p.4 #1 · Do not buy from Cardinal Camera / Greentoe! You have been warned.
Fboss wrote:
Stores won’t sell at loss, Greentoe allows to buy at the best price.
You're right, they won't sell at a loss... they are making big profits because most suckers will pay full list price, and others are easily fooled into thinking Greentoe prices are some sort of magical "deal".
p.4 #2 · Do not buy from Cardinal Camera / Greentoe! You have been warned.
molson wrote:
You're right, they won't sell at a loss... they are making big profits because most suckers will pay full list price, and others are easily fooled into thinking Greentoe prices are some sort of magical "deal".
They are a deal because they are not advertised and you are making an offer on a product. The couple items I have bought from Greentoe had offers accepted and shipped from a big NYC camera store. I paid less for new than what used lens prices were selling for. When I contacted the store later about another product and wanted to just deal directly, I was told that they cannot do that and that I had to make offers through Greentoe.
p.4 #3 · Do not buy from Cardinal Camera / Greentoe! You have been warned.
molson wrote:
You're right, they won't sell at a loss... they are making big profits because most suckers will pay full list price, and others are easily fooled into thinking Greentoe prices are some sort of magical "deal".
I am happy for you that you can just walk in to a camera store in your town and just buy at greentoe level prices. There is nowhere I have found in the US, and especially the SF bay area where you can do this.
My local camera shop used to sometimes offer to eat the cost of sales tax, but that is it. Getting an A7r III with a US warranty, for the same price people on eBay are selling import models is pretty much unheard of before them.
My own interaction with Cardinal was not error free, but it was resolved by reaching out to Greentoe.
p.4 #4 · Do not buy from Cardinal Camera / Greentoe! You have been warned.
I agree with Jesse, I also live in the SF Bay Area and you can’t just get a discount by asking. For me Greentoe is also the only way to easily save on cameras. My first 2 purchases with them went smoothly with shipping the next day. The 100-400GM purchase last week is the first one that has an issue. And it’s a different retailer than the first 2.
p.4 #5 · Do not buy from Cardinal Camera / Greentoe! You have been warned.
Jesse Evans wrote:
I am happy for you that you can just walk in to a camera store in your town and just buy at greentoe level prices. There is nowhere I have found in the US, and especially the SF bay area where you can do this.
My local camera shop used to sometimes offer to eat the cost of sales tax, but that is it. Getting an A7r III with a US warranty, for the same price people on eBay are selling import models is pretty much unheard of before them.
My own interaction with Cardinal was not error free, but it was resolved by reaching out to Greentoe. ...Show more →
+1 on all counts.
I was one of the lucky ones that picked up a new US model R3 for 2300 in September of last year when used/grey market version prices were still above that.
I've now used GT a significant number of times over the last 2.5 years and have had great success (bearing in mind the limitations and market factors that aren't in their control). Perspective and some understanding of realistic expectations go a long way here much like they did when I used to use services like Canon Price Watch.
I've saved big on things like the R3 that had been out for a minute and then I've also managed to save on things that just came out like the A9 and GM 24. With regard to the 24, I actually put in my order way after preorders opened up and got mine a couple of weeks later when others who had preordered well before me were still waiting.
p.4 #10 · Do not buy from Cardinal Camera / Greentoe! You have been warned.
I have used Greentoe multiple times, always with good results. Many times my Greentoe deal was fulfilled by Cardinal, so started going right to Cardinal in the last year. Purchased probably $5k in gear from them directly. Sometimes shipping is slower than from someplace like B&H, but I’ve saved a bunch of money, and the stuff always shows up, well packed, etc. I’m generally pretty happy with Cardinal. Will definitely continue doing business with them.
p.4 #11 · Do not buy from Cardinal Camera / Greentoe! You have been warned.
I put out a Greentoe offer for the A7III body only at $1720 several days ago... still no counter below $1799. Anyone got something under $1799 recently?
p.4 #12 · Do not buy from Cardinal Camera / Greentoe! You have been warned.
jjslat wrote:
I put out a Greentoe offer for the A7III body only at $1720 several days ago... still no counter below $1799. Anyone got something under $1799 recently?
That’s odd, looking at my Greentoe history, I got my A7III for $1650 in mid February.
p.4 #13 · Do not buy from Cardinal Camera / Greentoe! You have been warned.
I received the a9 yesterday evening. I'll now tell the rest of the story. My offer was accepted on Friday, May 3. It hadn't shipped as of Monday evening so Tuesday I enquired to GT as to status. As they normally do, the GT rep emailed the retailer rep and copied me. The retailer replied that the order was canceled and money refunded. I was very disappointed but more wondering where my refund was. Turns out the GT rep got the wrong order and customer. Andrew with GT was very apologetic about the mix-up and I think possibly got something done on the shipping since I normally wouldn't get an item shipped UPS from the northeast in 3 days. I'm happy.
p.4 #17 · Do not buy from Cardinal Camera / Greentoe! You have been warned.
I had two issues with Cardinal, first case they accepted the GT-offer without having in stock, finally after a month they refunded when I filed dispute with credit card company. I told about this to Chris/GT and mentioned I don't want to deal with Cardinal.
Second issue: placed a pre-order for sony 200-600mm on condition that the lens will ship within one week of release date. Offer accepted by Cardinal, not shipped even after one month it was available at other stores. Finally cancelled and got the refund. Chris-GT told me they removed Cardinal from my profile after this issue. I had VERY GOOD EXPERIENCE overall with GT except Cardinal, I've used GT several times, will definitely use GT again, but not Cardinal. Just tell Chris, they will take care of it if you want to remove one seller form your profile.
p.4 #20 · Do not buy from Cardinal Camera / Greentoe! You have been warned.
I ordered a Sony 200-600mm from them and ended up on the waiting list as the first person. I called them a few times and I think one time I spoke with the owner or manager. He told me in the case of that lens, Sony said he would get one every two weeks. It's a small store, so new items trickle in. I ultimately bought the lens here from another store via B&S, but that same day, Cardinal did receive my lens as well. I don't know them beyond my call with them, but they seemed above board but also a small store in a big world.
