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There are many mail order vendors who sell Contax G camera gear. They range in size from very large and internationally known camera stores to individuals operating from their homes or offices. As you might expect given such a broad array of suppliers, there are considerable variations between vendors. These variations include variations in price, inventory, handling and shipping charges, warranties, gray goods vs. authorized goods, service, fees, and reputations.

There are some simple considerations to keep in mind when shopping that will help to make your mail order experience a satisfying one rather than a disappointment or frustration.

“It’s too good to be true…”

If it is too good to be true, it probably is not true. Price offers that are substantially less than what appears to be the most competitive price are known as “Low Ball” offers. You may be able to buy the item at the “Low Ball” price, but it will not be easy to do. It may involve an unacceptably long wait for delivery. Items that are normally standard and are included in the most competitive price offer may not be included in a “Low Ball” offer. Handling and shipping charges may be outlandishly high. The product may be sold “as is” with no warranty whatsoever. The “Low Ball” price may be available only as a part of a package offer, and the other items in the package may not be as well priced or of equal quality.

A “Low Ball” price can also lead to “Bait & Switch.” “Bait & Switch” is a technique where the salesperson explains that item you want is not available for some reason, but another and more considerably more expensive item that is better than what you intended to order is available. Do not allowed yourself to be “switched.”

When it seems almost too good to be true, it is wise to proceed very carefully and to ask a number of questions.

Use A Credit Card

Order with your credit card. Should something go wrong, your credit card company is a very powerful ally in correctly any problems.

Always ask when your credit card will be charged for your order. Many mail order stores charge your card immediately. Some charge your card when the order is shipped.

Resolve All Your Questions Before Giving Your Credit Card Number

Do not give the salesperson your credit card number until all of your questions have been answered. If the store refuses to do business unless you give your credit card number first, you dealing with the wrong store and/or salesperson, hang up. Always get the name of the salesperson with whom you are dealing.

Distributor Warranted Versus Gray Goods

Contax G camera gear that is warranted by the official Contax distributor for a specific country commands a higher price than does G camera gear that is gray. The seller may warrant gray goods, but the official Contax distributor will not. Contax distributors will service your new gray G camera or lenses should something go wrong, but only at a fee.

Nonetheless, purchasing gray products may save you significant money even when you subtract from the savings the cost of having the gear serviced one or more times by a Contax distributor.

A price from a vendor that is 20% to 40% below that from a vendor that sells only distributor warranted products virtually assures you that the heavily discounted product is a gray product. Always ask whether the product is warranted by the distributor or is a gray product.

Always ask as to the warranty on gray products.

There is no gray market for accessory items such as Contax brand lens caps, body caps, lens hoods, filters, metal caps, and accessory cords.

There is a very large gray market in film and film products. Purchasing gray market professional film is not a good idea as its storage temperature history is unknown.

Is The Product In Stock And Available?

The largest mail order stores carry significant inventories. Smaller stores may not be able to do so. Always ask whether the product you want is in stock and available.

Special Order Items

Always ask if the item you want must be special ordered and how long it will be before the special order is filled. Many mail stores will insist that your credit card be charged before a special order is placed and that such a special order item cannot be returned to them.

Back Orders

Always ask whether an item is back ordered and how long it will be before the back order is filled.

Handling And Shipping Charges

Always ask for the handling and shipping fees. Some stores add a percentage of the sales price and a shipping fee. Some stores charge a handling fee in addition to a shipping fee. Some stores charge unreasonably high shipping fees.

If you feel the fees are out of line, say so. They may be reduced. If you cannot get the fees reduced and you are convinced they are too high, order from another store.

Remember that Handling and shipping fees are not refundable.

Restocking Fees

Always ask about restocking fees. If the product you receive is not what you want, the store may charge a restocking fee if you return it. Restocking fees can be as high as 15% of the purchase price.

Keep Your First Orders Simple

The first several times that you deal with a particular mail order store, keep your orders simple. The chances of the vendor making a mistake is greater when you order at the same time a lens, a tripod head, filters from different manufacturers, a hood, and a little-known flash cord.

Do Your Own Research

A mail order store is not willing to advise you on which focal length lens best suits your photographic style, which tripod is best for you, or whether Contax filters are better than B+W filters. The risk of your dissatisfaction with their recommendation once you receive the equipment leaves them at risk of having to take back the gear after it has been used.

Mail order stores expect you to have done your own research on the equipment you want. Often times the salesperson can be interpreted as being rude if you have not.

Prices Do Change

It does not mean that a particular mail order store is dishonest if the price you are quoted is higher than their advertised price. This can often be the case with gray products when currency exchange rates vary. Distributors of warranted products can raise their prices causing the mail order store to raise their prices. Remember that there is a minimum three-month delay between when the ad copy is delivered and when it appears in print.

Ask For A Quote

Almost every mail order store lists an email address. Ask for email or fax quote on the price, handling, shipping and availability of your order.

Data On Mail Order Stores and Individual Sellers

Photo.net maintains an extensive listing of user comments on different mail order camera stores at: http://www.photo.net/neighbor/one-subcategory.tcl?id=2 . Photo.net also maintains an extensive listing of user comments on different individuals who sell camera equipment via the Internet at: http://www.photo.net/neighbor/one-subcategory.tcl?id=3 .

If you use these sites to make a decision regarding doing business with a particular vendor, it is a very good idea to read the actual user comments rather than simply reading the comment headlines. Many times the user’s dissatisfaction is due to something beyond the control of the vendor. For example, “UPS refused to leave the package at my doorstep and required that I sign for it. I’ll never use that camera store again. These guys are liars, frauds, and cheats. Watch out for them.” “Six months after I bought my camera, a new model that I wanted more came out and these guys didn’t tell me about it when I bought my camera. These guys are liars, frauds, and cheats. Watch out for them.”

Some comments speak to the naiveté of the purchaser. For example, “Their price was $500 less than anyone else, but the lens did not have a US warranty card, only an international warranty card. These guys are liars, frauds, and cheats. Watch out for them.”

Some comments speak to the business practices of a particular store. For example, “I didn’t complete the order because the shipping charge was too much, but my credit card was still charged for the order. I had to go to my credit card company to get things settled. These guys are liars, frauds, and cheats. Watch out for them.”

You might want to consider asking other list members whether they have any recent experiences with the vendor you wish to use. This is particularly true when you are considering buying from an individual.

International Mail Order

International mail order brings with it higher shipping costs, payment of national value added taxes, customs fees and custom brokerage fees. When specifying a shipper other than the postal service, be certain that the shipper will also act as your customs broker.

Be certain you understand which warranty will accompany your product and whether that warranty is honored in your specific country.

Certain camera equipment and accessory brand names are registered trademarks. If this is the case, it can be time consuming to attempt to import a registered trademark item into a country as the trademark owner can demand the right to inspect the item to verify its authenticity before it is allowed into a specific country. While this is rarely done with any frequency, a surge in gray goods can precipitate strict enforcement.

With electrically powered equipment, make certain the voltage and amperage are compatible with your service. With image storage and image processing equipment, make certain that CRT display standards are compatible with those of your country.

Robert Bumb

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This page was last updated on 07-Apr-2000 . If you have comments, use our Guest Book.