Excellent price, prompt shipping, pushy salesman
Written: Aug 27 '03 (Updated Sep 30 '03)
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I narrowed my choice of a digital camera to the Fuji FinePix 3800, and after checking the selection at brick-and-mortar stores, realized that even at discount stores, digital cameras are much more expensive than at online outlets. Using Epinions/Dealtime's helpful store listing that follows most product reviews, I selected Cameras and Electronics for its combination of price (low though not the lowest) and decent-to-good customer reviews. Here's my experience.
I placed the order for the camera using Epinions' link directly into Cameras and Electronics' ordering page for this product. In addition to the camera, I ordered a camera bag. This was Friday, and on Monday I received an email from "Jack" (name changed; his email did not originate at the vendor's domain) requesting that I call him and confirm the order. This is not the usual experience for online shopping, but I complied.
After I dialled the phone number supplied in the email, I spoke with Jack. He strongly pushed me to buy what, in my opinion, were unneeded and/or overpriced accessories and a warranty. In particular, he persuaded me to buy a lens protector for the camera that also served a filter and the adapter for the add-on lenses (strange combination?). He also tried to talk me into buying additional NiMH batteries and a charger for around $40. He was not very forthcoming when I tried to determine the form-factor for the batteries (which turned out to be standard AA). When I expressed my surprise at the high-price of non-proprietary batteries, Jack said that the NiMH were high-output (1800 mA), and that the alkaline batteries that came with the camera were, according to the manufacturer's instructions, supposed to be replaced and disposed of after only 15 minutes of use.
[Updated 09/30/2003, with customer service grade increased from 2 to 3 stars].
At the time, I found these statements hard to believe. Only after buying the camera and reading an excellent guide to digital camera batteries at http://www.cliffshade.com/dpfwiw/batteries.htm
did I realize that rechargeable NiMH batteries were really the way to go, and that alkaline batteries usually included with cameras, while lasting much longer than 15 minutes in my case, did not work too well because of the uneven way digital cameras draw the current. I ended up purchasing a "smart" charger and conditioner + 8 NiMH AA batteries from Thomas Distributing (thomas-distributing.com) for about $42 including ground shipping. So, after all, the salesman was right in recommending that I purchase special batteries, and the his price was higher only by a few dollars, 5-10%. However, the manner in which he made his "strong recommendation" made me doubt his honesty and motivation, and in the end cost his company that portion of my order.
As far as the lens protector, FinePix 3800 already comes with one - a simple plastic cap covering for the lens. I agreed to pay about $28 for the filter, but I have not used it yet. Additional lenses are a possible buy in the future, but not at the moment.
In general, I found the sales tactics high-pressure. I was in front of a computer, so I was able to do some quick queries and price lookups. I feel some people may be talked into buying overpriced accessories that do not need, if most other sales people are as pushy as "Jack". That's probably the way the vendor is able to advertise such low prices on the cameras themselves.
I received the UPS tracking number by email the next day (Tuesday), and the camera was promptly delivered on Friday morning that week. It was well packaged, with enough foam insulation. Nothing was missing, and it was obviously new and worked perfectly.
I wrote that I ordered a camera bag (on my own, without being pushed into it). The bag, made out of cheap vinyl, disappointed me - I would have preferred an honest canvas bag most Fuji non-digital cameras came in. But I did not research the bag at all, and so should blame myself for ordering a perfectly usable, though cheap looking product.
Even with my negative experience with customer service, I am willing to give this vendor 3 stars and actually considered giving 4. Considering that this is an on-line vendor trying to keep prices low, I can be somewhat forgiving of the pushy sales tactics, as long as they did not try to mislead me (which they did, IMHO).
I will recommend this outlet to others, with the caveat that they should research the product and accessories thoroughly beforehand, and be very wary of the pushy sales tactics. Repeat after me: buy the add-ons you really need, and only if the prices are competitive with BestBuy/Walmart etc.
Recommended:
Yes
What product did you purchase or try to purchase? Fuji FinePix 3800 digital camera and accessories
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Epinions.com ID:
asafono
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Location: St. Paul, Minnesota
Reviews written: 39
Trusted by: 21 members
About Me:
I have no principles; all I've got is nerves - Akutagawa Ryunosuke.
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