Are NYC Discounters Still Bad News?
 

I haven't purchased a new camera in New York for many years, so I've been
lurking around some of the customer feedback pages. Looks like some pretty
horrible experiences in a few places. I don't plan on ordering by phone and
setting myself up for problems. If I walk into one of the big photo stores
with cash in hand, can I really expect to walk out with, say, a Sony f828
for the advertised price?...with a USA warranty?...with all the stuff that
supposed to be in the box? Back in the day, they used to let you take the
camera and ship the empty box with a wink and a nod to save you on the tax.
Do they still do that?...

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Re: Are NYC Discounters Still Bad News?
 

Go to B&H and you can! I've done it several times both by walking in and by
ordering online. Wouldn't know about the tax saving scheme though.
Larry

"Ric Kaysen" <rdkaysen@NOSPAMoptonline.net> wrote in message
news:VS9Vc.31957$vc4.13777463@news4.srv.hcvlny.cv. net...
> I haven't purchased a new camera in New York for many years, so I've been
> lurking around some of the customer feedback pages. Looks like some pretty
> horrible experiences in a few places. I don't plan on ordering by phone
and
> setting myself up for problems. If I walk into one of the big photo stores
> with cash in hand, can I really expect to walk out with, say, a Sony f828
> for the advertised price?...with a USA warranty?...with all the stuff that
> supposed to be in the box? Back in the day, they used to let you take the
> camera and ship the empty box with a wink and a nod to save you on the
tax.
> Do they still do that?...
>
> --
> Remove NOSPAM to reply
>
>

Re: Are NYC Discounters Still Bad News?
 

"Larry" <me@myhome.xyz> wrote in message
news:EuaVc.69951$Oi.14162@fed1read04...
> Go to B&H and you can! I've done it several times both by walking in and
> by
> ordering online. Wouldn't know about the tax saving scheme though.
> Larry
>
> "Ric Kaysen" <rdkaysen@NOSPAMoptonline.net> wrote in message
> news:VS9Vc.31957$vc4.13777463@news4.srv.hcvlny.cv. net...
>> I haven't purchased a new camera in New York for many years, so I've been
>> lurking around some of the customer feedback pages. Looks like some
>> pretty
>> horrible experiences in a few places. I don't plan on ordering by phone
> and
>> setting myself up for problems. If I walk into one of the big photo
>> stores
>> with cash in hand, can I really expect to walk out with, say, a Sony f828
>> for the advertised price?...with a USA warranty?...with all the stuff
>> that
>> supposed to be in the box? Back in the day, they used to let you take the
>> camera and ship the empty box with a wink and a nod to save you on the
> tax.
>> Do they still do that?...
>>
>> --
>> Remove NOSPAM to reply


I don't think any respectable retailers would do that anymore. A few months
ago, a friend of mine went to a retail store in NYC to buy a laptop. They
also have an Internet division and the price there is much better. Of course
you can bargain for a good price at the store, but you have to pay sale tax.
[BTW, my friend lives outside of NY state.] After half an hour, my friend
bought a computer bag which would be shipped to his address and he bought
the laptop at Internet price and carry it out without tax.

Re: Are NYC Discounters Still Bad News?
 

leo <someone@somewhere.net> wrote:
>"Larry" <me@myhome.xyz> wrote in message
>news:EuaVc.69951$Oi.14162@fed1read04...
>> Go to B&H and you can! I've done it several times both by walking in and
>> by
>> ordering online. Wouldn't know about the tax saving scheme though.
>> Larry
>>
>> "Ric Kaysen" <rdkaysen@NOSPAMoptonline.net> wrote in message
>> news:VS9Vc.31957$vc4.13777463@news4.srv.hcvlny.cv. net...
>>> I haven't purchased a new camera in New York for many years, so I've been
>>> lurking around some of the customer feedback pages. Looks like some
>>> pretty
>>> horrible experiences in a few places. I don't plan on ordering by phone
>> and
>>> setting myself up for problems. If I walk into one of the big photo
>>> stores
>>> with cash in hand, can I really expect to walk out with, say, a Sony f828
>>> for the advertised price?...with a USA warranty?...with all the stuff
>>> that
>>> supposed to be in the box? Back in the day, they used to let you take the
>>> camera and ship the empty box with a wink and a nod to save you on the
>> tax.
>>> Do they still do that?...
>>>
>>> --
>>> Remove NOSPAM to reply


>I don't think any respectable retailers would do that anymore. A few months
>ago, a friend of mine went to a retail store in NYC to buy a laptop. They
>also have an Internet division and the price there is much better. Of course
>you can bargain for a good price at the store, but you have to pay sale tax.
>[BTW, my friend lives outside of NY state.] After half an hour, my friend
>bought a computer bag which would be shipped to his address and he bought
>the laptop at Internet price and carry it out without tax.

I don't think that places like B&H will do that. It is
decidedly illegal and no honest retailer needs the
aggravation and bad publicity getting caught would bring.

----- Paul J. Gans

Re: Are NYC Discounters Still Bad News?
 

