Canon Rumors General > Australia

Finally, cheap cameras in Australian shops

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dr croubie:
JB-Hifi have started selling grey-import DSLRs, at prices closer to the rest of the world.
7D body $1348 (That's about what I paid in Europe for it) (compare at Teds $1800)
5D2 body $2187, with 24-105L $3089
niftyfifty $96
EFs 15-85 $729
EFs 10-22 $769

Surely there's some online places that sells cheaper, but JB is an actual brick shop, and their marketing power means the big brands will actually sit up and take notice. Nikon already has, and they've come up with the most pitiful 5-point excuses for us paying up to 50% more than other countries.
"Not the right manual".
Pffffffft. I bought my camera in Holland, got a dutch, german, french, and italian manual. I downloaded the english manual from the canon website, as I did for firmware updates.
And we all know grey-market in the usa gets accepted for warranty purchases with proof of purchase.



In slightly maybe-related news, when I went to look for examples of 'high' local prices, I first thought of Teds, but I did find a nice surprise there, they're selling refurbs with the line "Canon remarketed stock: This stock is returned dealer stock that has been serviced by Canon. All stock includes a Canon 12 Month Warranty. Stock is limited. Remarketed stock available Online or at our Melbourne City store ONLY."
For comparison, a 7D-body at $1620 is still higher than a new one at JB now, but it's nice to have the choice, and they'll come down eventually, it's only a matter of time now...

scottsdaleriots:
what do you mean when you say jb's an "actual brick shop"? I don't get it. Did you find out about jb's warranty T&C? I'm so-so about grey imports or 'grey market', I want to buy 'grey' stuff coz it's cheaper but then I get squirmy coz of the no australian warranty, etc crap. Especially if it's an L lens. I spose it also greatly depends on which jb store yo're talking about, e.g. a melb store and a sydney store. And it depends on the suburb you live in, some of these stores do mark up their prices - lying greedy b*****ds.

Ted's are bad, I don't recommend them even the city store (where I bought my 70-200 2.8 IS II lens). Long story cut short, all they gave me as a "bonus" was a tiny pack of 50 pieces of tissue paper!!! WTF am I supposed to do with that?  I also specially ordered a hoya filter as well, spent well over $3400 last year at their store and you know what? I had an extended 35 day or whatever "refund guarantee" with them coz it was almost xmas (past xmas when I bought it) I went back 2.5 weeks later to get an exchange coz my lens' zoom ring was and still is STIFF! Much stiff than the focussing ring, it ain't smooth. They guy lied to my face and said no after making up a story on that's how the lens should feel.

The things is IMO so many of these camera stores if not all are all about sales! Business is about that I get it, but seriously. Photography is a freaken expensive hobby/career/interest. DOn't get me started on printing at professional labs.

In saying all ^ that I think consumer cameras (even lenses) are cheap as! You can get good bargins.

EDIT: reading that jb link, i realise it's online-only. Funny thing is that they don't provide a link to the jb "direct-to-customers" website. Can you link me? I'm interested - just to have a look around. Ironic about jb's reasons for having grey imports then also saying how important it is to support local businesses and to buy products locally, ha.

niccyboy:
JB hifi Melbourne city store is good.. i deal with Nick the manager there... they always look after me and give me close to or cost price, they like people that know what they are doing.

Teds are AWFUL, apart from the PRO department... the old bloke Steve upstairs is great, and knows his S___. We spent over 100k with him there this year setting up a job for a client, and they made it comparable to online. I even bought a lowepro bag from him on Friday for 350 instead of 550... that's ebay prices.

Michaels are stupidly expensive but very knowledgable. Camera House is horrid because it is so commission based that they just hassle you.

Are JB HIFI's grey import prices available in store or online only? The reason i ask is if a product is under 1000 they can avoid the GST online if they ship it from overseas.

dr croubie:
Whereas I really like the Twin City camera house guys in Adelaide, went in there one sunday afternoon, no other customers, and had a chat for about an hour about tripods and stuff (even though my first words were "i'm not buying anything, I just want to pick your brains"). Tried the same in Photographic Wholesalers and they couldn't have ignored me any more, never even bothering to walk back there.

http://www.jbhifi.com.au/direct-import/faq/ should answer most things, from what I've read:
- It's drop-shipped straight from overseas, if customs find it then you have to pay.
- delivery charge is per item, they won't put 2 things in one box (probably because it's drop-shipped from wherever they find it)
- "All Direct Import products are covered by the JB Hi-Fi warranty which is detailed in the JB Hi-Fi Returns Policy and the additional conditions in the Terms and Conditions. Your product can be conveniently returned to a JB Hi-Fi store for a remedy or, if you are not able to do this, you can visit www.jbhifi.com.au/contact-us/" so return it to them, not canon directly.
- "Pricing of “Direct Import” products is very volatile and subject to daily and weekly fluctuations of the Australian Dollar with other international currencies."

http://www.jbhifi.com.au/photo/digital-cameras/camera-lens/direct-import/ - note that there's not the biggest range atm, they're just getting started, but conveniently all the lenses are below the magical $1000 mark...

scottsdaleriots:
Thanks for the links. I want a prime - one of the 50mm's, they've got the 1.4 for $394 + $17 for delivery. Do you think it's worth it? I'm always a bit suss when it comes to grey market/imports, especially since the warranty isn't valid here. B&H have the 1.4 lens cheapest outta Amazon and Adorama, but their shipping rates are ridiculously expensive.

Ted's are bad - the salesguy who I bought my 70-200 lens from said that both Michael's and Camera House sell grey import/market gear. Seemed a bit of a white lie, I dunno if it's true or not but I got the impression he said that so it would deter me from leaving and taking my business with them. Are students allowed to go into the Pro department? I'm studying photography next year and would like to get more gear but want to avoid dealing with awful sales reps downstairs.

I agree, Michael's are expensive as but they have a broad range of gear. Camera House definitely hound you, plus it's so tiny! Everything's squished together, everytime I'm in there I can barely move.

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