DigitalFotoClub.com? Great Prices, But Watch 'Em Like a Hawk!
Written: Jan 10 '03
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This time around I was a good boy, Santa: I was true to my community at Epinions (don't forget that next December, Mr. Claus; you either, Nirav). That's mostly 'cause the number one item on Ms scmrak's Christmas list was a digital camera. Since I had a budget and knew the style and features she wanted, I'd already drawn up a short list of models (thanks in no small part to the buying guide written by howard_creech). I took an hour or so one evening to do the final research: first for the camera itself (she ended up getting a Fuji Finepix 3800), and then for a store where I could make my online purchase.
I used all the nifty tools on the Epinions site to pare down my choices. Being a thrifty fellow, I sorted on price first and then scanned the listings with an eye to the consumer's ratings. Several of the choices at the low end of the price scale were only rated three stars, which scared me, and the only five-star rating in the first thirty or so had the camera I wanted on back-order. That meant I had to start looking at the "sweeteners" -- free shipping, add-on packages, and such -- to compare all those four-star choices. That's how I decided on DigitalFotoClub.com (DFCc).
The Company
DFCc's website is fairly straightforward, a constantly-visible main menu at the left and top of the page and a "current results" area covering the rest of the screen. Searching is possible from both the left-hand menu and from within the product area; power users will find the search capabilities quite useful. Internal organization is mostly hierarchical: you start at digital cameras, then refine your choices by steps (price, resolution, manufacturer, and the like).
There are links to consumer information -- privacy, shipping, payment, returns, and customer service contacts -- available from that everpresent menu bar across the top of the page. For the record, DFCc accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express; they'll ship goods paid for by check or money order (US Funds only) after the instrument clears.
I find their returns policy somewhat restrictive; for instance, all sales of printers, scanners, DVD players, and home audio are considered final. And, if you return something that was shipped "free," the "normal" cost of shipping is deducted from your refund. Of course, all shipping and handling charges for returns are the customer's responsibility, even if the merchandise is defective. Shipping charges are estimated only after you've completed your order; which is potentially scary but worked out fine this time around. If your order totals under $1500 you can cancel any time before shipping, otherwise it's considered "final."
Placing your order follows the industry-standard "shopping cart" model.
Selection and Price
As far as I can tell, DFCc stocks just about every digital camera on the market, from low-end near throwaways to very high-end professional models. They also have an extensive line of SLR cameras and -- something on Ms scmrak's permanent Christmas wish list -- telescopes. The other items available include home audio and video and personal electronics.
My Finepix 3800 purchase: For a camera that lists at $499 and has a street price of $399, DFCc was asking just $309 - not a bad price, at about 38% off retail! They were also offering a package (the same "value" package almost everyone else offers) with a cheesy little mini-tripod, a case, a cleaning kit (basically lens tissue), and a set of rechargeable NiMH batteries and charger. But the difference from other sites came in the addition of a 32mB XD chip, which made the package more attractive.
So I bit. With the package my total came to $379, including a $30 chip, the battery/charger kit, and the case (plus the other junk). Shipping, although estimated at $22, turned out to be just under $12, for a grand total of around $391.
The Ordering Experience
Ordering was straightforward, requiring just a credit card and a few drops of blood (kidding about the blood). I received a confirmation email within minutes. They promised to send me a notice with the tracking number after my order had been packed and shipped; usually within 24-48 hours. With that tracking number, customers can follow the progress of their orders after shipping.
After the Sale
A week later, I still hadn't gotten my shipping confirmation. When I telephoned the toll-free customer service number, I told my representative, Joanne, that there was "a problem." She heartily agreed, and transferred me to a second representative, Nate. When I had given him the order number and date, he simply grunted, dropped the phone on his desk, and disappeared (aurally, anyway). A minute or two later, he was back; asked me a question or two, and then repeated the phone-on-the-desk thing. The second time he came back, he told me they were pulling the order and it would be shipped immediately. That was that.
True to Nate's promise (gruff as it may have been), my order was shipped by UPS the following day and made it to my office in another two days. The box was a bit travel-worn when I got it, and I was surprised to note that $400 worth of camera and accessories had been shoved into a cardboard shipping box without any excelsior, peanuts, or other padding. The camera box was undamaged, though, and everything functions per specs, so I suppose it didn't make any difference (this time, anyway).
That Add-On Package: The Ms had bought a digital camera for her office from a different dealer over the summer and received a similar package that didn't include a memory chip. Her case, though, was barely big enough for the camera -- the one included in this order is large and relatively sturdy; a much better deal. The batteries and charger are some off-brand (in both kits), and the basically useless minipod and cleaning kit are exactly the same.
Overall
With excellent prices and a website that's easy to navigate, the search and purchase steps are fast, easy, and rewarding at DFCc. After the sale, I'd suggest that you watch them like a hawk. Perhaps my experience was an aberration -- I did order at the busiest time of the year, after all -- but I certainly didn't appreciate having to call them to remind them to ship the goods they'd already charged to my credit card. And, if my experience is typical, carefully inspect the shipping container for damage. It it's damaged when it arrives, report it to with the shipper immediately!
Oh, and if it's not too much, could somebody at DigitalFotoClub.com puh-lease! teach Nate how to use the "HOLD" button on his telephone?
Recommended:
Yes
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