Buying A Camera In Mbk

[gadg]

Currently in the market for a new SLR camera, I found myself shopping around MBK this weekend. The 20-30% price difference between shops got me asking questions. It turned out the 'official price' gets used by some shops and others provide what they say is the same equipment - but provide 'shop warranty only'.

This raises three warning flags with me.

1) Do I get the same equipment, which has passed Nikon quality control and all? Or do I get factory rejects, damaged goods, or otherwise sub-par equipment.

2) As I'm a photography novice, will I be able to detect defects?

3) If there is an issue, a shop owner will do everything to avoid having to fix the problem where Nikon would just deal with the issue.

Does anybody have experience buying at the 'shop warranty' prices?

[rak sa_ngop]

I bought an Olympus camera at MBK a few years sgao, and from what I observed they opened a new sealed box and took out the international guarantee card.

So you get a good price reduction but bet on the camera not needing warantee repairs. I am not sure how far I would believe the 'return to us and we will repair it' guarantee from the shop, but my camera never had a problem.

[jamora]

Can highly recommend Foto File in MBK. Not the cheapest, but they have great service and warranty.

Have had bad experience with other shops. Bought my first DSLR (Canon EOS 300D) at one of the smaller shops, at a very low price. After a month or so, it started to show a periodic error, and i took it back to the shop. They claimed nothing was wrong with it, and eventually, I had to take it to Canon by myself. At Canon Thailand, they scanned the serial number, and told me that the camera had never passed quality control, and i had to pay half the cameras price in repair costs...

Now i only shop at Foto File.

[angiud]

Foto File,you spend a bit more, but you are in good hands (Canon or Nikon Thailand ;-)

[CharlieH]

There is good and bad in everything, my own experience is never believe anything you are told, they'll tell you whatever it takes to sell it to you and when it goes wrong they dont want to know because there is nothing in it for them, or they'll say "we''ll have to send it away and it will be about 2-3 months" knowing dam_n well you wont do that.

Use a recommendation from others (as above) or use a bonafide outlet for a specific brand if you want a valid and real warranty.

As with most things in life "you get what you pay for" and "if it looks to good to be true it probably is", old cliche's but certainly appropriate.

[farang000999]

dont buy in mbk. go to korea or hk. much cheaper. real warranty. no bs.

[angiud]

dont buy in mbk. go to korea or hk. much cheaper. real warranty. no bs.

Sure, spend 25.000 baht air ticket to save 3000 on a camera

[h90]

dont buy in mbk. go to korea or hk. much cheaper. real warranty. no bs.

Sure, spend 25.000 baht air ticket to save 3000 on a camera

You don't need to buy first class. Economy class will also do. approx. 3-5.000 One way.

I bought a Canon, which was for the Japanese market not for Thailand, grey import 25 % cheaper.

Never had any problem with it. so I don't know about warranty.