Grey Market Merchandise at DVinfo.net

Joe Hanna · April 12th, 2008, 04:13 PM

What is grey market merchadise??

I'm looking at a camera at Broadway video (XL-2) The price is good but does anyone know or have any info on Broadway? Is it a good Store.

How do they offer lower prices than say B&H

I know their not one of our sponsors so I thought I would check to see if anyone has info or had any dealings with them.

Don Bloom · April 12th, 2008, 04:32 PM

check resellersratings.com and you'll see for yourself about the company in question.

On this forum we try very hard to use the sponsor sites as they are the one standing behind this forum. The company in question is not one that is on the list of sponsors here.

BTW grey market generally means, no warranty,none of the accessories that SHOULD be supplied from the manufacturer and in many cases the selling company willuse some high pressure tactics to sell you what should be with the camera anyway.

Don

Joe Hanna · April 12th, 2008, 06:46 PM

Thanks so much Don, I just knew it was to good to be true, you know what they say about to good to be true, Anyway I checked them out on the web and the ratings were bad, really bad.

I will stay with one of our sponsors for sure, pay a little extra for the peace of mind.

Again thanks for yor help
JH

Chris Davis · April 14th, 2008, 07:00 AM

But you're not paying "a little extra" to any of the sponsors. B&H in particular has the best prices. Places like this Broadway Video will *never* deliver a product at the prices they advertise. Ever.

BTW, "Grey Market" means selling something legal through unofficial, unauthorized, or unintended distribution channels. Basically it means your warranty may not be honored.

Mike Cavanaugh · April 14th, 2008, 11:18 AM

I agree with all of the above. Of all the DVi sponsors, I have only had experience with B&H. I assume that the others are just a reliable as B&H. Chris seems to pride himself in finding good sponsors and we can thank him for that.

I can tell you, however, that even if you save a buck or two going with someone cheaper than B&H, you will get just that - a dealer CHEAPER than B&H. How to they make up their cost difference? Cheap tricks, scrimping on customer service, uninformed and impolite staff, and subjecting you to the hard sell for over-priced "add-on" that probably already came with the kit from the manufacturer.

Like any large organization with tremendous volume of sales, B&H occasionally has a problem with merchandise or customer service, but they seem to go out of thier way to correct it without a battle. Henry Posner, of B&H visits this site frequently and I have seen him address problems that people have posted. That is what I'm talking about - service.

I'm headed to NYC in the next couple of weeks and I have my B&H shopping list ready.

Dave Blackhurst · April 14th, 2008, 12:41 PM

I think there needs to be a sticky about googling "New York camera stores" and using resellerratings.com or wahatever.

OBVIOUSLY the best thing is to buy from a trusted DVinfo sponsor - I've lately been buying my accessories from B&H and getting insane deals on used/demo stuff that beat "the worlds largest flea market" by a mile.

But it's a community service to let people know that "NY camera stores" aren't all alike, and that many of them are nothing but "bait and switch" scam shops with identical tactics of advertising impossible prices, if you try to buy they tell you silly stories like "it's just for the shell of the camera" (yes I actually heard that one!!!!!) or you won't get any accessories (unless you buy everything ala carte and you can pay top $$ for junk accessories not OEM) or they won't sell you anything...

I wasted a bit of time "testing" a number of these "joints", and let me tell you, after speaking with them, you DON'T want to believe these "unbelievable" deals - they are BOGUS BOGUS BOGUS.

If you want to waste your time, go ahead and try, but use the DVinfo site sponsors if you want a camera and a dealer you can trust!!

Mike Cavanaugh · April 14th, 2008, 12:56 PM

This has been posted before, but for a real eye-opener on some of the "stores" you see advertised in the mags and on-line, take a look at this...

http://donwiss.com/pictures/brooklynstores/

The best looking place in the lot is the B&H Warehouse. (not their real store)

Henry Posner · April 29th, 2008, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Cavanaugh

Like any large organization with tremendous volume of sales, B&H occasionally has a problem with merchandise or customer service, but they seem to go out of thier way to correct it without a battle. Henry Posner, of B&H visits this site frequently and I have seen him address problems that people have posted. That is what I'm talking about - service.

Thank you. This is very gratifying and greatly appreciated.

Mike Cavanaugh · April 30th, 2008, 09:25 AM

I'll be in the city tomorrow and make my annual pilgrammage to B&H. Good thing I don't live closer - I'd be broke!

