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DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> Purchase from Abes of Maine
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Showing posts 1 - 12 of 12, (reverse)
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 05/15/2014 08:10:00 AM · #1
I am looking to buy 5D Mark III and found they have best price (unless if you know a place that is reliable and good price!)

Question is are they reliable?
 05/15/2014 08:29:19 AM · #2
Abe's of Maine has been around a long, long time, and have a good reputation. I haven't bought from them recently, and things do change.
Another vendor that has been around a long time, usually has good prices, is B & H Photo.
Your absolute best deal can probably be had by going into NYC with cash on a Sunday morning, and being the first customer in one of the Jewish camera shops (57th St area, if I remember right).
No slam against Jews, but they appear to place great importance on getting that first sale of the week. Know what a fair price is. Then Negotiate. Hesitate. Wait. Either the price will come down or they may throw in extras. Warning on this - do not even appear to start to negotiate unless you buy from them - wasting the shop keeper's time is not a way to get their day / week off to a good start.
Good luck to you.

Message edited by author 2014-05-15 08:30:09.
 05/15/2014 08:35:12 AM · #3
Canon sets their prices so the best deal you will ever get is a REPUTABLE online retailer like BH, adorma, amazon, in fact i'd bet amazon ALWAYS has teh lowest price on camera bodies and lenses as they drop the prices for rebates when available. the best deal you will get will be a package deal, with accessories extras but the base price of the camera will almost always be the same.

camera shops tend to be priced slightly higher because of the overhead.
 05/15/2014 10:46:45 AM · #4
No matter where you buy from, get the camera with the 24-105 included. For instance, At Abe's of Maine, you get the camera + lens for 3049, which is only $400 more than the body alone! //www.abesofmaine.com/item.do?item=CNEOS5DIII24105

Even if you already have that lens (looks like you do), you could turn around and sell it for more than that $400. I bet you could easily get $600-700 on craigslist. keh.com sells that lens in like new condition for $725 //www.keh.com/camera/Canon-EOS-Zoom-Lenses/1/sku-CE07999080500R?r=FE

Message edited by author 2014-05-15 10:47:01.
 05/15/2014 12:17:59 PM · #5
I bought my first Nikon F3 from Abe's of Maine...way back in 1986 or 87 and they were well established then. They had a nice multi-page ad in the back of Modern Photography.
 05/15/2014 12:37:27 PM · #6
yeah, buy it with the lens, i'll front you the $400 and you can give me the lens after. actually i'd prefer the kit with the 17-40L if you can get that one, thanks!

Message edited by author 2014-05-15 12:38:18.
 05/15/2014 12:44:17 PM · #7
Thanks guys! though looking at all these messages, I also believe on Amazon, BH but have not dealt with Abes before so not sure if I can put my money down and assume that I will get a brand new for the price that they are quoting with or without lens.

And how come they are selling over $400+ less then what Amazon or BH has, that is where I get stuck to buy.

Update: I called them to check on price and they are saying it is a Taiwan product and does not come with the USA warranty, no firmware upgrade. Technically when you buy and stepped out of store, it done and you are on your own! They do have USA version and price is same as Amazon/BH :)

