STAPLES: HP Digital Camera DC215 $160 And FREE USB Zip Drive(100)

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Shakaz

Member
Sep 3, 2000
30
0
0
I checked a few pricing sites and didn't find anything that could beat the Staples deal. Even if you could find it cheaper, it wouldn't be worth the trouble of pricematching it (more than likely going through multiple CSRs to get it). I sort of have the feeling that my account has been 'flagged' somehow (it didn't take them long at all to kill my last pricematch), and you don't want to take the chance of getting flagged and losing out on future deals. I'd buy the camera online, grab the zip drive, apply the $30 or $40 if you want to take the chance, and say nothing to them. :) This is a nice deal as it is... damn, wish I could get that FinePix 1400!

Shakaz
 
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BabaJi

Member
Apr 16, 2000
115
0
0
Even i tried to find a better price of HP Cam, but i think the staple's deal is as sweet as it gets.
 
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BenCJedi

Member
Oct 11, 2000
78
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0
I've been trying to pricematch the camera I ordered without any luck. First I tried ordering by phone and after 10 minutes, CSR takes me off hold and denies the $248 pricematch for this camera that I came up with at http://www.technetamerica.com/ (some bs about the zip drive.. I even said ok,. forget the zip drve, just pricematch and he said system can't do that). So I order through the website using the coupons below and then call again and try to pricematch and now they tell me you can't pricematch after the order has already been placed (CSR #1 said you could). So now I just filled out the pricematch form on the website. I'll see if I get it now. For a free SOFT BLACK ATTACHE CASE checkout http://shoppingbookmarks.com/acat.cfm?acat=S and add it to your order (use the code at that site) (my fiance found this one to tack it on to the order for added value).

439465 Olympus D460 Digital Camera Qty: 1 Price: $349.98
ea.
445956 ZIP 100 USB EXTERNAL DRIVE Qty: 1 Price: $99.99
ea.
436153 SOFT BLACK ATTACHE CASE Qty: 1 Price: $39.99
ea.


Total Merch: $489.96
Delivery Fee: $0.00
Coupon : -$99.99 Staples Coupon
Coupon : -$30.00 Staples Coupon
Coupon : -$39.99 Staples Coupon
Total Tax: $19.20

By the way, this camera got awesome reviews at http://www.consumerreview.com. I look forward to playing with it extensively. If I can get the pricematch, this will be even sweater. :) There's also a Free USB reader for Olympus D460 Zoom Digital Camera
 
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Shakaz

Member
Sep 3, 2000
30
0
0
I think that Staples is aware of all the peeps trying to pricematch the cameras while getting the free zipdrives and have instructed the CSRs not to do it. The gig is up I think, unless you get a really dumb CSR :)
 
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Atrac

Golden Member
Mar 26, 2000
1,222
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GhostSoldier:

I actually have a "Photosmart" question. It's regarding the C200xi though. Others may find this useful in making a purchase decision:

The C200xi comes with an 8 Meg CF Card. So I bought a Lexar CF USB Reader, and formatted the card in it. The HP no longer recognizes it! I have a friend who has the same camera and I copied his CF Card (disc copy, so it formatted the CF Card to the same capacity) and it *still* doesn't work. His card works fine in my HP though.

So basically, if I understand this correctly, you cannot use a USB reader to format the CF Card of an HP Camera...it will ruin it. Moreover, if I were to buy another CF Card, I assume the HP would automatically not recognize it?

If I am correct in all of the above, these Photosmart Cameras have "proprietary" written all over them...which kinda sucks.

Please correct me if I'm wrong! And if you know of a way to fix my CF card to work with the HP again, I'd grately appreciate it. :)
 
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BenCJedi

Member
Oct 11, 2000
78
0
0
Coolness! My strategy worked! I got an e-mail this morning giving me the pricematch, but they still charged like $47 for some reason. Still chopped another $50 off this camera. I just called and had them bring up my order. Then they asked how much for the pricematch and the e-mail ID. 5 minutes later, another $50 off my order..

Olympus D460Z
Zip 100 USB
Black Attache case

$296

So pricematching does work, but you must order your stuff then apply for the pricematch via e-mail and then call them back that you want the pricematch. Hopefully they didn't take off the Zip drive and free case/$30 coupon. We'll see what happens.
 
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Sept1967

Senior member
Jan 26, 2001
614
0
0
Have you tried to have the camera format the CF inside the camera?

The 315 you can format the card within the menu options.

This is probably a stupid question, but why did you format it anyway?

Most CF cards are already formatted, all but the cheapest generics.

