Has anyone purchased a digital camera off the Internet?

Question

What site did you use? Was the camera okay when you received it?

I'm looking into getting a Digital SLR and I can get a better deal online than in a camera store but I'm a little nervous about buying something so expensive off the Internet without handling it first. I was thinking about going to a camera store, choosing a camera from there, and then purchasing it from an Internet source, such as new from Ebay or butterflyphoto.com.

Any advice or experiene to share? Thanks!

Answer 1

I have purchased both of my digital cameras - a Canon PowerShot S50 (compact) and Fuji FinePix S9000 (SLR-style - not an actual SLR) - from the internet. I did not check out either product in a store first (not that there would be anything wrong with that if you did).

First and foremost, I'll read the technical specs to make sure the prospective camera provides what I need - sufficient flash distance/coverage, focal length (my primary concern in the purchase of the Fuji), etc. This helps me narrow it down to a few viable candidates.

From there, I will read user reviews of the products. As with anything I purchase on the internet, I take pains to seek out the negative reviews first. I find a well-written criticism invaluable. If what bothers a well-expressed critic about a product would present a problem to me, I will often reconsider the suitability of the item for me.

Lastly, it comes down to price/warranty/accessories considerations. In this consideration, the Fuji pulled past a comparable Nikon Coolpix model. The only thing I'd say is that if a price seems too good to be true, it probably is. It's one thing to find a price that's $25 or even $50 cheaper, but if you're looking at one seller who seems WAY lower than the preponderance of other sellers, it's probably for a reason. Often the camera is being sold refurbished, "as-is" and without a warranty, etc. Just read the fine print.

I followed all these rules with both cameras, and I've been very happy with them, even though I purchased them both sight unseen.

Good luck, and happy shooting!

P.S. I purchase most of my photography supplies from B & H Photo/Video (www.bhphotovideo.com) and have had no problems with them.

Also, the only reason I have non-SLR digital cameras is because digital is my second choice. I shoot most things with a medium format Mamiya SLR - and I bought pretty much all of that equipment (body & a range of lenses from ultrawide to telephoto, plus a tilt-shift lens) used at eBay.

Answer 2

I have purchased 3 different digital cameras from the internet over the past 8 years. (I just keep upgrading) The site that I use and trust very much is ubid.com . Most of their stuff has been reconditioned (which I like, cause all the bugs have been worked out and fixed) but you can also find new in box deals too. All of their reconditioned cameras come with a warranty (manufacturers). All of my purchases have went very smooth, I have never had anything damaged, and the deals that I have got, have been great. You just need to do some homework and get a good idea of what it is that you want. I went to the websites of some of the big camera shops and I still got a far better deal from ubid.com. Each camera that I have bought from them is still working and functioning correctly. As I mentioned, I just keep upgrading. Each of my kids now have the former cameras and I just use my newest one.
I hope this helps you out. I found the ubid.com website by accident some 8 years ago. Back then nobody knew about them.
Seriously, they have been great! Good luck to you.

Answer 3

I highly recommed NOT purchasing from places such as Ebay or Amazon.com. The reason being is two fold: You really can't trust people anymore and you don't know what you are going to get, and some repair places will not accept these as reputible dealers. All manufacturers stipulate that warranties are non-transferable from person to person. Because it is VERY difficult to determine whether the account you purchased the camera from is a true dealer or just another person, the warranties are often challenged.

I DO recommend online dealers that have their own websites, provide true reciepts from their shop, and that sell USA models and warranties. Be very leary of whether or not the camera comes with a true USA warranty. Pentax is the only company I know of that offers internationall warranties. So if you buy it overseas you can have it repaired in the US. Other manufacturers will either refuse to repair the camera or simply do not have the parts to repair it because it wasn't meant for sale in the US at all. Nikon will flat out refuse to touch these so called 'gray market' cameras.

The East Coast has a bad reputation for selling 'gray market' cameras. Ask and demand a US warranty if you live in the US. Also make sure that you can return it if it isn't what you expected. This way if they do the whole bait and switch on you, you can return it.

Answer 4

I have brought 2 cameras on the Internet. It pays to look at different sites as they change prices once a week.
One thing to be careful of is, The price shown may not reflect some weird things that are expected at a local store.
Example, I brought a Fuji camera that was advertised for 399.00,
came to find out,, at the last minute of course,,that the camera did not come with an English version instruction book OR software. That was 199.00 extra.
Well I could have gotten as good or better camera local for that little extra charge.
Ask questions up front.

Answer 5

I bought a still camera from an internet camera shop and a camcorder from a private person who probably worked for a camera shop. Both were postive.

Understand, however, when I went shopping I found a lot of come-ons, especially in the low price end. You find a camera for 2/3 or 1/2 off and they won't sell it to you unless you buy some expensive accessory kit. If you say no, you find out it's on backorder.

It took me 4 tries to get a dealer to actually honor their posted price with no add-ons.

Answer 6

I am like you, I want to be able to physically see up close, feel and handle a product before purchasing. I have done that with many items I have seen in the store and then search online for the same product for a better price. This is important to me for big ticket items and items I am in no hurry to have in my possession.

Last year, I purchased 2 (new) of my digital cameras online. I saw them in the stores and loved the look, feel and the specs of the cameras. but their prices was not within my budget. I googled the make and model on froogle.com and from there came to the site: http://www.pricescan.com/ where they list which site offers the same camera make and model, and lists who offers it currently at the lowest price.

I purchased one from ABE's of Maine and the other from Rainbowtronics.com Both sites have physical stores and I found that to be a plus. I was able to speak to a representative to answer any questions I had. They may try to sell you additional items or add-ons, but felt no pressure and was not penalized if I didn't make any other purchases.

Pluses for ordering online: 1-no sales tax (since I lived out of state from the site) 2-some offer no shipping & handling OR with the S&H, it still kept the price lower than buying from my local store. Best to order from a consumer electronics/camera site. Like mentioned above from another answerer, bypass Ebay.

I was able to purchase 2 NEW Canon digital cameras (5 mp and a 7.1 mp) under $400 total, and they arrive within 3-4 days from the day I phone ordered, and have had no problem with the products. I have been fortunate to not have any problems with the camers and have had no reason to call the merchant. They do provide a phone number in the packing slip and you can always refer to your online information for ways to reach your merchant if you should come across any problems.

Good luck on your purchase! You'll be pleasantly surprised and may always shop this way!

Answer 7

Your thoughts on handling it at a store first is spot on. I'd be cautious of purchasing on eBay however. Butterflyphoto.com appears to have a good rating at the BBB website. See link.

Newegg is a very reputable online retailer that likely will have the camera model you are interested in as well. Compare prices there.

Answer 8

I haven't purchased a digi camera off the internet but I have purchased a 50" tv and had a great experience. onecall.com has some great prices. Plus we didn't have to pay sales tax since we are in a different state than where they're shipping. We checked prices for the same tv at BestBuy & Circuit City & it was cheaper going through Onecall.

Answer 9

Cameras are packed very well for shipping. Try Websites of:
Amazon.com
Beach Camera
Adorama
B&H Photo
Tristate
Abe's of Maine

All have been in business for many years!
In the past 20 yrs or so I,ve used all of these for 35MM. Now recently digital.

Answer 10

When I bought my DSLR, I priced a number of sources. I then saw the price difference between B&H Photo and the others and realized I knew it would show up on time as promised from B&H. I called the price difference "insurance" and ordered. B&H can't be beat when all other considerations are taken into account. Safety, integrity, reputation counts for a slight premium in my book.