How to Avoid Getting Scammed When Buying a Digital Camera

Unfortunately, the digital camera market is full of scam artists. For every reputable digital camera retailer, there are many more dishonest cheats looking to con you out of your money. Most of them operate online and over the phone. Here are a few different ways in which these swindlers operate:

Overpriced Accessories

Cameras come packaged with certain essentials such as a battery, battery charger, wrist/neck strap, and lens. At the last minute, the camera shop will tell you that their discounted package only includes the camera body, and then try to sell you the accessories at an inflated price.

Bait & Switch

The camera shop sells you the desired camera at a discounted price, but actually delivers a different, inferior model.

Phantom Merchandise

You end up waiting around weeks, or even months, for a camera that is supposedly en route, back ordered, or otherwise unavailable. In reality, there is no camera. The camera shop is manipulating your emotions to make you impatient, and will eventually offer to sell you a more expensive substitute that can be delivered sooner.

Dealing with these cons can be a nightmare

At the point where you realize you are being taken advantage of, dealing with these dishonest camera shops usually only gets worse. Victims have reported being harassed over the phone and jumping through an inordinate amount of hoops to rectify the situation. Usually, the ordeal ends with you returning the merchandise and attempting to get your money back through your bank or credit card company.

How to avoid the scam all together

Your best protection against digital camera scams is to never get involved with the discount camera shops in the first place. Check out “Seven Rules for Safer Holiday Shopping” from Maximum PC for tips on staying safe (via Lifehacker).

When it comes to spotting these con shops, it all boils down to a matter of common sense. If a price seems too good to be true, it is. With that in mind, here is our fool-proof guide to spotting a potential digital camera scam:

1. Note the discount price at which the merchandise is being offered.
2. Go to the web site of B&H Photo/Video.
3. Find the same item in B&H’s inventory, and compare the prices.
4. If the discount price is significantly lower than B&H, the red flag goes up.

B&H is a well-known and highly respected New York City-based retailer of photo and video equipment. If a small, unknown shop is able to beat B&H’s price by a significant margin, it is very likely that something fishy is going on. In fact, just buy the item from B&H. You’ll get what you paid for, along with peace of mind and a great return policy.

Other reputable retailers of photo equipment include J&R, and Adorama.