Buying a Nikon D3 in the USA, but where???

Mike Werner

I've decided to break the bank, and buy a D3. Prices here in Europe are crazy, double that of the USA (thanks to the weak dollar). basically, it's half price, so interesting to buy in the States. My wife is travelling to California in March, so a good moment to pick up the camera and bring back.

I've been checking the web, and though the "normal" price is arounf $4999, I've seen really low for $2500, which IMHO seems off, and something wrong.

http://www.bestpricecameras.com/prodetails.asp?prodid=902277

and

http://www.expresscameras.com/prodetails.asp?prodid=968254

and

http://www.expecam.com/products.asp?product_id=14548&engine=shopcartusa


So, can someone put me out of my misery... forget these, or do you think this could work... safe, reliable??

If not, any place I should try...??

Your input greatly appreciated...

HarveyMushman

All three are scams, Mike.

AKAIK there are no deals to be had on a D3. Supply is limited. $5K is the price.

Mike Werner

HarveyMushman wrote:

All three are scams, Mike.

AKAIK there are no deals to be had on a D3. Supply is limited. $5K is the price.

yeah.. I sometimes still believe in Santa. Thanks. Still, 5K is almost 50% of European prices.

Telecorder

Mike Werner wrote:

I've decided to break the bank, and buy a D3. Prices here in Europe are crazy, double that of the USA (thanks to the weak dollar). basically, it's half price, so interesting to buy in the States. My wife is travelling to California in March, so a good moment to pick up the camera and bring back.
I've been checking the web, and though the "normal" price is arounf $4999, I've seen really low for $2500, which IMHO seems off, and something wrong.

http://www.bestpricecameras.com/prodetails.asp?prodid=902277
and
http://www.expresscameras.com/prodetails.asp?prodid=968254
and
http://www.expecam.com/products.asp?product_id=14548&engine=shopcartusa

So, can someone put me out of my misery... forget these, or do you think this could work... safe, reliable??
If not, any place I should try...??
Your input greatly appreciated...

Mike--
ALWAYS check e-tailers' ratings at--
http://www.resellerratings.com/store/Best_Price_Cameras_6

As has been mentioned, D3 units are hard to find and, as such, there is no motivation for discounting between competitors unless its a bogus come on. Also, keep in mind that purchasing in US means no warranty when you get it home and will be probably subject ti VAT/import taxes etc...

gracenrich

camera dealer ca.
Here is a link for a legit. camera dealer in S.CA.
http://www.samys.com/stores.php

Mike Werner

Telecorder wrote:

Mike--
ALWAYS check e-tailers' ratings at--
http://www.resellerratings.com/store/Best_Price_Cameras_6

As has been mentioned, D3 units are hard to find and, as such, there is no motivation for discounting between competitors unless its a bogus come on. Also, keep in mind that purchasing in US means no warranty when you get it home and will be probably subject ti VAT/import taxes etc...

I was reading tem, but there was positive and negative, so I guess they fill in a few forms themselves...

As for warranty, I can live with that, if I pay 50% less, and the import taxes... what can I say.... what they don't know will not hurt them..

Mike Werner

gracenrich wrote:

Here is a link for a legit. camera dealer in S.CA.
http://www.samys.com/stores.php

Thanks

Tee Why

In Southern CA, Samy's is a large chain, Canoga camera tends to have lower prices and they charge the same as online prices, so I'd check out Canoga first. There are also Bel Air in West Los Angeles as well.

Where in CA is your wife visiting. It's a huge state and you can drive 100kmp for 12 hours and not go from one end of the state to the other. So if she's not visiting the Los Angeles area, then these stores won't help you out much.

http://www.canogacamera.com/detail.aspx?ID=42627
http://www.belaircamera.com/digitalslrcameras1872_1.php

Mike Werner

Tee Why wrote:

In Southern CA, Samy's is a large chain, Canoga camera tends to have lower prices and they charge the same as online prices, so I'd check out Canoga first. There are also Bel Air in West Los Angeles as well.

