what do you guys think of SAFERSEAS.com at DVinfo.net

Matthew Etchells · June 3rd, 2004, 07:20 AM

this company supplies pro accessories for the dvx100.
has anybody had any expirience with the products (they seem expensive)
i maybe looking at the anamorphic kit (kit#3)
what do u guys think?

Stephen Schleicher · June 3rd, 2004, 08:12 AM

If you get a quote from them, make sure they are quoting you everything you listed for them. I few years ago when I was purchasing my camera and gear I sent a very extensive list to them detailing everything I wanted priced. They gave me a quote that was a great deal, and when it came time to buy the price jumped because they didn't quote me all the gear I had listed. Needless to say I purchased all my gear from other sources.

A year later I purchased a hard case for my PD-150 from them without a problem.

Cheers

Matthew Etchells · June 3rd, 2004, 09:08 AM

thanks for your reply & help, would you say their prices are reasonable or expensive?

Randy Reyes · June 3rd, 2004, 09:14 AM

Great, quality product from Safer Seas, but their customer service really sucks as well as the packaging for their products. I ordered an Sennheiser ME-66 shotgun mic package a year ago and they shipped it in this large box, with no airbags or styrofoam, with all the components in their own little boxes. I don't know about you but for $400 I really would like my things to be cared for especially when they're being shipped!

Also you have to call them to really make sure they have the product you want since apparently what's advertised in some places like eBay (which is where I purchased from), isn't always the truth. It's eBay for goodness sakes, shouldn't you sell something you have?? I waited a month longer for my shotgun mic to arrive.

Even contacting them by phone can be a hassle since there is no one attending the phone. I tried like 5 times to talk to a real person trying to ask about my product but they let you leave a message that they won't even bother to return. Thanks a lot Safer Seas!! :[

To put a long story short. You get better service elsewhere in places like B&H photo-video. Hope this helps.

Boyd Ostroff · June 3rd, 2004, 09:35 AM

<<<-- Originally posted by Randy Reyes : You get better service elsewhere in places like B&H photo-video. -->>>

...and you will also have the satisfaction of knowing that you're patronizing one of DVinfo's sponsors! :-)

Ransom Tyer · June 9th, 2004, 02:56 PM

I bought an AT mic from those guys. The price was good but the price on the web page is a cash or wire transfer price. CC was a few % more. I opted for the wire transfer to save a few bucks.

That's the good news. After the order was placed I didn't hear anything from them. The worse customer service I've had anywhere, anytime. I've bought tons of stuff online and they were the worst in my experience. There probably is worse but I've just never seen it.

Long story short I kept calling (Probably 25 times) until I got the unit shipped. Nobody answered 95% of time and they didn't return messages. Rx'd no emails except a price quote before I bought.

Steve Rogers · June 17th, 2004, 11:25 PM

I have seen quite a few horror stories from people who have dealt with Safer Seas.

Your best bet is to buy elsewhere. It takes them forever to respond to anything, and weeks to get your orders.

Not worth it.

Scott Silverman · June 18th, 2004, 03:43 AM

I tried to buy from them a while ago. To make a long story short they quoted me a wrong price for a ME66 (which was too low) so of course I jumped at the offer. Later on the lady at SaferSeas told me she messed up. Cost me lots of money and time -- a bad experience.

I would stay away from them. I did however just order from Zotz Digital (http://www.zotzdigital.com) and am very very pleased with the products/service.

Rush Hamden · June 24th, 2004, 04:36 PM

Hey guys, just to let you know, we just bought over a hundred kits of the ME66/K6KIT combos with the case and clip, instock for $409.95. These are special items, different from the ME66K6 standard packages. DVinfo discount is in effect as well. Please email me at rush@evsonline.com for your final price.

http://www.evsonline.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=ME66K6KIT

PS: We package our products very well : ))

Adam Reilly · July 4th, 2004, 10:10 PM

Ordering from SaferSeas is a nightmare! First the salesman tried to sneak a $150 PayPal fee into my quoted price. But I was told by someone else at SaferSeas that they don't charge a fee. Finally he agreed to sell it to me without the fee and then started being distant and avoiding me after I made the purchase.

He immediately said there would be a 2 week backorder on the Panasonic AG-DVX100A. I didn't believe him but had to wait anyway. After waiting 2 weeks he didn't reply to me and finally I contacted the manager directly.

The manager told me that there was a shortage of these cameras nationwide amd that everyone else was waiting too. He seemed sincere about this.

5 weeks later, still no camera, and the salesman is continuing to give me delay stories. "Oh sorry I was out of the office this week." Bla bla bla. Apparently there is STILL a delay nationwide.

I have filed a complaint through PayPal to get a refund, and will file with BBB soon.

Horrible. What a bunch of ripoff artists. I think I was given the cold shoulder just because they didn't like the way I paid them - which is the exact amount they put on the invoice!

