My SD14 just arrived, 5 minutes ago!

I'm so happy i just got my SD14. It also arrived with my 150mm Macro at the same time .

The 150mm Macro is bigger and heavier than i expected :O it looks crazy.

Only dissapointment is the ebay seller opened my box and took the portion of the warranty card for the cash back claim. They never advertised the cash back claim, but it is independant of the reseller, plus the item is sold as a new item (and opening the box of a new item and selling it as new is breaking the law if i recall correctly)

I'm so glad I made sure it was cheaper than else where even without the cash back I so knew that would happen. So im not too bothered. Though I'd rather it be listed £200 more than to have someone being disshonest. Though, im not too sure on this issue cause that part of the warranty says "copy for store"... kinda like saying they are allowed to remove it.

Then again.. it wasnt taken off of my lenses. Who cares aslong as it doesnt affect my 1yr warranty.

I don't know the specifics of the cash back purchase you refer to. However if its any consolation it seems that Sigma cameras don't come in "sealed" packaging. So the feeling of "violation" might be tempered by that.

Enjoy the camera.

--
Ed_S
http://www.pbase.com/ecsquires

luku001 wrote:
....

luku001 said:

Only dissapointment is the ebay seller opened my box and took the
portion of the warranty card for the cash back claim. They never
advertised the cash back claim, but it is independant of the
reseller, plus the item is sold as a new item (and opening the box of
a new item and selling it as new is breaking the law if i recall
correctly)

Click to expand...

.....

I recall the 'cash back' was only for sales in the UK through an authorized UK reseller and processed to the Sigma UK office....?
I don't recall any 'cash back' offer ever in the US for US purchasers.

I could be wrong however. Also I'm not sure what would happen if a US-based purchaser bought from an authorized UK dealer.... Where are you located?
Best regards, Sandy
[email protected]
http://www.pbase.com/sandyfleischman
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sandyfleischmann

I'm from the UK :/

http://www.sigma-imaging-uk.com/quicklinks/cashback/cashback.htm

Just says aslong as you purchased it within a specific date.

I had a little session a few minutes ago. This camera is fantastic and the quality super . Shame it's been really windy so all the nice spiders from the backgarden are gone

note under 'terms and conditions' the fine-print says....
...
This offer is only valid on SD14 cameras imported via Sigma Imaging (UK) Ltd.
....
I assumed you were US-based, since your profile says US ;-)

Note Yvind Strom's Compendium of FAQ and info for new (and not so new too...) SD14 users.
http://www.foto.nordjylland.biz/SD14/SD-usertips.htm

Best regards, Sandy
[email protected]
http://www.pbase.com/sandyfleischman
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sandyfleischmann

luku001 said:

I'm from the UK :/

Click to expand...

...Then why does your profile say your location is the United States?

--
DSG
--



--
http://sigmasd10.fotopic.net/

Must say I checked and wondered that too Alf.

However, the Cashback was ONLY if the camera had been imported officially into the UK via Sigma UK, the part of the Warranty card had to be returned with the dealer's invoice/receipt AND the camera had to be acquired from one of the listed and registered UK retailers. It never applied to any dealer on eBay = never to any possible Grey Imports, to which warranties also would not apply. Various reasons but here's a quote from an e-mail to a colleague (who had e-mailed Ray specifically about dealers on eBay) from Ray Fitchett, Sigma's Business Development Manager in UK:-

Great care should be taken as we (SIGMA) will only allow £200 consumer cash-back on an SD14 bought via the UK supply network of dealers and where a claim is made with a receipt and a section of the warranty card (see http://www.sigma-imaging-uk.com ) We are aware that some scams are occurring where the camera is bought, a claim to SIGMA made then the camera returned claiming its faulty or an unwanted gift. EBAY sellers worry me greatly as you don’t know where the cameras originates from (i.e. the reseller not the manufacturer) what condition it is in and whether a cash-back claim has already been processed.

--
Zone8

The photograph isolates and perpetuates a moment of time: an important and revealing moment, or an unimportant and meaningless one, depending upon the photographer's understanding of his subject and mastery of his process. -Edward Weston
http://www.photosnowdonia.co.uk/ZPS

Thanks very much for posting that Zone8.

I've posted practically daily that buyers should know their warranty situation and from whom they're buying... and have been posting what I was told by Sigma US... each country's or official regional importer's situation may vary... but know what you're buying.
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1027&message=26461029
and on US warranty
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1027&message=26360332

There is a list of authorized dealers on the Sigma international websites. IF you're buying 'grey market' camera OR lens (I see there are 'grey market' 'Japan' SD14 models now on ebay US..) KNOW what you're buying and what your warranty (and/or rebate in the UK) situation entails.
Best regards, Sandy
[email protected]
http://www.pbase.com/sandyfleischman
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sandyfleischmann

Good points Sandy - but main problem with the dpreview forums for at least the past year has been unavailable Search facility. I know there are ways around this (via google, including "dpreview" in the search text) but they don't always work and most readers seem lacking in other than basic computing skills/knowledge.

