Beach Camera - Completely Exceeding All Expectations!
Written: Jan 05 '08 (Updated Jan 07 '08)
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On January 2nd (9PM)I decided to purchase a Tokina AT-X 107 10-17mm f3.5-4.5 DX fisheye lens (review will come soon!) from Beach Camera. At first, I was surfing through the eBay gray market lenses to see if there were any good deals. Many of the lenses were coming from Hong Kong, and if I were to buy a lens with a "Hong Kong warranty," it would have cost around $530 or so. I also watched an auction that quickly grew well over $400. Surprisingly, it took a very long time to actually look at legitimate online retailers. Lo and behold, the Tokina AT-X 107 was considerably cheaper at numerous legitimate online retailers than the gray market on eBay. The lowest price for the lens was $424.00, but it was from one of the shady sites that are based in Brooklyn that use "bait and switch" methods. Beach Camera was the second lowest at $464.00, and Buydig.com was $469.00. I decided to purchase the lens at Beach Camera because of the low price as well as the free saver shipping. I have received my lens today on January 5 in perfect condition and the product is as promised. Here is an overview of my experience with Beach Camera.
-PRICE-
*I found that on many goods, Beach Camera actually offers lower prices than not only brick & mortar stores such as Ritz Camera, but also was quite a bit cheaper than B&H Photo Video or Amazon.com. As far as this particular lens went, these were the lowest legitimate prices. Had you ordered from a site like Bestpricecameras.com, you would have had stomach ulcers from the experience. Of course, depending on the product you buy, you may also find a lower price at a different online retailer. Nonetheless, another great selling point with Beach Camera is the saver shipping. This is similar to Amazon's "super saver shipping" which gives free ground shipping on more expensive items. Beach Camera actually offered a variety of different shipping options. I chose the free saver shipping that cost $0.00 and would have the product delivered between 7-9 business days. You could also choose more expensive options to have the good delivered faster. Therefore, if you do not immediately need your product, you might find the best prices at Beach Camera where you won't pay for tax or shipping!
-PRODUCTS-
*Beach Camera offers a variety of different goods at very competitive prices. They offer a wide variety of cameras, from point and shoots to SLR's, from lenses to accessories, and just about anything else. You can also purchase non-camera related items such as televisions, appliances, phones, audio players, and so much more! I have not purchased other goods, but I am certain you will be able to find very competitive prices.
-SHIPPING-
*I was astonished when I received the lens technically two days later on a Saturday! The free shipping was supposed to take 7-9 business days, but I received it much faster. Beach Camera used FedEx to ship the item. My lens came in pristine condition. Inside the box was the warranty card (Good luck with the gray market!) as well as my receipts. I was extremely satisfied with the very prompt shipping time, despite using the cheapest possible shipping option.
-CUSTOMER SERVICE-
*I am glad that I do not have to rate this department! Since I received my lens in a very prompt manner, and the product was in excellent condition as described, there was no reason at all to complain. Aside from actually calling someone, Beach Camera also provides you with tracking numbers so that you can track your shipments. If you do have a problem, just remember to be courteous. I usually have good luck with any customer service agency when you are friendly and not belligerent. Since this is a reputable company, I am sure you won't have a hellish experience like you might with the scam websites such as bestpricecameras.com and its sister sites.
-THE VERDICT-
*I am extremely pleased with my experience with Beach Camera. They have shipped my lens very quickly, much quicker than expected, and the lens arrived in great condition. Also, the prices on the website were considerably lower than other online competitors. The deal was sweetened even further with the free shipping and lack of sales tax. I would not hesitate to use Beach Camera again in the future if the price is right, and chances are that it will be.
Recommended:
Yes
What product did you purchase or try to purchase? Tokina AT-X 107 10-17mm f3.5-4.5 DX
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About the Author
Member: Soup Enthusiast
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Reviews written: 493
Trusted by: 183 members
About Me: I enjoy many of life's passions... Music, medicine, people, and life itself.
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