Sony F717 availability - Anyone having trouble getting a Cam?

Every place I call says it's anywhere from a 2 to a 6 week wait for the cam. Course, these places all say "in stock" on their webpages, which seems a wee bit unethical to me. Is there really a supply problem or such demand for these cams that they can't keep up with demand? Or, are places playing games, taking orders for low-ball priced cams then hoping you'll get frustrated with the wait and cancel the order and go for a higher price? The news about the higher capacity memory sticks erases my one teensy weensy reservation about the F717....and I want one almost as badly as I want every new mac Steve Jobs has put out (which is realllly badly l )

I think you may be a victim of the much discussed scam artists in Flatbush. B&H has the 717 in stock for 899. including shiping. While this is higher than the lowest prices on the web, when you look at the whole equation it really isn't bad. 1. You will actually get a new camera with all accessories, 2. You have a return policy, 3. If you want an extended warranty, they sell a Mack 5 year for 59.95 which the other guys try to extort an extra $100 for, 4. B&H has accessories at a fair price but use absolutely no pressure at all, and 5) the sale isn't predicated on buying overpriced accessories. I shopped the low price places and in the end the opporunity to maybe save $50.00 wasn't worth the headaches. Also, since I did want the warranty, my total cost was actually less at B&H. Good luck

pickles said:

Every place I call says it's anywhere from a 2 to a 6 week wait for
the cam. Course, these places all say "in stock" on their
webpages, which seems a wee bit unethical to me. Is there really
a supply problem or such demand for these cams that they can't
keep up with demand? Or, are places playing games, taking orders
for low-ball priced cams then hoping you'll get frustrated with the
wait and cancel the order and go for a higher price? The news
about the higher capacity memory sticks erases my one teensy weensy
reservation about the F717....and I want one almost as badly as I
want every new mac Steve Jobs has put out (which is realllly badly
l )

Click to expand...

Yesterday, I called B&H Photo in New York B&H Photo Video at 800-606-6969 and spoke to Jay at ext2473.

I ordered the F717 with 5yr ext warranty, IR lens, leather case, and remote switch. I didn't order the mem stick because I already have a 128mb stick.

I upgraded the free shipping to FedEx priority and had it sent to my work.

Jay transferred me to verification department, who asked to call me back at work to verify that I work at the phone number that I provided.

The F717 and the rest of the order showed up at work today at 9:50am PST.

Tips:

1. Most Brick and Mortar Sony resellers with e-Commerce websites are selling the F717 for $999.

2. B&H, Adorama, and J&R World are selling the camera for $899, with no sales tax if shipped outside of New York, and no charge for ground shipping. If you upgrade the shipping, then they will deduct the ground shipping charge from the upgraded shipping charge. Who wants to wait 3-5 days for the camera to arrive?

3. A majority of the websites on the East Coast selling the camera below $870 are scams. They hook you with the low price and overcharge you for the accessories. If you opt out on the accessories, then they will tell you that the item is backordered for 4-6 weeks to make you go away.

My advice, call Jay at B&H using the contact info at the top of this posting.

Just a tip on dealing with any reputable New York mail order house.

1. Only call them if you are buying at that moment

2. If you are not sure what you want or when you want to buy, then don't call them. You can do research online or ask questions in this forum.

3. The reputable dealers above will be glad to answer questions regarding additional accessories that you may need with camera. They won't shove the accessories down your throat, but will help you with answers.

4. They get a lot of "Tire Kicker" phone calls and they are very impatient if somebody calls up with a lot of questions and doesn't buy. Most of these type of people call, ask questions, hang up, call up and order the product from Broadway Photo, then cry when they get jerked around from Broadway Photo or 47th Street.

5. New Yorkers have short patience for people wasting their time. Perhaps this is due to the nature of living in a high density area that is very fast paced.

I am NOT affiliated with any of the dealers. I am just a happy owner of a new F717. I had bought a Sony VXR-2000 camcorder from B&H over a year and a half ago and was happy with the salesperson at that time.

While ordering my camera yesterday, I had a long conversation with Jay. The salespeople at B&H don't get commission. They are paid well and their sales are tracked.

Because they don't get commission, they are NOT movitated into pushing overpriced accessories at you.

B&H actually conducts a background check on all employees, then puts them into a sales program where they start at the bottom where they are evaluated for positions higher up the food chain.

B&H is one of the top photo, video, and audio dealers in the country.

Don't try to pinch pennies by buying from someone cheaper.

Gonna be lazy and thank both of you for answering - RE New Yawk and surly salespeople. Once upon a time long long long ago I used to live thereabouts - I'm immune. I'm also immune to "would you like anything to go with that?" I buy accessories as I find out I need them. I'm not interested in "Pro" packs and the like. I know darn well, most of those goodies end up in the "everything" drawer, never used. I can anticipate, if my experience with this cam is anything like with other cams, that I'll be wanting more memory sticks, and I'll be wanting more battery options - not sure whether that would be a spare or something higher powered and longer lasting. Really depends on how well the cam and I bond and what we end up doing l I also assume I'll be wanting filters - but again, cam comes first....then rummaging around to see if anything I have already fits ....

No, haven't dealt with anyone from Flatbush per se....Have called a number or so in Brooklyn, and Great Neck and have been given waiting times ranging from 2 - 8 weeks. I'm not exactly a need to have it now sort of person, perfectly willing to wait. Also perfectly willing to cancel an order if the wait gets too long. Anyhoo..... cautions and advice red and digested .... both of you ahve good heads on your shoulders.....thank-you for sharing with me. Now that I know that the cam is available.... think I'll use a lil bit of my own NY attitude and drop a line to the NYC Consumer Affairs folks re deceptive advertising. It is a wee bit unethical to list something as being "in stock" and not have the item in stock...is it not?

Rick Thornton said:

pickles said:

Every place I call says it's anywhere from a 2 to a 6 week wait for
the cam. Course, these places all say "in stock" on their
webpages, which seems a wee bit unethical to me. Is there really
a supply problem or such demand for these cams that they can't
keep up with demand? Or, are places playing games, taking orders
for low-ball priced cams then hoping you'll get frustrated with the
wait and cancel the order and go for a higher price? The news
about the higher capacity memory sticks erases my one teensy weensy
reservation about the F717....and I want one almost as badly as I
want every new mac Steve Jobs has put out (which is realllly badly
l )

Click to expand...

Click to expand...