Holiday Camcorder Shopping Guide

by Mark Bassett
Published on Nov 28, 2004 12:00 AM



It's safe to say that the internet is the world's largest retailer. However, when shopping the web, consumers should strictly adhere to the age-old-axiom; buyer beware. There are camcorder deals to be found, and the amount of diverse inventory is staggering, but where should an educated consumer go to find what they want, for a good price, and avoid an unpleasant shopping experience?

A good first stop are sights like camcorderinfo.com, where one can browse through numerous detailed reviews and comparisons to find out what type of product will work best for their personal needs. After a thorough examination of the pros and cons of each model, and careful study of the scientifically designed shoot-offs, it's time to buy. Now what?

If part of your due-diligence included browsing the Sony site, you've learned that Sony's website supports direct to consumer sales. They even have 12 months same-as-cash financing opportunities through Sony financial. All of that convenience comes at a premium, when priced at Sony.com, the DCR-TRV19 (Review, Specs, $372) cost $600, and the same exact camcorder is available at the well known online retailer B&H for $530.

Other notable manufacturers like Canon, JVC, and Panasonic, match prospective customers to either a licensed online retailer, or a brick and mortar location within driving distance from the consumer's zip code.

What have we learned? While buying through a manufacturer such as Sony provides a high level of security and reliability, it costs more. That brings us back to the first question- where are the deals, baby?

In addition to Pricegrabber.com, Yahoo is a good way to initiate your second search step. After you've studied detailed information on the camcorder that's right for you, plug the model number into the search engine's shopping section, and bam, you've got 85 hits listed by price, and merchant reliability. The reliability score is derived through prior customer's trials, tribulations, and successes.

During an exploratory search, the lowest price on a DCR-TRV19 was $370, from an unrated retailer named I.N.S. Digital World. Trusted names like Amazon.com and Ritz Camera had the product priced at near the $600 mark. How does I.N.S do it? Unfortunately that question will remain unanswered, because the manager of I.N.S. had left for the weekend; on a Thursday. When asked if he had voicemail, the response was-CLICK!

What you want to shoot with the big boys? You want make an impression, blow away a network with your independent pilot, go Scott Stump style in your own ski film, blast your way to Hollywood, or make a meaningful documentary. You've read the reviews, and decided on the Sony DCR-VX2100 (Review, Specs, $1980). You're not going to find that bad boy at I.N.S., and a purchase from Sony online will set you back $3000. The camcorder is so new, and so hot that Yahoo shopping drew only the Sony site and B&H. Pricegrabber.com, however, identified the Digital Mega Store, an online retailer asking only $2,589.00. Guess what, the Digital Mega Store is ironically located at the same address as I.N.S. When questioned about the coincidental address, and the outstanding price on one of the hottest camcorders on the market (which Sony has specified won't be available until December 1st), the response was-CLICK!

That leads us to another age-old-axiom, if it looks too good to be true it probably is.

 

Here is a brief overview of sites we at camcorderinfo.com would recommend:

B&H Photo and Video
http://www.bhphotovideo.com

At this point, it should be mentioned that B&H is a camcorderinfo.com sponsor, but please remember, they're receiving top billing because of their outstanding product list and top-notch service. B&H is one of the largest online retailers for consumer and professional camcorders. They're licensed retailer of all major manufactures, and while that generally means high prices, try the 'give me a better price' link next to your prospective purchase, and you're in for a discount. Who said there's no such thing as the interactive haggle? Add in a the manufacture's mail in rebate, and you've got yourself a deal.

B&H has a well laid out, easy to navigate site, with nearly every make and model one could want, and in many cases free shipping. The Sony DCR-TRV19, to the Canon Optura Xi (Specs, $799.99), to the head of the class and the Sony DCR-VX2100 are all in stock.

You've chosen the Optura Xi listed at $1699, haggled that number down to $1,149 with a click of the mouse, and it's time to buy. On the way to check out you're offered every manner of accessory under the sun, including a two or four year extended warranty. Get the warranty, always get the warranty on camcorders.

Then at the virtual register you can either check out, or register first then check out. It's a great choice for those with little free time on their hands. Enter in your shipping and billing information, expect a confirmation of purchase by phone or email, and in a few days you'll be smiling as you open your new camcorder.

Amazon.com
http://amazon.com

The ubiquitous Amazon.com is another worthy destination for shopping dollars. The site has stock that runs the gamut from prosumer models like the Sony DCR-VX2000 to its baby brother the DCR-TRV19. Unlike the clean and clear pages of B&H, Amazon.com has more information per page than one will likely need. The site starts with a small picture of the product, in this case the DCR-VX2000, and a manufacturers suggested retail price. Manufacturers suggested retail prices by the way are made intentionally astronomical so that it can appear as though retailers are discounting a product. If you actually do pay manufacturers suggested retails price somewhere, you're getting a terrible deal. Similar to B&H, you can haggle the price figure down, by proceeding to the check out line. Since Amazon.com is an international operation, you're alerted to shipping restrictions, and presented with the few product specifications. Those specs are followed by the often lauded Amzon.com user's star-rating system. The DCR-VX2000 was given four and one half stars, averaged among eleven review; the actual reviews are at the bottom of the page. B & H doesn't have reviews like these on their page. Under the ratings are suggested accessories, and another Amazon.com feature that has made the site a popular shopping destination, the 'what other users have purchased' grid. For those who haven't experienced this feature, it essentially maps all purchases made by site customers (registration needed), and matches those purchases to similar products. In this case, Amazon.com suggests the Canon GL2, GL1, and the XL1S. This grid is followed by another customer's personal recommendation, the Panasonic AG-DVX100.

