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5D MK3 - why such big price differences among online stores?

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seafan

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Hi,

I haven't done much shopping for a while, and now I'm in the market for a 5D MK3. I see amazon and B&H (where I do most of my shopping) are still listing them for $3300, while 42nd Street sells them for $2700, and to my surprise, a few places like

http://overstockdigital.com/ovcat/product_info.php?products_id=322916

http://www.ajrichie.com/Canon-EOS-5D-Mark-III-Body/p-2826?refid=Priceme

are selling them for $2000. Why is there such a big difference in price range? I thought 42ndStreet is pretty reputable, are the others also legitamate?

thanks,



Jason
 
The first thing that comes to mind is grey/gray market, which could be new merchandise, but without any warranty except that offered by the seller. A worst-case scenario, though less likely, would be hijacked merchandise or black market contraband, subject to seizure by authorities.

There are in-between possibilities, too.

--
I wear a badge and pistol, and, primarily with 7D cameras, with an EF-S 10-22mm and 100mm Macro L, make evidentiary images at night, which incorporates elements of portrait, macro, still life, landscape, architecture, and PJ. During personal time, I enjoy using both Canons and Nikons.
 
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[No message]
 
I checked resellerratings.com, they have good ratings.
 
seafan said:
I checked resellerratings.com, they have good ratings.
Click to expand...
I've seen the 5D III as low as $2,700~$2,800 from Adorama and B&H as part of bundle deals, so I'm really wary of a store that claims to sell them for $2,000. Sounds like a scam to me, as well.
 
seafan said:
Hi,

I haven't done much shopping for a while, and now I'm in the market for a 5D MK3. I see amazon and B&H (where I do most of my shopping) are still listing them for $3300, while 42nd Street sells them for $2700, and to my surprise, a few places like

http://overstockdigital.com/ovcat/product_info.php?products_id=322916

http://www.ajrichie.com/Canon-EOS-5D-Mark-III-Body/p-2826?refid=Priceme

are selling them for $2000. Why is there such a big difference in price range? I thought 42ndStreet is pretty reputable, are the others also legitamate?

thanks,

Jason
Click to expand...
I called 42nd Street Camera and was told the $2700 price for the MKIII is for a "gray" market camera, 42nd Street is not an authorized U.S. Canon dealer and I have read some bad things about them, don't know about the others, I am also looking to buying a 5DMKIII but will wait a bit to see if B&H or Adorama start having either sales or instant rebates.
 
I've heard that Overstock Digital will sell you the camera for $2,000 and then tell you that you need to buy a battery for $340 and then a charger for $250, etc, until you wind up paying the same as you'd pay B&H for the camera with it's included accessories. One guy mentioned that when he told them he already had a battery, the video camera he wanted was suddenly out of stock.
--
How to inspect a used EOS 7D before purchase:
 
DBCossini said:
seafan said:
Hi,

I haven't done much shopping for a while, and now I'm in the market for a 5D MK3. I see amazon and B&H (where I do most of my shopping) are still listing them for $3300, while 42nd Street sells them for $2700, and to my surprise, a few places like

http://overstockdigital.com/ovcat/product_info.php?products_id=322916

http://www.ajrichie.com/Canon-EOS-5D-Mark-III-Body/p-2826?refid=Priceme

are selling them for $2000. Why is there such a big difference in price range? I thought 42ndStreet is pretty reputable, are the others also legitamate?

thanks,

Jason
Click to expand...
I called 42nd Street Camera and was told the $2700 price for the MKIII is for a "gray" market camera, 42nd Street is not an authorized U.S. Canon dealer and I have read some bad things about them, don't know about the others, I am also looking to buying a 5DMKIII but will wait a bit to see if B&H or Adorama start having either sales or instant rebates.
Click to expand...
If you want the $2700 price shop Canon USA - refurbs. It could be just a returned open box or it could be something that died and had to be reworked. Either way it's under the same warranty.
 
Look carefully at the B&H deal. It may be Body Only but it includes a number of items such as battery, charger, memory card etc. Now look at the Overstock listing - no details of anything shipping with the body. Phone them and ask them what exactly comes in the box with the body. Now look at the prices on their site for all the things such as batteries and chargers that you will need. Their no name battery is $10 more than the Canon OEM one (and what are the chances they will try to get you to buy the insanely priced $219 high power battery). Canon OEM battery charger from B&H (which is included in their body only deal) retails for $59. The chargers on the Overstockdigital site start at $249 :-O for some no name charger made who knows where. Then of course you will need the extended warranty at anywhere from $300-500 :-O (retailer extended warranties are always a bad idea. They are vastly overpriced for what you get. You can get the same protection from an insurance company for a fraction of the cost).

Don't want all these over-priced no name add-ons? Just want the cheap body? Sadly we just sold the last one, its now out of stock.

--
Dan
-
f/2.8 is a smaller number than f/22 in the same way that 100 is a smaller number than 20.
I am learning photo graphee - see the results at www.danmarchant.com
 
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I saved several hundred dollars apiece on two 5D III recently by buying "open box" cameras where the kit lens had been pulled out. The two 5D III were brand new, untouched, complete with all the accessories and warranty. Found them by clicking the "used" button at Amazon. Maybe that's what's happening with your bargains.
 
But that's not the same as authorized Canon USA warranty. Probably providing their own (whatever that's worth) warranty.
 
Dan Marchant said:
Look carefully at the B&H deal. It may be Body Only but it includes a number of items such as battery, charger, memory card etc. Now look at the Overstock listing - no details of anything shipping with the body. Phone them and ask them what exactly comes in the box with the body. Now look at the prices on their site for all the things such as batteries and chargers that you will need. Their no name battery is $10 more than the Canon OEM one (and what are the chances they will try to get you to buy the insanely priced $219 high power battery). Canon OEM battery charger from B&H (which is included in their body only deal) retails for $59. The chargers on the Overstockdigital site start at $249 :-O for some no name charger made who knows where. Then of course you will need the extended warranty at anywhere from $300-500 :-O (retailer extended warranties are always a bad idea. They are vastly overpriced for what you get. You can get the same protection from an insurance company for a fraction of the cost).

Don't want all these over-priced no name add-ons? Just want the cheap body? "Sadly we just sold the last one, its now out of stock."
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This.

Plus, how can you trust a retailer who is offering 5D III packages that include EF-S (18-55) and long discontinued (55-200 II) lenses?

http://overstockdigital.com/ovcat/product_info.php?products_id=323143

I think their rating at resellerratings.com is phony (such sites can be manipulated by the unscrupulous).

--
Unapologetic Canon Apologist :-)
 
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Well, you don't need me to explain the rest, do you?!
 
jon lake said:
Well, you don't need me to explain the rest, do you?!
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Please do. I've been a photojournalist for 30 years and the 5D III cameras are perfect--I've shot dozens of assignments with them so far in all conditions and enjoyed saving hundreds of dollars on the purchase. Really don't see a downside here.
 
Canon USA is about to impose very strict pricing policies much the way Nikon and Sony do. I believe they go into effect on Tuesday. You will no longer see the incredible deals that you have been seeing for the past month. What you HAVE been seeing is a lot of dealers competing for whatever dollar they can get before being told what to sell at by Canon. After Tuesday, all the authorized dealers will be selling at the higher prices, probably pretty much all at the same price. Be very suspicious of anyone selling low.

Stay tuned.
 
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