any advice on buying a camera in the USA?

farmgirl · 08-05-2007

Will be traveling to the States in 2 weeks and needing to buy a new camera. Can anyone tell me if I will get a better deal there? I have heard alot of things are alot cheaper then here in Canada. I am interested in a camera similar to the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ1. I am camera stupid, but have seen pictures from this one as my uncle has it. Have also been told I might not get a better deal as where I would buy it (likley Montana/South Dakota) might be too close to the border and the prices would be similar due to alot of Canadians crossing to shop. Also wondering what your tax is, does it vary State to State? Thanks for any input.

horizon200 · 08-05-2007

Taxes vary by state.

A Canon SD630 is a nice small point and shoot digi that will run about $180US before tax. The Panasonic you mention will run close to $199 US before tax.

Try to find a Best buy and you will have a pretty good selection.

Best Buy Digital cameras

Babaloo · 08-05-2007

go to Best Buy or Circuit City or JR Music websites or any US based retailer and find out for yourself if cameras are cheaper down here. That would be the easiest way. Delaware has no sales tax as do other states.

cuffedlinks · 08-05-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Babaloo

Delaware has no sales tax as do other states.

Montana, I believe, has ZERO sales tax.

farmgirl · 08-05-2007

Thanks everyone, that gives me some names of stores to try online. With dial-up, the less searching the better.

ElvisP · 08-05-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by farmgirl

Thanks everyone, that gives me some names of stores to try online. With dial-up, the less searching the better.

I think I saw that camera today at Costco for 199.00. Not sure if that's a decent price. It had a 12 somewhere in the model number though.

absoluteAL · 08-05-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by farmgirl

Will be traveling to the States in 2 weeks and needing to buy a new camera. Can anyone tell me if I will get a better deal there? I have heard alot of things are alot cheaper then here in Canada. I am interested in a camera similar to the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ1. I am camera stupid, but have seen pictures from this one as my uncle has it. Have also been told I might not get a better deal as where I would buy it (likley Montana/South Dakota) might be too close to the border and the prices would be similar due to alot of Canadians crossing to shop. Also wondering what your tax is, does it vary State to State? Thanks for any input.

There is a Best Buy store in Rapid City, SD Sales tax is 6%.

jeffandbecky · 08-05-2007

One site that really helped me is Digital Camera Reviews and News: Digital Photography Review: Forums, Glossary, FAQ . They have a pretty comprehensive list of cameras and reviews.

MN Annie · 08-05-2007

On Canadian holiday weekends, there are lots of Canadians shopping in Duluth. I believe they come to the US because they can get more for their money. I don't think prices are higher in Duluth because of the proximity to Canada.

If I was you, I would go to a store in Rapid City.

cuffedlinks · 08-05-2007

Coming from Alberta, you might likely be going through Billings, MT - which is sales tax free and has great shopping.....

Waiting until Rapid City is going to mean you'll be by-passing some great photo-ops....

MN Annie · 08-05-2007

Good point, Cuffed! I was thinking she was making a loop and wouldn't be going through any Montana cities on the way to Rapid City. My bad.

cuffedlinks · 08-05-2007

Loopiness while traveling can be a good thing....
She had mentioned MT/SD in her post...

BTW - I love the Canon A630 and A640 we've had around here....

life@GrosCap · 08-05-2007

Also look at www(dot)megapixel(dot)net - a Canadian site with good camera reviews. Be careful with warranties - some camera companies will only honour the warranty in the country of purchase - this can be a hassle if you are not on the border like I am. Canon honours the warranty of cameras purchased North America-wide, so no problems if you have an issue. Definitely something to look into and ask about.
BTW, I use a Canon SD800, Sony DSC-H1(with the dreaded shutter switch failure!

, and my new toy on the way, an Olympus 510 DSLR.

farmgirl · 08-08-2007

Cuffed is right, we are coming down thru Montana, Havre then Billings. First night in Billings then on to see Devil's Tower and then to Rapid City. So, I guess I would want to buy it before we get too far. Thanks for all the help, will check out best buy online and see if there is one in Billings or Havre.

