sharp as a marble

It is funny how people are scammed so quickly.

If someone told you they will sell you a new Mercedes 500SEL for 4000 but you need to bring cash and meet them at a seedy neighborhood would you do it?

Well think for a second before contemplating these kind of offers. if you would not do it in real life why do it online?

Most of what I buy I buy online. Even bought my car online. Got a great buy on it. Tried to buy my 10D online, but did better at my local camera store. So, I guess I'm willing to fall for the occasional scam. The only one I've been exposed to lately was the one by Ritz Camera, when I tried to buy the 10D. If I has stuck with them I still wouldn't have the camera, 2 months later.

Caveat emptor. An occasional scam will happen, but I'll stick to buying online for the ease, generally better price, and no sales tax. Just try to be as carefull as possible who I buy from.

I just find it funny someone will send a check to someone who claims to have a new 1Ds for 1500.

but if your willing to gamble 1500 away more power to you.

Most E-bay scams are pretty easy to spot. The Ritz 10D thing isn't that bad really,. I had 2 10D orders with two online vendors,. including Ritz,. both of which I was easily able to cancel when I did end up purchasing a 10D in person at a best buy. Most of the online vendors will not ship the out of stock item or charge your card untill the order comes in AND they call and confirm the order a second time. Thus it was no risk to me to have two orders online.

I do plenty of on-line buying and thought about getting my 10D that way too. In the end, I bought it from a local dealer for about £60 more than the cheapest price online. I took the first one back because of a couple of hot pixels in the LCD display about a week after I bought it. Took it in and walked out with a new one. That couldn't have happened on line!

I like the idea of buying on line but the hassle of a) dleivery and b) aftersales support can turn ugly! Still, the lure of a hefty discount......

Martin