Reasons to Buy Camera Gear Locally
The pros are obvious when buying online and are mostly to do with price, but the 'cons' also need to be considered:
1. Well, first is being conned! It happens occasionally when you ship your credit card details off to some random offshore entity without a phone number or address. The danger shouldn't be overstated, but it is something to consider. And don't expect any interest from the local Fraud Squad!
2. When the shipping and handling costs and shipping insurance are added to the purchase costs, the savings often aren't as impressive as they looked on first appearance.
3. Prices are invariably non-negotiable? whereas real live salespeople can negotiate ? not to mention providing sound advice on features and options. Plus 'bundled' deals which may add up to be cheaper overall than the online offer. And you can come back to the store to seek expert information and advice whenever you want.
4. There is no guarantee that the product is fit for local conditions - cables, plugs, voltage, accessories, etc, and certainly no local certification such as the C-Tick compliance which Australian consumer products are required to have. There's no guarantee for anything, really.
5. If there is an warranty it may not include Australia, and even if it is honoured, you will incur a $50-$100 cost shipping the product back to some other part of the world. Non-refundable. And then await the
outcome without any recourse all the while hoping the problem will be resolved without long-distance disputes.
6. If you're based in Australia, you deny yourself the protection of a whole swag of Australian consumer protection legislation, such as statutory warranties (standard consumer protection beyond the warranty supplied by the distributor), fit-for-purpose requirements - and simply protection from being swindled. The Australian Consumer Laws have been beefed up from January this year and now compare to the toughest in the world ? whereas it's very much a 'buyer beware', no-refund environment in the global marketplace.
7. We would like to see you again! We are here to help you enjoy your photography ? it's an interest we share. And if we can do that, we both gain.