is this a good deal?

[mooncancook]

I'm new to dSLR and looking for my first one. I've been eyeing for the XSi, but I just came across a Canon 40D new for $499 (body only). Is it a good deal? Is the 40D a better dSLR than the XSi?

 

[AmpedSilence]

link for 40D?

Oh, and if it's too good to be true, it probably is, so where is the link?

 

[mooncancook]

here

 

[AmpedSilence]

um, Buyer Beware....

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

 

[OdiN]

You will not find a new 40D for $499 from a reputable dealer.

 

[mooncancook]

thanks. thought it's too good to be true

Stupid pricedepot.com even had a 5 star rating and "featured merchant" for the company.

 

[ElFenix]

you can get that price as long as you're willing to pay $200 for the battery, $150 for the charger $100 for the instructions, $100 for the software, $100 for the box, $50 for the USB cable (they're actually competitive there!), and then $300 for $30 worth of cleaning kits and crappy filters.

 

[Caecus Veritas]

wow... some of those reviews are crazy. i'm surprised they haven't been shut down and sued big time...

 

[mooncancook]

yeah after reading some of the the reviews I just feel like calling them....

"This is the FBI. Your scam has been exposed. You are under investigation and your phone lines have been tapped..."

 

[Caecus Veritas]

what would really be funny is for us to all call them... start ordering a whole bunch of stuff, go along with all their upgrades, waste an hour of their time asking questions, and then 'oh you know what, my credit card won't be here for another 6 to 8 weeks, i'll get back to you if i receive it.'

 

[mooncancook]

Are there really a lot of bait and switch online camera shops? While I'm searching for Nikon D90 I came upon a few site selling D80 for around $400, and their websites have a similar feel to SonicCameras, very fishy. One thing I noticed about them is that they have unrealistically low price on the camera but unreasonably overpriced on accessories like memory card (4GB SD for $199!). These sites seem to always work together with some price comparison sites that give them 5-star rating to make them look legit. What a bunch of crooks.

 

[DrPizza]

Originally posted by: mooncancook
Are there really a lot of bait and switch online camera shops? While I'm searching for Nikon D90 I came upon a few site selling D80 for around $400, and their websites have a similar feel to SonicCameras, very fishy. One thing I noticed about them is that they have unrealistically low price on the camera but unreasonably overpriced on accessories like memory card (4GB SD for $199!). These sites seem to always work together with some price comparison sites that give them 5-star rating to make them look legit. What a bunch of crooks.

Not only are there a lot of bait and switch camera shops, but some of them have multiple names. When there's enough word out on the internet such that any casual search for that company name brings up dozens of hits on photography forums (such as this one) they simply change their name.

What's worse is that sites such as pricedepot actually support the scam sites. In fact, I just did a little hunting for pricedepot... I don't think it's a legitimate place honestly offering information (obviously from this thread.) But, there are other similar sites that on the face look honest & do a pretty good job of convincing unwitting people that they're there for reasons other than to simply promote the bait and switch sites.