For everyone (self included) who ordered one of those "great deal" 70-200/IS lenses for $1,169 from DELL, I hate to burst your bubble, but...
Some due dilligence has uncovered that Dell has made a mistake in listing. They have no separate listing for the 70-200 non-IS. The error was uncovered at the dock where the pallet(s) of incoming lenses are all ***NON*** IS.
In other words, the lenses that will arrive at your doorstep are going to be the NON-IS version, regardless of what the salespeople or customer service droids are saying -- because all they have to go on is the erroneous information in their system, and they have absolutely NO way of checking what the actual part is -- physically.
I truly hope this is wrong (as my order will stand, just in case), but I don't believe so.
Sorry to hear about this ... but IMO the non-IS 70-200 is a far better lens than the IS, sharper and focusing faster - and nearly all Canon's IS glasses are optically inferior than their non-IS peers.
I had all the Canon and Nikon 80-200/70-200 versions, I turned the IS/VR OFF all the time ... however, most people will think otherwise ... just my 2 cents
Is this information directly from Dell, or from another site listing?
I sold my new 70-200 f/4 yesterday to help pay for this, and have a standing offer for my 70-200 f/2.8 non-IS, so Dell will have to deliver what they sold me. I specifically asked if I was going to receive the IS version of the lens and was told 'yes', and they even gave me the Canon part# 7042A002. This is the IS lens part number.
I hope that someone with closer ties to Dell can verify this. I hesitated posting it because I really didn't want to be the dissenting voice and would've liked someone to back me up, but...
It took me a good two hours to get through to the shipping/receiving floor for verification. My skeptical nature motivated me to go as far as I could, and then came the bad news.
I'd like to see someone else either corroborate or dispell my findings, as I feel a little insecure about being the only one right now.
If you verified this at Dell, then they should have this information in sales soon. If they actually ship the items then they will be on the hook for the IS version. They need to correct the problem before they accept any funds.
jray wrote:
I'll be getting mine hell or high water...
By all apparent accounts, this is the only way you'll be getting an IS. I spoke directly with two people on the receiving docks and they physically inspected the pallet(s). The information we've been getting from sales/customer service has all been at the system level -- ie: whatever was in the system is what they were telling us, and that's to be reasonably expected. However, the physical part is something they could just NEVER inspect for verification. If you give them the part number for the NON IS version, it won't even come up in their system, but that is apparently what they are actually stocking/receiving.
Again, I really, really, really hope this is wrong, but the fact that they're getting a boatload of NON-IS lenses, and these lenses technically aren't even in their system (or weren't as of a few hours ago), seems to spell trouble.
Well, I just ordered one and will hope for the best. If it shows up as the non-IS, which I already have, I can return it and nothing lost. BTW, $1169 is the going price. They readily throw in the 10% digital camera discount and free shipping. I didn't even have to ask for it.
I am not doubting what you said at all, but let me add another bit of information. When I spoke with the Dell salesman he told me that since they did not have stock that the part would be shipping directly from Canon.
DIRECTLY. ie It would presumably bypass Dell entirely. If that is the case, then why do they have pallets of the lens on their warehouse floor. . .
Rowat wrote:
DIRECTLY. ie It would presumably bypass Dell entirely. If that is the case, then why do they have pallets of the lens on their warehouse floor. . .
The plot thickens.
That sounds odd, especially since Dell is promising everyone free NEXT-DAY air shipping as well. To my understanding, Canon will NOT "drop ship" anything to ANY end-user.
It sounds as though the sales person was blowing smoke -- which isn't exactly atypical of sales people. I should know. I are one ;-)
sdai wrote:
Sorry to hear about this ... but IMO the non-IS 70-200 is a far better lens than the IS, sharper and focusing faster - and nearly all Canon's IS glasses are optically inferior than their non-IS peers.
I had all the Canon and Nikon 80-200/70-200 versions, I turned the IS/VR OFF all the time ... however, most people will think otherwise ... just my 2 cents
My experiences differ from yours. I had the 70-200mm non IS and upgraded to the IS. I really see no difference. Both are very sharp. The 300mm f/2.8 IS isn't any less sharp than the 300mm f/2.8 non IS.
Well, here are my two cents.
A couple of years ago the same kind of snafu happened at Dell. They sold, after 10% discount, an item for $1670 that others sold for ~$3000. I ordered one, nothing was in stock, but it came two weeks later, directly from a distributer, not from Dell. It was a hell of a deal. Is it possible that this one is not going to happen? Of course. Can you take legal action? I don't think so. They will take the lens back, and pricing mistakes happen. Most companies reserve the right to cancel an order even if it is in the system. An order confirmation is not enough until the company agrees to the deal. But Dell has in the past fulfilled orders from such "pricing mistakes", I ought to know, I have one of their "mistakes" at home;-)
I agree with Ben, The 300 non is lens is very close in sharpness to the IS version. My 70-200 IS is razor sharp. Keep in mind that the IS version allows you to hand hold the lens instead of having to carry around a monopod or tripod. It also will help you in lower light situations where the slightest camera shake can be a real problem.
My sales person e-mailed me a little bit ago when I inquired about adding a discout coupon to my order I made yesterday and said that they were about to pull the SKU from their system because they've had such a big response. Wonder why!
I am not doubting what you said at all, but let me add another bit of information. When I spoke with the Dell salesman he told me that since they did not have stock that the part would be shipping directly from Canon.
I didn't suggest they stocked anything, but I'm sure they do. I agree with BGetchel here. It's very unlikely Canon would drop ship a product to an end user's location. Their dealers would be up in arms.
Canon, Nikon, and I'm sure other major camera manufacturers, have dealers that are required to carry a percentage of the full line in order to retain a franchise/dealer agreement. If they were to find a mass reseller like Dell was not required to stock physical items, they'd insist upon the same consideration. It's just not done with such products (except computer products which is a rape market and always has been).
I know of no manufacturers which maintain a protected dealer network that drop ship product.
I just talked to my Dell sales rep, explained my concerns, mentioned the possible mistake, gave him the other Canon part number (2569A004), explained the pricing problem, etc., etc., etc.
He put me on hold for a minute or so and then stated that he was sure the item they were going to ship in the IS version. I know this is no guarantee of anything, but it's yet another confirmation my an 'agent' of Dell stating I will received the product they advertised at the price they advertised.
I should also receive an email from a higher source (who knows) verifying the pricing. When? Not sure, but I'm planing to keep the bug in their ear twitching.
