Buying D700

[KCMui]

Checking the price comparation websites,

found a few site offering the D700 for $1999,

that is $1,000 less than others, does any one here have purchased from some of these merchants ?? How is it that they can underprice their rivals by such a big number, must be a catch ...... ??

I have put in an order thru Sonic Camera, and try to see what the rersponse will be.

Any past experience with these merchants will be deeply appreciated.

[dsp]

Always check ResellerRatings.com if you're not sure.
Sonic has a rating of 1, that's out of a possible 10.
Sonic Cameras Customer Ratings, Reviews and Prices at ResellerRatings

[digitalzed]

Cancel your order immediately. Man, if sounds too good to be true....it may be grey market, which means no warranty or more likely you'll get a scenario similar to this:

First comes the call where they ask you to verify your info and then try to sell you the battery and charger (that's always included in the real package) for 1000.00 because the battery that comes with D700 only lasts for 10 minutes and the battery (off brand) they want to sell you will last for years on one charge. When you decline, they rudely tell you they are suddenly out of stock and your camera is backordered...FOR ETERNITY.

Bottom line, there isn't that much MARGIN for the retailer on the D700. Camera stores work on a 26-40% margin so why would these bums be selling the camera AT or BELOW their cost? Think, PLEASE! It just ain't real and I'm amazed how many people think these kinds of deals exist after all the searchable posts in all the camera forums on the Internet citing hundreds of examples of prices too low to be believed.

899.00 for D300? WRONG. 2999.00 for a D3? NO WAY. 1999.00 for a D700? WHAT DO YOU really THINK? A fool and his money are soon parted. Cliche' yes. But cliche's exist for a reason.

I will apologize publicly to you if you get your camera in the time frame you requested with all the accessories included with the warranty that works in your country. Please do let us all know how it works out.

[KCMui]

Oh... my god...

Reading all the horrible stories makes me sick.

And they have a 5 star rating on the pricingdepot website...,

Well, I will have to remember to stick to my original order and not buy one cent of extra stuff or switch to any other item that they want to sell me.

the old saying comes to mind "what seems to be too good to be true is usually not true", But the price was just too good to pass up even as a gray market product.

[KCMui]

Originally Posted by digitalzed

Cancel your order immediately. Man, if sounds too good to be true....it may be grey market, which means no warranty or more likely you'll get a scenario similar to this:

First comes the call where they ask you to verify your info and then try to sell you the battery and charger (that's always included in the real package) for 1000.00 because the battery that comes with D700 only lasts for 10 minutes and they battery (off brand) they want to sell you will last for years on one charge. When you decline, they rudely tell you they are suddenly out of stock and your camera is backordered...FOR ETERNITY.

Bottom line, there isn't that much MARGIN for the retailer on the D700. Camera stores work on a 26-40% margin so why would these bums be selling the camera AT or BELOW their cost? Think, PLEASE! It just ain't real and I'm amazed how many people think these kinds of deals exist after all the searchable posts in all the camera forums on the Internet citing hundreds of examples of prices too low to be believed.

899.00 for D300? WRONG. 2999.00 for a D3? NO WAY. 1999.00 for a D700? WHAT DO YOU really THINK? A fool and his money are soon parted. Cliche' yes. But cliche's exist for a reason.

I will apologize publicly to you if you get your camera in the time frame you requested with all the accessories included with the warranty that works in your country. Please do let us all know how it works out.

Thanks all for taking the time to reply.

WHY need to apologize to me, I agree with what you said 100% , I have deal with similar merchants before, Hoping understanding how they work will limit my losses, at the same time if I can get even a bare bones D700 body for such price will make me very happy.

I will know more when Monday comes, when I call them to confirm the order as their coming email will ultimately tell me to. I will know what kind of tricks they have up their sleeves.

Thank god we live in a country where the consumer has many rights and buying with a credit card from long distance offer many protections with in the law.

Hope this works out and I can get the D700 at a very reasonable price, In the worst case, I will lose some time and effort. And I will update you all on the final outcome.

[digitalzed]

Originally Posted by KCMui

Oh... my god...

Reading all the horrible stories makes me sick.

And they have a 5 star rating on the pricingdepot website...,

Well, I will have to remember to stick to my original order and not buy one cent of extra stuff or switch to any other item that they want to sell me.

the old saying comes to mind "what seems to be too good to be true is usually not true", But the price was just too good to pass up even as a gray market product.

Wow, you're still going to try, huh? Well, best of luck to you and don't say you weren't' warned.

One more thing: The least amount of damage is that you get strung along thinking you'll get the goods. The worst that could happen is that they charge your card and even with a dispute in against the company, you have to spend ton's of time and effort to rectify the situation.

[KCMui]

Originally Posted by digitalzed

Wow, you're still going to try, huh? Well, best of luck to you and don't say you weren't' warned.

