[more DSLR Qs] Cameta Camera: are they a reliable seller?

[redcolours]

theyre a store out of Amityville, NY, and has a strong presence on eBay (though they have a website, they sell exclusively on ebay and amazon.com).

http://stores.ebay.com/Cameta-Camera

looking to get a new D40x but their Nikon factory demo D80s are about the same price, maybe just $100 more (difference is that they are like floor models, never used, and theyre backed by a one year guarantee by the store itself).

http://secure.cameta.com/index.cfm?fa=display.aboutus

Im ready to jump in on on of their D80 bundles on ebay (buy it now), but im not sure:

1) if theyre reliable
2) if the factory model Nikons are reliable.
3) if the prices are comparatively better.

Seems like they are, but i wanna hear from people who actually bought from them and how they were, or if youve heard of them at all (their reputation).

thanks for any input!

[ray]

Cameta seems to have a solid reputation on resellerratings.com
http://www.resellerratings.com/store/CametaCamera

They also mention that they are an Authorized dealer for most major brands, which I will assume includes Nikon, so that's a big plus there too.

I have never personally purchased from them, but from browsing through their store they look like a safe bet.

[TruckStuff]

I was a little leary of them at first because they claim to have 180k+ positive ratings on eBay, but when I started reading the ratings, many of them were obviously spam. For example, several ratings from the same user posted at the exact same time (some times as many as 7 or 8 in a row), lots of reviews from users who had their ebay account pulled. Very few reviews from "real people." Reviewing some other sites like resellerratings.com made me feel better though. In the end, my new camera will be here on Tuesday, so I will let you know then. ;)

[redcolours]

Thanks for the input, Ray and TS!

well, i hunkered down, and snapped up a D80 today, also from cameta camera via ebay auction. a little less than if i had purchased it via buy-it-now. I just got the body only, no extras. i figured id grab lens that i really want separate, and not get stuck with something i wont use.

whew!

auctions are always a surge of excitement for me, you just dont know if youre gonna bid enough to get it, or be outbid. i did get outbid the first time today, but i was rusty. i dont do auctions a lot, but i know enough how to "snipe". Second time was the charm. i got the body for well under what id be paying for if i got it in a bundle. besides, after a few suggestions, and looking at the items included, the rest of whats in the bundle are just unnnecessary to me. Already got a lens cleaner, a tripod, fast SD card, memory reader, all from previous cameras ive owned. The nikon lens included in their bundles are typical of a "kit", but id prefer to get one i'd actually use.

like truckstuff, i'll be updating y'all how the purchase went. thanks again!

[redcolours]

W00t! only 4 days from saturday, and only 2 days from ship date. and this was ground shipping. perfect timing - came on my day off too.

man, is this thing SEXY! all black, and quite surprisingly smaller than what i expected it to be. My disproportionally large hands are adjusting to the camera quite comfortably. i forgot this isnt a canon slr (theyre considerably bigger). i will definitely be getting a battery grip soon. This was one thing the D40x didnt offer.

visual inspection shows absolutely no noticeable wear, no smudges, no grime, or grit, or dust in any crevice. This is easy to spot on a black surface. The body came with everything that usually comes with a brand new unopened unit (cables, software, battery, warranty, manual, etc). even smells new. And this is a refurb? amazing!

after charging the battery, i put on the lens that came yesterday (another FAST shipping. this time from JandR.com), plugged in a 2GB UltraII SD card i had, and went directly into manual mode. skipped the scene modes and presets, and started taking sample pics to play around. so much freedom and control!

I brought out the filters from my ancient Oly c2100 and started using them with the lens (same 52mm). pretty neat - my old toys are now back with my new toys! :D

im now reading the manual to figure out what features some buttons do. Some buttons are obvious, while other functions are hidden.

then maybe tomorrow ill check out the book ray recommended, among other things. I plan on taking some photography classes to better understand what im doing. I can do trial and error, but sometimes direct teaching from people who have the experience can make the learning process easier/faster.

to finally answer the question of this thread: yes, i can vouch for Cameta Camera's reliability. Fast shipping, products came in excellent condition, and unlike the horror stories you get from other shady camera dealers online, they didnt call me to "upgrade" to something "better" or add more crap i dont need, they didnt switch and bait. Though nothing has happened yet to the camera (and i hope nothing ever does!), this early on, i feel safe recommending them. The after-purchase customer service, i hope i never have to deal with (which would mean the product was solid).

now on to more fun and joy with this baby! :D

[clutchy]

congrats! you'll love it. I'm still enjoying my d70 although i wish i had the 2.5in. lcd...