How to get a 20D for $300.. bwahahaha..

12/10/2004 10:08:37 PM · #1

I got a 20D!!! Okay, story time...

So I originally did the one thing they tell college students never to do and financed the 300D, thinking that nothing could ever possibly go wrong, but sure enough, just as I was making my VERY LAST PAYMENT there was a mix-up with the credit card company and they didn't receive one of my payments, so they tried to charge me all this crazy interest (like 30%, which amounted to an extra $18000!!! AHH!!). The only way to avoid it was to give back my Rebel as damaged.. So I go there and do that, and I'm pretty much devestated at the idea of losing my Rebbie, and they say, "Well why don't you just trade it in for a 20D? We're having a special, it'll only cost you an extra $300."

..........

Needless to say, I am now the proud new owner of a 20D. And my life-consuming photography class at school is over, so I can get back to my DPC obsession. hoo-ray :)

Gauti

Canon EOS-7D

12/10/2004 10:11:07 PM · #2

Originally posted by mffnqueen:

I got a 20D!!! Okay, story time...

good story. better camera. good luck

snackwells

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

12/10/2004 10:13:00 PM · #3

Great! That must have been a huge relief. I too was able to trade in my Rebel for a 20D, but it cost me like $500 extra. Did you get a kit for that deal or was it body only?

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

12/10/2004 10:15:14 PM · #4

HEY! Who takes trade ins? I'd have a 20D in my hands tomorrow!

12/11/2004 01:24:51 PM · #5

I got a whole new kit, which was nice because some of the accessories are incompatible (booooo). I'm really rather upset that my remote switch is useless now, and that a new one is nearly three times the price.

That reminds me.. anyone wants a remote switch for the Rebel?

I traded mine in at Best Buy, but I had one of those special warranties. I paid $100 for it when I got it, and it was SO worth it because whenever the Rebel would get scratched or the sensor would get dirty or whatever, I could just trade it in for a brand new one. And if I had ever lost it or it had gotten stolen or broken beyond repair, they would just cancel my remaining balance. Not a bad deal, I think.

jxpfeer

Nikon D70

12/11/2004 01:40:47 PM · #6

wow not a bad deal! 300 bux to trade up is definitely good. congrats on your new cam!

12/11/2004 02:55:14 PM · #7

did you actually ever trade the rebel in for another rebel?

i bought mine at best buy, and also the extended service plan, mainly because it covers the battery. i am at 12,000 frames now, and would think about trading it in for new one if your story is for real.

Originally posted by mffnqueen:

I traded mine in at Best Buy, but I had one of those special warranties. I paid $100 for it when I got it, and it was SO worth it because whenever the Rebel would get scratched or the sensor would get dirty or whatever, I could just trade it in for a brand new one. And if I had ever lost it or it had gotten stolen or broken beyond repair, they would just cancel my remaining balance. Not a bad deal, I think.

snackwells

Canon EOS-20D

12/11/2004 06:21:08 PM · #8

I traded mine in at Best Buy as well. Wow, that's amazing...a kit 20D for $300...and I thought I had a deal. :)

12/12/2004 01:10:36 AM · #9

Oh yes. Just take it in and say "Yeah, this one is broken... it.. uh.. the sensor is dirty..." and they'll give you a brand spankin' new one. I did it like four times when I had the Rebel, it was awesome.

12/12/2004 10:04:58 AM · #10

hmmm. makes me sort of glad i bought the extended service thing.
i rarely do, but this time they had a deal on it, and i bought the demo model they had so i figured it wouldn't hurt.

does it matter if the balance is paid off or not?

mine is paid in full...

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

12/12/2004 09:22:05 PM · #11

It should be good for as long as your service plan is in effect!

Bran-O-Rama

Canon EOS-5D

12/16/2004 07:19:37 AM · #12

That's some luxury to trade in a brand new camera when there's dust on the sensor. That's the equivalent of "my car is out of gas, I want a new one." Then coming back a week later and saying "this time I got the car dirty, where's my new one?" And then saying "I don't like the station the radio is tuned to, I want another. Now I don't like this song...."

I'd feel guilty taking advantage like that. Any idea what they do with all those "dusty" Rebels? Clean em and sell em off again?

Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM

12/16/2004 07:56:22 AM · #13

i see you point, but
think about how many of the extended service plans they sell that never get used. at $100 a pop i would think their profit margins are boosted considerably.

with over 12,000 frames on mine, and a bit less than a year on the warranty - i wouldn't feel guilty bringing it back.

Originally posted by Bran-O-Rama:

Message edited by author 2004-12-16 08:11:16.

Skip

Canon EOS-1D X

12/16/2004 08:02:49 AM · #14

Originally posted by Bran-O-Rama:

I'd feel guilty taking advantage like that. Any idea what they do with all those "dusty" Rebels? Clean em and sell em off again?

what's there to feel guilty about. the company makes an offer and some people take advantage of it. they know what to expect, or they wouldn't make the offer ;-)

EddyG

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

12/16/2004 08:33:36 AM · #15

Originally posted by soup:

i see you point, but
think about how many of the extended service plans they sell that never get used. at $100 a pop i would think their profit margins are boosted considerably.

Yeah and if everybody did what is suggested in this thread with every product that has an "extended warranty", companies would go bankrupt. So because it isn't something that everyone gets the luxury of doing, when I read it, I also thought it was totally abusing the system.

