SpeedLite 430EX from TCW without warranty Card

[USM]

Firstly, in case some of you may not be aware, 430EX mk II is made in China regardless of whether grey or warranty set.

It is indeed strange that the instruction manual from a grey set is photocopied. Normally, it should be the same as the warranty set. The only difference is the presence of a warranty card.

In your case, I suspect that the grey set originally contains instruction manual that is of foreign language, such as French, etc. Hence, TCW has to made an English copy by photocopying.

TCW has already lost its cost advantage since years ago as their grey set items are either more expensive or same price as the local warranty set.

Those who patronise them are mostly students or regulars. As for 2nd hand items, they also lose out those other 2nd hand shops in Peninsula area. Sometimes, I wonder how did they manage to survive given tough competition.

 

[weixiang1900]

firstly, i won't be able to reveal the name of the shop.. coz my close friend has relationships with them.. hence the price that i am offered would not be offered even to regulars.. i dun want to bring them in such publicity.. hence no PMs please.. thank you..

 

[koljaho]

hah! So you got a SPECIAL price for it! But yea, probably I bought it for alittle more than normal. Oh well, just take it as a lesson. Thanks for all the CSer's input into this thread. Will update you guys the outcome!

 

[Dream Merchant]

$450 for an 430 II is carrot head?

Someone else bought one (I presume with local warranty) from another super popular 'CSer-endorsed' store at $480. Is that an ok price at the moment (aka, after the price hikes)?

 

[CS TAN]

a check with my favourite shop still shows $415 nett..

firstly, i won't be able to reveal the name of the shop.. coz my close friend has relationships with them.. hence the price that i am offered would not be offered even to regulars.. i dun want to bring them in such publicity.. hence no PMs please.. thank you..

In that case, you should have told TS $415 is a special price in the first place. TS is trying to confirm the recent market price and you told him "a check with my favourite shop still shows $415 nett.." :nono:

 

[ardnirun]

Which one is your favourite shop?

Ben Photo, Orient Photo, sometimes Cathay Photo peninsula, MScolor AMK..the original old shop..

 

[joe]

Recently, I bought a Canon Speedlite 430EX from The Camera Workshop. Realise the Speedlite doesn't come with any warranty card. Is it normal? And is it suppose to be made in china? I suspect it is some kind of parallel import.

Did you left your warranty card down there or you forgotten to take from them.You've to check it with them first before you jump to any of the conclusion.Bring the whole box down show it to them first and also talk to them in a nicer way.I don't think they won't sell anything without a warranty card.Check with them first cos I some time went to have a chit-chat over there with them if I'm free and also I 'm looking for a 2nd hand cannon camera but the price does not fit me.

 

[maxheadroom]

Agree with brother USM.
Everytime asking for certain item, it will give me a "stupid look" & a high quote....

 

[koljaho]

A VERY BIG THUMBS DOWN FOR TCW!

Have been calling them since 2 days ago. Nobody pick up the call all the time. Only this afternoon, after calling them for numerous times that they finally had someone over the other side to talk to me. Asked why is there no warranty card with their camera and they told me the warranty is covered by their camera shop and will be sent to canon from their shop. Then I started asking whether is it a grey set and they told me it is one. That pissed me off enough for now.

Whats more is that day when I went to their shop, I was quoted with many difference prices by different people in the shop. A drastic 100-200 dollars difference. ( E.g Nikon D90 with 18 -105. One guy quoted me 1680. The other quoted me 1750. Canon 24-70 f2.8L $2020 and then the other guy $2210 *All quoted with GST). Reason for different quote? Price hike. -__-". Whats more they gave me wrong filter size for my tamron that I bought from them. When I went back to their shop, they changed my Hoya away and gave me a Vitacon. They claimed that the Vitacon is more expensive. Then when I opened it up and check, there were many dust particles on the filter itself. So I went back to change for another one. Ended up the filter was just as bad as the first.

Very disappointed with their attitude. Asked so many judgemental questions like: "Are you going to buy? or just asking prices?", "Are you working or still student?". Giving them different answers and you will be treated differently. Please be careful with this shop.

 

[CS TAN]

Really bad taste in the mouth, isn't it? Well, forget about this unhappy experience and try to enjoy the flash with your camera.

Next time when you buy something, make sure you confirm the pricing before handing over the cash/card and mentally run through the check list:
Confirm the price
- net price (with GST)?
- credit card or cash
- local set/grey set?
check the equipment
- item looks new/used?
- all items from the box accounted for?
- check warranty card - serial no. matches the one on the item?
confirm the replacement policy
- 7 days 1-for-1 replacement?

 

[jlkk76]

A VERY BIG THUMBS DOWN FOR TCW!

Have been calling them since 2 days ago. Nobody pick up the call all the time. Only this afternoon, after calling them for numerous times that they finally had someone over the other side to talk to me. Asked why is there no warranty card with their camera and they told me the warranty is covered by their camera shop and will be sent to canon from their shop. Then I started asking whether is it a grey set and they told me it is one. That pissed me off enough for now.