David Bonyun · July 29th, 2004, 02:17 PM

Do not use SaferSeas. I ordered $15000 worth of equipment from them in December. Before placing my order, I confirmed by phone and in writing that they had all the equipment I requested. (and Eye of the Storm and Sister Kahuna package)

It took three months to get all the equipment I ordered. I logged over 80 phone calls with their sales people and the owner. They changed out equipment without my permission, telling me it would work be just as good. and the computer they sent me did not work. I sent it back at my own expense and they still couldn't fix it. (I asked for my money back and was refused.)

It was not until I reported them to the BBB and the Secretary of State of California that I got the last of my equipment.

The equipment I have is now working. THe computer needed a new RAM chip. However, they took my money and lied to me. Before you spend a penny with these guys look them up at the Golden Gate BBB web site where they are rated "unsatisfactory"
http://www.oakland.bbb.org

If you do buy, know you were warned.

Scott Sheppard · July 30th, 2004, 04:26 AM

I have used these guys and have had nouthing but GREAT service ... :-)

Ransom Tyer · August 2nd, 2004, 08:34 AM

Your from the San Fran area like safer seas is. Maybe that's why you had good service because they know you might stop by.

IMO they were very bad to deal with and many other people have had similiar or worse experiences.

Adam Reilly · August 7th, 2004, 08:38 PM

Yeah I reported them to BBB as well. I ended up waiting 6 weeks on the shipment and they opted to give me a refund instead of the item.

They're just not honest. Once they get your money they're done with you. If there is a delay in something they lie and try to hide it. Totally misleading to get you off their back and then they leave you in the dark for weeks at a time.

But I'm sure they're nice people. They're probably just video artists who would rather not deal with customers, and have had no formal training in customer service or business communication.

I was able to get my camera from another Panasonic dealer and had a 100% perfect transaction! (www.videotexsystems.com)

June 3rd, 2004, 07:20 AM	#1
Matthew Etchells Tourist Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: london Posts: 3	what do you guys think of SAFERSEAS.com this company supplies pro accessories for the dvx100. has anybody had any expirience with the products (they seem expensive) i maybe looking at the anamorphic kit (kit#3) what do u guys think?

June 3rd, 2004, 08:12 AM	#2
Stephen Schleicher Regular Crew Join Date: May 2003 Location: Hays, KS Posts: 188	If you get a quote from them, make sure they are quoting you everything you listed for them. I few years ago when I was purchasing my camera and gear I sent a very extensive list to them detailing everything I wanted priced. They gave me a quote that was a great deal, and when it came time to buy the price jumped because they didn't quote me all the gear I had listed. Needless to say I purchased all my gear from other sources. A year later I purchased a hard case for my PD-150 from them without a problem. Cheers __________________ Stephen Schleicher www.stephenschleicher.com

June 18th, 2004, 03:43 AM	#8
Scott Silverman Major Player Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Cupertino, California, USA Posts: 301	I tried to buy from them a while ago. To make a long story short they quoted me a wrong price for a ME66 (which was too low) so of course I jumped at the offer. Later on the lady at SaferSeas told me she messed up. Cost me lots of money and time -- a bad experience. I would stay away from them. I did however just order from Zotz Digital (http://www.zotzdigital.com) and am very very pleased with the products/service. __________________ Scott Silverman Shining Star Digital Video Productions Bay Area, CA

June 24th, 2004, 04:36 PM	#9
Rush Hamden Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Burbank, California Posts: 122	Hey guys, just to let you know, we just bought over a hundred kits of the ME66/K6KIT combos with the case and clip, instock for $409.95. These are special items, different from the ME66K6 standard packages. DVinfo discount is in effect as well. Please email me at rush@evsonline.com for your final price. http://www.evsonline.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=ME66K6KIT PS: We package our products very well : )) __________________ Want to get more from your hard-earned gear? Digital Cinema Filmmaking Course 24 hours of educational video on 16 DVDs, focused on filmmaking savvy, examples, demonstrations, and tips. Learn Scriptwriting, Formatting, Editing, Camera Operation, Lighting, Exposure, Audio, and Directing.

July 4th, 2004, 10:10 PM	#10
Adam Reilly Tourist Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 2	STAY AWAY FROM SAFERSEAS Ordering from SaferSeas is a nightmare! First the salesman tried to sneak a $150 PayPal fee into my quoted price. But I was told by someone else at SaferSeas that they don't charge a fee. Finally he agreed to sell it to me without the fee and then started being distant and avoiding me after I made the purchase. He immediately said there would be a 2 week backorder on the Panasonic AG-DVX100A. I didn't believe him but had to wait anyway. After waiting 2 weeks he didn't reply to me and finally I contacted the manager directly. The manager told me that there was a shortage of these cameras nationwide amd that everyone else was waiting too. He seemed sincere about this. 5 weeks later, still no camera, and the salesman is continuing to give me delay stories. "Oh sorry I was out of the office this week." Bla bla bla. Apparently there is STILL a delay nationwide. I have filed a complaint through PayPal to get a refund, and will file with BBB soon. Horrible. What a bunch of ripoff artists. I think I was given the cold shoulder just because they didn't like the way I paid them - which is the exact amount they put on the invoice!

