Risk a $90 restocking fee in order to save $50?

[kranky]

I'm going to get a good digital camera and I'm leaning towards the new Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ20. I have plenty of 35mm SLR experience but only a little with digital, most of which was on an old Sony FD81.

Circuit City has the FZ20 in stock and offers a $50 gift card with purchase, but has a 15% restocking fee. RitzCamera.com charges the same price, but no gift card and no restocking fee.

I've read all the reviews available and I saw nothing to make me think I wouldn't love this camera. Assuming everything works on the camera and I can operate it correctly, does anyone know what might crop up that could make me want to return it ?

I'm trying to figure out if I need to protect myself against a potential restocking fee of $90 by passing up a savings of $50.

 

[Gibson486]

I thought CC did not have restocking fees.

 

[Kelvrick]

Jeez, just get circuit city to not charge you restocking. Don't say you don't like the camera, say that it fails to take pictures under certain conditions that they can't reproduce instore, and label the camera defective.

 

[dabuddha]

Originally posted by: Kelvrick
Jeez, just get circuit city to not charge you restocking. Don't say you don't like the camera, say that it fails to take pictures under certain conditions that they can't reproduce instore, and label the camera defective.

Agreed. Plus I don't recall CC every charging me a restocking fee.

 

[isekii]

Originally posted by: dabuddha

Originally posted by: Kelvrick
Jeez, just get circuit city to not charge you restocking. Don't say you don't like the camera, say that it fails to take pictures under certain conditions that they can't reproduce instore, and label the camera defective.

Agreed. Plus I don't recall CC every charging me a restocking fee.

CC has a no questions asked return policy.
It was all over their commercial last season.

 

[dman]

They change their policy from time to time. However, if you get it for a fair price you could always sell it on ebay and maybe not get hit with the restocking fee.

 

[imported_Mike]

There is a restocking fee, but as already stated...there are ways around it.

 

[kranky]

Their site says there is a 15% restocking fee for opened digital cameras unless it is defective and exchanged for the same item.

Thanks for the suggestions, but I'm not going to lie.

 

[nycxandy]

Originally posted by: kranky
Their site says there is a 15% restocking fee for opened digital cameras unless it is defective and exchanged for the same item.

Thanks for the suggestions, but I'm not going to lie.

Well, if it's not defective, why return it?

 

[kranky]

I don't know why I would return it if it's not defective. That's my question - asking experienced digicam owners what kinds of issues might exist that could cause someone to not want to keep a functioning camera.

 

[imported_Mike]

Originally posted by: kranky
I don't know why I would return it if it's not defective. That's my question - asking experienced digicam owners what kinds of issues might exist that could cause someone to not want to keep a functioning camera.

Poor battery life? Poor picture quality? I honestly know nothing about the panasonic, but if the reviews are good and cover these things...go for it.

 

[BillGates]

Pack it up nicely so it looks like you just got it and bring it back telling them that you had purchased it for yourself and then received the next model up from your parents who purchased it from the same store. Now you have no need for the one you purchased. This worked for me when I bought my S230 and then found it at a lower price at another store. (I had already used the more expensively-priced one but cleared out the memory card a few times and packaged it back up to factory appearance). No issues at all.

 

[mchammer187]

check hot deals

you get 15% back in the form of a certificate (like a gift card but expires in 90 days)

if you go thru the msn link

i think the deal expires today

 

[kranky]

THANK YOU, mchammer187! That made my mind up!

 

[ttown]

read the forum talk over at dpreview.com --> forums --> panasonic talk

I've only skimmed it for this particular camera, but my general impression is that everyone loves the camera.
I opted for the waaaay cheaper FZ1 (modded to FZ2) and am a happy customer that talks up Panasonic every chance I get.