Buying a Camera from Vann's

I am thinking of buying a Panasonic FZ18 camera from Vann's. Has anyone bought a camera from Vann's, and if so, how was Vann's to buy from. Your comments are appreciated.

Bought mine from Vann's. Fast delivery and customer service. Definitely would buy from again.

I got three fz18's from Vanns with excellent price and service. One of the very best online dealers.
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Fred

Got mine from Vann's and my wife got hers from there, too, via Amazon.

No problems whatsoever.

fotophool

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7131002@N05/

I bought my FZ50 from Vann's last August. Went to them for several reasons. Good ratings on resellerratings.com, highly recommended by Panny forum members and they are an authorized Panasonic dealer. Their price at the time was a few dollars more than some others, but with the free shipping the total cost was about the same. Everything went exactly as stated in the messages I got during the ordering process. Camera was delivered on the day they said it would be. Camera was packaged very well to protect it from damage during transit. I would not hesitate to buy from them again.

I also recommend Vanns
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Gene from Western Pa

http://imageevent.com/grc6
http://grc225.zenfolio.com/
FZ10....20 and 30 and FZ18

D50 ....D80 - 18 to 200VR- 50mm 1.8 - 80 to 400 OS



Just trying to learn and it's slow going!

Great. I live in MT, so I purchased my camera from their retail store, but they are good to deal with. I would recommend them.

Hi Tom,

I have not purchased from Vann's as yet, but many 'regulars' here will remember an incident a few months back which will tell you something about who you are dealing with;

One of Vann's newer employees inadvertently posted a 'cost' price for the new FZ18, a clear mistake, much lower than anyone Else's. Many people saw the deal and naturally took advantage of it.

Vann's honored everyone who asked for this deal while it was still posted at this ridiculous price. I do not believe many other companies would do that. In my humble opinion, it speaks volumns about the quality and honesty of Vann's.

Regards, Ken.
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Ken

Were these the three that you snagged for $250 each during the infamous Vann's on-line goofup sale?

Wonder if the guy who posted that price is still working? Hope so. It was still pretty great of Vann's to come through for all of the customers who ordered at the once in a lifetime price. So, I'd give Vann's a thumbs up for honoring their mistake.

I'd be tempted to title your hawk photo "Remains of the Day."

Nice capture for both of you. Not so good for the other feathered friend.

I bought my FZ50 from Vann's last summer. When I wrote to them with a question, one of their customer service reps actually CALLED me instead of simply replying to the email. Their price was lower than any other I could find on the web, so I bought the camera from their web site. Needleess to ssay, I was REALLy impressed with their service!

I had to exchange it a few weeks later because of a hair (or crack) in the view finder. They made it easy to exchange. My only complaint was that while the progress of my original camera (from order process to shipping, to tracking the shipment) was stellar, and I was informed of every step along the way, when I returned the camera for the exchange, I was never informed that it had arrived, and the only email I received about the new package had no information on it as to sender, contents, expected delivery date, etc. Since I hadn't expected any other packages at that time, I had to assume the message concerned my new FZ50. And I did receive it in a reasonable time.

I've checked back a few times to compare prices with other on line merchants, and they're certainly comparable, though not consistently the best deal. But they seem very concerned with customer service -- and that's priceless.

an A rating; and I rarely give that strong a rating to a store.

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Bryan
(pic stream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/linux-works ) ~

got mine from vanns for 249; honored the price; fast and efficent service.

I bought from them with no problems. All the feedback I have seen about them is favourable.

Bought my FZ18 from Vann's and would definitely purchase from them again. No tax and free shipping for me.
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Marirose
Keep Smiling... it can always be worse!!
Canon Pro 1, Canon 20D, Canon S3, Panasonic LS75, Panasonic FZ18, & Kodak Z712

Do you need any more testimonials? I bought both of my panys from them. Wonderful people and great customer service. It's like walking into your local camera shop.
Daniel
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http://danielsonkin.smugmug.com/

At least one more...yesterday I wasn't online as much as I usually am and didn't see this thread...

I've been touting Vanns from the time I registered on this forum four years ago. I know of no other store, brick&mortar or online, that is more reliable. Although I live just a half hour away from their Missoula store, I have bought a couple items online...including their FZ18 'give-away special.' Despite their costly error, they were as friendly and efficient as always when I caused them extra work by asking them to hold the camera for a couple weeks while I flitted around the country during Thanksgiving... . I had another online order delivered figuring it'd get to my place before I was in Missoula again. It did...I had it the next day.

As I've posted before, they are filled with good people. The salespeople, the 'admins' that usually fill out the order, service personnel, warehouse and delivery guys...I've worked with all of them and they've all been great (part of that, maybe much of that, is 'just the way it is' in Missoula).

I bought all my kitchen appliances and washer&dryer, the widescreen TV and DVD player, and a couple MP3 players from Vanns. Oh yeah...and some cameras; my FZ10 and the on-special FZ18 and my Lady's FZ20. When I mistakenly called another store a couple hours away to order my FZ10, the salesman went ahead and wrote the order and then relayed it to the Missoula store so I could pick it up there. I liked that!

Good, trustworthy store -- online or off. And worthy of your business even if they might not advertise the lowest price.

john

Thanks for everyone for your comments about Vann's. They have been very helpful.

Tom Hoffend