I was googling SLR Hut to find out about their warranty, and this thread came up. Interesting discussion! However I'm really struggling to see exactly what Zoe said that was so impossible as to create this reaction? Until she popped up, you all seemed to accept that kit could be bought for massively discounted prices as grey imports, and that the SLR Hut setup might not be illegal in terms of tax and duties. There had been a couple of "first hand" satisfied customers, one "first hand" unsatisfied customer, and a lot of conjecture and hearsay. Zoe pops up suggesting she'd had a good experience, and she's jumped on as being a spammer, someone who works for SLR Hut, accused of changing her story (which she didn't?) Now maybe you've got access to the back end and can see an IP address, but otherwise, what is so incredulous about her story?? There are quite a few online companies offering kit for significantly less than high street prices (and not significantly different to SLR Hut), all with (what appear to be) decent reputations. Superficially, SLR Hut appears to be one. They've not been dishonest about where the kit is coming from, although they're not clear about warranties, I'll give you that. I also didn't think the SLR Hut guy who came on here said anything to contradict anything either he or the site says or does. Mind you, he didn't come back. but then would you have listened?
Have I bought from them? Not yet. Am I considering it? Why not! The Google reviews are generally positive (not non-existent like the sites I really would avoid), my credit card will cover my purchase in the event of it being fraudulent, and they're £160 cheaper for the camera I want to buy! That's 2 Lee filters! That's a good chunk of a lens! How bothered am I about it potentially being a grey import? Meh. I don't know. My F50, D70 and D90 never needed warranty support, so why would a D7100?
I'd much prefer to buy from my local shop, and if they could come up with a price within £50 of what I can buy it for online, I'd be in there like a shot. I did in fact call them up to ask (FWIW, they didn't dismiss SLR Hut - they'd heard of them, said they were a grey import company, not a scam) and that obviously explains the price difference. So if using these companies, the real question is, what value is the manufacturers UK warranty to a customer?
So I'm torn. However I don't think Zoe deserved that. I don't necessarily think SLR Hut was trying to pull any wool over your eyes, as you'd already pretty much validated the business model and that prices were within the realms of possibility for imports. Yep, people have had bad service, but you get that everywhere.
So yes, I just registered to stick up for Zoe and point out that SLR Hut may in fact be legit. Does that make me a stooge??
Maybe I'll stick around, I've been looking for a decent, lively photography forum. Maybe that's what Zoe wanted too...?
and I truly wish my local camera store had the opportunity to compete with online prices. Whatever it is that means that importing cameras and equipment is so much cheaper has to change, otherwise UK based retailers simply cannot compete in a globalised marketplace. Whether that's tax or artificially inflated UK prices or a combination of all of these. Amazon killed Jessops, but you cannot blame customers when prices are 15% less online! My local camera shop (and it might be your local camera shop too) doesn't carry half the kit I'd want to buy but I have no problems sourcing it online. It ISN'T a level playing field, and that isn't fair, but how can I justify paying £160 more for the same thing?