I also think that once the "higher ups" in the company become aware of how "lenient" their sales force is in exercising the "extended warranty", things might change, which means that those who have a legitimate need to the extended warranty will suffer.

What really got me was the part about "yeah... it's broken. that's the ticket. wink wink. nudge nudge. say no more." There was nothing wrong with the camera. Dust on the sensor is something that is meant to be serviced...

Just my 2Â¢

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

12/16/2004 09:48:04 AM · #16

i can bring it in and have them clean it if i want to...
if they are so worried about bankrupcy they would stop offering the service plans. most people don't have the balls to try to abuse the system.

go to ritz camera - ask about their extended plan on a camera or lens.
they'll tell you can throw it across the room, and smash it - we'll repair or replace it free. these things are sold under the idea 90% of them will be profit - 10% 'might be a loss' who makes out?

what i may do is go back with the camera closer to the end of the service period, and either have it maintenanced or upgrade.

my guess is the thread starter here knows someone at Best Buy who is making this easier than average to do.

Marjo

Canon EOS-7D

12/16/2004 09:57:33 AM · #17

Whatever happened to integrity? Remember? uprightness, honesty and sincerity...

12/16/2004 10:03:49 AM · #18

So I assume you bought the camera as 18 months same as cash?
So you can take it back, used, after 17.9 months and return it for a full refund? Do i understand this right?

So I can get a free 20D for the next 18 months...go buy one, make the payments (minimum of course) and and near the end return it for a full refund?

By then there will be a new camera out, a 40D or something, and I can start over....

Sounds like we don't have the complete story here.

12/16/2004 10:57:51 AM · #19

ask some of the CEO's in the oil industry this question. they'll have an honest answer for you...

Originally posted by marjo:

Whatever happened to integrity? Remember? uprightness, honesty and sincerity...

if you purchased an extended service plan with the camera - essentially yes this is what is being said. if it flies in reality i don't know.
my camera is paid for - financed interest free, and paid off before the deferment ran out. do i have the money to buy a brand new one if this one breaks... no - but i did spend extra on the original camera for a reason - because i knew it wasn't going to last forever - and i was going to use it alot ( i have heard of the shutter mechanism failing with less frames on it than mine has know - it's life is limited ). i covered my ass in the event it does break and have the option of a replacement. honest and upright - i paid for the Extended Service Contract - the salesman offered to sell it to me - the company knows they are obligated to fulfill it. at this time i would have the option of renewing my extended service contract on the replacement i would imagine. bringing it back for a new one because yours is dirty is a whole other story.

Message edited by author 2004-12-16 10:59:34.

12/16/2004 11:10:32 AM · #20

So what kind of life expectancy is there in a Rebel shutter?

i know of Fuji owners (602, 7000, 3 and 5 series cameras) with 50,000+ exposures and still working, without maintenance in many cases.

With film cameras I'd never give it thought as i doubt i'd take that many pics, but I have about 5,000 images on my PC inthe last year, and maybe another 1000 tossed before then, and 2000 erased...so 8,000 in a year and i consider myself a low timer photo wise, but getting more active.

I am panning to get a dSLR in '05...is it worth moving up the food chain, so to speak, to get a longer lasting camera?

Nelzie

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

12/16/2004 11:17:12 AM · #21

Originally posted by mffnqueen:

It sounds great how things turned out for you. What you have experienced with the last payment being 'lost' is a somewhat common occurrence with those 0% finance plans. I have heard so many stories about that happening to people it is unreal.

Personally, I never sign onto one of those plans unless the place offering the deal also accepts payments directly in their store. That way, I can physically make the payments to the store and recieve a physical receipt of payment. There is, or at least should be, no possible way for the payment to be conveniently 'lost'.

12/16/2004 11:23:52 AM · #22

After having thought on your story...you said you'd get out of it (payments or interest) if you returned the camera as broken. I still find that hard to accept after more than say 10 or 30 days...

Anyway, you did not return it, but traded it in. So you'll still have all the nasty interest to pay...and the $300 upgrade fee.

Hmmm...

Nelzie

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

12/16/2004 11:24:56 AM · #23

Originally posted by EddyG:

That's why Best Buy is now in the practice of tracking their customers and have even started to implement the policy of turning away 'bad' customers, people that are simply not profitable for them, because they do things like that.

Sure, those people might be able to buy things cash only, but never on credit, never be able to return anything, especially rebate items and never receive those warranties, deliveries of appliances or take advantage of other services provided by Best Buy.

If you enjoy shopping there, be careful about how you use their systems or the next time you have waited in line for 20 t0 30 minutes to pay for something and you whip out your credit card, the salesclerk could call over security and have you escorted from the presmises.

It sounds ludicrous and like some kind of scary story to freak out little children at bed time, but that was officially announced as the new policy of Best Buy not to long ago. There was a crazy uproar about it on Slashdot and I believe the original story was on Salon or something similar...

12/16/2004 11:45:02 AM · #24

There was a story recently in the paper here that mentioned that and other stores are doing similar. It was mainly regarding Xmas returns and return policies in general.

The scary thing was the 'customers' that were interviewed that buy things and return them - like microwave ovens with fodd in them{!}, getting prom dresses for free (buy, wear, return), etc, etc.

Companies used to take back anything, just to make the customer happy (even thengs that they did not sell!). Not so now!