I was browsing for Camera related items online and I saw that couple of online stores have very competitive pricing (obviously better than local stores but sometimes lower than Amazon/FK) like design info, imaginext, cinema center etc.
Can you guys please share your experience if you have ever bought from such non Amazon/FK stores?
I've tried Design Info. They are genuine but once sent 3rd party accessories of Insta360 x4 and when they realized it they refunded the amount without asking to return the item.
Videolink , Design Info are good .
I've brought stuff from the following online stores over the past few years and never had any issues:
- Videolinks (https://www.videolinks.com (https://www.videolinks.com/))
- Kamal Imaging (https://www.kamalimaging.com (https://www.kamalimaging.com/))
- Future Forward (https://www.futureforward.in (https://www.futureforward.in/))
- IMASTUDENT (https://www.imastudent.com (https://www.imastudent.com/))
- FotoCentre (https://fotocentreindia.com (https://fotocentreindia.com/))
- GP Pro (https://www.gppro.in (https://www.gppro.in/))
Any forum member can provide feedback on this retailer - David Cameras , 133, OLD #120, FAZAL COMPLEX, Wallahjah Rd, Mount Road, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Amazon is the last place I look at if I need gear which is not cheap. I've had good experiences with all the sites Parampreet Dhatt has mentioned except for GP pro & Future Forward as I have not dealt with them personally. I'll list out a few more site's that are not mentioned.
- HeyJimmy (https://heyjimmy.in/)
- Reliable Store (https://www.thereliablestore.com/)
- Roy Imaging (https://royimaging.com/)
- Srishtidigilife (https://www.srishtidigilife.co.in/)
On thing to note: If your looking for an obscure item and you see it listed on the site, it's worth giving them a call to check if the item is in stock or not. Sometimes the listings are not updated so you can avoid the hassle of getting back the money.
Thanks guys for your valuable suggestions!!
Videolinks covers far more than is mentioned on their site. Most, if not all, currently available cameras, lenses, etc. can be bought from them.
Here's an example difference of buying from, say, Amazon, and buying from Videolinks...
Amazon: lens* in display box, loose in cardboard box, all inside Amazon plastic envelope*
Videolinks: Lens in display box, surrounded by a couple of inches of thermacol, inside a cardboard box, finally wrapped in several layers of waterproof plastic wrap.
*That particular purchase from Amazon was a one-off too-good-to-miss offer!
I bought camera equipment from Amazon few times, my experience and pricing on Amazon compared to local store was really good. I was preferring Amazon because of their very user friendly return policy, if there any damages, quality issues they provide easy returns but sadly now that part is changing, now similar to Flipkart; Amazon also started service center replacement for electronics stuff so if you face any issue, you have to take the product to service center instead of Amazon replacing it.
Are we all forgetting our hosts, j j mehta? That seems a bit unfair!
Recently I re-established with an old friend from a hifi forum that I no longer frequent. He knows his way around the local market and has good contacts. There is something rather nice about t taking one's new toy home from a real shop!