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The digital age is a blessing for camera shoppers. Not so long ago, consumers had to either shop for their cameras and photography gear in their local camera store and hope that what they wanted was in stock or they could order from mail-order companies. The internet ushered in a brave new world of camera buying options, with countless retailers popping up to choose from. Along with improvements in technology and manufacturing, this increased competition has helped to drive camera prices down — good news for photographers! So many shopping options means that you can find some amazing deals, but you also need to be a cautious shopper to make sure your buying experience is a good one. There are a few things you should know before you start shopping for a camera:
Grey Market
Grey Market means that the camera, lens, or accessory was obtained by the retailer from a source other than a brand authorized importer for their country. Since these items, also referred to as imported and direct import do not come with a manufacturer’s warranty, they are typically less expensive.
Retailers who sell Grey Market items should always disclose the fact that they are Grey Market to you — be sure to check the page before ordering to make sure the warranty information is listed. Since the manufacturer warranty does not cover Grey Market items, some retailers will offer their own warranty, meaning that if your camera malfunctions during their warranty period, you will need to return it to the retailer or one of their designated service centers to have it fixed. Many photographers choose to buy grey market gear because it can mean saving money, but just make sure that the gear you’re buying comes with the warranty you want.
Deceptive Practices to Watch out for
Fortunately, the world of e-commerce has cleaned its act up a lot in the past few years, and scams and deceptive practices aren’t quite as commonly reported as they once were. A few things you should watch out for are retailers that attempt to upsell you and those who perpetrate bait and switch tactics.
Upselling is when you order something like a camera and the retailer tries to push you into buying accessories that you don’t need or want. Knowing exactly what you want and need can help you avoid any problems.
Bait and switch scams occur when bad retailers list gear for below retail price, knowing that people on the lookout for a great deal will place an order. After the product is ordered at the lower price, these unethical merchants will call the customer and essentially lie to them, telling them stories like the camera they’ve ordered doesn’t come with any of the standard accessories like a user manual or batteries. The goal of the bait and switch is to trick the customer into actually paying above retail price for what they originally wanted. Luckily, lawmakers have cracked down on this, but it does still happen which makes it worth shopping from merchants you can trust.
Buying Safely
Supporting your local brick and mortar camera store is a great idea, but many areas no longer have independent camera stores, making shopping online a necessity.
When buying online, check out the return policy, read reviews and do a thorough Google search BEFORE ordering. The web is awash with people commenting on blogs and consumer complaint sites that they wish they had found a store’s bad review before they ordered. Don’t make their mistake — do your research before you click the buy button.