Photo Equipment and Best Buy

Maybe they can get people that actually know what they're talking about now. I was looking at the 50D and the older gentlman helping me knew nothing about RAW or the illumination corection. There just happened to be a NIKON rep there and HE showed me the CANON camera! How funny is that?

i almost got a 10-22 at best buy
little expensive

The Best Buy in The Woodlands, TX has some very knowledgeable people in its camera section. Very knowledgeable guys who are actually serious photographers themselves.

They have been allowed by corporate to carry some extra high end lenses and cameras because they do well in that area.

Prices can be toward list price but for people who want someone to lead them trhough the selection process and answer vital questions, it's a good place.

Tim Speciale wrote in post #7899430
Anything you buy at Best Buy, you can likely buy somewhere else 25% cheaper.

Not true at all

I got my Denon AVR-2309 there for $750, its $849 at Amazon.com and Crutchfield.com

I got a special deal on it because they were out of the 1909 which I had wanted and the sales guy had spent time demoing with me extensively...

Keep in mind Id have had to pay tax at Amazon anyways...then waited for it to get here...and I would not have been able to demo the system...

And I proved in here for me at least, their prices are maybe $60 more for me half the time..

And lower than anyone else if i use a 10% off coupon

Tim Speciale wrote in post #7899568
http://www.electrozone​.com/product.aspx?pf_i​d=AVR2309CI
$560...that's more than 25% cheaper

http://www.resellerrat​ings.com/store/Electro​Zone

Are they an authorized Denon dealer? Probubly not for $560 [I checked, They are NOT AUTHORIZED TO SELL IT, meaning you lose your 2 year warranty]

Do I get to listen to it first?

They hit you with a 10% processing fee if you return it

Can they tell me how it mates to a set of Definitive Technologies speakers?

Cheaper =/= Better

Any authorized Denon dealer is going to charge $850 :/

Also i racked up a ****load of reward zone certificates doing it at Best Buy..

Also reading the reseller ratings for them, it seems they try to shovel off refurb units as new, And I see it stated more than once at other places they are not an authorized retailer for anyone, and they have a BBB score of F apparently as well :/

KenjiS wrote in post #7778343
Thats one of my justifications really

I am a reward zone silver member so i get bonus points, and i often get the 10% off coupons in the mail..

Additionally, I'm thinking of giving my 30D away when the time comes, so i want a lens anyways to gift with it, the 28-135 and my 10-20 would make good gifts when I picked up my 50D and a Tokina 11-16

So lets go with the current prices..a 50D + 28-135mm lens is $1425 -142.50 [For the 10% off coupons I get frequently] is $1282.50, B&H is $1335 right now for the same combo...

Keep in mind I pay tax either way here...so B&H isnt such a fantastic deal either way when you factor I can go right now and have my 50D instantly...I also pay tax at Amazon and Adorama...and a lot of other places...and I have issues justifying paying for next day air shipping when something is in NY...and I'm terribly impatient sometimes!

Total price [Figuring without the 10% coupon..worst case] is $1485.31 at B&H [Figuring Next Day Air shipping] vs $1549.75, a difference of $64.44 ....not enough to justify the wait of even a day if Best Buy has it in stock now given the reward certificates I'd earn would be very close to closing that gap...

^-- See that post then...

$64.44 is not a 25% savings, these prices arent accurate anymore but were at the time...

Its cheaper, but I also point out Best Buy could work cheaper for me at the time because of 10% off coupons and the like, and thats not including any Reward Zone certificates I'd have at the time or would earn...

Artisticmind wrote in post #7721045
I have been put in Appliances before. (I work in COmputers) and believe me, I don't know **** about a fridge or washer

Sounds like a good opportunity for some cross training.

KenjiS wrote in post #7800003
Exactly, and I bet it also has to do with the District Managers in areas..a lot of the "this Best Buy sucks" complaints I see all seem to be people in NYC or California...but maybe thats just those areas...

Well Best Buy is what it is which is a good source for electronics. It is not a camera store. If you want a TV, DVD player, MP3 player, home theater system etc., you go to Best Buy. If you want serious camera equipment, you go to B&H. People who live in NYC or L.A. have many camera store choices that Best Buy can not beat since they only carry basic photography equipment. I don't go to Best Buy looking for photo stuff but I do go there for many other things.

NYC2BGI wrote in post #7926558
Well Best Buy is what it is which is a good source for electronics. It is not a camera store. If you want a TV, DVD player, MP3 player, home theater system etc., you go to Best Buy. If you want serious camera equipment, you go to B&H. People who live in NYC or L.A. have many camera store choices that Best Buy can not beat since they only carry basic photography equipment. I don't go to Best Buy looking for photo stuff but I do go there for many other things.

True, but if im looking for an xxD and i want it now, Best Buy usually has them

My local camera stores dont/will be higher in price than Best Buy and as I said B&H costs me about the same because I live in NYS...

And Buffalo is 11 hours from NYC...no its not practical for me to go there to pickup things [That said my dad goes there on business frequently..]

gary88 wrote in post #7777407
The one thing I despise about Best Buy is the Geek Squad. I had a friend who was being trained to work for them a couple years ago, and actually walked out on it after he was literally told that "we charge the customers a high price so they feel as if they're receiving a premium service"

Why would he walk out for that? Probably half of high price goods have their price set that way to "give a feeling of quality".

Its a psychological thing, and it does, unfortunately, work.

Last time I went into Best Buy, they wanted $449 for an EFS 55-250 IS.

Anymore, I tend to shop at serious speciality shops. My photo gear comes from the local pro shop. Price is higher but the service is outstanding. My iPod comes from the local Apple store, not Best Buy. And our TV's come from a small, privately owned electronics store. Again, higher prices but if you need quick repairs or some little special service, they are there for you.

I will admit, I bought a P&S from BB and an inexpensive video camera there too. But they aren't serious purchases, just stuff that I use occasionally.

the only camera gear i bought from BB was my tamron 17-50. and that was only because I was in a bind and needed it.