www.expresscameras.com

[kwanito]

Prices on camera bodies and branded kits (excluding ExpressCamera's kits) seem relatively low. The prices for accessories seem to be marked up considerably, for example CF cards. I considered buying this from 6ave but what I save from EC could go towards the 50mm f/1.8.

Any suggestions or recommendations on where to pick up the Canon 20D kit at around $1,100 - $1,300. I'm not looking to pay tax (state of NY), nor ridiculous S&H charges.

[Rhys]

Originally Posted by kwanito

Prices on camera bodies and branded kits (excluding ExpressCamera's kits) seem relatively low. The prices for accessories seem to be marked up considerably, for example CF cards. I considered buying this from 6ave but what I save from EC could go towards the 50mm f/1.8.

Any suggestions or recommendations on where to pick up the Canon 20D kit at around $1,100 - $1,300. I'm not looking to pay tax (state of NY), nor ridiculous S&H charges.

A quick look at reseller ratings produced:

Express Cameras
http://www.expresscameras.com
Customer Satisfaction
Six-Month Rating: 0.57
Six-Month Reviews: 48
Lifetime Reviews: 210




Lifetime Rating: 1.13 Average Store: 7.46
High Average: 9.16
Low Average: 3.87
4.35 Pricing of Products and Services
0.21 Likelihood of Future Purchases
2.02 Shipping and Packaging
0.32 Customer Service
0.00 Return or Replacement

Basically, they seem to be New York/ New Jersey rip-off merchants.

[kwanito]

I'm guessing no others have heard of expresscameras? I'm getting very close to putting in the order.

I'd really prefer to purchase online, but may go to B&H. I am specificially looking for the Canon EOS 20D. Any recommendations?

[junk]

Don't go near anyone that ask you to call them to confirm your order and if you do call them and they start trying to sell you a load of extra stuff than the order. Then I suggest you politley ask them to cancel the order.

These people are basically scammers and will try to confuse you and intimidate you. If you decide not buy any extras at all and just order say the canon 20d body (as was in my case), they'll just get annoyed and tell you it's on back order, or that the camera is in chinese/korean, they'll tell you whatever they can so they don't have to send you the camera at the price you saw advertised. All this because if they sell you the camera body at the price they adverised and nothing else they'd lose money.

Anyway here's a list of people to stay away from:

• ExpressCameras
  RoyalCameras
  USAPhotonation
  Any other reseller that has a site that looks more than similar to the guys above or who tries to sell you more than the stuff you ordered.

To get the canon 20D you should go to b&h, amazon is suprisingly good for camera stuff. I have just order the canon 20d body and 18-55mm lense for $790 from a third party amazon market place seller, he has 28 of them he says. So we'll see if that gets shipped. I'm skeptical now because I've ordered the body 4 times now in and around this price from express cameras, royalcameras, usaphotonation and now this amazon seller. from b&h the basic kit costs about $1300, so at $790 incl. tax and shipping this may end up being too good to be true. we'll see. Before I saw it on amazon, I was so tired I was just gonna fork out the $1300, which I was annoyed about because I'd assembled all the other pieces (batteries, charger, strap, lenses, filters, tripod, bag etc...) from all over the net. The basic kit includes things like the strap, batter/charger, a lense etc..

Anyway final advice:
1. stay away from the cowboys
2. check amazon market place
3. if no amazon market place seller with good value buy from amazon or b&h
4. write "<name of shop/site here> scam" in google before you buy and see what comes up.
5. Get the canon 20d body in your hand before you buy anything else as it is the hardest thing to get hold of in my experience.

[kwanito]

I've long since abandoned the thoughts of buying the 20D from expresscameras. I sent off an email that was used as a gauge of their customer service. They have none, as I have yet to receive a reply from them. DO NOT BUY FROM EXPRESSCAMERAS!

I've also put the 20D on hold. I'll be heading to the Canon Expo 2005 in New York. Other expenses have come up, so now I need to adjust my spending.

[TommyWeddings]

Please, please, please stay away from these scam artists. They are bait and switch, hard selling slime. Trying to sell the battery that comes with the camera and the charger also. Saying that the Sigma lenses they are going to switch for the Canon L series were better. Oh my!!! Low-lifes w/o concious. Avoid at all costs. Do not under any circumstance give them your credit/debit card number for "pre-approval" They will run the card w/o approval. If you are buying professional or pro-sumer gear, you are much better served dealing with a proven retailer or e-business like B&H, Calumet.

[eaglssong]

There's five pages worth of posts on

http://www.resellerratings.com/forum/t103621.html

I haven't gone through all of them, but it might be very helpful for you.