Online retailer experiences- camerabox.co.uk

[Jez O]

Does anybody have any experience (good or bad) of buying equipment from www.camerabox.co.uk?. My dads's looking for a new compact camera and found 'simplyelectronics' who appear to supply imported goods from Hong Kong (hence their low prices) and have more than their fair share of poor feedback (some good feedback too), so I'm trying to steer him away from them!

Cheers, Jez

Edited by Jez O on Thursday 20th January 13:33

[Gemm]

This might help??

http://www.resellerratings.com/store/Camerabox_co_...

[Beardy10]

I've heard good things of Digital REV in other forums....if you buy from their website all UK duty is covered etc and they have a UK representative. Obviously if you buy a grey import depending on the company that makes the camera it may not come with am International Warranty though I think Digital Rev provide a warranty. They seem to me to be the biggest/best of the HK firms.

http://www.digitalrev.com/en/index.php

I'm about to buy a lens form these people who are a UK company and sell grey imports...though I don't think they sell compacts. They may be able to recommend someone though ?

http://stores.hdewcameras.com/StoreFront.bok

[Jez O]

Cheers both. Looks like 'Simply electronics' is one to avoid anyway, and maybe camerabox too!

Edited by Jez O on Thursday 20th January 19:04

[ian in lancs]

This thread got me looking at prices for the Nikon 105mm f2.8 lens I'm after

Digital Rev have it for £589 (£613 with P&P), http://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/prod162.html have Martin's Camera Shop selling for £599 incl free delivery (and I assume legit UK stock and warranty) and http://www.onestop-digital.com/index.php?dispatch=... based in HK have it for £565; have to go through checkout to see if P&P is included.

So £35 more for UK stock and warranty. Hmm... Could argue either way. For me though I always start with CameraPriceBuster and go from there.

ETA Martin's Camera Shop are saying "We will give you an extra 3% discount off your total order price if you choose to pay by bank transfer or cheques for your purchase. This is the same percentage that we have to pay our banks for processing credit or debit card payments. We would rather give the 3% to our customers than to the banks. Also, if you pay by Bank Transfer or Cheque you can have your order posted to any address you wish."

so the difference is narrowing by £18...

Edited by ian in lancs on Thursday 20th January 19:38

[JustinP1]

I bought my lens for DigitalRev ebay store. Saved 20%.

I specifically bought from a 'Buy it now' that said it was stock in the UK.

However, when they sent the tracking details they said it was coming from Hong Kong. I was pretty peeved as I didn't want it delayed.

I ordered it on the Thursday before New Years. It was shipped that day, it left HK the next day and it was actually ready to be delivered to me on the Monday - and would have been if it was not the New Years bank holiday! It came the next morning. Effectively from HK in 2 working days. They would have been just as quick, if not quicker than UK sellers at that time...

In short, I'd buy again, and not be worried about ordering from them direct from HK.

[Beardy10]

ian in lancs said:

This thread got me looking at prices for the Nikon 105mm f2.8 lens I'm after

Digital Rev have it for £589 (£613 with P&P), http://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/prod162.html have Martin's Camera Shop selling for £599 incl free delivery (and I assume legit UK stock and warranty) and http://www.onestop-digital.com/index.php?dispatch=... based in HK have it for £565; have to go through checkout to see if P&P is included.

So £35 more for UK stock and warranty. Hmm... Could argue either way. For me though I always start with CameraPriceBuster and go from there.

ETA Martin's Camera Shop are saying "We will give you an extra 3% discount off your total order price if you choose to pay by bank transfer or cheques for your purchase. This is the same percentage that we have to pay our banks for processing credit or debit card payments. We would rather give the 3% to our customers than to the banks. Also, if you pay by Bank Transfer or Cheque you can have your order posted to any address you wish."

so the difference is narrowing by £18...

Edited by ian in lancs on Thursday 20th January 19:38

The difference on Nikon Lenses seems to be quite small. I suspect that is because lenses come with an Intl Warranty but the camera bodies don't...so the grey import lenses enjoy the full Nikon warranty so they don't have to offer a decent discount to official UK stock as they are basically identical.

Even if you look at B+H (has to be the best camera shop in the world ?!?!) you'll see lenses are about the same price as here but bodies are definitely cheaper.

Nice lens choice BTW

[ian in lancs]

Beardy10 said:

ian in lancs said:

This thread got me looking at prices for the Nikon 105mm f2.8 lens I'm after

Digital Rev have it for £589 (£613 with P&P), http://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/prod162.html have Martin's Camera Shop selling for £599 incl free delivery (and I assume legit UK stock and warranty) and http://www.onestop-digital.com/index.php?dispatch=... based in HK have it for £565; have to go through checkout to see if P&P is included.

