parallel imports

[PureKiwi]

is there any risk in buying parallel import camera ? off trademe of glam and bartman and who ever ?

[Moppie]

From someone like Glam there should be very little risk. He is well established, well known and is one of the most honest retailers and dealers out there. I wouldn't have any doubts that he would put right anything that went wrong.

With anyone else you are running a risk of not being able to get good, or even any, after sales support.
Many large volume traders on trademe are not operating as a business (even when they should) and do not give a damn about the consumer garuntees act.

Is it worth saving a few dollars at the risk of losing it all if your sold a dud?

[PureKiwi]

yeah thats what i mean , should i be going and buying a camera off trademe or am i better going to a camera shop

[thirdkid]

Id say you would be better off buying from a cam shop cos of warranty issues. But Bartman88 from TM is a pretty good guy. Haim has bought alot of stuff from him so hes got good feedback

[Moppie]

Go to a camera shop.

You might pay 2-3% more, but you will get a much better deal in the end, and as long as you don't buy from Photowhorehouse, you will also have confidence of good aftersales support.
(one note, Glam also operates Pro Gear).

As an example, my 30D came with free dust between the sensor and AA filter. Fortunatly I bought it from Auckland Camera, and they were able to put me in touch with someone at Canon was able to expedite a repair (under warrenty) in only 2 days so I could use it for a charity event.
Had I bought it from an unknown internet retailer it would have taken that long just to return the camera, with no garuntee anything would be done with it.

[keriboi]

is glam, progear and a top nz retailler?

[Spacemunkie]

Yep. Glam is Progear.

I bought my 40D or my 70-200 (can't remember which off hand) from Bartman88 with no worries whatsoever. Would def. use again. Would also email Progear direct to see whether they could match or come close to a price you'd seen. Gotta be worth a punt ;)

[PureKiwi]

Hopefully i can get a secound hand 40D if not ill get somthing else new from a camera shop , thanks alot people



Iv talked to bartman seems pretty good , i'm just concerned about if it breaks ill be with out a camera for awhile

[keriboi]

theres too places in auckland, progear and auckland camera, i wouldnt go elsewhere!

[Redal]

You have to be careful with parallel imports, as if something goes wrong it can take a while to get things serviced.
As you have to send it back to the person who sold it to you , then they have to send it back to where they got it from. Maybe hong kong. Do you have to pay the shipping cost?
I know that Canon NZ doesn't cover the warranty for imported cameras, so if you want it fixed you will have to pay if you want them to work on it. That goes with the Sigma agents as well.

If you are looking a second hand camera gear, trademe is very hard to beat, i have brought more 20k worth of gear off there and haven't been burnt yet , you just have to do your homework on the seller and the item you are buying. Like what a blown shutter is going to cost if it happens and work out the risk of it happening.