Duty Free Camcorders
-
So there I am on holiday (Canary Islands, very hot). Walking round the shopping centre I see a Sony camcorder with a card saying "45%-50% discount on many camcorders". The bloke there says the camcorder is (say) 700 Euros. I compare the price to the UK and decide to buy it. The bloke then says that the price is for one without a box or software meaning no batteries, charger, etc. Turns out the one he's selling isn't even a PAL model (it doesn't have the E suffix on the body of the camer like the one in the window has). I point out that it isn't a PAL model and he says I'm wrong. I go to the local internet cafe and find that I'm right and he's wrong of course. I go back and suddenly the PAL model is now 1200 Euros! OK, I leave and go to the next shop on my list... Bloke says 700 Euros for a £1,200 (UK) Sony camcorder. I say I'll take two. He asks for my VISA card and is just about to run it through the machine when I say, stop, I want to see them boxed first so I know exactly what I'm buying. He goes off to the phone and "speaks" to someone, comes back and tells me they will be there in few minutes but have a look at this JVC model instead while I'm waiting. He then attempts to demonstrate (using a conveniently already-setup video monitor) that the JVC has better low light performance, believing I won't notice that he's using the JVC in night shot mode and the Sony is in normal mode. He tels me how much better the JVC is and wouldn't I like that instead. I say no. He goes back to the phone and comes back asking what time I'm leaving the resort. By now, I know what's coming - I say about 5pm, he says he can't get the cameras until 9pm that evening. I leave. Similar stories occur each time I try to buy a camcorder anywhere in that God-forsaken place. Conclusion is even though you will find a camcorder £100 cheaper it isn't worth dealing with those sort of scam merchants. My point is (eventually), why do people act like this? Do they not realise that they gain reputations for this sort of behaviour? Not unsurprisingly, their shops were usually empty. Why can't people just be honest and stick to their prices/promises? Is this really just wishful thinking, or do people have any morality when it comes to money? One more point, why such massive price variations: eg. £1500 in John Lewis (famous UK dept store), £1200 in Dixons (high street store), £850 from BestBuy.co.uk (internet). Such a price variation beggards belief in my opinion! :mad: "The folly of man is that he dreams of what he can neve
-
So there I am on holiday (Canary Islands, very hot). Walking round the shopping centre I see a Sony camcorder with a card saying "45%-50% discount on many camcorders". The bloke there says the camcorder is (say) 700 Euros. I compare the price to the UK and decide to buy it. The bloke then says that the price is for one without a box or software meaning no batteries, charger, etc. Turns out the one he's selling isn't even a PAL model (it doesn't have the E suffix on the body of the camer like the one in the window has). I point out that it isn't a PAL model and he says I'm wrong. I go to the local internet cafe and find that I'm right and he's wrong of course. I go back and suddenly the PAL model is now 1200 Euros! OK, I leave and go to the next shop on my list... Bloke says 700 Euros for a £1,200 (UK) Sony camcorder. I say I'll take two. He asks for my VISA card and is just about to run it through the machine when I say, stop, I want to see them boxed first so I know exactly what I'm buying. He goes off to the phone and "speaks" to someone, comes back and tells me they will be there in few minutes but have a look at this JVC model instead while I'm waiting. He then attempts to demonstrate (using a conveniently already-setup video monitor) that the JVC has better low light performance, believing I won't notice that he's using the JVC in night shot mode and the Sony is in normal mode. He tels me how much better the JVC is and wouldn't I like that instead. I say no. He goes back to the phone and comes back asking what time I'm leaving the resort. By now, I know what's coming - I say about 5pm, he says he can't get the cameras until 9pm that evening. I leave. Similar stories occur each time I try to buy a camcorder anywhere in that God-forsaken place. Conclusion is even though you will find a camcorder £100 cheaper it isn't worth dealing with those sort of scam merchants. My point is (eventually), why do people act like this? Do they not realise that they gain reputations for this sort of behaviour? Not unsurprisingly, their shops were usually empty. Why can't people just be honest and stick to their prices/promises? Is this really just wishful thinking, or do people have any morality when it comes to money? One more point, why such massive price variations: eg. £1500 in John Lewis (famous UK dept store), £1200 in Dixons (high street store), £850 from BestBuy.co.uk (internet). Such a price variation beggards belief in my opinion! :mad: "The folly of man is that he dreams of what he can neve
Kell, because there is always someone trying to get away with something. I mean the customers as well. And you didn't think there was anything odd about half price goods ? Would you like to meet my teddy bear ?
-
Kell, because there is always someone trying to get away with something. I mean the customers as well. And you didn't think there was anything odd about half price goods ? Would you like to meet my teddy bear ?
"Kell" :) Heh, did you feel sorry for my lonely post (no replies)? I guess I understand why they do it really, it's just not what I'd do. In the end though, it's bad business practice because their reputation for dodgy dealings will catch up with them (no surprise that their shops were empty). As for the goods being half-price, I just assumed that the duty we were expected to pay in the UK made the difference. Considering we in the UK get so ripped off for everything, I think this is an understandable mistake :( It's an unfortunate fact that the pleasure of buying (anything) has diminished a great deal in recent years - apart from chocolate, the one pleasure that remains constant :) Do you know that one of the shop owners insulted my intelligence by showing me a trade sales receipt for one of the camcorders, implying that he only makes 30 Euros on each one. As I was walking out he told me that I wouldn't find any better prices - I told him I'd rather pay more elsewhere than deal with him. In fact, I decided there and then that I'd rather buy (even) in the UK... "The folly of man is that he dreams of what he can never achieve rather than dream of what he can."
-
"Kell" :) Heh, did you feel sorry for my lonely post (no replies)? I guess I understand why they do it really, it's just not what I'd do. In the end though, it's bad business practice because their reputation for dodgy dealings will catch up with them (no surprise that their shops were empty). As for the goods being half-price, I just assumed that the duty we were expected to pay in the UK made the difference. Considering we in the UK get so ripped off for everything, I think this is an understandable mistake :( It's an unfortunate fact that the pleasure of buying (anything) has diminished a great deal in recent years - apart from chocolate, the one pleasure that remains constant :) Do you know that one of the shop owners insulted my intelligence by showing me a trade sales receipt for one of the camcorders, implying that he only makes 30 Euros on each one. As I was walking out he told me that I wouldn't find any better prices - I told him I'd rather pay more elsewhere than deal with him. In fact, I decided there and then that I'd rather buy (even) in the UK... "The folly of man is that he dreams of what he can never achieve rather than dream of what he can."
Seriously, if you want a good deal, check out Jessops near Cannon St station - we got a Sony digital cam there for £100 cheaper than anywhere else, and £500 cheaper than one place we saw the same model. HTH :) The following statement about your geekness is true.
The previous statement about your geekness is false.