Kana Conned ??!!!

poohbear · 14th August 2004

New in photography .... just bought a remote for my D70 at bestcam in ps for 38 bucks... wonder if kana conned .... heard from friend 9 bucks can get liao ... pls advise ...

Chlee · 14th August 2004

Originally Posted by poohbear

New in photography .... just bought a remote for my D70 at bestcam in ps for 38 bucks... wonder if kana conned .... heard from friend 9 bucks can get liao ... pls advise ...

I'm afraid so...... 1 of the forumer was selling the ML-L1 for $9..... even Ml-L3 shld not cost more than $20......

kiwitan · 14th August 2004

If it's any consolation to you ... i've got a friend who paid close to $400 more for a Sigma lens 170-500mm at a shop opposite Cathay Photo in PS.

Originally Posted by poohbear

New in photography .... just bought a remote for my D70 at bestcam in ps for 38 bucks... wonder if kana conned .... heard from friend 9 bucks can get liao ... pls advise ...

novaD70 · 14th August 2004

With internet, it is a good idea to check before buying. I have a number of 'slap-my-own-cheek' experiences years ago, but now, while still a lousy bargainer, but at least I know the market price before I go buying.

Anyway, the few widely recommended shops in this forum will not give you surprises, at least this is my experience. Sometimes I happen to pass by the shops (no the one that knows me) and nothing better to do, just walk in and ask for prices and, yes, good price, in the same range I gather in the net.

Kit · 14th August 2004

I always adopt this policy........ ask around before you buy, once you've bought it, don't ask..... what's the point?

Cactus jACK · 14th August 2004

Originally Posted by poohbear

New in photography .... just bought a remote for my D70 at bestcam in ps for 38 bucks... wonder if kana conned .... heard from friend 9 bucks can get liao ... pls advise ...

ouch!!! as others have already mentioned, there are some going for $9-$10 in the buy/sell forum. but look on the bright side, you only paid a small price for the lesson. some have paid $100s!!!

but just let this be a small lesson learnt, shop around the shops and surf the net a little before you actually buy. actually, once you get to know some of the shops, you would roughly know where to go (and where "not to go").

some of the more popular shops on the forum would include CP, AP, MS, and TCW.

poohbear · 14th August 2004

damn bloody @$!%!@#% ......... Bestcam blacklisted .... just knew it. they told me those made in china cost that price ($9). anyway at the rate they are going .... i think they will close shop soon .........

Gymrat76 · 14th August 2004

Actually, the made in China ones (ML-L3) are the more expensive ones, and the made in Japan ones are the cheaper ML-L1

hwchoy · 14th August 2004

may not be a bad idea to start a thread collecting all the tall tales told by cam shops?

just had someone bought close-up filters and being told that close-up filters are priced base on their power, so a +1 = $19.50 and a +4 = 4×$19.50

poohbear · 14th August 2004

just bought a CP-L from WCP , PS for 50 bucks and a CFII 512MB for 230 wondered if kana conned again ........ pls advise...

foxtwo · 14th August 2004

Originally Posted by poohbear

just bought a CP-L from WCP , PS for 50 bucks and a CFII 512MB for 230 wondered if kana conned again ........ pls advise...

wats e brand & thread size of ur C-PL?

hwchoy · 14th August 2004

Originally Posted by foxtwo

wats e brand & thread size of ur C-PL?

to be fair to the shop, there are a great many brand and grades of CF cards. The speed definitely make a huge difference. But let me say that I bought my 512MB CF last year at $160, although not very "branded". DRAM prices have fallen since. I recently saw a Sim Lim price list for 512MB CF (again don't know what speed and brand) at less than $150.

swhyge · 14th August 2004

Sandisk extreme 512 : $ 229
Lexar 40x 512M: $199
Kingston 512M: $139

above from eastgear website.

So, definitely did not get a good bargain even without knowing the brand/speed. At best, same same.

poohbear, may be better off you buy coffee for the old birds at the council place and your saving from their tips will be more than enough to pay for it many times over.

hwchoy · 14th August 2004

Originally Posted by swhyge

Sandisk extreme 512 : $ 229
Lexar 40x 512M: $199
Kingston 512M: $139

above from eastgear website.

So, definitely did not get a good bargain even without knowing the brand/speed. At best, same same.

poohbear, may be better off you buy coffee for the old birds at the council place and your saving from their tips will be more than enough to pay for it many times over.

like someone said earlier, after buying why bother to ask?

denniskee · 15th August 2004

got a good advice for you, next time want to buy stuff, attend seeds, the old birds can advice you the way, oops, in this case, the price.

Dennis · 15th August 2004

If you are not sure about price buy at more reputable shop. Those new shops opp CP are all going to rip you off once they have the opportunity. They tried on me too. At first very courteous but once they know you know the price they stop.

Yildun · 15th August 2004

I got my share of being conned too. That was when I bought my first SLR 3 years ago. The store sold me 2 unbranded UV filters @ $40 EACH + one low-end tripod for $50.

Danntbt · 16th August 2004

shucks...got one ML-L1 for 15 bucks at PK at adelphi....that is almost 60% above the lowest. The owner sounds like a trusty guy...now I know....he actually quoted 18 at first...which is double the price.....big con man. Wonder now if the lens I got from him is also over inflated.

rueyloon · 16th August 2004

Originally Posted by Danntbt

shucks...got one ML-L1 for 15 bucks at PK at adelphi....that is almost 60% above the lowest. The owner sounds like a trusty guy...now I know....he actually quoted 18 at first...which is double the price.....big con man. Wonder now if the lens I got from him is also over inflated.

selling something more expensive does not make 1 a con man, at least not in this situation, even at 100% more expensive it is only about 9$, in a business point of view, that's isn't an obscene profit margin.

P.S I've never bought anything from that shop, just trying to take a middle ground here.

cheers

justarius · 16th August 2004

Alternative viewpoint: Be glad that shops even stock the thing. Profit margins on such accessories are low, they take up shop space and you'd be lucky if you get 1-2 customers a week.

14th August 2004	#1
poohbear Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Sengkang Posts: 1,256	Kana Conned ??!!! New in photography .... just bought a remote for my D70 at bestcam in ps for 38 bucks... wonder if kana conned .... heard from friend 9 bucks can get liao ... pls advise ...

14th August 2004	#5
Kit Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Bukit Timah / Melbourne CBD Posts: 6,023	I always adopt this policy........ ask around before you buy, once you've bought it, don't ask..... what's the point? __________________ arkitectural photography http://arkitecturalphoto.1x.com/

14th August 2004	#13
swhyge Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Jurong Posts: 394	Sandisk extreme 512 : $ 229 Lexar 40x 512M: $199 Kingston 512M: $139 above from eastgear website. So, definitely did not get a good bargain even without knowing the brand/speed. At best, same same. poohbear, may be better off you buy coffee for the old birds at the council place and your saving from their tips will be more than enough to pay for it many times over. Last edited by swhyge; 14th August 2004 at 11:21 PM.

15th August 2004	#15
denniskee Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: bukit batok Posts: 4,212	got a good advice for you, next time want to buy stuff, attend seeds, the old birds can advice you the way, oops, in this case, the price. __________________ photography makes one sees things from all angles.

16th August 2004	#18
Danntbt Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: YCK Posts: 2,456	Ml-l1 shucks...got one ML-L1 for 15 bucks at PK at adelphi....that is almost 60% above the lowest. The owner sounds like a trusty guy...now I know....he actually quoted 18 at first...which is double the price.....big con man. Wonder now if the lens I got from him is also over inflated.

14th August 2004	#4
novaD70 Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Jurong, Singapore Posts: 60	With internet, it is a good idea to check before buying. I have a number of 'slap-my-own-cheek' experiences years ago, but now, while still a lousy bargainer, but at least I know the market price before I go buying. Anyway, the few widely recommended shops in this forum will not give you surprises, at least this is my experience. Sometimes I happen to pass by the shops (no the one that knows me) and nothing better to do, just walk in and ask for prices and, yes, good price, in the same range I gather in the net.

14th August 2004	#8
Gymrat76 Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 1,591	Actually, the made in China ones (ML-L3) are the more expensive ones, and the made in Japan ones are the cheaper ML-L1

14th August 2004	#9
hwchoy Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Tampines, Singapore. Posts: 1,938	may not be a bad idea to start a thread collecting all the tall tales told by cam shops? just had someone bought close-up filters and being told that close-up filters are priced base on their power, so a +1 = $19.50 and a +4 = 4×$19.50

15th August 2004	#16
Dennis Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Singapore Posts: 3,862	If you are not sure about price buy at more reputable shop. Those new shops opp CP are all going to rip you off once they have the opportunity. They tried on me too. At first very courteous but once they know you know the price they stop.

15th August 2004	#17
Yildun Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Singapore, Central Posts: 181	I got my share of being conned too. That was when I bought my first SLR 3 years ago. The store sold me 2 unbranded UV filters @ $40 EACH + one low-end tripod for $50.

16th August 2004	#20
justarius Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Western side of Singapore Posts: 1,163	Alternative viewpoint: Be glad that shops even stock the thing. Profit margins on such accessories are low, they take up shop space and you'd be lucky if you get 1-2 customers a week.