imm (12/20/82)
#R:rocheste:-33600:zeppo:11000005:000:284 zeppo!imm Dec 20 08:27:00 1982 I would call the order in so you really know what the price is going to be. I have used several places such as Focus, Wall Street Camera and 47th Street Camera. I would not recommend Adorama as they charged me too much for a Sony Walkman. Irv McNair Bell Lab, Whippany NJ zeppo!imm
whaley (12/27/82)
#R:rocheste:-33600:uiucdcs:20900003:000:174 uiucdcs!whaley Dec 24 00:25:00 1982 I have found Sharp to seem shady. They always quote a high price then if I say I saw a lower one in a mag, they give it to me. Focus Electronics seem to be very reputable.
jaf@houxh.UUCP (10/19/83)
I recently purchased a Nikon EM with a Nikon 1.8e lens, a Vivitar Sky Light Filter, a rubber lens hood, and a battery. Since this was my first camera, I solicited advice from every camera owner I could find. Non the less, I still felt that I was putty in the salesman's hands when I called FOCUS camera in NYC. The EM body came only with a body cap. I did not see any place in the packaging for a battery or strap, other than installed in the camera body. What I eventually found out was that all the small extras; battery, filter, hood & case (I decided to skip the case) could be purchased at a local "over priced" camera/video store for about the same price. The salesman was fairly good at convincing me that I had to buy all of those items immediately with the initial camera purchase (other wise I was sure to scratch the lens or something equally terrible). Furthermore, the reason I chose to order from FOCUS was that they advertised a "free" camera bag with the EM (the price for the camera and lens was identical to almost every other dealer who had an ad in the NY Times). When I asked the salesman about the bag he claimed it was a promotional item he received from Nikon. It later turned out to be an incredibly ugly Army/Navy style satchel with a giant FOCUS camera patch sown on it. I decided not to return the camera since by the time I received it I was more interested in using it than insuring I got a great deal. I should note that the camera arrived to my house in NJ 4 days after placing the order and it arrived in perfect condition. Therefore I conclude the following things about mail ordering a camera: 1) Go to a local department or catalog order store and find out exactly what comes with the camera body. 2) Similarly find out what comes packaged with the lens. (lens cap for instance) 3) Figure out exactly what accessories your interested in before making any calls. 4) Price the ENTIRE package of items (tell them about the stuff which should be included with the body and lens) when you call the information numbers of the various discount stores. 5) Assume any "free" item is trash unless you can get an exact description which allows you to see it in some local store before ordering. I guess most of this stuff is obvious, but somehow it escaped me when I finally went to order my camera.