While it's nice to know everyone else's opinions on what you should buy, in theory, that amount of 'noise' at the point of purchase, could further complicate your buying decisions. Perhaps as a way to address that issue, Amazon.com posts a series of professional and personal rated-reviews of the intended purchase. One such five star review reads,''Never went to film school? Here's your chance to create the films you've always dreamed of making. Start filming now and enjoy features like a 3-CCD imaging system, aspherical 58mm lens, and a manual zoom ring for extremely accurate and detailed videos. You could be the next independent filmmaker to make it big. Just remember it all began with Sony.''

There are eleven more reviews of the DCR-VX2000. At the very bottom of the page, after a box for user suggestions, is another series of products for sale at Amazon.com. In this case, they include the Singer 6038 46 Stitch Function Sewing Machine, and Starbucks coffee. The correlation between filmmaking and coffee is well established, but a sowing machine?! Perhaps it's a purchase for the costume department, and for $179, why not?

Scroll back to the top of the page and click checkout. That leads to another accessory page, this time with a slew of editing programs as well as smart cards, tapes, microphones, and spot lights. Once you've pilled more products onto your purchase, you must log in before your can buy. The process is clearly not as streamlined as B&H. While some may like throngs of added information and suggested sowing machines, others will find the flood of data distracting. Price wise, the fact that they have the virtual haggle, and offer used products, make Amazon.com a good site to shop. Please remember to buy the warranty!

Gateway
http://Gateway.com

The traditional online computer retailer has begun to make a name for themselves with all manner of accessory. In other words, you buy a PC and Gateway will sell you everything to make the most of the processing power in the box. In digital video scenarios, Gateway has an abundant selection of camcorders from JVC, Canon, and a Gateway designed digital unit. Noticeably absent from that list is Sony. However there was an interactive chat function that looked promising. The following is a streamlined transcript of the conversation:

8:50 Leon: Welcome to Gateway.com , home of the hottest new Digital Cameras on the market! My name is Leon and I will be your eSales Advisor today! My phone number is 1-800-846-2036 ext. *****.
8:51 mark: I'd like to learn more about the Optura Xi from Canon, and why don't you carry Sony?

8:53 Leon: Sony did not want to offer their camcorder line through us.
8:54 mark: What about the Canon Optura Xi, it's supposed to have a big CCD, almost professional grade.
8:55 Leon: It is a professional camcorder,
8:55 mark: How is the low light?
8:55 Leon: it has a $500 rebate on right now
8:56 mark: What would the price be then?
8:56 Leon: it is going to be $3998.00 after the rebate
8:56 Leon: shooting in low light is pretty good, you can adjust the compensation so that there are fewer shadows.
8:57 mark: What's the LUX rating?
8:58 Leon: let me look up the exact #.
9:01 mark: Leon are you a commissioned sales man?
9:01 Leon: yes, I am.
9:01 mark: Does that mean you get a percentage of the sale price?
9:02 Leon: yes.
9:02 Leon: the only info we have on the low light is the 100 LX.
9:02 mark: Can you explain why B&H has the Optura Xi for $ 1,699.00.
9:03 Leon: Did you want the Canon XL 1 S?
9:03 mark: 8:51 mark: I'd like to learn more about the Optura Xi from Canon.
9:09 Leon: I assumed that was the one you were looking for.
9:10 mark: Doesn't the XL1 have 3 CCD's, and I mentioned one large CCD on the Optura Xi?
9:11 Leon: Yes.
9:12 mark: Were you trying to up-sell me Leon?
9:12 Leon: No.
9:12 mark: How many chats are you involved in now?
9:12 Leon: just one.

Leon is either not trained, or very savvy at the bait and switch technique. While the intended purchase was a midrange camcorder, Leon shot the whole load, and tried to substitute it with the flagship of Canon's professional grade units. Buyer-beware.

Ritz Camera
http://ritzcamera.com

The venerable Ritz Camera is another online option for a camcorder purchase. The site is well laid out and very easy to use, unfortunately the stock isn't to the level of competitors like B&H. What's even more surprising is the drastic price difference between the two cyber retailers. While Ritz lists the Sony DCR-VX2000 at close to $3000, B&H has the same product for over $650 less! That's the cost of a warranty and accessories.

Best Buy, Circuit City, and Sears are, with few exceptions, worthy destinations for low-end or point and shoot camcorders. All three of the retailers are all very similar, with a few significant subtle differences. Each retailer has a price-match guarantee, which will effectively reduce the price you pay for a unit to the lowest published price of in-stock merchandise at a brick and mortar retailer. However, the timing of that policy is different at Best Buy. Reflective of their fourteen day return policy, consumers have fourteen days to beat the best price on the market. Sears and Circuit City customers have a full thirty days. That leads to another important element, at Best Buy customers only have fourteen days to return a camcorder, and if they do, a restocking fee of fifteen percent of the cost of the product is charged. That is, unless you let the salesman up-sell you. There are no restocking fees at Sears or Circuit City.

Buying online is a good way to save time and beat the holiday crowds. But one destination isn't going to provide the solution to your shopping problems. Trust your instincts and spend a few minutes at each of our recommended sites to find the best price. But remember, do your homework first, and commissioned sales personnel won't be able to take advantage of you. If the price you find is so low you can't believe it, then it's probably too good to be true.