US Buyer Beware
Posted by David Chin on June 9th, 2008 in MiscellanyThe latest price tag for the Nikon D40 currently fluctuates between $550 to $600 in the United States.
Focusing on the lowest price alone, however, is not a recommended approach to buying the D40. Other factors that need to be considered are discussed below.
The price seems too good to be true.
If it is, trust your instincts and don’t purchase from that merchant. Some are known to quote the price for the camera body only (read a real case of how these merchants quote ridiculously low prices of less than $400 for the D80), baiting you to place the order, only to contact you later and squeeze you into paying more for the power cable, user manual, battery charger, etc …. components that were already originally included in the package by Nikon. Don’t be duped by this tactic - the story was the case involving the D80, but it’s a story that’s repeated with all other digital SLR cameras too. Remember to check against the price range mentioned earlier. If you’re at all uneasy with the order confirmation process, don’t hesitate to cancel your order with the merchant.
Examples of unscrupulous online merchants are Royal Camera, CCI Camera City, Express Cameras - avoid them at all costs! Want more examples of scams? Visit this site which has a huge list of scam operators in Brooklyn, and see a picture of the CCI Camera City storefront. The bad news is that new ones are sprouting up all the time. The good news is that you can instantly spot them - know the price offered by reputable merchants, and use that as a benchmark when comparing prices.
Find out and compare what you’re getting with the deal
Is the merchant bundling in additional accessories such as a camera bag, SD memory card (what capacity? what speed? what brand?) or mini-tripod? If you already have those, it makes sense to only go for the basic system without these additional goodies thrown in, saving a bit of money in the process.
A relatively quick and efficient method for comparing Nikon D40 prices conveniently is to use a service such as that provided by Shoplinc.com, which lists prices from multiple online stores. Since the database is updated frequently, you can always check back and see if a better deal awaits you later, or better yet, call the merchant or subscribe to their newsletter - the bigger ones will send you alerts when special deals or seasonal bonuses are available. This technique is suitable for those who are not in a hurry to get the camera. As with all large-ticket purchases, it’s best not to rush the transaction. Also, be careful to weed out stores that do not seem to offer legitimate prices - I always use Amazon.com as the benchmark.
Other costs and service components
Check the type and amount of warranty provided by the merchant, their return policy and whether they’ll charge you a restocking fee. Ask also for the availability of deals such as rebates, free shipping and no sales tax.
Merchants and Camera Stores
Five words … Only Shop With Reputable Stores.
Many are well-known establishments that you’re probably already familiar with … Adorama, Amazon, BestBuy.com, BuyDig.com, CircuitCity.com, Costco, RitzCamera.com, Crutchfield, B&H Photo and Newegg.com, to name a few.
When deciding which one to do business with, it’s well-advised for you to check buyer feedback on these merchants, which you can read up at ResellerRatings.com.
My favorite method is to check with active camera forums such as DPReview.com, where you’ll be able to ask questions freely and get a ton of feedback or do a search. Very often you’ll discover additional feedback on the quality of customer service, how knowledgeable the sales staff are, their friendliness and willingness to help, that sort of thing … it all goes towards making the entire transaction process more enjoyable. I for one strongly dislike dealing with arrogant and aloof staff.
Hope this helps, and all the best with your Nikon D40 purchase!
P.S.
I initially thought of having ads embedded within this article, but decided against it in order to try out another option, which is to facilitate your purchase of the D40 system at Amazon.com via a referral from my site. I have purchased stuff myself from Amazon.com, and am thoroughly comfortable with their level of service, and other interesting purchase options and offers available there. Not to mention I enjoy their clean and efficient website interface. In other words, I trust them to do good business free of frustration at my end.
If you found my article helpful in assisting with your purchase decision, and avoiding the all-too-attractive digital camera scams and bait-and-switch programs, do consider buying the Nikon D40 system of your choice by clicking my Nikon D40 Amazon.com affiliate link
P.P.S.
After you have received your shiny new D40 … actually, you can do it right now … do browse this site to enjoy viewing the amazing photographs D40 owners are shooting (sample links). I’ve linked to these and other tips and tricks (sample links). I have another site that tracks D40 information too, in a simpler format, that you might be interested in visiting - here’s the link.
Thank you for the visit!
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