Dirt Cheap Cameras experiences?

[wideangle]

Has anyone every bought from http://www.dirtcheapcameras.com.au/ - dirt cheap cameras online, and if so what have your experiences been?

[Jcas]

I have looked at them before, but to be honest i don't find them all that dirt cheap .. :)

[wideangle]

I have looked at them before, but to be honest i don't find them all that dirt cheap .. :)

What products were you looking at in relation to saying their prices were dearer? I have been having a look through some of the SLR prices and they seem quite a lot cheaper than other places.

[Kym]

I'd be interested in finding out what "Australian Warranty" means - is that 3rd party or genuine brand name Aussie?

[ricktas]

Seems there might be quite a few unhappy people out there: http://www.productreview.com.au/showshop.php?shop_id=1382&section=REVIEWS&next=1

from reading that it appears they are grey importers.

[wideangle]

Yes gets me thinking as their prices seem too cheap for some of their stuff.

[ricktas]

I would phone Canon Aus and ask them directly, the best way to find out if they supply them, or if they are a grey importer.

[TEITZY]

About 18 months ago I ordered Nikkor 50 1.8 off them and after 2 months they still didn't have it in stock so I bought it elswhere.

Cheers
Leigh

[Gypsy]

We bought our 300mm 2.8 from them. After being stuffed around at numerous other (popular) places for weeks on end.... these guys got the lens and shipped it (courier) free the next day.
We've only had that one purchace from them... but it was great service and we would buy from them again.

Regarding price.... I find while one place seems cheaper on the bodies... the next place will be cheaper with lenses.

[mongo]

Mongos has check a few of their prices at random and they are not as cheap as some face to face stores you can buy from. So why would you ?

[Dan Cripps]

I bought a fair bit of gear from them a few years ago.

I buy most of my gear locally now. Keep the $$$ in my own economy. It costs a bit more but it's worth it.

[IanB]

I buy most of my gear locally now. Keep the $$$ in my own economy. It costs a bit more but it's worth it. :food04:

So true; I'm a big supporter of shop local.

:)

[wideangle]

People on low and middle incomes often cannot afford the luxury of
frequently over priced goods in local shops compared to what is often
cheaper interstate, overseas or on the internet.

In the economic ‘good times’ we were told that the free market and the
competition that stemmed from it were great for consumers as they had
more competition to choose from.

Many people may believe that we should support local businesses, but
in reality what we actually do with our finances is by in large
determined by how it affects our hip pocket.

[Dan Cripps]

Each to their own.

The way the global economy is at the moment means it's a moot point anyway. The gray market sellers can't offer enough of a deal to persuade me to stray from the locals who give me the kind of service that interstate or internet dealers simply can't compete with.

:)

[wideangle]

In my opinion I do believe that what the majority of people say and what people actually do with their money are different all together. It may be correct that the economy at the moment is bad, but I recently went to my local camera shop to get a quote for a Canon 50D body only and the local shop wanted $1899. I can get the same camera from the same chain shop interstate for $1699. I can buy locally or save $200. When the $ picks up again a lens purchase can be around 45% cheaper than here in Australia. Each to their own, but saving $600+ then I reckon I know where a lot of people will purchase.

Only got to look at the Supermarket chains and the closing down of small family run businesses to see were the majority spends their $$ Sadly I don't see it changing anytime soon. We will come out of the global recession some day, but it will all be back to the 'free market' model as well....

[Dan Cripps]

I guess you've also got to take the type of store into consideration.

I don't expect to walk into a retail camera shop and expect a good deal on professional equipment. Those stores don't specialise in professional equipment. They specialise in consumer/prosumer gear and hope that once in a while a cahsed up amateur walks in with a bit of gear lust.

I deal with a local business who know their gear, are a certified service outlet and who understand my needs as a working professional. They can't compete with gray market dealers on price, but the gray market dealers can't compete with them on service, warranty, product knowledge and relationship.

Sadly loyalty seems to be the first human trait to fall when dollars are introduced into any equation. I know full well the temptation, but recently the community and relationship have been more important to me. I'll continue to shop at brick and mortar stores and talk with real people as long as they continue to exist. If we all rallied behind some of these stores they would be able to achieve the economies of scale in buying power that they need to be able to offer some sort of competition to the backdoor internet sellers.

