Is this a ripoff?

I have recently been looking at some of the online camera retailers,

and I have noticed a rather large disparity of price. For example,

www.bestpricecameras.com has the Nikon D70s <a

href="http://www.bestpricecameras.com/prodetails.asp?prodid=227265&display=1">here</a>

for only $439 plus $20 shipping. This is much lower than the sticker

price at any big box retailer, and I was just wondering if anyone knew

why this offer is so low?<br><br>

 

I would like to pick on up if the price is that low, but I wouldn't

want to be ripped off either.

Lee, a quick check with B&H photo in NY, a very reputable house has their price about 50% below reality. What do you think?

 

Somebody had a saying once, something like if its too good to be true... etc ...

"I was just wondering if anyone knew why this offer is so low?"

 

Because it's a SCAM! I repeat - a SCAM! But in your gut you already knew that, didn't you?

 

If you shop for ANYTHING electronic on the internet by price ALONE (especially via a price comparison search engine) I will guarantee with 100% certainty that you will experience a world of heartache.

 

The real story on scam outfits like bestpricecameras.com (this scumbag company sells under MULTIPLE webfronts) can be found here: http://www.resellerratings.com/seller8754.html

 

Buy from a *reputable* dealer. Any price that you find online that is significantly lower than that found at B&H Photo (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=381562&is=REG&addedTroughType=search) is suspect.

 

Good luck.

YES! It's a "Rip Off". Use B&H, Adorama, or similar reputable dealer.

 

Mike

Wow. I've seen a lot of bad reviews on resellerratings.com, but those guys have got to be the worst. Spectacularly bad!

Yes, I agree, those are very bad ratings on resellarratings.com

 

Thank you Michael for pointing out that website, it has likely saved me much headache trying to deal with those scam artists.

 

Thank you all of you for your prompt responses.

Many of these scam companies, with different names, are the same company with several phone. Hating to rehash the obvious cliches, but... "if it's too good......."(fill in the rest yourself).

If you want more .... chase down this link about one guy and his troubles, TROUBLES, with one such company.

 

http://www.boingboing.net/2005/11/30/priceritephoto_ripof.html

Anybody ever see that movie Groundhog Day?

Have you ever thought of buying from a local camera store? You know, the kind of place that has actual living, breathing people in it. People come in handy. Most people who work in camera stores actually know something about cameras. Who knows, they might even be able to answer a question or two.

B&H doesn't have living people in it?

<i>If you shop for ANYTHING electronic on the internet by price ALONE (especially via a price comparison search engine) I will guarantee with 100% certainty that you will experience a world of heartache.</i>

<p>Unless you get really, really, lucky. My first internet shopping experience years ago consisted of buying a DVD player from a company called "Whacko Deals." Yeah, I was very suspicious, but figured the name was so stupid they just had to be legit. Well, I don't know where they've gone, but I did actually get the DVD player without incident, and as far as I know, it still works (was a present for my parents).</p><p>I would suggest to you, Lee, that you order from bestpricecameras, a known ripoff artist, and get your bad internet experience out of the way (mine was with AAA Camera Exchange). That way, you'll appreciate the likes of B&H, 17th Street Photo, J&R Inc, etc. much more.</p><p>It's kind of like getting the first ding in a new car. You know it's coming, so might as well do it yourself.</p><p>Bill</p>

"It's kind of like getting the first ding in a new car. You know it's coming, so might as well do it yourself."

 

There's lots of good advice in this thread, but this is just sick.

Wow! I sound like a jerk, sorry. I was trying to be sarcastic, not asinine. Again, my apologies.

I actually talked to Bestpricecameras.com over the phone while trying to place an order. I had a question about the lense in the D50 kit...He made fun of MY accent (I'm from Texas) and then hung up on me! I'll pay more at B&H or somewhere else just for decent customer service.

I just checked Best Cameras website, a Canon 30d for $979. No way in hell that outfit is legit.

My local Walmart started pricing the Fuji F10 at $380 about six

months ago. The prices on the web then were a little below $300

on some sites linked on dpreview.com. Within those six months

Walmart dropped the price to $360, then $345, and right about

the end of six months $223.

 

Now they don't stock the camera anymore. D'oh!

This has been beat to death - but I have one litmus test I use. I very seldom ever (well, won't) do business with a company that doesn't have a published address. They publish their address as

BestPriceCameras.com

Brooklyn, NY 11223

 

That should be a wayyyyyy big hint.

 

RULE #1: THEY MUST HAVE A PUBLISHED ADDRESS... and I mean a real one. Not a PO box.

 

RULE #2: Call and play customer. Pretend you have a problem and see if you ever get to a real person.

 

Frankly, for most camera stuff, for me it's either B&H, Adorama, or Amazon. Sometimes I get off on others looking for other stuff (like a GPS)...

I was shopping for the Nikon D300 and their price was 939 and it sounded too good to me so I started checking around and found http://www.resellerratings.com/seller8754.html and now this forum. We are now 2 years later since the last entry on this link and they continue to do business. Amazing. I will have to wait for the prices to drop because I cannot afford just yet the 1600 tag at other 'good' retailers.