camera and video camera shops and other San Francisco, CA Tourist Trap Tips

Many tourist from overseas think that it is cheaper to buy personal electronics in the US. There are rip-off stores that sell PAL European video cameras and photo cameras to tourists. They are not cheaper then any other store in Europe, infact it's much cheaper to buy European Video cameras in the Duty Free at the airports in Europe.

You will see these stores in San Francisco, New York, and L.A. They fill their windows with neon signs, personal electronics, video cameras and digital/photo cameras. They do "low ball" advertising in the storefronts. Meaning that they have a video camera in the window for $199, PAL system, and when you go into the shop and ask to see it... bait and switch! They will ring up you credit card and then go on and tell you that the camera you just bought; is no good and that you should buy the better model. It all starts from there. They will end up selling you a cheap camera, overly priced, that has no warranty. If you demand to have the same camera in the window they will tell you that they have no more and to come back tomorrow. If you tell them that you want their display model they will say it's not for sale.

If you go into those shops you will not get a deal no matter what. And never fall for their wide angle lenses that are supposed to be able to take pictures in the dark. That's B.S. They will tell you to try the lens on and connect your camera to their TV. They adjust the picture quality on the camera to make it look bad, then they screw the lens on and turn the controls to normal and you see. It's a trick. They sell the lens for 200-1000 dollars. It costs them $30. Believe it or not if you buy, you get screwed.

There are good places to purchase digital and film cameras in the US. Try Good Guys, Frys, Circut City, Target, etc. These are big, well known stores. PAL system is recommended to buy here, if you find one it will not have a warranty in your country.

DON'T BUY EVEN FILM THERE! It's usually bad.

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At Least Do This: Pay with credit. If there is a problem you can get your money back. Any statements that they make; warranties, features, etc. have them write it on the recipt.