Canon Digital Rebel at Costco

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

> cluedweasel <cluelessweasel@hotmail.com> wrote:

> ... Costco is offering the Digital Rebel
> with lens and extra battery for $769.99.
> The price includes shipping and handling.

Given that the batt is apparently an actual
Canon BP511 ($50 @ B&H), this looks to me like
Costco had originally planned to sell just the
stock DR kit at a much lower price, perhaps
$675, and Canon interfered - so Costco came up
with a bundle representing comparable value for
the consumer dollar.

This suggests that the factory cost, and wholesale
price, of a 300D are low enough to potentially create
a new price-point for entry-level DSLR, at any time
Canon wants to define it. $500 anyone?

--
Regards, Bob Niland mailto:name@ispname.tld
http://www.access-one.com/rjn email4rjn AT yahoo DOT com
NOT speaking for any employer, client or Internet Service Provider.

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

"Toomanyputters" <rainydays@theswamp.com> wrote in message
news:VYoWd.6353$5m.183017@twister.southeast.rr.com...
> That's a good deal, but consider Sam's Club: they throw in a nice Canon
> camera bag and will match Costco's price. Both big box stores are always
> trying to one-up each other. I got mine at Sam's two months ago for $780.
> Both stores currently have a "if you are not satisfied, bring it back"
> whenever guarantee on their digital cameras.
>
>
That is a Costco guarantee on everything they sell. In 20 years of
membership
I've only used it twice but they are absolutely great about it. I used it
about 6
weeks ago on an item I bought 14 months prior (an item that people usually
expect lifetime wear from and the manufacturer puts a lifetime warranty on
it).
I didn't have a receipt anymore and they spent an hour looking it up. I was
very impressed to get that kind of service from a warehouse store. I
continue
to shop there for price, value and service.

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

> Sheldon <sheldon@XXXXXXXXsopris.net> wrote:

> If I'm not mistaken, this is the older model, ...

It is indeed, the 300D (DR), and not the new 350D (DR XT).
Unlike other Canon DSLR intros of late, Canon did NOT
disco the 300D when the 350D was intro'd.

This means that Canon intends that the 300D remain the
entry-level of their DSLR line.

> ... and while still a great camera the price has been
> reduced quite a bit already.

Yes, but it's interesting that Costco felt it necessary
to create a "bundle" in order to arrive at an appealing
price. My guess is that Canon wouldn't allow them to
simply drop the retail price of the stand-alone basic kit
below some co-marketing agreement/kickback guideline level.

Which is not to say that a spare BP511 is gratuitous.
It's a very sensible thing to buy with a new 300D.

> I would assume you will be finding all kinds of deals
> at a lot of places for this particular model.

Since the body-only is even cheaper, I'd expect the
usual suspects to be offering all sorts of low-ball
bundles, including some with 3rd-party EF lenses,
3rd-party batts, misc CF cards, etc. Caveat emptor.

> Great deal for somebody looking for a dslr,
> especially if you already have some lenses that fit.

18 months ago, someone mused approximately "I suppose in
10 years I'll kick myself for buying a 300D", to which I
responded, "No, you'll only kick yourself for having
spent $1000 for it. It will remain a very useful camera."

I would not be at all surprised if the typical street
price of the 300D kit hits US$500 or less before the
cam is discontinued.

--
Regards, Bob Niland mailto:name@ispname.tld
http://www.access-one.com/rjn email4rjn AT yahoo DOT com
NOT speaking for any employer, client or Internet Service Provider.