Where in CA is your wife visiting. It's a huge state and you can drive 100kmp for 12 hours and not go from one end of the state to the other. So if she's not visiting the Los Angeles area, then these stores won't help you out much.

http://www.canogacamera.com/detail.aspx?ID=42627
http://www.belaircamera.com/digitalslrcameras1872_1.php

Thanks. She's going to the Bay area; I also have a brotehr-in-law there, so I can ask him to get it for me.

DsrtVW

A bit off the track from the bay area, but if you get to the Sacramento Area Here are a couple of reliable Dealers
I bought my D300 from Action Camera
http://www.actioncamera.com/

http://www.pardeescameras.com/

There are lots of Camera Dealers in San Francisco but it is like buying a used car from most of them especailly down on Fishermans warf. Beware sorry I don't know of any I could recommend in that area.

Mike Werner

DsrtVW wrote:

A bit off the track from the bay area, but if you get to the Sacramento Area Here are a couple of reliable Dealers
I bought my D300 from Action Camera
http://www.actioncamera.com/

http://www.pardeescameras.com/

There are lots of Camera Dealers in San Francisco but it is like buying a used car from most of them especailly down on Fishermans warf. Beware sorry I don't know of any I could recommend in that area.

Thanks. Yeah I know, it's like asking what the length is of a piece of string. At least i've got a few starting points.

kejago

Mike Werner wrote:

I've decided to break the bank, and buy a D3. Prices here in Europe are crazy, double that of the USA (thanks to the weak dollar). basically, it's half price, so interesting to buy in the States.

Mike, just for interest: D3 in Switzerland CHF 6k = $ 5.5k = € 3.7k.

Do you really get no guarantee with Nikon if you buy it in the US?

Mike Werner

kejago wrote:

Mike, just for interest: D3 in Switzerland CHF 6k = $ 5.5k = € 3.7k.

Do you really get no guarantee with Nikon if you buy it in the US?

It's like that for most continents. I bought a Nikon some time ago in New York, and the shop told me the warrenty was worldwide until I had to send in the camera for repairs. My address was France, and I was told that it no londer fell under warrantee since it was bought in the US. So much for world wide guarantees.... I have one advantage now, and that is I have a house in Florida, so I do have a US address, so that'll help with warrantees...

3.7 K€ is much better than France (or UK, NL and DE), but still more expensive.. street price is 4.9 K $, though you can get I noticed in reliable shops for 4.7K$

Pezpix

I was just at Samy's OC and they did have the D3 there, but the quantity was unknown to me (Being a Canon freak)

kejago

I wonder if Canon will honour their world wide guarantee. Nikon, I am dissapointed. Why do they do this? Argh! Large corporations.

henryp

Mike Werner wrote:

It's like that for most continents. I bought a Nikon some time ago in New York, and the shop told me the warrenty was worldwide until I had to send in the camera for repairs. My address was France, and I was told that it no londer fell under warrantee since it was bought in the US. So much for world wide guarantees.

It's also worth knowing that Nikon USA imposes a rule on their authorized retailers that it is a violation of the retail agreement for a store to ship a Nikon digital SLR to an address outside the USA. If a customer comes into our store we can sell one no matter where the customer is from or where he/she is going BUT we cannot take a mail or phone or web order for any Nikon digital SLR if the ship-to address is out of the USA.

Mike Werner

henryp wrote:

It's also worth knowing that Nikon USA imposes a rule on their authorized retailers that it is a violation of the retail agreement for a store to ship a Nikon digital SLR to an address outside the USA. If a customer comes into our store we can sell one no matter where the customer is from or where he/she is going BUT we cannot take a mail or phone or web order for any Nikon digital SLR if the ship-to address is out of the USA.

I know, that's why I'm having it picked up (or sent locally). It's not just Nikon, it's almost everything electronic. E.g., you can't order anything from Amazon that's electronic and ship internationally. Only books and DVDs...