Originally Posted by
Teacher49
I am about to replace my several years old Canon Digi Rebel with a Nikon D40 simply because I am tired of the wait for the Canon to power up after going to sleep.
In looking around I see that not many places have the body only, in fact that some say that the D40 is offered only in a "kit" with the 18 - 55 lens.
So this brings up the question of reliability of the places that are offering the body only at prices as low as $320.00 as compared to $500.00 at places like B&H.
Broadway Camera is one of those places, for example. Any experiences with that out fit? Any general observation on how to tell the honest from the less than?
I have bought from B&H for years, but ...
This gets asked so much and takes so long to explain it should be made a sticky.
Wiseman once say: If it seems too good to be true it is because it is.
Broadway Photo is a classic bait-n-switch shop. First, they do business under about a dozen different names - Digital Liquidators, A&M PhotoWorld, BWayPhoto, etc. They have a building in Brooklyn with several doors, thus several different addresses but they are all the same outfit.
Here is how the game works: They advertise tantalizingly low prices. You call in to order, they take your order and then they ask you if you want to buy [significantly] overpriced accessories like filters, extended warranties, spare batteries, tripods, bags, etc.
If you say no, then they will sometimes tell you that the camera you ordered doesn’t come with a battery and charger and try to sell an overpriced accessory battery and charger.
If you continue to refuse to buy their overpriced accessories they will continue with the hard-sell but will eventually give up and let you go leaving you to think that your order has been placed for just the camera/lens you wanted, at the price that was advertised and without their overpriced accessories.
What will always happen is that about 1-3 days after placing your order they will call you [sometimes email you] under the pretext that they are confirming your shipping address or confirming your credit card info, etc.
What they are really doing is taking another shot at selling you their overpriced accessories and they will sell you hard. If you refuse to buy them this time you will find that the camera/lens you wanted is "currently out of stock" but they will let you know when they get them in, or perhaps that they do have a 'super-duper' "kit" version in stock that is $300 more but comes with a lot more "stuff".
If you let them charge your card they will keep the charge open until you buy the accessories or demand to cancel your order.
YOU WILL NEVER GET THE CAMERA/LENS ONLY, WITHOUT THE OVERPRICED ACCESSORIES, AT THE ADVERTISED LOW-LOW PRICE - NEVER.
Bottom line is that there is no free lunch, prices that seem too good to be true are, and there is no good reason to buy mail-order photo equipment from anyone other than B&H or, if you must, Adorama.
Cheers and good luck.