Lambis Stratoudakis
January 7th, 2004, 10:12 AM
Many Europeans who want to order a camcorder from the U.S. or Asia sooner or later face the same problems.
a) Guarantee.
Most shops selling these cameras have a U.S. or 90 days guarantee. You can buy an additional mark guarantee which they claim to be an international guarantee, but what happens when something goes wrong? Do we have to send the camera back to the U.S. or can we leave it to an authorized camera in the country where we are?
There are some shops for example in Hong Kong which exchange domestic warranty card for an international one That’s great!!
b) Payment.
In many European countries, like in Sweden where I happen to be, banc transfer is very inconvenient since the banc administrational fees are extremely high, and you meet a lot of obstacles until your money has reached the receiver. I speak of own experience. So payment by banc card (visa, AmEx etc) is least to say to prefer.
c) Grey market camcorders.
Naturally you will tell me to buy from our sponsors and of cause if the above wasn’t an issue I would. It would be good if there were a list of ”blacklisted” sellers (grey market sellers)
Everyone knows that Sony DV Cam models come with a 2 year silver support warranty (at least in Europe).
(Take a look att: www.creativevideo.co.uk/pdf/sony_silver-support.pdf )
So I’ve asked a company selling the cameras in England if they offer this support.
The answer they gave me was:
We are selling without silver support (not of great help if you read the small print!).
Are they grey market sellers?
One problem that I have: I want to order a camera from the U.S. I’ve got a friend over there who will visit me soon. Now, I would like to order the camcorder, make the payment from my visa card (so that I also will become the registered buyer) and have it delivered to my friend. But I’ve been told that from the B&H that it’s not possible.
Anyway, any reaction on this theme? I hope that our sponsors will help their potential European buyers and simplify the selling/buying.
Regards Lambis
a) Guarantee.
Most shops selling these cameras have a U.S. or 90 days guarantee. You can buy an additional mark guarantee which they claim to be an international guarantee, but what happens when something goes wrong? Do we have to send the camera back to the U.S. or can we leave it to an authorized camera in the country where we are?
There are some shops for example in Hong Kong which exchange domestic warranty card for an international one That’s great!!
b) Payment.
In many European countries, like in Sweden where I happen to be, banc transfer is very inconvenient since the banc administrational fees are extremely high, and you meet a lot of obstacles until your money has reached the receiver. I speak of own experience. So payment by banc card (visa, AmEx etc) is least to say to prefer.
c) Grey market camcorders.
Naturally you will tell me to buy from our sponsors and of cause if the above wasn’t an issue I would. It would be good if there were a list of ”blacklisted” sellers (grey market sellers)
Everyone knows that Sony DV Cam models come with a 2 year silver support warranty (at least in Europe).
(Take a look att: www.creativevideo.co.uk/pdf/sony_silver-support.pdf )
So I’ve asked a company selling the cameras in England if they offer this support.
The answer they gave me was:
We are selling without silver support (not of great help if you read the small print!).
Are they grey market sellers?
One problem that I have: I want to order a camera from the U.S. I’ve got a friend over there who will visit me soon. Now, I would like to order the camcorder, make the payment from my visa card (so that I also will become the registered buyer) and have it delivered to my friend. But I’ve been told that from the B&H that it’s not possible.
Anyway, any reaction on this theme? I hope that our sponsors will help their potential European buyers and simplify the selling/buying.
Regards Lambis