4wheeled · 08-08-2007

don't forget bestbuy has a .ca site you could order from. their website pricing may not be that different. if you buy it at home warranties won't be a problem and you wouldn't miss any photo ops.

of courser in store deals can be better so make sure you know what the cameras you're interested in cost before you shop for it.

08-05-2007	#1 (permalink)
farmgirl life=playa Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 846	any advice on buying a camera in the USA? Will be traveling to the States in 2 weeks and needing to buy a new camera. Can anyone tell me if I will get a better deal there? I have heard alot of things are alot cheaper then here in Canada. I am interested in a camera similar to the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ1. I am camera stupid, but have seen pictures from this one as my uncle has it. Have also been told I might not get a better deal as where I would buy it (likley Montana/South Dakota) might be too close to the border and the prices would be similar due to alot of Canadians crossing to shop. Also wondering what your tax is, does it vary State to State? Thanks for any input.

08-05-2007	#13 (permalink)
life@GrosCap way into it Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Gros Cap (Sault, Ontario) Posts: 154	Also look at www(dot)megapixel(dot)net - a Canadian site with good camera reviews. Be careful with warranties - some camera companies will only honour the warranty in the country of purchase - this can be a hassle if you are not on the border like I am. Canon honours the warranty of cameras purchased North America-wide, so no problems if you have an issue. Definitely something to look into and ask about. BTW, I use a Canon SD800, Sony DSC-H1(with the dreaded shutter switch failure!, and my new toy on the way, an Olympus 510 DSLR.

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08-05-2007	#2 (permalink)
horizon200 añejo Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Delaware Posts: 4,413	Taxes vary by state. A Canon SD630 is a nice small point and shoot digi that will run about $180US before tax. The Panasonic you mention will run close to $199 US before tax. Try to find a Best buy and you will have a pretty good selection. Best Buy Digital cameras

08-05-2007	#3 (permalink)
Babaloo añejo Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Paamul, Q Roo Mexico Posts: 10,825	go to Best Buy or Circuit City or JR Music websites or any US based retailer and find out for yourself if cameras are cheaper down here. That would be the easiest way. Delaware has no sales tax as do other states.

08-05-2007	#5 (permalink)
farmgirl life=playa Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 846	Thanks everyone, that gives me some names of stores to try online. With dial-up, the less searching the better.

08-05-2007	#8 (permalink)
jeffandbecky life=playa Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Driftwood Posts: 735	One site that really helped me is Digital Camera Reviews and News: Digital Photography Review: Forums, Glossary, FAQ . They have a pretty comprehensive list of cameras and reviews.

08-05-2007	#9 (permalink)
MN Annie reposado Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 1,305	On Canadian holiday weekends, there are lots of Canadians shopping in Duluth. I believe they come to the US because they can get more for their money. I don't think prices are higher in Duluth because of the proximity to Canada. If I was you, I would go to a store in Rapid City.

08-05-2007	#10 (permalink)
cuffedlinks añejo Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: The City of Presidents Posts: 16,003	Coming from Alberta, you might likely be going through Billings, MT - which is sales tax free and has great shopping..... Waiting until Rapid City is going to mean you'll be by-passing some great photo-ops....

08-05-2007	#11 (permalink)
MN Annie reposado Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 1,305	Good point, Cuffed! I was thinking she was making a loop and wouldn't be going through any Montana cities on the way to Rapid City. My bad.

08-05-2007	#12 (permalink)
cuffedlinks añejo Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: The City of Presidents Posts: 16,003	Loopiness while traveling can be a good thing.... She had mentioned MT/SD in her post... BTW - I love the Canon A630 and A640 we've had around here....

08-08-2007	#14 (permalink)
farmgirl life=playa Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 846	Cuffed is right, we are coming down thru Montana, Havre then Billings. First night in Billings then on to see Devil's Tower and then to Rapid City. So, I guess I would want to buy it before we get too far. Thanks for all the help, will check out best buy online and see if there is one in Billings or Havre.

08-08-2007	#15 (permalink)
4wheeled beachaholic Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 410	don't forget bestbuy has a .ca site you could order from. their website pricing may not be that different. if you buy it at home warranties won't be a problem and you wouldn't miss any photo ops. of courser in store deals can be better so make sure you know what the cameras you're interested in cost before you shop for it.

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