Canon EOS 1DS MKII for $5509.00 ???

[Jim01]

A friend sent me a link to the A&M Photo World website to see their advert for the above camera body. Link:

http://www.amphotoworld.com/results.asp?qu=&om=&manuf=Canon&searchcat=&sort=4

Is that for real? B & H, whom I've dealt with before, lists the body for $7995.95

Has anyone bought from A & M in the past? Are they reputable? Etc...

Not that I can afford it at present...

Thanks in advance,
Jim

[patrickpkt]

Whenever I see a price like that, or just in general with any seller I've not used before, I check out resellerratings.com. Here's A&M Photo World's (http://www.resellerratings.com/seller1988.html). IIRC, they also have several other names that they do business under.

[Jim01]

Whenever I see a price like that, or just in general with any seller I've not used before, I check out resellerratings.com. Here's A&M Photo World's (http://www.resellerratings.com/seller1988.html). IIRC, they also have several other names that they do business under.


Many thanks, Patrick.

I've forwarded the link to my friend... and, bookmarked the Reseller Ratings website for future reference.

Regards,
Jim

[Belmondo]

Jim01, this is not a dig at you or your friend. You were cautious enough to inquire, and avoided making a potentially serious mistake. For every person that makes an inquiry, however, there are enough that don't that the people stay in business doing what they do.

The two cardinal rules of buying camera gear mail order or online...
1. If it seems too good to be true (you know the rest)
2. Check Resellerratings.com

This sort of question comes up frequently. Reasonable precaution is always advised, so you and your friend are to be commended for having done so.

[prime80]

A&M Photoworld and Broadway Photo (they're actually the same outfit) are arguably the biggest scam artists in the photography business. Why respectable print magazines still run their scam ads is beyond me. Don't touch anything they're offering with a 10ft. pole.

[davidwegs]

These guys are SAD.

Just plain con merchants.

[robertwgross]

Speaking as a camera consumer, I think those scam shops are really bad. However, if the way they do business were completely illegal, then I would expect some states to have their consumer rights attorney to go after them in court. I think part of the way those scam shops operate is "bait and switch" where they get you on the hook with a great advertised price (magazine print ad or Internet ad). Then they get you by telephone to clarify the deal and inform you of what the real price is going to be, perhaps with huge shipping costs added in. If a consumer complains, the scammer will argue that there was some misunderstanding over the noisey telephone call. If the consumer complains more, then the scammer simply goes comatose.

---Bob Gross---

[Jim01]

Thanks to all for responding.

Jim

[big_ipaq]

What I do not understand is how all these scammers are not behind bars already by now?!?