It pays to buy local

Aston Moss LPSNZ, Councillor for Partnerships

A friend was asking for advice on buying cameras the other day, and I suggested he drop into my local camera store to fire his questions to the team there. I was confident they’d do a far better job of answering his questions than I could and would be able to speak about a much more comprehensive range of products than just the ones I’ve chosen to use.

He said he’d intended to ask a few friends and watch some YouTube videos before purchasing through an “online-only” retailer because he believed that would get him a better deal. Now, like many people, I love a deal too, but I wasn’t sure he’d thought it through.

I asked him who he intended to place an order with and what he knew about them. He said it was an online store based somewhere in Auckland. I asked him to pull up the website and, sure enough, there was no physical location specified, simply a suburb.

It turns out they’re a parallel importer. They don’t have any physical presence that a customer can visit, not even a mailing address. They may not have anybody “on the ground” here and may ship products directly from distributors or offshore stores from online orders.

Yes, there are a number of these outfits around, and not just for photographic equipment. Problems can arise if or when something goes wrong. It might prove difficult or costly to have equipment repaired under warranty. For example, you may need to pay to return it to an overseas service agent, often an expensive and time-consuming process. It may be difficult to claim under a foreign warranty here in New Zealand.

There are benefits to buying local:

• You can seek advice on buying based on discussion with a real human being. Their expertise can help with questions about your aims, how accomplished you are, and other relevant information such as genres, budgets and all manner of other things.

• You can often receive help setting your gear up and learning how to use it, or at least having some of the trickier bits pointed out. • Purchases are under protection by the Consumer Guarantees Act, which is enforceable in New Zealand. You only need to deal with the retailer from whom you purchased the product – and won’t be pushed back to a manufacturer.

• You can take any faulty kit back to the store where you purchased it and know they’ll stand behind it.

• You may be able to trade in existing equipment to help make your new purchase a little more affordable (and a little more sustainable).

• Local operators, including retailers, distributors and the brands themselves, do a lot to encourage and nurture photography here in New Zealand. They often put on or sponsor educational events, support organisations such as PSNZ to grow our members, and run events like competitions and promotions on their products from time to time.

•Sales here also help keep locals employed.

Some of the risks with purchasing online or offshore include:

• The chance that the camera equipment never arrives.

• You may not see all of the costs. Some offshore retailers will charge you freight, which can be significant, and possibly insurance. Others may charge in US dollars or other foreign currency, and you may not get a great deal on the conversion.

• The products’ accessories might not be suitable for New Zealand – specifically power adapters.

• You may also be required to pay import duty or GST on your purchase.

In short, although it’s easy to spot a lower price at a hundred metres, it’s not quite so easy to see the many different ways in which buying local can benefit you and the wider photographic community.

It Pays to Buy Local – Editor’s Response

Mark Chamberlain LPSNZ

Aston Moss LPSNZ has written a thought-provoking article with many valid points. As we all know, buying camera gear is a costly undertaking, and the consequences may be far-reaching if we make the wrong decisions.

To add further balance and context. Not all online retailers are dealing in dodgy overseas “grey goods”. There are now reputable New Zealand online companies that have built a reputation based on choice, competitive price, timely delivery and selling products under a New Zealand warranty. The online trend will only increase in the future. Local retailers

If members are uncertain about what gear to buy, the best recommendation is to find a local outlet renting camera equipment. Try the equipment for a couple of weeks before buying, or borrow from a friend or camera club. Hiring equipment before purchase may not be necessarily expensive – $30 to $50 per week for a standard body or a lens, plus a refundable security deposit.

If you have a trustworthy local dealer (not pushing a specific camera brand for increased profit) giving knowledgeable, impartial advice and product choice – stick with that dealer. Support local businesses providing quality services; they need customer loyalty, particularly after the impact of COVID restrictions. On this basis, Aston’s points are correct.

Online retailers

The phrase caveat emptor certainly applies to some online retailers, particularly those dealing with goods from Hong Kong or the USA. As Aston explains, you might get a great deal on the surface, but there may be no comeback in the event of a dispute. However, times are changing, and there are obvious reasons why many global High Street retailers are declining, stores closing, and customers increasingly turning to online retail. Customers want more choice, access to specialised equipment and competitive prices. The online trend will only increase in the future.

For example, I recently bought equipment from an online retailer with distribution offices in Auckland and Wellington. True, there is nobody to talk to for specific photography advice, but the prices and product choice are more competitive than in my local city stores. I also knew what I wanted in advance. This online-only company was established specifically for the local demands of the growing movie, photography and media industries in New Zealand. My products arrived carefully packaged by DHL Courier the following day. If not satisfied, there is a return policy. I have had no such issues after several orders.

If unsure, check the company websites for a registered New Zealand address, NZ business number, and read the Google reviews. Grey goods dealers are usually apparent from online customer reviews.

Better still, go to the official parent websites of Nikon NZ, Canon NZ, Sony NZ etc. and check out their recommended New Zealand retailers. These will be listed and will include both physical stores and online retailers. All recommended dealers sell products with a New Zealand guarantee. Onlineonly retailers, like every business, must work hard to build customer reputation and loyalty.

Finally, If the deal looks too good to be true, it probably is – caveat emptor.

Looking up - Janice Chen LPSNZ