Buying an XLH1
 

OK, I get that the forum has sponsors and we all "should" buy from them. How about another approach... tell me why I shouldn't take the gamble to buy from a internet site if the camera is a US model with a US warranty? How can these guys sell for so much less? I'd much rather buy from a trusted dealer, but the $2000+ savings is a powerful incentive to explore other options.

If I pay with American Express, I have recourse. Please help me understand why I shouldn't do this!

Thanks!!

The $2000 savings aren't real. The usual trick is to break apart the factory package and sell you the camera only. The extras, like the battery, charger, strap... are then offered as extras at prices which result in you paying more for the original kit than had you gone to a reputable dealer. Go to resellerratings.com and read about the experiences the people there have had with some of these places. If that doesn't convince you then go ahead and good luck!

The reality of the situation is that they really *don't* sell for so much less; they use any variety of bait and switch schemes to hook you in, and when the dust settles, you'll pay much more than what they're advertising, in fact more than what you would have paid if you had simply gone through one of our trusted site sponsors. You can find out for yourself the hard way if you want, but you'll be on your own -- when it comes to the "where to buy" question, I always refer our readers to our site sponsors exclusively. Not just because they help keep our lights on, but primarily because they really are the best dealers in the business. Hope this helps,