I've been buying from adorama for over 15 years and have only good things to
say about them. Most of the NY dealers are crooks.
http://www.adoramacamera.com


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home of The Camera-ist's Manifesto
The Improved Links Pages are at
http://www.chapelhillnoir.com/links/mlinks00.html
A sample chapter from my novel "Haight-Ashbury" is at
http://www.chapelhillnoir.com/writ/hait/hatitl.html
"Ric Kaysen" <rdkaysen@NOSPAMoptonline.net> wrote in message
news:VS9Vc.31957$vc4.13777463@news4.srv.hcvlny.cv. net...
> I haven't purchased a new camera in New York for many years, so I've been
> lurking around some of the customer feedback pages. Looks like some pretty
> horrible experiences in a few places. I don't plan on ordering by phone
and
> setting myself up for problems. If I walk into one of the big photo stores
> with cash in hand, can I really expect to walk out with, say, a Sony f828
> for the advertised price?...with a USA warranty?...with all the stuff that
> supposed to be in the box? Back in the day, they used to let you take the
> camera and ship the empty box with a wink and a nod to save you on the
tax.
> Do they still do that?...
>
> --
> Remove NOSPAM to reply
>
>

Re: Are NYC Discounters Still Bad News?
 

The advertised prices at B&H are the same as my local Best Buy in NJ and the
NY taxes are higher. Is there some other reason I should go there?

--
Remove NOSPAM to reply
"Larry" <me@myhome.xyz> wrote in message
news:EuaVc.69951$Oi.14162@fed1read04...
> Go to B&H and you can! I've done it several times both by walking in and
by
> ordering online. Wouldn't know about the tax saving scheme though.
> Larry
>
> "Ric Kaysen" <rdkaysen@NOSPAMoptonline.net> wrote in message
> news:VS9Vc.31957$vc4.13777463@news4.srv.hcvlny.cv. net...
> > I haven't purchased a new camera in New York for many years, so I've
been
> > lurking around some of the customer feedback pages. Looks like some
pretty
> > horrible experiences in a few places. I don't plan on ordering by phone
> and
> > setting myself up for problems. If I walk into one of the big photo
stores
> > with cash in hand, can I really expect to walk out with, say, a Sony
f828
> > for the advertised price?...with a USA warranty?...with all the stuff
that
> > supposed to be in the box? Back in the day, they used to let you take
the
> > camera and ship the empty box with a wink and a nod to save you on the
> tax.
> > Do they still do that?...
> >
> > --
> > Remove NOSPAM to reply
> >
> >
>
>

Re: Are NYC Discounters Still Bad News?
 

"Ric Kaysen" <rdkaysen@NOSPAMoptonline.net> wrote in message
news:TLkVc.36225$vc4.15686841@news4.srv.hcvlny.cv. net...
> The advertised prices at B&H are the same as my local Best Buy in NJ and
> the
> NY taxes are higher. Is there some other reason I should go there?

Only for professional photographic, audio, video equipment, lighting and
accessories that few places carry. For many consumer video/audio/camera
items, you can find much better price elsewhere.

Re: Are NYC Discounters Still Bad News?
 

i agree that you can find things slightly cheaper than b&h, but not with the
same level of service or return policies. b&h offers consistently amazing
values for such a honest and reputable dealer. pay less get less, pay more
get less... i think they are the best value going. adorama is also good
but they don't have much in the way of a showroom, so you have to know what
you want going in... calumet has a nice showroom and good service but their
prices are no bargains.


"leo" <someone@somewhere.net> wrote in message
news:GXlVc.3952$2L3.3726@newsread3.news.atl.earthl ink.net...
> "Ric Kaysen" <rdkaysen@NOSPAMoptonline.net> wrote in message
> news:TLkVc.36225$vc4.15686841@news4.srv.hcvlny.cv. net...
> > The advertised prices at B&H are the same as my local Best Buy in NJ and
> > the
> > NY taxes are higher. Is there some other reason I should go there?
>
> Only for professional photographic, audio, video equipment, lighting and
> accessories that few places carry. For many consumer video/audio/camera
> items, you can find much better price elsewhere.
>
>

Re: Are NYC Discounters Still Bad News?
 

"Larry" <me@myhome.xyz> wrote in message
news:EuaVc.69951$Oi.14162@fed1read04...
> Go to B&H and you can! I've done it several times both by walking in and
by
> ordering online. Wouldn't know about the tax saving scheme though.
> Larry

I don't know about this B&H place. I went there about five years ago
intending to buy a camera, and I casually asked the salesman where Houston
Street was. He said "It's not pronounced 'Houston' like the city, it's
pronounced 'Houston'. " I said "Well, that's not how they pronounce it in
Houston, Texas." He said "We don't care how they pronounce it in Houston,
TX! The correct pronunciation is 'Houston'." I said "Well, they certainly
care how they pronounce 'Houston' in Houston, TX, because it was named after
Sam Houston! Do you honestly think there are two Houston families running
around in the United States, and they pronounce it differently?" This guy
started screaming that Texans didn't know how in the hell to pronounce
anything, and he lost a camera sell. Heck, I'm not even from Texas, but I
cannot handle a salesman screaming at me just because they don't know how to
pronounce Houston Street correctly.

Clyde Torres

Re: Are NYC Discounters Still Bad News?
 

"Tony Spadaro" <tspadaro@ncmaps.rr.com> wrote in message
news:7phVc.179433$wH4.11819623@twister.southeast.r r.com...
> I've been buying from adorama for over 15 years and have only good things
to
> say about them. Most of the NY dealers are crooks.
> http://www.adoramacamera.com

That is a safe way to see things. I have to agree. I've purchase a few
items from Adorama and I will not hesitate to do so again. I particularly
like Cameta Camera. I can walk-in when I want to and sometimes one has to
handle the goods before buying.