flashstar
06-13-2008, 04:13 AM
I was planning on going for a week long hike on the appallachian trail next week but my old 4 megapixel Minolta Dimage S404 (2002!) was getting quite clunky and worn out. It was a bargain for $500 when I got it, but digital cameras have progressed faster than I ever thought possible. So I was running by Walmart to pick up some last minute supplies (I had to leave today) and I got the idea that I could just buy an el cheapo $50 digital camera because even those are superior to my old Dimage (and disposables are more expensive!). :laugh: Then, after pondering which piece of garbage to get I noticed something out of the corner of my eye... A 50% OFF SALE!!! :eek::eek::eek:
I immediately ran over to the counter. Wondering why these cameras were so cheap (really nice canons, Fujis, etc.), the salesman said "uhh, old stock". None of these cameras were older than late 2006 and most were from mid 2007! I immediately zeroed in on the nicest model. :D It was a Canon S3 IS originally for $270 and discounted to $135. I was going to make the purchase but then I calmed down to think for a second.... While this camera was perhaps the nicest one on the table (12x zoom, 6.1 mp), it was also the oldest digital model (2006). It was also the most expensive.
So, I looked again. In the far corner under a ton of semi-cheap kodaks was a green box. After checking, I realized that it was the Fuji Finepix S700. While it retailed for $160, the price was $80. This being a purchase-on-a-whim, I talked to the knowledgeable older camera salesman. In a 3-way comparison between this compact Samsung (S-850?, my parents really wanted me to go with a compact model (I hate wimpy cameras though)), the Canon, and the Fuji, he said that the Fuji was by far the best value. It has a slightly smaller zoom (10x), but 7.1 mp. He also said that Walmart never got this particular model returned. I almost got it right there. But then I noticed that the lens cap lanyard (I already have one), the manual, and the cd were missing. Another salesman said that he might have been able to find replacements but he came up empty-handed. So, he offered an ADDITIONAL DISCOUNT :D:D. He got the section manager to reduce the price by a further 12%. The final cost before tax was $70.
The best thing though was that someone had left a 1gb xD card in the camera full of Walmart santa pictures. :D
Basically, I found a $160 camera for $50 plus a $20 memory card. All I can say now is that I will never hate Walmart again. Even if their service and quality leaves something to be desired, if you know what you're doing you can really strike it rich.
Moral of the story- always buy digital cameras from Walmart when they are on an overstock sale. :laugh:
I immediately ran over to the counter. Wondering why these cameras were so cheap (really nice canons, Fujis, etc.), the salesman said "uhh, old stock". None of these cameras were older than late 2006 and most were from mid 2007! I immediately zeroed in on the nicest model. :D It was a Canon S3 IS originally for $270 and discounted to $135. I was going to make the purchase but then I calmed down to think for a second.... While this camera was perhaps the nicest one on the table (12x zoom, 6.1 mp), it was also the oldest digital model (2006). It was also the most expensive.
So, I looked again. In the far corner under a ton of semi-cheap kodaks was a green box. After checking, I realized that it was the Fuji Finepix S700. While it retailed for $160, the price was $80. This being a purchase-on-a-whim, I talked to the knowledgeable older camera salesman. In a 3-way comparison between this compact Samsung (S-850?, my parents really wanted me to go with a compact model (I hate wimpy cameras though)), the Canon, and the Fuji, he said that the Fuji was by far the best value. It has a slightly smaller zoom (10x), but 7.1 mp. He also said that Walmart never got this particular model returned. I almost got it right there. But then I noticed that the lens cap lanyard (I already have one), the manual, and the cd were missing. Another salesman said that he might have been able to find replacements but he came up empty-handed. So, he offered an ADDITIONAL DISCOUNT :D:D. He got the section manager to reduce the price by a further 12%. The final cost before tax was $70.
The best thing though was that someone had left a 1gb xD card in the camera full of Walmart santa pictures. :D
Basically, I found a $160 camera for $50 plus a $20 memory card. All I can say now is that I will never hate Walmart again. Even if their service and quality leaves something to be desired, if you know what you're doing you can really strike it rich.
Moral of the story- always buy digital cameras from Walmart when they are on an overstock sale. :laugh: