Mail-Order vs. Traditional Photographic Retailers Let’s face it. Nobody takes up photography to save money. While it can be relatively inexpensive to own a simple camera and develop prints, as your expertise grows, so does your demand for additional equipment of higher quality. This, of course, places an equal demand on your financial resources. While there is a fine line between paying for enough quality to meet your needs and paying an exorbitant amount for the absolute best quality, there is no debating that photographic equipment is relatively expensive. Expensive purchases, especially those involving mass-produced electronics, cause people to shop around for the best price. If you have ever looked in the back of any popular photography magazine you probably noticed the large volume of advertisements for photographic mail-order retailers. Assuming you were able to read their tiny print, you may also have noticed that the prices in these ads are often substantially cheaper than those offered by traditional photographic retail outlets. Are these prices as good as they seem? Are these companies reputable? What are the pros and cons of purchasing equipment through mail-order retailers vs. a traditional retail outlet? Both are viable options that merit consideration. A good traditional photographic retail outlet offers the best service. They employ knowledgeable and helpful salespeople that can be of great assistance (although I have come across salespeople that unintentionally offer incorrect information). They offer hands-on instruction, let you try out the equipment (at least in the store), answer your questions, and offer personal assistance should you later have a problem. Returns are generally not a problem, assuming you follow their guidelines. Quality of service and prices can vary considerably from one outlet to another, but a good one is a great place to purchase photographic equipment. Mail-order photographic retailers generally offer the best prices. They purchase in large volumes and maintain low overhead costs. BUT PROCEED CAUTIOUSLY BEFORE PURCHASING! There are two types of mail-order retailers. Those that strive to make money while providing honest service, and those that strive to make money regardless of service. To protect yourself, you need to be an informed consumer. Be aware of the unique procedures and rules regarding mail-order photographic retailers. Mail-order retailers offer some equipment obtained through what is commonly called the gray market. This market bypasses normal distribution channels and allows them to purchase the equipment overseas at a lower wholesale cost. This is not illegal and there is normally nothing wrong with this equipment. However, the important difference is that this equipment does not carry a standard USA warranty, only an international warranty. This means if a problem occurs the equipment must be serviced by a factory certified repair shop outside the U.S. in order for the cost of the repair to be covered by the manufacturer. This, of course, is unrealistic for consumers in the U.S. Some of the best mail-order retailers do offer a standard one-year warranty themselves on all items containing international warranties. While normally not as long as the factory USA warranty, this might be acceptable. However, it still forces you to ship the item to them for service. A reputable retailer clearly states in their advertisement the type of warranty offered. Often, one item is offered at two separate prices. One comes with a USA warranty, the other with an international warranty. The honesty of mail-order retailers varies greatly. The practices of some disreputable ones are so outlandish I’m surprised the government does not shut them down! There are many things they do that victimize the consumer. For example, they may take your order, but then ship none of it or only part of it while immediately charging your credit card for the full amount. While this in itself may be acceptable, when you contact them you are given a complete runaround, with the retailer claiming the order has been shipped but must be delayed in the mail. The end result is that your order may never arrive or will be significantly delayed. They also charge exorbitant fees for returning items. They refer to this as a re-stocking charge, which often runs 10-40% of the original cost of the item. If you need to return something, you will be forced to pay this substantial charge. I’ve even read stories about them delaying your order just long enough for you to order the item elsewhere and cancel your order with them. Then, they refuse to accept your cancellation, ship the merchandise to you, and charge the re-stocking fee when you return it. Don’t dismiss all mail-order retailers, though. There are reputable ones. Look for retailers that offer free 14 or 21 day returns. Never order anything that comes with a restocking charge. Be sure you understand whether the item comes with a USA or international warranty. (I recommend paying a little extra for the USA warranty. It is not uncommon for camera equipment to malfunction.) Be wary of an item priced significantly below what other mail-order retailers are offering. Asking if an item is in stock when you place the order offers you no protection if you order from a dishonest retailer. Also, realize that the people taking your order are not salespeople. They normally seem very rushed and are probably not going to welcome extensive questions regarding the items you would like to purchase. I have never had a bad experience with a mail-order photographic retailer, although I’ve been very cautious. I’ve only ordered through those that have a solid reputation and I have been well informed regarding their procedures and the equipment I purchased. I’ve even had them place items on back-order, and these were shipped within a reasonable time frame for no additional charge. Based on my experiences and the comments I’ve read elsewhere, two mail-order retailers that are among the best are B&H Photo-Video (in New York) and Camera World (in Oregon). I feel comfortable ordering from either of them, although this is not an official endorsement or guarantee of their services. They provide nice catalogs and their web sites offer detailed information regarding their services. When shopping for photographic equipment, I recommend you first look to your favorite traditional retail outlet and support them. They rely on your support, and you will rely on them at some point. When you need personal assistance or a new part immediately, they are the ones you will turn to. This is worth a few extra dollars. Conversely, if you know exactly what you need without personal assistance, are knowledgeable about and feel comfortable with the practices of the mail-order photographic retail industry, and are committed to getting the lowest price, a reputable mail-order retailer provides a fine option. NEVER order from a disreputable mail-order retailer! <return to General Photography Topics>
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