VANITY - Buying Electronics From Amazon A Good Deal or a Risk?

self | 01/06/08 | self

[Yaelle]

I am buying a very expensive though small piece of electronics (a HD camcorder that can fit in a purse or pocket). It's got a great price on Amazon, better than anywhere else. I was thinking that because it's so small and I have little kids, I might need some kind of extended warranty, which I usually never get nor need.

Can I count on the manufacturer to provide good customer service for this product? Should I buy elsewhere in case something goes wrong or I get a lemon? Any suggestions from the techies?

[ShadowDancer]

I can tell you who NOT to buy them from.

[TomServo]

Never had a problem with ‘em and am currently enjoying my new Kindle.

[Yaelle]

We have Amazon Prime too. It ends up being worth it. Being a little ADD, buying books usually costs me less than the library (don’t ask - Bookman from Seinfeld is still trying to find me).

Thanks.

[Mr_Moonlight]

Figure that Amazon has that electronics vendor outsourced rather than in-house, as Amazon directly deals with books, CD’s, and DVD’s. I used Amazon almost exclusively for Christmas gifts recently, which included several “outsourced” vendor products within their domain. I have been nothing but very pleased with Amazon’s follow up on these outsourced vendors, they even sent a follow up email survey asking how those transactions went. Amazon has a great business model and growing reputation for solid quality customer service. You will not be disappointed.

[boomop1]

I usually do a search for the item and you can find good deals listed at various sites.

[MarkL]

First things first... Amazon often acts as a broker for other companies. So you need to find out who the actual seller is, and if they're an authorized dealer. If they're not, what you'll get is a "gray market" device, which means that the manufacturer will probably NOT give you a warranty. In addition to that, if the price is really low, you'll want to make sure that the package has all the parts in it. Some unscrupulous dealers will remove things like a case, battery, power supply, etc, and charge you extra for these "accessories."

Finally, you will want to know who you will be dealing with if there are any problems in the order and shipment: Amazon, or some third party.

Mark

[HoosierHawk]

I've been a customer of Amazon.com for years. I've purchased everything; books, CDs, DVDs, software, cameras, kitchen appliances, etc.

Any order of $25 or more is shipped free in 2 days. There are no taxes, and their prices are competitive.

The one problem I had was easily remedied. They sent me a new one and I sent the defective one back.

On another occasion, I bought an old history book from a third-party retailer. The condition of the book was not as advertised.

So, as long as you're buying direct from Amazon.com, you should be OK.

[Yaelle]

Thanks for saying that about extended warranties. I’ve felt they were ripoffs for years myself.

I have an old Canon Powershot, about 4 years old, and it went kablooey on me in the middle of a sporting event trip to Hawaii last year. The kindly Hawaiian photo shop owner told me that the specific product has been flagged for free repairs for that specific problem, and to send it in to Canon when I got home.

My own camera shop here on the mainland denied it. They would fix it for $$ too beaucoup, so I was going to dump the camera. I called Canon though to be sure, and the Hawaiian guy was right - they had me send it in for FREE, their packaging, they repaired it for free, and the dam* thing is still kicking today! (Free plug for Canon)

[Yaelle]

You got the Kindle! “Twalk!” Can you read older books or classics on it as well as newer, best-seller types???

[Caramelgal]

While I've only purchased CD's and books from Amazon and never had any problems, I would imagine that your purchase of new electronic equipment would carry the same manufacturer's warrantee as if you bought it from a Wal-Mart or Best Buys. Just like the former, Amazon is a still a retailer even if it isn’t a “brick and mortar” store. One of the reasons that some non-brick and mortar stores can sell at cheaper prices is because they have less overhead.

When you purchase a new electronic item in its original packaging, there should be a warrantee card, registration form and information from the manufacturer about the warrantee included in the packaging. If you buy a defective product that doesn’t work or is damaged when you purchase it, the retailer will usually allow a refund or exchange.

But if after your initial purchase you have a warrantee problem, it’s not the retailer that will stand behind the warrantee; it’s the manufacturer who honors the warrantee.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=468516

[Vermonter]

Check your credit card benefits. My Visa offers to extend the manufacturer’s warrantee for a term equal to what the original warrantee was. I got a computer replaced well past the manufacturer’s warrantee expiration.

[Cagey]

[ShadowDancer]

Now I feel better.

[Yaelle]

So you need to find out who the actual seller is, and if they're an authorized dealer. If they're not, what you'll get is a "gray market" device, which means that the manufacturer will probably NOT give you a warranty. In addition to that, if the price is really low, you'll want to make sure that the package has all the parts in it.

Glad I read yours before plunking down my pennies.

Tell me, how do you find out who the real supplier is? Scanning again the product description to find out. I have found one mistake so far: it claims this product was first available in October 2001. Which it was not. I'd better be sure the main parts are all included. I'd hate for the savings to be because they left out something essential. But did you see how many happy electronics purchasers are on this thread? I was very close to just buying, but I don't need the hassles of a grey market purchase.

I still can't find any hint of the supplier. It does not appear that anything essential is missing from the package, though.

[TomServo]

Right now I’m only reading the books I’ve purchased from Amazon - in their format. But it can read .txt, .doc and .prc formats, too. You’ll have to search in Kindle books for the books you’re interested in.

Folks are bitchin’ about the DRM aspects of it, but I’m just enjoying the dickens out of this little wonder. Worth every penny, IMO.

[Yaelle]

When you purchase a new electronic item in its original packaging, there should be a warrantee card, registration form and information from the manufacturer about the warrantee included in the packaging.

This is what I was assuming, but MarkL seems to think that might not be. The manufacturer is Sony.

[TexasCajun]

I use Amazon all the time wihout problem.

Just bought an HD-DVD Player.

[Yaelle]

I think I drooled when I watched their demo. I’d love that little thing.

(Were all your books recent? I still want to know if you can read old stuff on there too.)

[TomServo]

Here are some classics you can download

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_kinc/105-1891668-1454844?url=node%3D154606011&field-keywords=classics

[freespirited]

We buy from Amazon all the time... everything from books to electronic gadgets. Only had a problem once ... a product with a manufacturing defect. This wasn’t Amazon’s fault, and they were great about minimizing the inconvenience of the return and insuring that we were credited promptly.

IIRC they gave us a coupon for five bucks off our next purchase because of the trouble.