Why did the HV20 take a 150 swing up at BH?
 

I was just about to buy another one at BH at 749 and then when I had the cash . . . 899? Is it the dollar? If so, then maybe I should buy one before they're 1800?

Maybe they were on special before? $749 is pretty good...

can i order one from the UK?

the pound is looking really good right now

As any bargain shopper knows, you don't wait for winter to get the best prices on skis, you wait until the beginning of summer. Betcha get a better price on that HV20 closer to New Years Day.

You would have the NTSC 60i Problem with a US HV20

If I lived in the UK, I'd take an empty suitcase to New York and fill it up with as much stuff as I could buy... Good time to live on the Continent!

matt, i think it was a temporary price reduction to stay competitive with other retailers that were offering it at around the $800 level, but i think those prices have expired elsewhere as well. sometimes you only have a short window to grab those kinds of deals....

I got my order in Sat evening (Nov 3) while it was at $798.

Should arrive at my doorstep tomorrow about 6PM. I noticed it at $749 but hadn't been pushed over the edge yet.

Damn, I really wanted the XH A1 but...

B&H had them for $749! Dang, they were practically giving them away.

im not filming direct to tape

but to disk, for NLE editing

would that still be a problem?

Yes. The frame rate is still saved, and then you have to deal with it in post. NTSC (60i) will not play well with others (PAL, 50i), without a re-render.

To have to always re-render all of your footage would quickly drive you insane, and frame rate changing renders are never quick and painless.

C

I'd be careful with any online seller that sells something cheaper than BH. I think if you do a quick google of that company with review in the word you might see why. It's a big reason Chris gets upset when he sees people posting other websites that are not DVI sponsors. I'm sure it pains him when this website might inadvertently facilitate people getting taken advantage of . . . Most 'great deals' like the one you found are from people preying on trusting people like you and me who are counting are pennies and can least afford to suffer the consequences.

The biggest giveaway I've found is the suspect website invariably has some smiling babe with a phone headset on and when you do call you get some big, hairy sounding guy in Brooklyn.

I've had lots of good luck with B&H, and have used it for many equipment purchases over the last decade. Still, I'm not really comfortable with a blanket "if it's cheaper than B&H, it's probably a scam" rule. The fact is, B&H rarely offers much if anything in the way of a price break (I bought from them for equipment I couldn't readily purchase in this area), and, while browsing, I've seen lower prices on many items from e-tailers with whom I've also had reliable dealings, such as BuyDig, OneCall, and NewEgg. I think that assuming the worst about anyone charging less than B&H will cost both the consumer and the market, as it will hurt legitimate, ethical B&H competitors such as the companies I mentioned above. Put it another way: one could easily make a similar claim that, if you really wanted to avoid getting scammed, you should disregard mail-order or e-tailers (including B&H) altogether and only buy your product "hands-on" at local big-box stores like Best Buy or Circuit City.

Indeed, that is the very reason why I take the time to remove such references from public view and occasionally close the accounts of those who insist on posting them. Just so you know. Thanks Matt,

OK sorry Chris I didn't know you had these rules, I won't do that anymore.

Everyone should periodically review the current site policies of web sites they frequent. Makes for a better experience and a happier online community. Here's DVinfo's policy page:
http://www.dvinfo.net/network/policy.php

OK I read the whole thing, took a while but I did it.

So (and I don't mean this snarkily), if we are discouraged from posting recommendations for any dealer who's not a sponsor of DVInfo, is there a list somewhere of "DVInfo Seal of Approval" sponsors, so we can pre-vet our recommendations and not wind up in trouble with the admins?

ON EDIT: Forget it -- I just found the link.

ok, i really am not one to typically complain about prices--buy it or don't, your choice--but this week, B&H raised the price a hundred bucks and is offering an "instant" rebate which returns it to the original price of $899...don't get these maneuvers at all. i actually buy tons of gear from them and have never had a complaint, but this is dizzying.

meanwhile, the overpriced brick n mortar retailer, from whom i never buy anything but the occasional pack of emergency tape, down the street is offering it for $899. usually, their prices are 20% higher (or more) than B&H.

what's up with the pricing on this camera? is it the weak dollar? lack of supply? something must afoot...

Because DVINFO.NET has sponsors, it would not be appropriate to allow hawking of non-sponsors a this site. The sponsors could bail, Chris could go broke, and a valuable resource would be lost to all of us. Thus a very pragmatic reason for the policy to limit what amounts to advertising in the threads.

Retail pricing is a mystery. Vendors set prices based on their cost, their competition, which may be a subset of all e-tailers, (much as brick and mortar store competitors are mainly stores within a reasonable drive of their location), and any promotional program they may elect to run.

In general, it is usually worth a visit to the BBB web site to check out e-tailers (and mail order retailers). While not being found on the BBB site is no assurance of good or bad, you will find information on many retailers that can help you judge your risk of receiving final satisfaction, especially if there is a problem in the transaction at the start.

There are several web sites that report user satisfaction, and allow users to vent about e-tailers/retailers. Like anything on the web, the data may be good, or may be gamed. But they provide a data point.

B&H is the sponsor with whom I have had the most experience, and over many years predating the advent of home video, and it has invariably been good, and their prices have been fair in light of their reliability and service.

As to pricing, vendors usually give the best prices on the stock that moves. Often a retailer will carry an item as a convenience for customers rather than as a main stream offering. In those cases, you can expect their price to be less competitive.