I have been looking online now for some days for Canon 5D MK ll body and canon 70-200 F2.8L lens. Many of the cheapest are from over seas, where GST has to be added on, and in some cases warranty is reduced and would be a pain if had to send items back.
So I have come accross this "Techrific Australia" that are based in Australia and their prices are very good and better than the Hong Kong chaps when GST is added on. Their after sales backup is reported to be very good also.
So just wondering if anyone has purchased from them?
You are far, far better off buying from somewhere like D&D Photographics, or DWI, or DCW.
If something ever goes wrong with your camera, you'll pay through the nose to have it fixed.
If you buy from an official retailer like JB Hi-Fi, you have the piece of mind of having your camera fixed by Canon itself.
Through D&D, DWI and DCW, etc., you have to take your camera back to them -- as the camera is a grey import, local Canon service won't want to know about you.
Sometimes, saving a couple of bucks just doesn't make sense, on high ticket items.
Never heard of them! Are they an Australian Canon authorised distributor; or are they sourcing from Hong Kong anyway?
I have always found that when it comes to electronics, it is always better to deal with a well established and long term dealer. You may pay more, but they will still probably be around if something goes wrong. The same cannot be said about new online companies.....they come, and they go.
Caveat Emptor (let the buyer beware) is the rule! That is, the buyer takes all the risk. Under law, reputable companies have some legal obligations, and that is why you can pay more.
Thanks Hymayun, Peter, Peter and Carl for your comments and sound advice. But after 2 days of looking at stuff on the laptop and comparing prices etc. etc. I went and purchased from the "unknown" crowd. The places that have been mentioned either didn't even sell what I wanted or prices were many $100s of dollars more.
So I will add to this thread when the items arrive, to inform you on the results.
The seller won't be carrying any stock, when someone buys from them they will immediately order the item from the manufacturer. That's why the item isnt on your doorstep the next day.
Mind you, if the camera isnt a knock off and is genuinely canon there shouldnt be an issue with its quality, for instance a grey import canon camera is not going to be an inferior camera to those sold locally. And if there is an issue then yes it has to go overseas for a fix, but there's likely better service from the overseas company who makes them than from a local distributor. They may even be more likely to replace faulty goods than shag about fixing a bad item. I'm just surmising on that one, I don't know, but I do know a NZ new phone I bought stuffed up within three weeks of purchase and Telecom wouldn't replace it, it was sent for repair, I got it back it packed up again and it's gone in for a second repair. And in Dick Smith Electronics just after Christmas whilst waiting to be served a 20 something couple were in with a camera which was in for its third repair and they were debating with staff that the camera is just no good and that it should be replaced. No go.
That is not customer service, it's customer dis-service.
I do have a grey import Canon 7D, and Canon 18-200 lens. Two years now, not a problem. Prior was a grey import Canon 20D and 17-85 image stabilised lens for 4 yrs, no problem sold it only because i'd bought the 7D. I work on the premise that when it goes wrong I'll pay and have it sent overseas for repair if need be, it doesn't take long to fly it over, but by the time a decent brand camera packs it in it'll be well outside its warranty and may well be outdated enough to buy the new (grey import) latest version or replace with a good second hand one if repair doesn't seem viable.
Sorry for the long post!
Last edited by Finite; 12-01-2012 at 05:54 AM.
Reason: confusing sentence changed
Another thing to consider... the Canon 24-105 mm f/4L IS lens is cheaper as part of the 5DmkII kit than standalone, e.g. $624 vs $1029 at BHPhotoVideo.
I know that some people buy the lens as a kit and then sell it off completely unused at a small profit, though I don't know whether there's enough market demand for the 24-105 for this to work.
type in to your browser this companies web site followed by "review" and select the whirlpool entry. - nothing good said there since they started trading.
on the 11th January (2 days ago) I had multiple email contacts with these people asking questions prior to my transaction. They would respond within the hour to my questions.
I have sent many emails since asking if the items have been sent, without any response at all.
I have since done a search on the DWI customer responses and seems they are not without fault either.
If all turns up next week in good condition then I will rest easy.
But in the meantime........................... .....
But 
after 2 days of looking at stuff on the laptop and comparing prices etc. etc. I went and purchased from the "unknown" crowd. 
The places that have been mentioned either didn't even sell what I wanted or prices were many $100s of dollars more. 
