and are not taking the piss and some I have dealt with have not only given a discount but waived the tax. If you are buying a load of shyte consider carrying the items back on the jet as hand luggage and post all of the folded up boxes back using USPS. It will probably cost you a score to do so but when you come back you probably have less chance of being stopped if you have little luggage.

surfjungle · 08-09-2008 11:10pm

Thanks Kinklee. Most informative and roughly, it was pretty much what I had in mind. I'll be 2 weeks in upstate NY, about 30 miles from Manhattan so I should have plenty of time for shopping. I plan on getting 4 L primes and a Gitzo, so the tripod is the only thing that's going to be awkward coming back. The wholesalers is an interesting idea - I didn't think of that. Since I'm going over to visit relatives, they should have an thought or two about what state is best for tax, providing I'm not sucked in by all the shiny stuff in BH or Adorama

Freddie59 · 09-09-2008 9:32am

surfjungle wrote: »

Thanks Kinklee. Most informative and roughly, it was pretty much what I had in mind. I'll be 2 weeks in upstate NY, about 30 miles from Manhattan so I should have plenty of time for shopping. I plan on getting 4 L primes and a Gitzo, so the tripod is the only thing that's going to be awkward coming back. The wholesalers is an interesting idea - I didn't think of that. Since I'm going over to visit relatives, they should have an thought or two about what state is best for tax, providing I'm not sucked in by all the shiny stuff in BH or Adorama

Listen to the people above. Be EXTREMELY careful. Stick with BH.

This link says it all:

http://www.nyc.gov/html/om/html/96/sp655-96.html

surfjungle · 09-09-2008 10:27am

Thanks for that Freddie59, even though it's an old post, the contents of those is always relevant.

Biro · 09-09-2008 11:28am

I've heard the bad comparisons about B&H too. But I was there in July and was very impressed. It's nothing like Argos. They have everything seperated into departments that specialise in the different equipment and you can try anything before you buy it, and they're all very helpful. No negotiations though!!!

thewing · 09-09-2008 1:25pm

I bought $2000 worth of equipment there back in February, and honestly, there is no need to negotiate when you look at the savings you make on the price of stuff over here.

CH3OH · 09-09-2008 2:04pm

I'd certainly recommend BHPHOTOVIDEO as well.

One of their employees has posted on this forum HENRYP and his email is on his page.

I'd make a list of what you want and email him to ask can you get a better price. What is the worst he can say? If he says no , you've lost nothing. If he says yes, you should check the stock levels to make sure everything will be available.
There is also the facility to chat to someone via the website

henryp@bhphotovideo.com

Freddie59 · 09-09-2008 4:00pm

surfjungle wrote: »

Thanks for that Freddie59, even though it's an old post, the contents of those is always relevant.

No problem.

PM sent.:)

surfjungle · 11-09-2008 12:07am

Thanks everyone for you're comments. Looks like it'll probably be B&H after all. Good job AIB upped my CC limit - I don't know if that's worth a smiley or a non-smiley.

wasper · 11-09-2008 2:53am

surfjungle wrote: »

Thanks Kinklee. Most informative and roughly, it was pretty much what I had in mind. I'll be 2 weeks in upstate NY, about 30 miles from Manhattan so I should have plenty of time for shopping. I plan on getting 4 L primes and a Gitzo, so the tripod is the only thing that's going to be awkward coming back. The wholesalers is an interesting idea - I didn't think of that. Since I'm going over to visit relatives, they should have an thought or two about what state is best for tax, providing I'm not sucked in by all the shiny stuff in BH or Adorama

I usually put my tripod in the main suitcase.

darraghsherwin · 11-09-2008 10:27am

I would recommend going to B&H after going there a few times, most recently in August and bought 3 L lenses, 2 carbon fibre tripod and a 5D to that's probably amount the same amount of money you are looking to put down.
There was no negotiation in B&H and they are usually the cheapest and most reliable.
I have never been to Adorama but have order from them and have found them to be unreliable when dealing with them directly but had absolutely no issues when ordering through their Amazon.com shop.
Comparing B&H to Argos is like comparing Brown Thomas to Argos, there is no comparison. The assistants showed us every piece of kit we wanted to look at and let us try them out on our own camera gear.

Just my 2 cents
Darragh

FinoBlad · 11-09-2008 10:34am

Ask Rich in PhotoVillage if he can beat B+H prices?

surfjungle · 12-09-2008 7:20pm

wasper wrote: »

I usually put my tripod in the main suitcase.

I'm gonna have to risk it I'm afraid. Can't carry everything on the plane.

surfjungle · 12-09-2008 7:23pm

darraghsherwin wrote: »

I would recommend going to B&H after going there a few times, most recently in August and bought 3 L lenses, 2 carbon fibre tripod and a 5D to that's probably amount the same amount of money you are looking to put down.
There was no negotiation in B&H and they are usually the cheapest and most reliable.
I have never been to Adorama but have order from them and have found them to be unreliable when dealing with them directly but had absolutely no issues when ordering through their Amazon.com shop.
Comparing B&H to Argos is like comparing Brown Thomas to Argos, there is no comparison. The assistants showed us every piece of kit we wanted to look at and let us try them out on our own camera gear.

Just my 2 cents
Darragh

Thanks Darragh. I can't get too greedy. Getting stuff over there will be enough! Interesting that you got a 5D there when it'll almost certainly be replaced at Photokina - the teasers going round on the Canon sites are annoying. Anyhow, the current 5D is less than 2/3's what most estimate the new 5D to cost so I can understand that. If I get good service at BH it'll definitely be worth it and by the sound of things I can't go wrong (famous last words...).

surfjungle · 29-09-2008 8:22pm

Hi again all,

I'm back from the States and I just wanted to thank everyone for their advice. I got nearly all the stuff I wanted in B & H with a minimum of hassle.

My advice to anyone going over is this: shop in a reputable place and make a list and stick with it.

I've saved a ton of money although I'm still be paying it back

Surf.

Where to buy equipment at negotiable prices in NYC

Comments