One more thing: The least amount of damage is that you get strung along thinking you'll get the goods. The worst that could happen is that they charge your card and even with a dispute in against the company, you have to spend ton's of time and effort to rectify the situation.

Thanks for reply,

Actually, my problem is that I placed the order before I posted on this thread, before I was able to find out what kind of the company Sonic Camera was. I was fooled by the 5 star rating of this shopping website(I guessed they are run by the same scums).

I will try to cancel the order before anything can happen, But I won't sit still and just let them take my money.

[Mr. Pickles]

If one thinks they are getting a $3000 camera for $2000, within a couple weeks after it is released, they are...

A) Crazy
B) Not getting everything like they think (including the camera)
C) Getting gray market (from another country that basically means no warranty at all)
D) Crazy

[digitalzed]

Call your cc company and cancel it immediately, TONIGHT. Call Sonice first thing tomorrow and make sure they cancel the order. Or has it shipped yet (sorry, bad joke)?

[KCMui]

Originally Posted by Mr. Pickles

If one thinks they are getting a $3000 camera for $2000, within a couple weeks after it is released, they are...

A) Crazy
B) Not getting everything like they think (including the camera)
C) Getting gray market (from another country that basically means no warranty at all)
D) Crazy

E) believe in Santa Claus


Actually, the 17-55 lens in my bag was purchased from one of these kinds of dealer at about $200 below market price, after refusing to buy their uv filter for $200 and their polarizer for $300. They sent the lens to me at their advertised price, may be they did not make any money and sold it to me at cost.
I don't know the margin our friendly photo dealer are making in the D700, but just taking a chance on buying a stripped down model body only at their price.

Just because every one is price at $2995, does not mean that is a price every one must pay. I found a dealer where I have purchase a lot of stuff from advertising the D700 body for $2698 of which I think is a price they will sell at after trying to get you to buy tons of their overpriced accessories even if you refuse to.

I know, I am even more stupid than I appear to be.

But no one is going to make me pay for anything that I did not received.

[stdon]

Originally Posted by KCMui

E) believe in Santa Claus


Actually, the 17-55 lens in my bag was purchased from one of these kinds of dealer at about $200 below market price, after refusing to buy their uv filter for $200 and their polarizer for $300. They sent the lens to me at their advertised price, may be they did not make any money and sold it to me at cost.
I don't know the margin our friendly photo dealer are making in the D700, but just taking a chance on buying a stripped down model body only at their price.

Just because every one is price at $2995, does not mean that is a price every one must pay. I found a dealer where I have purchase a lot of stuff from advertising the D700 body for $2698 of which I think is a price they will sell at after trying to get you to buy tons of their overpriced accessories even if you refuse to.

I know, I am even more stupid than I appear to be.

But no one is going to make me pay for anything that I did not received.

I hope it works out for you. Maybe there is a Santa Claus but in this case I'd bet his sleigh is painted gray. If you do get it, best case would be you'll have something that will go for a long time. Worst case is you just paid $2,000 for a lesson. You took a gamble I hope you have the funds to back a loss if it happens.

Good luck.

[yendikeno]

Originally Posted by digitalzed

Call your cc company and cancel it immediately, TONIGHT. Call Sonice first thing tomorrow and make sure they cancel the order. Or has it shipped yet (sorry, bad joke)?

This is excellent advice, and if I were you, you should take it. No legitimate seller can sell a D700 for $1000 less than the reputable places. Get your order canceled, run as fast as you can, and be thankful you did.

[KCMui]

Just as we suspected, a email came this morning for me to call the Camera dealer to confirmed the order.

following is an extract of the telephone conversation...

Store: hello , you are calling about order #26411

me: Yes, my name is Mui, just want to inform you that this phone call is being recorded for accuracy, I received an email from you guys to call and confirmed the order I placed online for a Nikon D700 Friday.

store: Yes, You ordered the D700, did you know that they do make 2 versions of that camera body, one is a plastic one, the other is a magnesium body known as the D300. and most people who buy this camera will take the magnesium body.

Me: NO, I think I will take the plastic body D700

STORE: Oh, but there seems to be a back log of orders for the D700, you may have to wait a while for it to be deliver. I can send the D300 today.

Me: But how long will be the wait be ?? I only want the D700.

STORE: may be 3 to 5 weeks

Me: in that case, please cancel my order.

STORE: OK

Me: bye

Case closed ..........

[stdon]

There you go. I'm happy for you that all it cost you was some time. You are going to give them a rating especially at the site you originally saw them?

[photofox]

store: Yes, You ordered the D700, did you know that they do make 2 versions of that camera body, one is a plastic one, the other is a magnesium body known as the D300. and most people who buy this camera will take the magnesium body.

That has to be the one of the most ridiculous things I've heard. Glad you managed to get out of the deal. How these places stay in business is beyond me, surely this kind of ploy verges on illegal.

[Bonner]

Just a matter of time and they will be out of business!

[Douglas]

Please tell me no one would fall for that scam. The D300 is the magnesium body of the D700?