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From: ix415@sdcc6.UUCP (Rick Frey{|ix)
Newsgroups: net.rec.photo
Subject: Buying from mail order catalogs
Message-ID: <1935@sdcc6.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 27-Feb-85 17:35:28 EST
Article-I.D.: sdcc6.1935
Posted: Wed Feb 27 17:35:28 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 2-Mar-85 03:00:06 EST
Organization: U.C. San Diego, Academic Computer Center
Lines: 21

I'm just getting into photography, but one thing that has already
disillusioned me is the inordinately high prices of camera equipment,
especially lenses.  I own a Pentax ME Super annd have been very pleased
but now I would like to move up in the world of lenses, namely a zoom-
telephoto roughly around the 80-200 range.  The prices for what camera
store attendants told me were good brands (Tamron, Kiron, etc.) were
far beyond what I culd afford, so having used mail order to buy various
things in the past, I bought an issue of Popular Photography for the
mail order price lists throughout the back sections of the magazine.
     The difference in prices is amazing.  Many of the mail order prices
were less then half of the respective store prices and I've got a few
good locations for discount shopping.  But the big question is, how safe
is buying something through the mail, especially something like a lens?
And what about all of the horror stories of stores billing the Visa
number, but never sending the merchandise and telling you 8-10 weeks
later that they aree out of stock and you can have a refund?
     I would love to save the money, but I would hatee to get ripped
off.  If any of you have had successful dealings with any of the mail
order houses I would appreciate hearing about it.

                          Rick (ix415@sdcc6, U.C.San Diego)