Where/Where Not to Purchase Your Camera

[ktixx]

Here is a guide from the research I have done of places to and not to purchase your camera equipment from. All of the lifetime ratings were pulled from www.resellerrating.com, www.shopping.com and www.bizrate.com. In no way am I saying that if you go with one of the "good" companies you will have a good experience, I am just composing a document that shows the type of store you should consider when purchasing a camera. If a store has a ^ after the name, this means that it is affiliated with the store above it. I have not listed stores like Circuit City, Best Buy, Wal-Mart, Staples, Dell etc. as these stores are well established, well known retail stores. Stores listed under "The Good" you will most likely have a positive experience with, as these all have high ratings and positive reviews. The stores titled "The Ok" have decent ratings and you will probably have a good experience, just realize that they have a pretty equal mix of positive and negative reviews. the stores listed under “THE BAD” I would definitely stay away from.
Note - Be aware that the best companies are the one's that have at least 2 good reviews (IE: B&H, Newegg, etc.) Use a little more caution with companies that have a good rating from resellerratings.com but are n/a for shopping.com or bizrate.com. Again, this is just a guide and you should do your own research prior to purchasing. Sometimes the best thing to do is call the company. Good Luck

RR = www.resellerrating.com (Points out of 10)
SH = www.shopping.com (Checks out of 5)
BR = www.bizrate.com (Points out of 10)

The Exceptional:
__________________________R R - SH - BR
1. B&H Photovideo-----------9.32 - 4.5 - 9.3
2. New Egg -----------------9.64 - 4.5 - 8.8
3. Beach Camera ------------9.03 - 4.5 - 9.3
4. BuyDig.com ^-------------8.36 - 4.5 - 9.1


The Good:
__________________________R R - SH - BR
1. 17th Street Photo --------9.91 - 5.0 - n/a
2. Zip Zoom Fly -------------8.56 - 4.5 - 8.8
3. Norman Camera ----------9.17 - n/a - 8.4
4. Digital Foto Club ---------9.04 - 4.5 - 8.6
5. OneCall.com -------------9.43 - n/a - 9.3
6. ABT Electronics ----------7.71 - 4.5 - 9.0




The Ok: - (All relatively good companies - just be cautious)
__________________________R R - SH - BR
1. IBuyDigital ---------------8.69 - 4.5 - 8.6
2. Dbuys ^------------------8.69 - 4.5 - 8.2
3. Central Digital ^ ----------8.69 - n/a - 6.4
4. JR Music World ------------6.67 - 4.5 - 9.1
5. Abes Of Maine -------------5.10 - 4.0 - 8.0
6. Etronics.com --------------8.37 - 4.0 - 7.9
7. Digital 1234 ---------------6.35 - n/a - n/a
8. Adorama ------------------6.50 - 4.0 - 8.5
9. Butterfly Photo ------------6.81 - 4.0 - 7.6
10. Canoga Camera ------------9.88 - n/a - n/a
11. 47th Street Photo: Ebay ---9.50 - n/a - n/a
12. Pro Feel -------------------9.16 - n/a - n/a
13. Page Computers ----------6.24 - n/a - 7.4
14. Tri-State Camera ---------5.63 - n/a - 8.0
15. RainbowTronics.com ------8.72 - n/a - 8.0


The Bad: - Don' Shop At Any Of These! (No Particular Order)
__________________________R R - SH - BR
1. USA Photonation -----------0.67 - n/a - n/a
2. Radio Active Deals^ --------2.50 - n/a - n/a
3. Royal Camera ---------------1.43 - n/a - n/a
4. CCI Camera City ^-----------0.53 - n/a - n/a
5. 42nd St. Photo -------------2.84 - 3.5 - n/a
6. Best Price Cameras ---------0.22 - n/a - n/a
7. Infinity Cameras ^-----------0.38 - n/a - n/a
8. Infiniti Photo ^--------------0.19 - n/a - n/a
9. J and K Cameras ^----------- n/a - n/a - n/a
10. Mr. Accessory ^-------------n/a - n/a - n/a
11. Century21Electronics.com ^-0.68 - n/a - n/a
12. Ibuydig.com ----------------0.08 - n/a - n/a **NOT BUYDIG.com**
13. turbobuys.com ^------------n/a - n/a - n/a
14. getyourdigitalhere.com ^----0.50 - n/a - n/a
15. AM Photoworld -------------0.80 - n/a - n/a
16. Broadway Photo ^----------0.80 - n/a - n/a
17. Regal Camera ^------------0.80 - n/a - n/a
18. Prestige Camera ^----------0.80 - n/a - 7.1
19. Preferred Camera ^----------0.80 - n/a - 7.3
20. Digital Liquidators -----------n/a - n/a - n/a
21. All Star Camera ------------1.39 - n/a - n/a
22. The Camera Pro's ^---------1.88 - n/a - n/a
23. Genius Cameras ------------0.31 - n/a - n/a
24. Express Cameras ^----------0.93 - n/a - n/a
25. Thedigitalexpo.com --------0.19 - n/a - n/a
26. Wawa Digital ---------------0.19 - n/a - n/a
27. Stargate Photo ^-----------0.29 - n/a - n/a
28. Starlightcameras.com ^-----1.62 - n/a - n/a
29. Stop4Camera.com ^--------1.18 - n/a - n/a
30. 1StopCamera.com ----------2.35 - n/a - n/a
31. Inoax.com ^----------------2.41 - n/a - n/a - Rerated
32. RiteBuys.com ^-------------0.92 - n/a - n/a
33. Fotoconnection.com ^-------1.40 - n/a - n/a - Rerated
34. Thenewconnection.com ^----n/a - n/a - n/a
35. Wisetronics.com ------------0.57 - n/a - n/a
36. OneClickDigital.com ---------0.37 - n/a - n/a
37. CircuitDigital.com ^----------0.37 - n/a - n/a
38. YellowBeePhoto.com --------2.21 - n/a - 2.4


Unsure/Not Recommended:
1. Datavision Computer
2. US1 Camera
3. Price Rite Photo - See Article

Ken

[Clyde]

The Good:
__________________________R R - SH - BR
6. Beach Camera ------------9.00 - 4.5 - 9.1
10. BuyDig.com -------------8.32 - n/a - 9.2

I believe this is the same joint. They both get mail at:


Customer Service Department Manager
80 Carter Drive
Edison NJ 08817


I have ordered from BuyDig, and would do so again. I don't know why Beach gets higher ratings, nor do I know why there are two e-store fronts for one place. I suspect they initially called their internet store BuyDig, and then decided they should use the good name of their brick and mortar store online, but didn't want to give up on folks who had learned about BuyDig first. This is just conjecture, though.

Clyde

[ktixx]

I believe this is the same joint. They both get mail at:


Customer Service Department Manager
80 Carter Drive
Edison NJ 08817


I have ordered from BuyDig, and would do so again. I don't know why Beach gets higher ratings, nor do I know why there are two e-store fronts for one place. I suspect they initially called their internet store BuyDig, and then decided they should use the good name of their brick and mortar store online, but didn't want to give up on folks who had learned about BuyDig first. This is just conjecture, though.

Clyde

I thought they were the same place, www.resellerratings.com does not show that they are. Because the mailing adress is the same I edited my above post. Thanks for the info.
Ken

[ktixx]

Recently updated - (The Bad)
InfinityPhoto.com
Bestpricecameras.com
JandKcameras.com

[jandrebr]

Ktixx,

Thank you very much for this work. I found it very helpful this past week in deciding where to purchase a new camera. I'm wondering, given that I just read this post in a response to someone else, if this post is worthy of being at the top of the "Where to buy..." Thread. I think a lot of people will find it helpful, but not as many people will see it if it keeps getting pushed back.

Brian

[ktixx]

No Problem, I am glad I could be of some assistance. I think it is a good way to easily show people where, but especially where not to purchase goods. I mean how many times can we have people ask "What about USAphotonation?"
Ken

[ktixx]

Just added:
The Bad: www.AllStarCamera.com

Unsure: www.thecamerapros.com

I would stay away from both, The Camera Pros is affiliated with All Star Camera - (same mailing address) and All Star Camera has a rating of 1.39 from www.resellerratings.com. As of 12/13/05 the www.allstarcamera.com website is not currently in operation.
Ken

[ktixx]

I have updated all of the ratings as of 12/18/05
I have also added unique links to shopping.com and bizrate.com for each product where applicable to show where I got my information. Just remember that the ratings change often, I will post when I update them next.

Hope you enjoy
Ken

[jcon]

Ken, I think this thread is a great tool for those looking for shopping info! I would like to suggest a "good". I have had about 4 or 5 dealings with Etronics.com and they are great. I wish I were getting paid for this statement,lol but I am not. I would suggest them to any of my friends if they were shopping on the net for this type of product. I bought my Pana DMC LC43 and Pana DMC FZ20 from them. No complaints!

[ktixx]

Ken, I think this thread is a great tool for those looking for shopping info! I would like to suggest a "good". I have had about 4 or 5 dealings with Etronics.com and they are great. I wish I were getting paid for this statement,lol but I am not. I would suggest them to any of my friends if they were shopping on the net for this type of product. I bought my Pana DMC LC43 and Pana DMC FZ20 from them. No complaints!

I have added them - but have put them in ok. Although they have pretty good ratings it seems like their service is kind of slow and the past 20 ratings only had one or two satisfied customers. I will do some more research and possibly move them to Good in the near future, thanks for the suggestion.
Thanks a lot.
Ken