Hi,
Like Anthony before, I'm another 'first timer' entering the fray of this debate; and not yet decided as to whether I'll also be a 'one timer' too!
Why you might ask?
Because when doing a Google search for 'Cotswold Cameras Reviews' guess what comes up as the first post!
So I thought I might try do others like myself a favour and put my aspect of balance on this discussion.
Originally I was thinking of getting a Nikon D5500. However, the more research I did the more I was getting pushed in the direction of a D750, knowing that as a long term investment it was going to give me so much more.
Only problem being the price difference, the D750 with 24-120mm f4 being around £2000-2300 if bought from a UK high street retailler.
That is until SLRHut appeared on my radar, selling the same item for £1340.
I emailed them a number of times and they were timely and courteous in their responses. What put me off though was the fact that if anything goes wrong the item has to be sent back to the USA for fixing. I also noticed that their UK postal address is a Mailboxes shop. I don't actually have an issue with this either, as we use a local Mailboxes to print literature for our business and had considered using one of them ourselves instead of our home address. We didn't though because we know how other people might have a loss in confidence, so I can understand how people might also in this case. Other than for this, I cannot comment further on SLRHut.
I did go back to London Camera Exchange though and asked if they would be able to better their price so that the difference was not so great. What did I get back from somewhat snooty and uninterested sale person? That they couldn't and, besides, anything from the likes of SLRHut, et al, would be sub-standard and made from cheap parts. "You mean, they would be fakes?" I inquired, the answer essentially being that they would be.
Funnily enough I've been put of LCE ever since, as this was factually incorrect and unprofessional behaviour, essentially trying to scare people into being put off buying from outside the UK.
It was then that I heard about Cotswold Cameras. I did a search and found they sold the D750 with 24-120mm lens for £1550. Reading their website's T&Cs and FAQs pages, to me, they appear perfectly transparent in the way that they operate. The fact that if anything went wrong with the camera I would be dealing with them based in the UK was at the time sufficient for me to pay slightly more than SLRHut for the same item, plus they gave a 3yr warranty (through them beyond the standard 12 month manufacturer's warranty) included in the price. Extra warranty with SLRHut is really quite pricey.
It was then that I did the google search to try find out about their reputation, and came across this post.
I have to say, considering the way that people have been towards this David fellow at Cotswold, and the professional responses he has provided in each case, I was actually pushed more in the direction of buying from him! If you wish to pay through the nose then go to your local snooty LCE, if not perhaps go talk with Cotswold. Like he essentially says in his posts, as a consumer its your choice to make.
That is, until I saw OldCarlos mentioning Panamoz (thanks by the way!). At this point I had never heard of this outfit, but then did some research. The bottom line being that I could get the camera and lens for £200 less than Cotswold, and with a 3yr warranty.
My research showed that they operate out of Hong Kong and that they have have sold enough equipment and got enough seemingly genuine reviews to have the confidence that they will not go bust within the next 3yrs. You never know though, they might!
However, considering that I now have exactly the same item (with UK plug on charger, English set by default as the menu language, English instructions) for just over £1000 less than snooty wanted me to part with, I'm actually not overly concerned. Chances are that if its going to go wrong it'll be in the first year anyway. After a month so far though, it has been nothing short of superb.
It was sent DHL with every part of its journey via Dubai tracked for me to see.
It also turned up in half the time LCE said was the quickest they could've got one to me.
Did I buy the thing by doing a bank transfer to save another 3%?
NO, OF COURSE I DIDN'T!!!
I paid with my credit card so as to enjoy all the consumer protection that provides, rather than being greedy over another £50.
Even though Panamoz have, so far, served me well, I still wouldn't pay for anything else by direct bank transfer. But then I don't with UK retailers either. When things go wrong its a whole lot better position to be in when you can just tell your CC vendor to go sort it out rather than trying to get your physical hard earned readies back.
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Import taxes:
http://panamoz.com/index.php/terms-conditions
"Import and Customs Charges
The prices on Panamoz.com are all inclusive. All import and customs charges will be covered by us fully, and will be billed to our shipping account directly. You will not be billed. These charges include import taxes and duties, such as VAT, and all associated charges, such as administration fees."
However they resolve this it is Panamoz's responsibility and legal obligation to meet your country's import regulations.
My item went straight through customs without any queries being made, so I am taking it that this is indeed the case.
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MY ADVICE?:
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Its your money, you do what you are confortable with. If you would rather go give snooty (apologies to all high street vendors who aren't by the way!) an overly inflated amount of your readies, then you go do so if it gives you a warm fuzzy feeling.
Otherwise, if like me, you don't believe that their overheads justify the monstrous difference in price for EXACTLY THE SAME PRODUCT, then look elsewhere and do your research on the alternatives.
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I do hope this somewhat long posting helps others who find themselves in the same position that I was not long ago.