5D Mark 3 Queue @ B&H

[Sinsear]

I pre-ordered the camera at approximately 12:20am EST the night that it was announced at B&H. I called up B&H today and asked them where I stood in the pre-order queue. He couldn't give me an exact answer, but he indicated that I was in the first 500 pre-orders, but in the latter half (so around position 350-450). He also stated that the current queue has ballooned well past 10,000 pre-orders (but again, didn't give me the exact figure).

When I asked him how many units they will receive in the first shipment, he said that they were still unsure as to the number as of this point. Anywhere from 100 to 1000 was the ballpark number that he gave me, but said to take those figures with a grain of salt.

Fingers crossed that they receive at least 350 in the first shipment.

 

[Drizzt321]

Wow! That's a lot of pre-orders! I guess it'll be a few months, at least, before I'll be able to get my hands on one. Of course, I'm saving up the cash for it first instead of just pre-ordering it on my card. But still, I hope they'll have cleared off the pre-orders by the beginning of May so I can get one *crosses fingers*

 

[yellowkamper]

I pre-orderd mine from Wex in the UK and I an number 9 on the List

 

[CowGummy]

...He also stated that the current queue has ballooned well past 10,000 pre-orders (but again, didn't give me the exact figure).

Looks like there's plenty of people out there who don't think the price is too high! As I said before, I'm sure it would sell by the truck load even if it was priced $4000.
This comment will no doubt earn me another handful of smites, but it doesn't change my opinion - the price is right!

 

[JerryKnight]

I pre-ordered from B&H around that time as well, but I used the BillMeLater option. I've used it before, and it's a handy way to pay for things across 6 months with no interest. Just be 100% sure to pay it off before then, because otherwise you get charged the interest on the entire amount over the whole 6 months, with normal credit card rates (~20%?, not sure).

EDIT: Looked it up, 11:36PM (Central), so I should also be in that first group! I would have expected so, having jumped on it so quickly.

 

[cmunozs]

I also thing the price is right...
Should the order number at B&H say something about the pre-order queue? I mean... comparing them?

EDIT:
I used Paypal, connected to my credit card, but the money wasn't there until yesterday... I've got the email order confirmation at 12:43 PM that day. They tried to get the money from the account on monday!
Did someone have a similar experience?

 

[DLitterio]

Looks like I won't be getting mine for quite some time if that's true. I put in my order around 12:30pm on March 2nd because I had to get my card limit raised... :-[ :'(

 

[Drizzt321]

Looks like I won't be getting mine for quite some time if that's true. I put in my order around 12:30pm on March 2nd because I had to get my card limit raised... :-[ :'(

Don't worry, I'm sure they'll have shipments at least weekly, if not bi-weekly for the first few month at least, so even ordering on the 2nd I'm sure you're pretty high up the list.

I pre-ordered from B&H around that time as well, but I used the BillMeLater option. I've used it before, and it's a handy way to pay for things across 6 months with no interest. Just be 100% sure to pay it off before then, because otherwise you get charged the interest on the entire amount over the whole 6 months, with normal credit card rates (~20%?, not sure).

Hmm...I've always stayed away from that. Also, on big purchases, I'd lose out on all the points I can get from my CC, which also has a pretty low rate (9.9% I think, or maybe it's 8.9%).

 

[Maui5150]

I pre-ordered from B&H around that time as well, but I used the BillMeLater option. I've used it before, and it's a handy way to pay for things across 6 months with no interest. Just be 100% sure to pay it off before then, because otherwise you get charged the interest on the entire amount over the whole 6 months, with normal credit card rates (~20%?, not sure).

EDIT: Looked it up, 11:36PM (Central), so I should also be in that first group! I would have expected so, having jumped on it so quickly.

Be careful with BillMeLater. I have been much happier with PayPal or a credit card. I has an issue with damaged goods received off of eBay that I had used BillMeLater on. Now with eBay or PayPal, on similar issues I have had, no problems, not only did I get refunded, but they even sent me a pre-paid return label?

BillMeLater? Hard to find the form, then had to print out, fill out, fax, wait wait and wait... Long and short, cumbersome process and what would have be protected with eBay or PayPal WAS NOT with BillMeLater.

Your Mileage may vary, but I will NEVER use this again. As much as I hate PayPal, they have always been fairly decent with buyer protection, and Amex has been excellent in terms or covering damage or purchase issues.

BillMeLater should be renamed to "GrabYourAnkles"

You may save 6 month of interest... But best of luck if you run into issues with your purchase. Thankfully I only lost $385 on my purchase... Risk $3500 for the process I went through??? No eFffing way!

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

A lot of would be buyers will cancel, some idiots place orders with every online camera shop in hopes that they will be the first to get one and then cancel the other 10 or more orders.