So £35 more for UK stock and warranty. Hmm... Could argue either way. For me though I always start with CameraPriceBuster and go from there.

ETA Martin's Camera Shop are saying "We will give you an extra 3% discount off your total order price if you choose to pay by bank transfer or cheques for your purchase. This is the same percentage that we have to pay our banks for processing credit or debit card payments. We would rather give the 3% to our customers than to the banks. Also, if you pay by Bank Transfer or Cheque you can have your order posted to any address you wish."

so the difference is narrowing by £18...

Edited by ian in lancs on Thursday 20th January 19:38

The difference on Nikon Lenses seems to be quite small. I suspect that is because lenses come with an Intl Warranty but the camera bodies don't...so the grey import lenses enjoy the full Nikon warranty so they don't have to offer a decent discount to official UK stock as they are basically identical.

Even if you look at B+H (has to be the best camera shop in the world ?!?!) you'll see lenses are about the same price as here but bodies are definitely cheaper.

Nice lens choice BTW

you sure? B&H D700 with shipping 2,892.36 USD = 1,817.15 GBP Camerapricebuster cheapest price (sun micro) incl postage is £1,676.99. CPB lists other retailers at similar prices.

[BigAlinEmbra]

Jez O said:

Cheers both. Looks like 'Simply electronics' is one to avoid anyway, and maybe camerabox too!

Edited by Jez O on Thursday 20th January 19:04

I bought my D5000 from Simply Electronics and had no problem at all. Quick delivery and it's a genuine UK item.

[Gemm]

I've used DigitalRev before too and will use it again.

[007singh]

Never used it before, but when I was after a new compact, I did consider them. I ended up going with ukcamerastore.com (or .co.uk)

Was a good deal, fast and cheapest I could find.

[Killwilly]

One tip if buying from DigitalRev. Order from their website NOT their EBay shop. Goods purchased from their website carry a UK warranty and all taxes and duties will be paid at the checkout, with nothing more to pay on delivery. The same doesn't apply if purchased from EBay.

I don't work for DigitalRev, but a full explanation of their trading policy can be found on the "Talk Photography" forum.

[Busa_Rush]

Jez O said:

Cheers both. Looks like 'Simply electronics' is one to avoid anyway, and maybe camerabox too!

I was concerned about Simply too but having ordered a couple of things form them, its all been fine. I was able to ring them and speak to somebody, they answer e-mails quickly and accurately and the only difference really is that the goods can take a bit longer to arrive. They were both delivered by DPD IIRC in 7-10 days, from a UK office so no chance of import duty or vat problems. I've saved about £190 over the best price in camera price buster.

If you want one to most definitely not use, try the camera shop with the same name as a packet of crackers, begins with J ! Bought a £600 lens, the courier signed for the package himself (whilst I was shopping elsewhere with my debit card, confirmed by the bank), it obviously went missing, they told me I was a lier and wouldn't send me details of the proof of delivery or a refund. Constantly asked me to go to different addresses to look for it . . . I got a refund from my credit card issuer in the end - that shop is not to be trusted in my experience, once they have your money you may as well not exist.

Edited by Busa_Rush on Saturday 22 January 10:23

[Killwilly]

Busa_Rush said:

Jez O said:

Cheers both. Looks like 'Simply electronics' is one to avoid anyway, and maybe camerabox too!

I was concerned about Simply too but having ordered a couple of things form them, its all been fine. I was able to ring them and speak to somebody, they answer e-mails quickly and accurately and the only difference really is that the goods can take a bit longer to arrive. They were both delivered by DPD IIRC in 7-10 days, from a UK office so no chance of import duty or vat problems. I've saved about £190 over the best price in camera price buster.

If you want one to most definitely not use, try the camera shop with the same name as a packet of crackers, begins with J ! Bought a £600 lens, the courier signed for the package himself (whilst I was shopping elsewhere with my debit card, confirmed by the bank), it obviously went missing, they told me I was a lier and wouldn't send me details of the proof of delivery or a refund. Constantly asked me to go to different addresses to look for it . . . I got a refund from my credit card issuer in the end - that shop is not to be trusted in my experience, once they have your money you may as well not exist.

Edited by Busa_Rush on Saturday 22 January 10:23

Thanks for that post. I recently had a quote from the company you mention, which did appear to be reasonable, but I think I shall give them a miss when I decide to buy.