Hey guys im finally ready to buy the xl2 but i dont know which dealer i should go for. Its between zgc and bh photo. it is a couple hundred more dollars at zgc but i have heard that they have alot better customer service. im also purchasing the 16x lens and zgc is about $100 dollars cheaper. if anyone has any advice it would be much appreciated. Thanks.

Both of those dealers are our sponsors so I think you're good no matter which way you go. Check to see which one actually has it in stock and can ship right away. Or get an item from each one, how about that. Congrats on your purchase,

If you mean zotzdigital.com I think they're the best I've seen. The customer service is incredible and I thought it was really worth $200.00 extra to purchase from Brian Longley who is extremely knowledgable and trustworthy. When I had to exchange my XL2 he worked it out that I was without the cam for only two days which really didn't interfere with my filming much. I think he's the best.

Lucinda

Actually Zotz is another DVinfo sponsor in Grants Pass, Oregon:

http://www.zotzdigital.com/index.php?cid=177

ZGC is located in Mountain Lakes, New Jersey:

http://www.zgc.com/zgc.nsf

The complete DVinfo sponsor list may be found here:

http://www.dvinfo.net/sponsors/

i would try and look locally for such an expensive camera. if you have any problems it's easier to deal through them then calling a vendor up and shipping it back.

i would try and look locally for such an expensive camera. if you have any problems it's easier to deal through them then calling a vendor up and shipping it back.

+1

I picked up a XL2 yesterday and bought it local. I paid a few more dollars than the sponsors have it for, plus tax. But the place is down the street from my house, so If I have a problem I can just throw it in the car and run it over there. Plus they carry all the goodies too.

Adam,

That won't work for most of us. I couldn't drive three hours and find a dealer that has an XL2 in stock. So reports of reputable vendors in this forum are very important to me, and presumably others. That and your local vendor doesn't contribute anything to keeping this wonderful forum up and running. But I would be tempted to deal locally also, putting a face and name with a transaction provides some comfort.

Adam, as the proud (and I know you are!) new owner of an XL2, I highly encourage you to download the XL2 Presets Manager (http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=48293) created by Steve Duke of Blue Barn Pictures (http://www.bluebarnpictures.com/english/team/estephen.htm) and the presets Chris Hurd posted (http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=48287) so you'll have them to play with while you experiment with your new cam. Then pop in to this thread (http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=46082) and post a setup to share with others.

Mike, I've had great service from B&H. I've not dealt with ZGC, but if Chris recommends them and they are a sponsor here, I think that says alot. Talk with both, go with your gut.

Of course we like it when people buy from our sponsors since without them this site wouldn't be possible. However it's hard to argue with buying local for the reasons you describe. Happily though, B&H is less than two hours from my home :-)

Regarding the sales tax issue that you allude to, any tax savings from purchasing out of state are generally an illusion. Most states expect you to pay sales tax on all purchases, regardless of where they were made. Can they catch you? Most likely not, but as states get "hungrier" they are mining data to scrape up every last penny so you never know. For personal items you may be OK, but if you treat your work as a business and depreciate your equipment on your income tax that might make it more likely they will notice. I'm sure that tax code varies from state to state so check yours, but in New Jersey the following applies
Whenever you purchase taxable items or services for use in New Jersey and the seller does not collect the appropriate sales tax, you are required to pay use tax to New Jersey. For example, if you purchase taxable merchandise from a mail order house and they don’t charge New Jersey sales tax, it does not mean that tax is not due; it means that the mail order house is not authorized to collect New Jersey sales tax. You, the purchaser, must pay 6% use tax directly to the Division of Taxation.

If you make a purchase in another state which has a lower sales tax rate than New Jersey, use tax is due at the rate of 6%. If, however, that state has sales tax reciprocity with New Jersey, a credit is allowed for the sales tax paid to that state.

I've not dealt with ZGC, but if Chris recommends them and they are a sponsor here, I think that says alot.ZGC is one of the few dealers I'm aware of that have an employee who earned her own DV Info Net fan club. I'm speaking of course about the lovely Christine B. at ZGC. See this thread among several others:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=9570

Hey thanks guys i think im just gonna go with zgc for both since ive heard alot of good things about them, not to say i havent heard good things about bh photo but zgc just seems more personal. thanks guys for all your help wish me luck.

Of the sponsors of this site, I've purchased from both B&H and Zotzdigital. My vote is for Brian at Zotzdigital. He has gone above and beyond for me on numerous occasions...and the tax free sales really helps too.
Dave M.

Congrats on the choice Mike. I bought mine from Zotz. Really stand up guy. I am sure the others are as well. Have fun waiting.

late
jb

Congrats on the choice Mike. I bought mine from Zotz. Really stand up guy. I am sure the others are as well. Have fun waiting.

late
jb

For what it's worth. When the XL2 was pending (meaning not out yet but orders were being taken) I had one on order from Chris B. at ZGC. There was some concern about when they were coming out and price. I was calling around and Brian quoted me $100 bucks lower than ZGC but they had like 10-12 orders already so I would be lower on the totem pole. When I mentioned ZGC and that I had one on reserve there already, he had great things to say about them and told me I should have great faith that if they'll do what they say and come through. And this is a competitor of theres! Goes to show you there are good guys in the business who really care and don't just try to always sell you on themselves by bashing others.