April 12th, 2008, 04:13 PM	#1
Joe Hanna Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: New Martinsville, West Virginia Posts: 66	Grey Market Merchandise What is grey market merchadise?? I'm looking at a camera at Broadway video (XL-2) The price is good but does anyone know or have any info on Broadway? Is it a good Store. How do they offer lower prices than say B&H I know their not one of our sponsors so I thought I would check to see if anyone has info or had any dealings with them.

April 14th, 2008, 11:18 AM	#5
Mike Cavanaugh Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Albany NY Posts: 311	I agree with all of the above. Of all the DVi sponsors, I have only had experience with B&H. I assume that the others are just a reliable as B&H. Chris seems to pride himself in finding good sponsors and we can thank him for that. I can tell you, however, that even if you save a buck or two going with someone cheaper than B&H, you will get just that - a dealer CHEAPER than B&H. How to they make up their cost difference? Cheap tricks, scrimping on customer service, uninformed and impolite staff, and subjecting you to the hard sell for over-priced "add-on" that probably already came with the kit from the manufacturer. Like any large organization with tremendous volume of sales, B&H occasionally has a problem with merchandise or customer service, but they seem to go out of thier way to correct it without a battle. Henry Posner, of B&H visits this site frequently and I have seen him address problems that people have posted. That is what I'm talking about - service. I'm headed to NYC in the next couple of weeks and I have my B&H shopping list ready. __________________ Remember, nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool! Last edited by Mike Cavanaugh; April 14th, 2008 at 11:31 AM. Reason: correct info

April 14th, 2008, 12:56 PM	#7
Mike Cavanaugh Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Albany NY Posts: 311	This has been posted before, but for a real eye-opener on some of the "stores" you see advertised in the mags and on-line, take a look at this... http://donwiss.com/pictures/brooklynstores/ The best looking place in the lot is the B&H Warehouse. (not their real store) __________________ Remember, nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool!

April 30th, 2008, 09:25 AM	#9
Mike Cavanaugh Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Albany NY Posts: 311	I'll be in the city tomorrow and make my annual pilgrammage to B&H. Good thing I don't live closer - I'd be broke! __________________ Remember, nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool!

April 12th, 2008, 04:32 PM	#2
Don Bloom Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,609	check resellersratings.com and you'll see for yourself about the company in question. On this forum we try very hard to use the sponsor sites as they are the one standing behind this forum. The company in question is not one that is on the list of sponsors here. BTW grey market generally means, no warranty,none of the accessories that SHOULD be supplied from the manufacturer and in many cases the selling company willuse some high pressure tactics to sell you what should be with the camera anyway. Don

April 12th, 2008, 06:46 PM	#3
Joe Hanna Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: New Martinsville, West Virginia Posts: 66	Thanks so much Don, I just knew it was to good to be true, you know what they say about to good to be true, Anyway I checked them out on the web and the ratings were bad, really bad. I will stay with one of our sponsors for sure, pay a little extra for the peace of mind. Again thanks for yor help JH

April 14th, 2008, 07:00 AM	#4
Chris Davis Trustee Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Willmar, MN Posts: 1,400	But you're not paying "a little extra" to any of the sponsors. B&H in particular has the best prices. Places like this Broadway Video will never deliver a product at the prices they advertise. Ever. BTW, "Grey Market" means selling something legal through unofficial, unauthorized, or unintended distribution channels. Basically it means your warranty may not be honored.

April 14th, 2008, 12:41 PM	#6
Dave Blackhurst Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Apple Valley CA Posts: 4,874	I think there needs to be a sticky about googling "New York camera stores" and using resellerratings.com or wahatever. OBVIOUSLY the best thing is to buy from a trusted DVinfo sponsor - I've lately been buying my accessories from B&H and getting insane deals on used/demo stuff that beat "the worlds largest flea market" by a mile. But it's a community service to let people know that "NY camera stores" aren't all alike, and that many of them are nothing but "bait and switch" scam shops with identical tactics of advertising impossible prices, if you try to buy they tell you silly stories like "it's just for the shell of the camera" (yes I actually heard that one!!!!!) or you won't get any accessories (unless you buy everything ala carte and you can pay top $$ for junk accessories not OEM) or they won't sell you anything... I wasted a bit of time "testing" a number of these "joints", and let me tell you, after speaking with them, you DON'T want to believe these "unbelievable" deals - they are BOGUS BOGUS BOGUS. If you want to waste your time, go ahead and try, but use the DVinfo site sponsors if you want a camera and a dealer you can trust!!