June 3rd, 2004, 09:08 AM	#3
Matthew Etchells Tourist Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: london Posts: 3	thanks for your reply & help, would you say their prices are reasonable or expensive?

June 3rd, 2004, 09:14 AM	#4
Randy Reyes Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 54	Great, quality product from Safer Seas, but their customer service really sucks as well as the packaging for their products. I ordered an Sennheiser ME-66 shotgun mic package a year ago and they shipped it in this large box, with no airbags or styrofoam, with all the components in their own little boxes. I don't know about you but for $400 I really would like my things to be cared for especially when they're being shipped! Also you have to call them to really make sure they have the product you want since apparently what's advertised in some places like eBay (which is where I purchased from), isn't always the truth. It's eBay for goodness sakes, shouldn't you sell something you have?? I waited a month longer for my shotgun mic to arrive. Even contacting them by phone can be a hassle since there is no one attending the phone. I tried like 5 times to talk to a real person trying to ask about my product but they let you leave a message that they won't even bother to return. Thanks a lot Safer Seas!! :[ To put a long story short. You get better service elsewhere in places like B&H photo-video. Hope this helps.

June 3rd, 2004, 09:35 AM	#5
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,787	<<<-- Originally posted by Randy Reyes : You get better service elsewhere in places like B&H photo-video. -->>> ...and you will also have the satisfaction of knowing that you're patronizing one of DVinfo's sponsors! :-)

June 9th, 2004, 02:56 PM	#6
Ransom Tyer New Boot Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 12	I bought an AT mic from those guys. The price was good but the price on the web page is a cash or wire transfer price. CC was a few % more. I opted for the wire transfer to save a few bucks. That's the good news. After the order was placed I didn't hear anything from them. The worse customer service I've had anywhere, anytime. I've bought tons of stuff online and they were the worst in my experience. There probably is worse but I've just never seen it. Long story short I kept calling (Probably 25 times) until I got the unit shipped. Nobody answered 95% of time and they didn't return messages. Rx'd no emails except a price quote before I bought.

June 17th, 2004, 11:25 PM	#7
Steve Rogers Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Orange California Posts: 32	I have seen quite a few horror stories from people who have dealt with Safer Seas. Your best bet is to buy elsewhere. It takes them forever to respond to anything, and weeks to get your orders. Not worth it.

July 29th, 2004, 02:17 PM	#11
David Bonyun Tourist Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Asheville, North Carolina Posts: 1	Do NOT use SaferSeas Do not use SaferSeas. I ordered $15000 worth of equipment from them in December. Before placing my order, I confirmed by phone and in writing that they had all the equipment I requested. (and Eye of the Storm and Sister Kahuna package) It took three months to get all the equipment I ordered. I logged over 80 phone calls with their sales people and the owner. They changed out equipment without my permission, telling me it would work be just as good. and the computer they sent me did not work. I sent it back at my own expense and they still couldn't fix it. (I asked for my money back and was refused.) It was not until I reported them to the BBB and the Secretary of State of California that I got the last of my equipment. The equipment I have is now working. THe computer needed a new RAM chip. However, they took my money and lied to me. Before you spend a penny with these guys look them up at the Golden Gate BBB web site where they are rated "unsatisfactory" http://www.oakland.bbb.org If you do buy, know you were warned.

July 30th, 2004, 04:26 AM	#12
Scott Sheppard Tourist Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: San Francisco Posts: 2	I have used these guys and have had nouthing but GREAT service ... :-) __________________ Scott Sheppard Executive Producer Host - Broadcast Radio The Inside Mac Show Saturdays 2 p.m. - 3 p.m. PDT http://www.insidemacradio.com

August 2nd, 2004, 08:34 AM	#13
Ransom Tyer New Boot Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 12	Your from the San Fran area like safer seas is. Maybe that's why you had good service because they know you might stop by. IMO they were very bad to deal with and many other people have had similiar or worse experiences.

August 7th, 2004, 08:38 PM	#14
Adam Reilly Tourist Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 2	Yeah I reported them to BBB as well. I ended up waiting 6 weeks on the shipment and they opted to give me a refund instead of the item. They're just not honest. Once they get your money they're done with you. If there is a delay in something they lie and try to hide it. Totally misleading to get you off their back and then they leave you in the dark for weeks at a time. But I'm sure they're nice people. They're probably just video artists who would rather not deal with customers, and have had no formal training in customer service or business communication. I was able to get my camera from another Panasonic dealer and had a 100% perfect transaction! (www.videotexsystems.com)