 

[JerryKnight]

Be careful with BillMeLater. I have been much happier with PayPal or a credit card. I has an issue with damaged goods received off of eBay that I had used BillMeLater on. Now with eBay or PayPal, on similar issues I have had, no problems, not only did I get refunded, but they even sent me a pre-paid return label?

BillMeLater? Hard to find the form, then had to print out, fill out, fax, wait wait and wait... Long and short, cumbersome process and what would have be protected with eBay or PayPal WAS NOT with BillMeLater.

Your Mileage may vary, but I will NEVER use this again. As much as I hate PayPal, they have always been fairly decent with buyer protection, and Amex has been excellent in terms or covering damage or purchase issues.

BillMeLater should be renamed to "GrabYourAnkles"

You may save 6 month of interest... But best of luck if you run into issues with your purchase. Thankfully I only lost $385 on my purchase... Risk $3500 for the process I went through??? No eFffing way!

Your impression is far different than mine. As I said, I've used them before. In fact, I've used them many times before. I only use them with B&H, and on things that I definitely would not want a refund on (camera bodies, etc.), and I would never use it on eBay. I don't think I'll ever need buyer protection with companies like B&H, which is why I primarily shop with them.

 

[Hkq4D]

I placed my order on March 4, 6:30 am. Where do u think I am in the pre-order list?

Also, I find it hard to believe that canon would release a new camera & have just 1000 inventory to a store like b & h.

 

[dr croubie]

With any luck, with the huge amount of pre-orders they're getting around the world, canon rump up production at all their factories to fill al those orders quickly (before people get tired of waiting and jump to the D800).
Then, once all the pre-orders are filled, production stays ramped up for all the people ordering once the reviews come out (up to june-sept or so)
After that, production stays ramped up for a while (like the xmas rush), but everyone who wants one (or two) has already got them, the market gets flooded by early next year, the street price falls to $2.5k, then I can afford one...

 

[Hkq4D]

I guess these cameras will be "Made in japan". I hope they are!

 

[Sinsear]

I guess these cameras will be "Made in japan". I hope they are!

Yeah, they most certainly will be made in Japan. "The EOS 1100D is also the only Canon EOS model currently in production that is not made in Japan but in Taiwan." They wouldn't start making a XD series camera in Taiwan when XXXD and XXD series are still made in Japan.

 

[Sinsear]

With any luck, with the huge amount of pre-orders they're getting around the world, canon rump up production at all their factories to fill al those orders quickly (before people get tired of waiting and jump to the D800).
Then, once all the pre-orders are filled, production stays ramped up for all the people ordering once the reviews come out (up to june-sept or so)
After that, production stays ramped up for a while (like the xmas rush), but everyone who wants one (or two) has already got them, the market gets flooded by early next year, the street price falls to $2.5k, then I can afford one...

I know you were thinking rhetorically, but it's extremely unlikely that in a year from now, the camera will be $1000 less.

 

[jalbfb]

With any luck, with the huge amount of pre-orders they're getting around the world, canon rump up production at all their factories to fill al those orders quickly (before people get tired of waiting and jump to the D800).
Then, once all the pre-orders are filled, production stays ramped up for all the people ordering once the reviews come out (up to june-sept or so)
After that, production stays ramped up for a while (like the xmas rush), but everyone who wants one (or two) has already got them, the market gets flooded by early next year, the street price falls to $2.5k, then I can afford one...

I posted this info on another thread here but in the frenzy of the first two days of its release, I read somewhere on some blog, that Canon had two factories dedicated to the Mark III. It do not recall where they were, but that they where making an effort not to run into the problem they had when they released the Mark II with low volume of inventory and months waiting to get the camera into the hands of those who ordered. So, fingers crossed, this is the case, because I ordered mine 4 days after it came out. My bad!!

 

[David KM]

Ordered through B&H at 8:20 PST March 2... just as the 5DmkIII page came up. It was called a back order, went back 45 minutes later that site changed to pre-order status. Talked with staff the next day and was told that meant I was fast on the ordering and I would be super happy with the results. There was an implication that back-order status was for first stock supply... pre-order for subsequent shipments. A friend order the next morning and by the looks of the order number, his is about 380 down the line from mine and pre-order status.

Canon EOS 7D, Canon EOS 5D mkII, Canon EOS 5D mkIII, 24mm f/1.4L USM II, 35mm f/1.4L USM, 50mm f/1.2L USM, 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM, 135mm f/2L USM, 300mm f/4L IS USM, 17-40 f/4L USM, 24-70mm f/2.8L USM, 1.4x II Extender, Sigma 15mm f/2.8 EX DG Fisheye, Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM

 

[frisk]

Ugh...well, I guess Adorama's queue is similar .... I ordered from them several hours after the event ... I wonder where I am in their queue.

Ah, well.... no reason to worry - I'll get my camera sooner or later.

 

[Somnipotent]

ordered mine the morning after the announcement around 9ish... i'm in no rush either.