Aussies buying flash from Adorama or B&H

MoiVous · 08-12-2009, 05:57 PM

This is mainly for the Aussies out there......

I'm after a flash for my K200D and the price in Australia of a Pentax 540 (or 360), the Sigma 530 Super (or the ST) etc is enough to make you weep!

I've checked out the pricing (including shipping) with B&H and Adorama, and even with shipping, they are at least 30% cheaper. eg Pentax AF540FGZ is

AUD$506 from Adorama
AUD$487 from B&H
AUD$905 from Digital Camera Warehouse (Australia)

and the bundles from Adorama are even better value

The Sigma EF 530DG Super is

AUD$334 from Adorama
AUD$340 from B&H
AUD$575 from Digital Camera Warehouse

So for the Aussies out there, is the risk of buying a flash from the US (and the associated US warranty risk) worth it? Or do I approach CR Kennedy and ask them to price match (given that I'm looking at Sigma and Pentax)?

Who would you deal with in preference?

Thanks for any advice or help

Oh - and BTW, the Sigma is appealing due to bang for buck.

Cheers

dosdan · 08-12-2009, 07:15 PM

I bought a Sigma EF-530 Super DG for Pentax from 47st Photography in New York earlier this year. It's still at the same price: $219 USD + $29.95 USD postage to Australia.

Sigma EF-530 DG SUPER EO-ETTL II Flash for Pentax SLR - eBay (item 370242032686 end time Aug-14-09 16:46:18 PDT)

That's a total of $248.95 USD
or $303.60 AUD @ 82cents to the USD
or $311.20 AUD @ 80c to the USD

Dan

rawr · 08-12-2009, 07:20 PM

Originally Posted by MoiVous

I've checked out the pricing (including shipping) with B&H and Adorama, and even with shipping, they are at least 30% cheaper. eg Pentax AF540FGZ is
AUD$506 from Adorama

AUD$487 from B&H

AUD$905 from Digital Camera Warehouse (Australia)

Whattt? $905?

Hmmm:
Pentax AF-540FGZ - Price Comparison - Buy Cheap in Australia

Digidirect have it for $699, not grey imported etc. Maybe look at them.

Sigma EF-530 DG ST:

Sigma EF-530 DG ST (Pentax) - Price Comparison - Buy Cheap in Australia

$349 from CameraAction in VIC, local stock.

But having said that I've bought from Adorama - good price and service. No local warranty, but with flash I suspect that's not much of an issue since what's there to go wrong?

You could try and get CRK to price match on the sigma or pentax, but best of luck with that.

*Ash* · 08-12-2009, 08:18 PM

What risk do you have? No local warranty? But there's international warranty if there's a real concern over the goods, really, you shouldn't expect anything to go wrong with any of their stock - it's always shipped well and always in the condition listed.

I have bough multiple items from each vendor, including B&H, Adorama and KEH and have never had trouble with any of their stock, service or shipping. In fact, all of their shipments, esp. from B&H, come faster than even interstate deliveries! Beat that for service.

schmik · 08-12-2009, 10:18 PM

If you can be bothered ask CRK for the price match and then post the result here.
given them a chance to match it... keep the $$ in the country but if you are not willing to come to the party then get it from USA.

mike

remoteman · 08-13-2009, 02:58 AM

I bought the sigma from Adorama about a month ago, arrived in two days to Sydney. Works fabulously, personally i can't see the point in spending the extra cash on the pentax. I bought it in a bundle with a stofen omnibounce, 4 nimh's and a charger for an extra $3 or something, well worth it, even if i can't use the charger without an adaptor hah.

zak · 08-13-2009, 03:06 AM

I to have brought from B & H as the there was a great saving on a Metz 48. I was under the impression that you can not buy fro CRK. I have brought a 70-200mm 2.8 off Photo Continental and got a price drop when quoting other cheaper prices. It was not as cheap as I could get on the net but spending over $1000 I wanted to be able to go back to see someone if there was an issue.

zak · 08-13-2009, 03:07 AM

Sorry but forgot to say that I sent order on friday night and picked it at PO the following friday. Fantastic service...

*Ash* · 08-13-2009, 06:49 AM

Lots of happy international customers here.
schmik, keeping the $$ in the country is all well and good if prices are competitive, but they really aren't. Why should a consumer who's somewhat more switched on than the regular undiscerning dSLR user need to bargain to get an item for its REAL price?

In my mind, I will continue to send Uncle Sam more money (and encourage others to do the same) so long as Aussie retailers continue to swindle local consumers... then perhaps they'll wake up to themselves and do something positive about it for the growing number of dSLR customers...

eva2000 · 08-13-2009, 03:57 PM

bought my sigma 530 super also from adorama last year no problems and works well on k200d an k-7

MoiVous · 08-13-2009, 05:17 PM

Many thanks for all the comments - much appreciated.

I had worried about warranty etc, but it seems that the service (a word a few companies here need to look up in the dictionary

) and significantly lower price are worth the small risk.

Any other comments appreciated.

BTW - a few people I've spoken to think the Pentax AF360 is a more cost effective option than the Sigma albiet with lower power. Any opinions on that option? (I know there are lots of threads about the pros/cons - but what the heck....

)

Cheers

*wwwmorrell* · 08-14-2009, 12:17 AM

Originally Posted by Ash

Lots of happy international customers here.
schmik, keeping the $$ in the country is all well and good if prices are competitive, but they really aren't. Why should a consumer who's somewhat more switched on than the regular undiscerning dSLR user need to bargain to get an item for its REAL price?

In my mind, I will continue to send Uncle Sam more money (and encourage others to do the same) so long as Aussie retailers continue to swindle local consumers... then perhaps they'll wake up to themselves and do something positive about it for the growing number of dSLR customers...

What Ash said in triplicate, Australian retailers are downright thieves.

Helen Oster · 08-17-2009, 05:28 AM

Originally Posted by rawr

I've bought from Adorama - good price and service. No local warranty, but with flash I suspect that's not much of an issue since what's there to go wrong?

Originally Posted by Ash

I have bough multiple items from each vendor, including B&H, Adorama and KEH and have never had trouble with any of their stock, service or shipping.

Originally Posted by remoteman

I bought the sigma from Adorama about a month ago, arrived in two days to Sydney. Works fabulously.

Originally Posted by eva2000

bought my sigma 530 super also from adorama last year no problems and works well on k200d an k-7

Thanks for all the great feedback for shopping at Adorama Camera - but if you ever have a query or concern regarding an order from Adorama Camera - or AdoramaPix - please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Sincerely

Helen Oster
Adorama Camera Customer Service Ambassador

helen.oster@adoramacamera.com
Digital cameras, all other cameras and everything photographic from Adorama Camera