You Can Have a Canon E0S-1D Mark III Now! (Maybe)
April 27, 2007: The always reliable Cameratown let me know that an online store called ZipZoomFly.com says they have Canon E0S-1D Mark IIIs “in stock.” Click here to see the offer.
According to Cameratown’s email
ZipZoomFly is advertising that they have the Canon EOS-1D Mark III in-stock - however it’s at a $500 premium ($4999) with “Free” shipping. I guess if you really need it and money isn’t a factor then here you go.
First of all, you have to love a company that charges a $500 premium but gives you free shipping!
I did a little research – BH Photo has the Mark III as “approximate delivery May,” Amazon.com has it available with no date and Penn Camera doesn’t list it all.
So, does ZipZoomFly really have them? Do they have a contact at Canon that’s slipping them some early production models? Do they have a time machine and they’re buying the Mark IIIs from the future?
I don’t know, and I’m not about to spend $5,000 to find out.
If you’re tempted to be the first one on your block with the Mark III, keep this in mind, though. On ResellerRatings.com, ZZF has an average score of 5.6 out of ten, while BH gets a 9.51, Penn Camera gets a 10 and Amazon rates only a 6.21 (I have to say I shop from Amazon all the time and never had a problem, so who knows how reliable ResellerRatings is).
Scott
April 30th, 2007 at 5:12 am
Sounds pretty fishy to me. And they say no returns or refunds (unless defective) … strange policy.
It might be a “grey” model … imported from Japan without a US warranty or english language manual. They probably have someone over there that will just go into a store and pay retail for it, ship it here (see note saying “allow additional 2-3 days for delivery) and then charge you an extra $500 for that “service”.
My local camera shop has one coming in a few weeks and it will be $4499 and I’m on the top of their waiting list :)
May 3rd, 2007 at 10:17 am
They say shipping in 2-3 days, but expected delivery date 30th of May. I’d say they don’t have them in stock…
May 16th, 2007 at 3:37 am
I’ve been buying from ZipZoomFly for years now, and I’ve never had a problem. Although NewEgg will beat them in price, most of the times, I still like them better.
I don’t think that it’s fishy, these resellers get a rationed portion of the availability (i.e. if only 3000 are available, Canon will give ZZF only a % of that), but if the reseller shows Canon that he already has a paid buyer, then they get more from Canon.
I heard it on one of (your?) shows, that if a store gets orders in advance, they have a better chance and an advantage over the competition.
June 5th, 2007 at 12:33 am
Competitive Cameras in Dallas got in five Canon EOS 1D Mark III cameras on June 2. I have mine in hand.
June 16th, 2007 at 4:50 am
I just called Competitive Camera. Waiting list status for me. :-(
I hope I like this camera for the effort I will have put into getting one. Anyone else worry it is the thrill of the hunt driving part of our desire? I do. I hope I am not like the dog who spent the prime of his life chasing passing cars on a busy highway with no idea what to do if he actually catches one. :-)