Message edited by author 2014-05-15 13:23:43.
 05/15/2014 01:27:54 PM · #8
Beware. Although they have a pretty good overall rating, their M.O. is "the hard up-sell." You will nearly always get a call from them telling you that what you ordered does not come with . Or that it is "imported." Or that you really want the expedited delivery. Or you *really* want that (valueless) accessory bundle.
Look carefully through the reviews in the provided link, even the positive ones, and you will see this. Their pricing is not much lower than very reputable sellers. You don't need the hassle, nor do you want to support a seller that uses these tactics.
My usual recommendation is to buy direct from Canon (refurbished), but in the case of the 5D MkIII, it is almost always out of stock, and when it is in stock, it goes *fast*. The refurb price is $2719, and you can get an additional 10% discount by trading in an old, broken Canon P&S using the Canon Loyalty Program (CLP). this program is not advertised, you have to call them at (866) 443 8002 and select option 2.
05/15/2014 01:33:33 PM · #9
Originally posted by kirbic:
Beware. Although they have a pretty good overall rating, their M.O. is "the hard up-sell." You will nearly always get a call from them telling you that what you ordered does not come with . Or that it is "imported." Or that you really want the expedited delivery. Or you *really* want that (valueless) accessory bundle.
Look carefully through the reviews in the provided link, even the positive ones, and you will see this. Their pricing is not much lower than very reputable sellers. You don't need the hassle, nor do you want to support a seller that uses these tactics.
My usual recommendation is to buy direct from Canon (refurbished), but in the case of the 5D MkIII, it is almost always out of stock, and when it is in stock, it goes *fast*. The refurb price is $2719, and you can get an additional 10% discount by trading in an old, broken Canon P&S using the Canon Loyalty Program (CLP). this program is not advertised, you have to call them at (866) 443 8002 and select option 2.


Thanks!

I thought about the same and dropping idea of buying from them. I can buy from BH and ship it at home no tax!
 05/16/2014 06:39:48 PM · #10
Originally posted by pgirish007:
Originally posted by kirbic:
Beware. Although they have a pretty good overall rating, their M.O. is "the hard up-sell." You will nearly always get a call from them telling you that what you ordered does not come with . Or that it is "imported." Or that you really want the expedited delivery. Or you *really* want that (valueless) accessory bundle.
Look carefully through the reviews in the provided link, even the positive ones, and you will see this. Their pricing is not much lower than very reputable sellers. You don't need the hassle, nor do you want to support a seller that uses these tactics.
My usual recommendation is to buy direct from Canon (refurbished), but in the case of the 5D MkIII, it is almost always out of stock, and when it is in stock, it goes *fast*. The refurb price is $2719, and you can get an additional 10% discount by trading in an old, broken Canon P&S using the Canon Loyalty Program (CLP). this program is not advertised, you have to call them at (866) 443 8002 and select option 2.


Thanks!

I thought about the same and dropping idea of buying from them. I can buy from BH and ship it at home no tax!


I bought my LX5 from them and had the same hard up-sell. In fact, I was in a hurry to get it before vacation, and they DELAYED my order in order to have a chance to "verify" that I didn't need some useless accessories. I haven't bought from them since.
 05/16/2014 07:12:01 PM · #11
I buy from BH even though I have to pay cross border charges. I cannot stand hassle.
 05/18/2014 05:32:14 AM · #12
Originally posted by kirbic:
Beware. Although they have a pretty good overall rating, their M.O. is "the hard up-sell." You will nearly always get a call from them telling you that what you ordered does not come with . Or that it is "imported." Or that you really want the expedited delivery. Or you *really* want that (valueless) accessory bundle.
Look carefully through the reviews in the provided link, even the positive ones, and you will see this. Their pricing is not much lower than very reputable sellers. You don't need the hassle, nor do you want to support a seller that uses these tactics.
My usual recommendation is to buy direct from Canon (refurbished), but in the case of the 5D MkIII, it is almost always out of stock, and when it is in stock, it goes *fast*. The refurb price is $2719, and you can get an additional 10% discount by trading in an old, broken Canon P&S using the Canon Loyalty Program (CLP). this program is not advertised, you have to call them at (866) 443 8002 and select option 2.


Originally posted by pgirish007:
Thanks!

I thought about the same and dropping idea of buying from them. I can buy from BH and ship it at home no tax!


Originally posted by Neil:
I bought my LX5 from them and had the same hard up-sell. In fact, I was in a hurry to get it before vacation, and they DELAYED my order in order to have a chance to "verify" that I didn't need some useless accessories. I haven't bought from them since.

I bought a kit from them about a year and a half ago for my GF, and they handed me the hard upsell, plus were a little hazy on the exact components of my kit.

Bottom line.....I didn't get the kit that the salesman specified that would have had a memory card and I agreed to, and after being badgered into it, I cancelled the order for the spare battery they pushed onto me after they hadn't filled the order for over two months.

Never again....
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