Canon purchase, cash or credit?

It's the citibank Daimond Card.

Go to their web site and check it out.

I got approval and my new card # & exp date instantly.

Generally I dislike Citibank but this is is a good deal for me.

Their policy says that they do not price match online retailers.

AMEX's BVG is the best one going IMO.

I have never been denied a claim.

They've paid me 4 times so far. Lenses, Flash, and most recently a DVD changer.

Sandsport said:

I agree with the above post about $ as a tool.

I would never buy mail order or something like a digital SLR w/out
using a credit card for the additional protection.

Thanks,

Rick

Lew said:

"paying cash" doesn't preclude using a credit card; in fact I
generally use credit cards for most purchases. I just pay them off
each month, which effectively is the same as "cash" but with the
added benefits.

Definitely use a credit card for online purchases. Too many risks
to not use one with its protections.

Also, the cash vs. credit question changes if the item is a tool
you use to make money with. In business it is often cost efficient
to use credit or leases to purchase capital items and not tie up
all your working capital.

But that's fuel for another discussion.

-- Lew

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If you can get free interest while you use your camera to make money, this is really a no-brainer. Time is money ( for you ), while you get to use someone else's money over time to make you more. A free loan that you collect "interest* on can only be a good thing. This assumes you can afford to pay for the camera in the end, and that you can run a sucessful business, but that seems to be the case.

You said you're not actually making money, because you're having to buy more gear to complete jobs. But this is only part of the picture; that gear you're spending your money on is an asset, and adds to the NET VALUE of your business. It also broadens your product/service base. And keeps your clients happy.

Long term, the most expensive ( and most vital ) thing for probably ANY business is gaining new customers. Even if you can't see it on your bottom line, what you're doing now is incredibly important to the success of your business. And it sounds like you're making money in the long-term; you're just having to invest all of it ( and then some ) back into that business.

Five hundred for a macro lens might seem like a lot just to be able to complete a stinkin' jewelry job ... but you need to be concerned with the true cost of sale, and that one lens will allow you to do other jobs that you would have had to turn down, for the next 20 years.

The only thing that's not a no-brainer is why you need the D60's replacement? We don't even know it's specs yet ... so, as of yet, it doesn't really have any particular draw, except being new. If you don't need to print beyond 11x14 or so or take excessively long exposures, a D30 might do the trick for around $1,000.

geezerbutler said:

I have been out west several times and I feel like I could "do
better" if I could just run down to the Snake river and Teton range
in WY, or even less visited areas like Cody, WY and take photos.

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This is a starkly beautiful place! Hwy 14 is the only approach to Yellowstone I was truly impressed with...

geezerbutler said:

Go to their web site and check it out.

I got approval and my new card # & exp date instantly.

Generally I dislike Citibank but this is is a good deal for me.

Their policy says that they do not price match online retailers.

AMEX's BVG is the best one going IMO.

I have never been denied a claim.

They've paid me 4 times so far. Lenses, Flash, and most recently
a DVD changer.

Sandsport said:

I agree with the above post about $ as a tool.

I would never buy mail order or something like a digital SLR w/out
using a credit card for the additional protection.

Thanks,

Rick

Lew said:

"paying cash" doesn't preclude using a credit card; in fact I
generally use credit cards for most purchases. I just pay them off
each month, which effectively is the same as "cash" but with the
added benefits.

Definitely use a credit card for online purchases. Too many risks
to not use one with its protections.

Also, the cash vs. credit question changes if the item is a tool
you use to make money with. In business it is often cost efficient
to use credit or leases to purchase capital items and not tie up
all your working capital.

But that's fuel for another discussion.

-- Lew

Click to expand...

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Click to expand...

Click to expand...

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cpr1954 said:

ha ha... cash beats 0% everytime..??? ha ha

give me a 0% loan.. and let me invest it at 10%..
we will see then..

cheers

btw... do you use the same technique for buying a house..?

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Yes - I paid cash for the last house I bought.