Whats more is that day when I went to their shop, I was quoted with many difference prices by different people in the shop. A drastic 100-200 dollars difference. ( E.g Nikon D90 with 18 -105. One guy quoted me 1680. The other quoted me 1750. Canon 24-70 f2.8L $2020 and then the other guy $2210 *All quoted with GST). Reason for different quote? Price hike. -__-". Whats more they gave me wrong filter size for my tamron that I bought from them. When I went back to their shop, they changed my Hoya away and gave me a Vitacon. They claimed that the Vitacon is more expensive. Then when I opened it up and check, there were many dust particles on the filter itself. So I went back to change for another one. Ended up the filter was just as bad as the first.

Very disappointed with their attitude. Asked so many judgemental questions like: "Are you going to buy? or just asking prices?", "Are you working or still student?". Giving them different answers and you will be treated differently. Please be careful with this shop.

Get used to it bro....

next time rem to do ur home work first...

 

[zj2000]

I black list that shop long time ago. Don't know why it's still in the list of recommended shops.

 

[jeremyteocx]

well i guess take it as a lesson learnt. grey or not, with or without warranty, im sure your flash should work just as fine. lets just hope nothing unfortunate happens.

i personally always feel that i'd rather buy from BnS than 2nd hand or grey shops. prices are usually lower and people are usually more honest with condition and warranty. with exceptions of course. from what you said, it was obvious it was a grey set and they could only come forth to admit it when they realised you knew what a grey set was.

 

[Frankenstein]

My personal experiences are pretty much the same (grey set, local shop warranty) when I bought the Tamron 18-270mm @ S$900/- last week. I accepted that because the lens for Canon mount is virtually not available anywhere else (I know this will invite more OT around the Tamron vs. Canon etc.) but I bought it because I'm a casual shooter with a budget and wanted a lens to cover the longest possible range for outdoor shoots for the least $$$. I'm using the Tammy 17-50mm 2.8 as a general lens.

Now the reason of my post....I may have an insight how they work as I enquired about the Canon SX1 which they did not carry....the lady in the store asked if I was interested in a grey set if she could sell it at approx. S$80/- less than the recommended price of S$999/-. I was not interested as I believe I can probably get a similar deal with canon warranty elsewhere (the only reason I bought the Tammy 18-270 was because I can't find it anywhere else).

According to her, they basically get their goods from local/overseas suppliers asking for export sets (hence no warranty) to reduce their cost of goods. They sell either at the same price or slight discount so that they make $$$. When you send anything that is defective back to them within the 1 year, they will attempt to service it failing which they would send it to the agent for repairs (paying the cost of the repair themselves). The reason they do this is they strongly believe that out of 10 sets, only a small portion would end up coming back for repairs hence they save overall cost and maximise their profits (I'm not saying that it is right or wrong but simply sharing what I learnt from them).

I guess this is their mode of business and it is buyers' beware.....

 

[CS TAN]

A different business model compare to the others but in this case, they are not really benefiting the customers (or at least they took the larger part of the money saved by selling grey sets).

 

[koljaho]

A different business model compare to the others but in this case, they are not really benefiting the customers (or at least they took the larger part of the money saved by selling grey sets).

That to say they are earning Singapore Canon's share of profit by providing their own "insurance" for the product.

 

[coldfish]

I bought my 40D from TCW knowing that it was going to be a grey set.
And so the camera fired up default with Jap language menu, the manual was photocopied since the original was in Japanese and the shop owner stated very clear that it was 1 year shop warranty.
The transaction was unanimously clear and I paid $300 less than Cathay and co.

The old man appear does appear to be unfriendly towards new customers. Get to know him better and you'll meet a differnet personality.

All I can say is do your homework, prepare and ask all the questions you want to know, test until you are fully satisfied before you put down your $ or you'll either blame the shop or yourself (or both) for feeling short changed.

 

[Frankenstein]

Also to add (not to side anyone) - they are able to make their business model viable only because they trust in the QC of the manufacturer (i.e. canon, tamron, sigma etc.)....i.e. unless you mistreat your equipment - it should not go bonkers within the 1-year.

 

[groovejazzing]

To add into bad customer service, there are also one particular camera shop *same level & one of the ADVERTISER here* I wouldnt say da name but roughly u guys know who.* Selling "benro" tripod.

This was one of the very bad customer service i met in singapore,

When to his small shop to purchase the tripod, ask him simple questions then his face give you da own him money look, never reply. Kinda look down on pple look! Ask his female stuff or wife *whatever* to serve me. Maybe I may look young but I a very polite customer. the female was quiet friendly thou that why i decided to buy.

So initially i bought the tripod and left. After that i realised that i wasnt issue a receipt! So i went back to collect, I told him to issue the receipt politely & AGAIN! that dame, ignorant irritating look. Then the female stuff issue me a receipt.

I was thinking that the tripod have one year warrently and thing wrong, i was wondering what will he say.~

In the end of the day, these pple should be glad and be thankful that they made some sales from the customers. TeRRIBE, I will boycott such shops. The Tripod there are not really very cheap also! Its just that i ugently need a replacement.

Going to buy things from shop like that can really make you unhappy after the day. :thumbsd::thumbsd:

 

[melvyn83]

For me i rather go to Reputable shops like Cathay Photo, MS Colours, John 3:16 more reliable .