I know it comes across as preachy and utopian, but I think we need to support our local businesses now more than ever before.

[wideangle]

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[wideangle]

Totally agree with your comments Zeke, it's about shopping locally as this helps not only local employment but for me it can also build community etc. I just keep on seeing local shop after shop close down or merge that I think people really do vote with their $$. For instance we had a local family pharmacy here running as a family business since it started back in the 1800s. Now recently just bought out by a major chain. It's sad to see the diversity go.

Interestingly the shop I got a the price from was a brick and mortar shop, and where I got another price $200 cheaper was from the same shop, just interstate (whom a sales rep said because our manager deals direct through the other Chain store our prices should be the same) but were not in the end. In more general terms of shopping locally (food/goods etc) many who are on low/middle incomes may genunely want to buy say at a small local grocer, but with bills and mortgages to pay etc, it comes down to where the food is cheapest etc, which is often at the big chain stores etc.


The boundaries are blurred when it comes to shopping locally, as there are going to be small family run camera stores say, and then there are going to be the massive chain stores that sell everything from cameras, furniture and computers. They both employ local staff, but where the bulk of the money goes is going to be different to a small local store. Then there are the goods from shops which can be imported anyhow, austrlaian made but not australian owned, shareholders all over the world etc etc.....Suppose its what they call the free market global economy?

Regarding expertise, I tend to think in this day in age where 'everyone is a specialist' that there isn't much difference for me in terms of a shops expertise. It depends on person to person. I can go into a brick and mortar shop and get someone who has no idea what I am talking about, or I can get someone with good knowledge. But most of the time it involves carrying out ones own resarch in order to gain knowledge of goods. The days of the specialist in our mass consumerist/free market/global economy I reckon are sadly over.

[Kym]

My recent major purchases (10-20, 50-500) and my K20D body were all local.
Some minor things from eBay shops (Katz eye knock off and some filters) as the price difference was huge.
The lens prices were very good locally, but they were pre- AUD$ drop stock.
I get very good service from http://www.photowholesalers.com.au/ aka http://www.camerastore.com.au/ .

[wideangle]

Thanks for your experiences cyperoz.

[Dylan & Marianne]

I was goign to buy stuff from them but got put off by the same post the rick has linked. I went instead with digidirect who were very good.

[kingwheatie]

I have used Dirt Cheap Cameras for three purchases,
1st was a D200 a few years back, quick delivery and yes it was grey import.
I didnt know about grey imports back then, i thought it was something to do with Canon lenses as they were a grey kind of white colour,LOL
2nd was for a 300mm/2.8 and the service was even better, they rang me to tell me when it was posted and that i ordered just before the price rise. They also advertise as "Australian warranty" hmmm, warranty card reads "nikon HK".
Now to the third purchase, i'm still waiting 5 weeks after ordering and they took the money 2 days after the order was placed! Giving them till the end of the week and then thats it:action: I've only ordered a small Velbon table top tripod btw:(

I wish Stu @ Quality Camera Sales sold Nikon gear:D

[I @ M]

I wish Stu @ Quality Camera Sales sold Nikon gear:D

Me 3 mate, best online service I have ever had came from him :th3: :th3:

[Gypsy]

Yeah we have bought a LOT of stuff from Stu @ quality camera, can't say a single bad word about the service from him!

[wechap]

Reviving an old thread, but wanted to add my recent experience with Dirt Cheap Cameras.

Ordered a Lens from them after being told it was instock ans as they were the only supplier who had one I paid the bit extra they were asking to ensure I got it. After a week I started chasing the order and got constant excuses and reassurance that it would be in any day, turns out it wasn't instock at all. After 3 weeks I finally decided I wanted my money back. After multiple emails and phone calls and more excuses that the manager was the only person who could process my request but wasn't in or was in a meeting or with a customer or didn't recieve my email etc, etc. I eventually got my money back a week later. I will never consider them again, even if they happen to be cheaper than a any other competitor.

[abitfishy]

My experience was great. Left it til the last minute to buy my flash before a day out and D&D etc didn't have stock. Dirt Cheap had an SB600 in stock, close to matched D&D's price. Went in next day, greeted by the boss like a long lost pal, paid and left. Easy peasy and was pleased with the deal.