I was going to buy a video camera...
Moving up the scale:
I was looking at the Sony TRV70 MiniDV, available through the Apple Store for $1100. Maiko advised me to consider a 3 CCD Camera. So I looked at the Sony TRV950, which costs about $1500, but not available via Apple. The Sony PDX10 came up as another possible camera.
Price Search: Maiko advised froogle.google.com to search for the lowest price. Froogle Google finds the Sony PDX10 for an unbelievable $1409 (and the TRV950 for $1029 via the same seller).
Hook, line, and...:
I read some online reviews, then I placed the order for the PDX10 at A&M Photoworld. Now I get a much better camera for the same (initial) price as the TRV950. Two reviews both said the PDX10 takes better quality video than the more expensive pro level Sony PD150!
Bait and switch (if too good...): I got email from A&M, to call and confirm my order. My call is answered by sales guy. You know him. He talks fast, and he's my friend. He's concerned that I might want to know a few things, and he always "understands where I'm comin' from".
I get an extended life battery and a recharger (the reviews say this camera has short battery life, so this is not unreasonable). The total price is now up about $300. I pass on the lens filters for another $300 (even though EVERYONE buys them within one week (he says).) He has me thinking about the extended warranty. Sony advises to clean the camera once per year, and cleaning costs $270 (he says.) The ext warranty includes free cleaning, so the price is paid for with the first cleaning right?
I've read many times the pros and cons of extended warranties, but more importantly I don't want to go to $2K for the camera. I turn down the warranty.
Poison pill: Now - begins the hard sell... Sales guy really wants me to take the warranty. If I don't, I'm only covered by 90 days. If anything goes wrong, I'll be paying big money for repairs. I say I can take that risk. Ok, now I'm only covered by 7 days sales return policy. What? Only 7 days because it is a non U.S. camera...
Fuhgetaboutit (I don't eat poison): I told him if I only get 7 days coverage, then cancel my order. He says no prob, and by the way, anywhere I see this camera online for less than $1500 will always be gray market price (says he.) Since I was thinking about the TRV950 (I had told him so) he says how about TRV950 for $1700? No...way... am I going to reward this slimey behavior with an alternative purchase from the same dealer.
Moral: Well, it's obvious isn't it? The price was too good. It was so good that sales guy was required to push it up to the real world price by sellling all the add-ons. If he couldn't make those extra sales, then HE put out the poison pill that killed the deal... The price advertised online is just bait to pull you in. They can't deliver on that promise.
Don't buy from A&M Photoworld unless you're prepared for the real price. Don't buy anyway, because they are slimey (like most camera dealers.)
12:13:47 PM 
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