PS- I have a 48 meg SanDisk ans a 32meg Lexar CF. My HP 315 recognized them both, no formatting needed. The manual stated only format if the CF isnt already.
I use a SanDisk CF USB reader for them both.
 
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Shakaz

Member
Sep 3, 2000
30
0
0
BenCJedi,

That is awesome that your pricematch went through!! Now I'm tempted to try again :) Check your order status online and see if they adjusted the price while still keeping the zip drive in it. Let me know, I don't want to give up on this... hehe.

Shakaz
 
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Shakaz

Member
Sep 3, 2000
30
0
0
Oh yeah, that $47 is probably the OVERNIGHT shipping that they absolutely LOVE to tack on (because they claim overnight courier service). IF you don't get your camera within a day, call them back up and demand that they credit you for overcharged shipping! I've heard that works.
 
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BenCJedi

Member
Oct 11, 2000
78
0
0
I checked my order status and it has not changed, though the website says the statement may not be accurate with credits and coupons/etc, so I guess I won't know for sure until I see the charge on my credit card and have product in hand. On the other hand, the zip drive still appears on my order status along with the free attache case. If I don't get it all by friday I think I will call and see if I can get the $47 overnight shipping off the order. Strange, but the order info shows me not receiving my camera until 3/7. If they are out of stock, why would they want to charge me $47 for shipping if it isn't gonna come right away anyway? I could wait a few extra days if it meant $0 for shipping.

By the way, I made 3 attempts to pricematch.. the e-mail and then call with e-mail ID was the effective method for me.
 
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Sept1967

Senior member
Jan 26, 2001
614
0
0
Are they really charging shipping for a PM?

I just got an HP 315 (no PM) and free usb Zip100, and it was delivered the next day, free shipping of course.

So with the 30-off-100 coupon, and free Zip drive-is a PM worth the hassle?


PS the 315 has one of the BEST LCD screens Ive ever seen, it refreshes 30fps, probably why it eats batteries so bad (But you dont see the jerkeyness you do with other LCDs when you move around). Ill just shooot pics with it turned off.
 
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Atrac

Golden Member
Mar 26, 2000
1,222
0
0
I've tried formatting with the camera...no luck. The camera will not let me format it. It "sees" the card (as the option to format is not grayed out), but it just keeps beeping 5 times when I try to format it.

Why did I format it with the CF Reader in the first place? Heh heh... because it was an option (translation: "because it was there.").

:)
 
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GhostSoldier

Member
Feb 7, 2001
46
0
0
Hewlett Packard Photosmart 215 Digital Camera $ 175 Pcsuperdeal.com 800-294-2613
Hewlett Packard PhotoSmart 215 Digital Camera $ 179 BUYDIG.COM 800-617-4686

This is just from a quick glance at pricewatch.com, didn't check shipping though.
 
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GhostSoldier

Member
Feb 7, 2001
46
0
0
Atrac, formatting the card through the card reader would format the card to FAT32, like a disk drive, but the camera does not use FAT32, try reformatting the card through the camera itself (under setup in the menu, Format CF Card) that might fix it. The camera is fine though, get a new card and it will work.
 
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echozero

Senior member
Feb 12, 2001
743
0
0
does anyone know the quality of this camera? it looks kinda cheesy, and i hope it's not one of those "you get what you pay for" things... =T
 
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BabaJi

Member
Apr 16, 2000
115
0
0
Laura, Click on the Link given in the very First post. then go to the bottom of the page and its there written in "red"
 
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Sept1967

Senior member
Jan 26, 2001
614
0
0
Ah, I see. I will remember that for future reference :)

Ill not format any of my CF cards with my SanDisk reader.

 
apoppin

apoppin

Lifer
Mar 9, 2000
34,890
1
0
alienbabeltech.com
echozero the quality of the camera is excellent. I was totally impressed with mine - including picture quality. The ONLY reason i returned it was that it does NOT use any type of rechargeable battery (and EATS alkalines).
 
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Sept1967

Senior member
Jan 26, 2001
614
0
0
The 215 wont work with NiH rechargables?

That would suck.

That was the first thing I bought for my 315. Rechargables rock.
 
apoppin

apoppin

Lifer
Mar 9, 2000
34,890
1
0
alienbabeltech.com
NO rechargeables. I thought I could get away with alkaline rechargeables. The user booklet and HP web site is really clear: it messes with the circuitry of the camera.

The camera would get a "10" from me otherwise. Check out the reviews - it is the one consistent complaint from consumers. Alkaline batterys cost too much for just a few pictures.
 
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