Kudos to both ZGC and Zotz.

On that note since I got the XL2 from ZGC I have had the greatest customer service from Christine at ZGC. I cannot say enough about how they stand behind their sales.

Peace.

Indeed, *all* of our sponsors are great folks! That's "requirement number one" for getting on board with DV Info Net...

Not that you need another reply post but I can tell you that Brian and Zotz are wonderful. I'm in Texas and bought from them and everything has been great. They are extremely helpful and you can always call on them with questions.

Good evening. First post, don't expect too much.

I might have gone with one of the sponsors if I'd known this site existed before a few days ago, but as it stands, I ordered my XL2 through Best Buy's customer fulfilment program on tuesday. Allows you to buy something that doesn't exist in the store and still retain all bitching rights at your nearest Best Buy. I'm paranoid about buying stuff online because of the intangible nature of such endeavors. The result? $4749.99 for the kit and a four year service plan for $249.99. Almost full retail, but four years of peace of mind and the ability to turn BBY's General Manager into a slobbering pile if something goes wrong.

~Nick Vaughan

Hey Nick,

I'm sure it'll work out fine with your purchase -- but of course now that you're hooked up with the best online community with the best sponsors, you know where to go for all your future purchases!

Over the 3 years since stepping up to "hobbyist" I've only bought two camcorders and a digital SLR from Zotz, so it ain't because I'm some industry big cheese...but Brian from Zotz heard from one of his employees that I'll be in the market for an HD cam when the autumn/winter crop of cameras hit the street, so HE picked up the phone and called ME just to chit-chat about cameras the other day. Won't find that kind of service at a chain!

four years of peace of mind and the ability to turn BBY's General Manager into a slobbering pile if something goes wrong.

Welcome aboard Nick! There's a lot to be said for buying stuff in a local store; I do it all the time myself. I've had generally positive experiences at Best Buy myself, but not everyone else has or websites like bestbuysux.org wouldn't exist ;-)

I'll have to say though, whenever I've been in there after the holidays there's a huge line at the customer service counter, and it isn't the managers who end up as slobbering piles...

I'll have to say though, whenever I've been in there after the holidays there's a huge line at the customer service counter, and it isn't the managers who end up as slobbering piles...

No doubt. I used to work for BBY and I've been through the holidays on the other side of the counter. Blech.

I'm sure it'll work out fine with your purchase -- but of course now that you're hooked up with the best online community with the best sponsors, you know where to go for all your future purchases!

Yes. Now I need the high-margin items like tapes, batteries, and EVERY ACCESSORY KNOWN TO MAN that BBY would never have. To the sponsors I shall go!

Thanks to both of you for the hearty welcome.

~Nick Vaughan

Hi Nick,

Welcome to DV-INFO.NET. I am happy to see someone else from my hometown here at DV-INFO. Like Boyd said, you have found one of the best online communities there is.

Good luck with your new XL-2.

-gb-

Wow, didn't expect anyone from TC to be here. That's really cool.

Thanks for the welcome!

~Nick

I got my XL2 from a vendor who is not a DV-INFO sponsor. They are kind of shady, I was quoted one price on one day and when I called back to order it they tried to sheist me, I told the guy forget about it. He called me back 15 minutes later and offered me the original price plus a 4 year warranty. I ended up getting it signed, sealed, and delivered just under 4400 with a 4 year warranty. They're a little salesman-centric but if you work you can get a good price.

I got my XL2 from these guys. They are kind of shady, I was quoted one price on one day and when I called back to order it they tried to sheist me, I told the guy forget about it. He called me back 15 minutes later and offered me the original price plus a 4 year warranty. I ended up getting it signed, sealed, and delivered just under 4400 with a 4 year warranty. They're a little salesman-centric but if you work you can get a good price.

Jason,

Welcome to DV-INFO. We have several good sponsors of this site who are very reputable, and give great customer service. Because they make this site possible, we ask that you not refer members to other vendors in the public forums.

Thanks for your understanding,

-gb-

Well stated Greg. You might want to go back and re-edit the edited post. In the string it now reads like the author is referring to a dvinfo sponsor. I suppose JV refers to the many online bait and switch machines out there...

Thanks for catching that Jimmie.

Jason, I edited your post to improve the message clarity a little bit.

-gb-

Which of our sponsors handle us Canadian customers the best or even can drop-ship from within Canada? There are a lot or otherwise good mail-order and web site vendors who's vision goes dark at the 49th parallel. It can be incredibly frustrating to hear about great deals and service from vendors X, Y, and Z only to find they won't ship to Canada or the shipping charges eat up any savings or they can't help with factory warantee service after the sale if required. Canon Canada, for example, won't touch a camera sold in the States or from a stateside web dealer, claiming that it's Canon USA's problem. Personally I feel how Canon chooses to organize their company internally for tax purposes shouldn't be our concern as customers - I'm dealing with Canon - period. As far as I'm concerned, Canon Canada and Canon USA are just two labels slapped on two doors in the same hallway in the headquarters building of the same company, not really different companies from each other any more than are the engineering and the marketing departments of Canon itself different companies. So which, if any, of our sponsors will deal with Canadian customers or do the best in making that border as transparent as possible.

Hi Steve, it's a difficult situation. I'm working on a partnership with one or two Canadian dealers who are authorized to sell Canon and other lines. That's about all I can say at the moment.