Orient Photo @ Sim Lim Square #06-31/53


Status
Not open for further replies.
Was there today. Not too impressed, I must say.

I wanted to get an Ixus 850IS. AP was out of stock, so decided to try out this shop. Had called earlier and gotten a quote of $550 for a version "with warranty" (ie not grey).

There were two bored-looking people in the shop. They had one unit left. I thought there was a bit of dirt inside the lens, but OK, never mind. The menu was in Chinese(!), so asked the guy to change the language to English for me, which he did.

Discovered that the price (although including GST) did not include the promotional items from Canon Singapore (2GB card, tripod, etc). The guy did not seem aware of the promotion from Canon.

Decided to buy it anyway (already have a 1GD SD card). Took out my NETS card. Asked for the warranty card, they dug around in the box, could not find it and said "shop warranty". Hmmm. I thought maybe can try to get the promotional items from Canon myself with the warranty card. No go.

I suppose it was a misunderstanding about what a version "with warranty" really means.

Prices are good, but the items are probably "grey". Caveat emptor. For me, Canon quality control is going down the drain (the reason I bought the 850IS is because my A610 just died on me. Before that my Ixus 400 died on me) and it's nice to have a warranty (problem is they all die just AFTER the warranty expires, but that's another story).

In the end I got my 850IS from *gasp* Song Brothers. Made it clear I was shopping for price, so he gave me $590. Still above the market rate, but at least he threw in a screen protector and a pouch.
 

Was there today. Not too impressed, I must say.

I wanted to get an Ixus 850IS. AP was out of stock, so decided to try out this shop. Had called earlier and gotten a quote of $550 for a version "with warranty" (ie not grey).

There were two bored-looking people in the shop. They had one unit left. I thought there was a bit of dirt inside the lens, but OK, never mind. The menu was in Chinese(!), so asked the guy to change the language to English for me, which he did.

Discovered that the price (although including GST) did not include the promotional items from Canon Singapore (2GB card, tripod, etc). The guy did not seem aware of the promotion from Canon.

Decided to buy it anyway (already have a 1GD SD card). Took out my NETS card. Asked for the warranty card, they dug around in the box, could not find it and said "shop warranty". Hmmm. I thought maybe can try to get the promotional items from Canon myself with the warranty card. No go.

I suppose it was a misunderstanding about what a version "with warranty" really means.

Prices are good, but the items are probably "grey". Caveat emptor. For me, Canon quality control is going down the drain (the reason I bought the 850IS is because my A610 just died on me. Before that my Ixus 400 died on me) and it's nice to have a warranty (problem is they all die just AFTER the warranty expires, but that's another story).

In the end I got my 850IS from *gasp* Song Brothers. Made it clear I was shopping for price, so he gave me $590. Still above the market rate, but at least he threw in a screen protector and a pouch.

I wouldn't buy compacts from that shop because the stuff there are grey sets. At least they tell you at the start unlike a TC* shop.
 

Was there today. Not too impressed, I must say.

It's an open market, after all, but at least I'm glad you are a discerning consumer! =)

Knowledge is power, and if one does not put in the effort, honestly, one only has himself to blame at the end of the day after being "cheated", etc.
 

I think at the end of the day, you would have to do your homework before heading down. Some things maybe cheap, some things may not be cheap.:)
 

I think at the end of the day, you would have to do your homework before heading down. Some things maybe cheap, some things may not be cheap.:)

Well said, c wat u buy.....accessories no problem...:think: :lovegrin:
 

I think at the end of the day, you would have to do your homework before heading down. Some things maybe cheap, some things may not be cheap.:)

yep, second that too... always do your homework... don't buy in impulse ;)
 

Went there today & bought the benro promotional package at $150 ($5 below suggested retail price) But the exciting news I recieved is that they can order for me the Nikon 6T filter:) I didn't even bother asking the price as the lady said it won't be expensive.:bsmilie:
 

1 question:
how's the quality of the lenses?
 

1 question:
how's the quality of the lenses?

Don't understand you. What do you mean by your sentence? If you buy a Nikon lens, I'm very sure that its going to be Nikon quality. The same goes for Canon, Sigma, Tokina, etc. Also, they only sell new products so if its new, its new. Nothing else to say!
 

I poped by. All of their items are GREY. But the catch is that they are able to issue you a foreign invoice so you can get an International Warranty. Their service is good. They let me play around with 3 of their lens and did not bitch about it when I did not buy anything. So I felt bad and bought a bag.

They have the grey nikkor 70 200

:thumbsup:
 

I poped by. All of their items are GREY. But the catch is that they are able to issue you a foreign invoice so you can get an International Warranty. Their service is good. They let me play around with 3 of their lens and did not bitch about it when I did not buy anything. So I felt bad and bought a bag.

They have the grey nikkor 70 200

:thumbsup:

int wty should be much more than the so-called non-grey sets usually found here!

n service is something that many other shops cannot be compared to!
 

In China they sell Dopod 838 (fake one) and provide u shop warranty too. The functions and outlook are exactly the same, in fact if your set is spoilt...they could repair for you faster than Dopod...that's what I mean.

Do the lenses image quality same as Singapore or Hong Kong set?
One year shop warranty is only promising if the shop will be there for more than a year
 

anyway...Nikon 85mm F1.4 they are selling @ $1430, 35mm F2 @ $470.
 

In China they sell Dopod 838 (fake one) and provide u shop warranty too. The functions and outlook are exactly the same, in fact if your set is spoilt...they could repair for you faster than Dopod...that's what I mean.

Do the lenses image quality same as Singapore or Hong Kong set?
One year shop warranty is only promising if the shop will be there for more than a year
Issn't singapore or hongkong set both from the same factory?:dunno:
 

I poped by. All of their items are GREY.

Yeah...grey indeed. Some of their Lowepro bags are so 'grey' they look like from 'alternative factories' (with bad stitching, tilted logo etc...like something you might find in Thailand's fake markets) you know what I mean? :wink:

And the price wasn't all that cheap either. The 'funny' Lowepro Lense case '3' was going for $29 when you can get the real deal at Cathay for $25.
 

In China they sell Dopod 838 (fake one) and provide u shop warranty too. The functions and outlook are exactly the same, in fact if your set is spoilt...they could repair for you faster than Dopod...that's what I mean.

Do the lenses image quality same as Singapore or Hong Kong set?
One year shop warranty is only promising if the shop will be there for more than a year
As far as I know there is no fake Nikon/Canon/Olympus lenses yet in the market......these things are not so easy to fake.

Hong Sien
 

These are grey sets/lens but not fake. They are parallel imported from various countries, which are legal. If you still insist or suspect they are fakes (=imitations), you can notified the companies/distributors. I'm sure N & C will be more than willing to take legal actions on fakes:bsmilie: But I don't think they can take legal actions if the items are genuine product improted from other country.;)
 

Grey sets are not fake.

The problem is that quality control nowadays is not very good. Electronic stuff fails on me more often nowadays than it did before. This is why I now insist on having a warranty, which I've had to use a few times.

The other issue is where the grey stuff comes from. If they are simply parallel imports from another country, that's fine. But it is possible that grey sets are actually factory rejects (ie failed quality control) and have been smuggled onto the market by unscrupulous individuals. Of course, the original manufacturer would not want this to happen, because it will affect their reputation for quality, but there are many links in the supply chain where this could possible happen.
 

Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top