However, it has been fairly well known for many, many years that buying from other than "recognised" distributors/outlets has always been somewhat of a gamble. It's akin to buying online to save a few sheckels compared to buying from a local dealer/outlet. Fine until something goes wrong - then the sheckels thought to have been saved can quickly turn to a real loss, due postal/insurance charges, loss of equipment (compared to thumping the local counter and most likely getting an immediate replacement - or at least a loan of something).

Everybody should be sure before parting with hard earned dosh, not only of the legitimacy of the equipment and "dealer" but of what might happen and the inevitable consequences. It does not always pay to buy without due consideration of such consequences. Often if it looks too good to be true - that could be the actual truth in real terms.

--
Zone8

The photograph isolates and perpetuates a moment of time: an important and revealing moment, or an unimportant and meaningless one, depending upon the photographer's understanding of his subject and mastery of his process. -Edward Weston
http://www.photosnowdonia.co.uk/ZPS

Search being down so often (with or without the crash) leads to extra difficulty in finding information on dpreview, but here's one search hint. Obviously I hang around the forum a lot ;-) read most posts, and have a relatively decent memory.

So here's how I find links: A question will come up (again, again, again typically) and I'll think, aha Guenter B. wrote about color management (for example). Then I find the thread/post by clicking's Guenter's profile and going down through the list of his posts.... usually relatively quick and easy method to find something. Of course, this search method presumes you know what you're looking for... and that it wasn't in the 5 days of posts lost in the crash. I think we lost Laurence Matson's advice for new users to learn SPP2.3, then 'branch out to other tastes.'
I liked that... and yes, I learned quickly to listen to Laurence ;-)

Which by the way is another hint for new readers: learn here who knows what he/she's talking about... can vary too on different subjects...
Seriously, I think of
Carl, Olga, Bob, some others as the lighting and 'people shots' gurus

Guenter, our friend stanislaw stitchinow, and couple others as the graphics, panoramas, and color management (and Mac) gurus Seng, Laurence, Felix W many, many others as the landscape gurus

(I just saw Felix's wonderful photos featured on Sigma Germany website prowling around for any new news...)

I certainly don't mean to leave off anyone, that's just an example above. Best advice for newcomers: Study photos! Study http://www.pbase.com/sigmadslr for names and type of work!

Best regards Sandy
[email protected]
http://www.pbase.com/sandyfleischman
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sandyfleischmann

Let me know what the 150mm macro lens ls like when you've had a chance to try it out!

...at present... search is back online. I tried a PMA photographers keyword search and found my previous post http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1027&message=22606611&q=pma+photographers&qf=m

which links to the PMA2007 photographer credits http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1027&message=22447410&q=
I'm eager to see the SUG (Sigma Users Gallery) photos at PMA 2008..

Best regards, Sandy
[email protected]
http://www.pbase.com/sandyfleischman
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sandyfleischmann

Thanks for the replies everyone.

I dont know why my profile is set to US. I've changed it now though, obviously I must of set it to US by accident...

As with the item there is nothing wrong with it. The Item came from a UK seller and as far as my concern with the seller goes they are a power seller etc.. etc..

I am in contact with Sigma UK mostly to find out my status on the warranty and if a seller retailer is allowed to take that part off the warranty (Unfortunatly it's titled "copy for store" some what missleading, I dont want to be bitting the bullet without 100% guarntee they arnt allowed to do so).

I don't care that much cause' the item states I have a 1 year warranty and that the item is listed as new. All that will happen is i'll make a claim and get a Sigma SD14 with 18-50mm lense, UV filter and cleaning cloth all for... free! - £15 ebay admin fee

I win at the end of the day.

By the way. Sigma's site only says the £200 claim is for Sigma UK imports. As per their T&C it states nothing along the lines of 'approved retailers only'. So they'd be violating their own Terms if they did have this requirement, afterall, that invoice is only for proof of purchase to make sure your not someone random opening boxes and taking the cash claim out...

I always consider every item on ebay to be a scam! Dont worry. I've only been caught out once on ebay for a pair of £7 cuff links that I didnt realise came from hong kong :'(. Ebay's fualt really for letting them past the filter cause they listed themself as Uk but ship from hongkong.

As with the 150mm macro, it is amazing. I don't know a lot about photography yet, so most of my photo's are a bit blurry, probably cause' im playing with it indoor with poor lightinig so the capture settings are set a little longer. (yesterday outside bright daylight I had fantastic macros). Must invest in a tripod