YIKES!!! Where should I go to buy a Pro90?

[mcnet]

I've made the decision to buy a Pro90 IS; I've got the cash in hand. Of course, I want the best buy, but I also want to make sure of what I'm getting for my money... The problem is, I've discovered (you all probably know this, but I didn't) that there are a lot of folks out there selling "gray market" cameras. Apparently they don't come with Canon's warranty; they also don't necessarily come with the usual accessories that are supposed to be with the camera. I was told one "bargain" came with a battery that lasted 10 minutes! Most of these listings look absolutely identical, they all appear to be reputable online shops. So, how do I know for sure what I'm buying? I want a good price, but not at the expense of quality; I need a decent battery and a normal warranty. I've spent hours on this, and right now my head is spinning.... HELP!!!!

[mcnet]

Okay; here's where I answer my own question... :)

Beach Camera (I believe they're located in New Jersey, they're at beachcamera.com) is selling the PowerPro 90 IS for $886, with reasonable shipping costs (about $25 FedEx to the MidWest). This is the full US version, not a "gray market" camera, and the phone personnel are actually helpful and polite - the one I spoke with didn't even try to sell me any accessories! Found them through their excellent consumer reviews at pricegrabber.com; if you're in the market for a G1 or a Pro90 and don't know where to buy, you might want to check them out. (If you're in the mood to read horror stories, go to Pricegrabber and take a look at the digital camera store reviews there. You don't want to buy from the wrong people, that's for darn sure!)

My new camera should arrive the first of next week... Yay!

[rsriram]

I've heard quite a few stories about rip-offs by beach camera. Check with websites like photo.net. If I were you I'd be careful with them.

[mcnet]

Well, actually, they came through really well on this one. The camera arrived in good shape; the retail box wasn't shrinkwrapped (the only thing that worried me a little - do they normally shrinkwrap them?) but all the parts were there, including all the warranty cards and literature, and they were the parts that were supposed to be there (not a "10-minute battery" like some of the gray-market sellers included, for example!). I've been using the camera for almost two weeks now, and it is great - no problems whatsoever. So my experience with Beach was very good, and I did save a couple hundred dollars by going through them. Hopefully I won't have to test out their return policy.... :)

[baksharp]

Hi,

I just got mine yesterday. Had Ordered it a day before. It is awsome.

Try www.bestpriceaudiovideo.com

No Complains. Good dealer in Cleveland Ohio. No Pushy Marketeers. And also Good price.

Brand New Box with everything intact.

Good Luck. Baksharp.

[cznite]

I bought my Pro 90 IS from buydig.com for 688 plus about 24 for shipping. Full Manufacturer's USA warranty and fast shipping of just 5 days. No hassle about upgrades or accessories. Pleased with service at a great price!

I also purchased a Canon brand BP-511 battery (54.99)and the high-quality Canon semi hard case (64.99) from etronics.com I was very pleased with these prices and fast delivery also. One more thing, I got two Sandisk 256 MB CF s for just 99.99 ea. from amazon.com with free fast delivery.

My experiences couldn't have been better with any of these vendors.