By definitions, we photographers (of the still, moving or hybrid kind) love our widgets. From big expensive widgets (like the newly announced Canon EOS C300) down through little things (like the Glif we highlighted here a while ago), we fall in love with the tools that help us tell stories better.
But, we’re also notoriously cheap. We work in an industry where every penny gets watched like a hawk, where we need to find the best deal on everything so we can keep at this. So the allure of online deals, particularly today, is hard to resist.
The idea of “Cyber Monday” – the day when online ordering is at its highest – is mostly a myth. But retailers like to use it as a lure to get you on their sites and, well, since it’s today, I’m a little surprised you’re even here.
So, a few quick tips about online shopping …
- Go Big: Or, at the very least, go reputable. Every year I get reports from colleagues and students who say they found the best deal ever on the camera or lens of their dreams, hundreds of dollars less than everywhere else. Can I believe it? The answer, sadly, is no. If the deal seems way too good to be true, it probably is. Before entering your digits into that sexy ordering page, do your journalistic research – type the name of the site along with the word “review” into your favorite search engine and see what pops up. If you spot that Nikon D3S for the price of a D300S, something’s wrong. Most often, it’s a bait-and-switch tactic. After placing the order, you get a phone call to confirm your shipping address, then the hard sell starts. There’s no battery included. Nor cables. Nor manual. Nor … well, there’s nothing included at all. You have to add on all these other things to get a useable kit. And, if you say no, then you’re backordered for months.
- Go for Service: Customer service is a big deal. If something goes wrong, whether it’s a defective item or a shipping problem, you want someone to answer the phone. Going with reputable retailers will make that process a whole lot easier. Think about who you see sponsoring NPPA events, think about the places where, after you’ve ordered, you’ve never had to think about them again. Think about the places that have saved your proverbial bacon. Those are the places you want to give your business to.
- Go Safe: Online fraud is huge right now. My Discover card was declined this weekend because the last three purchases, all legitimate, were made in three different states. It was a hassle, and a bit embarrassing, but I guess I’d rather be safe than sorry. Don’t buy online with your debit card, use an actual credit card. And even with credit cards, many will let you generate a “virtual” card number for specific retailers. All it takes is one person on the phone to write your number on a sticky note to start problems. (My wife’s numbers were stolen a few weeks ago, someone tried to order $3,000 worth of chicken caesar salads in Florida with it.)
- Go Secure: Make sure that when you’re logging into a web site you’re on a secure site (meaning you see https in the URL) and you’re on a secure connection. Free wifi hot spots are extremely convenient but also a great opportunity for folks to monitor your web traffic, including grabbing logins, passwords and credit card info.
- Go Call Your Accountant: Silly, I know, but if you’re thinking about making some major purchases, check with your accountant or tax preparer first. Depending on how you’re year is going and how you think next year will go, saving 10% now instead of buying after December 31 may not be the best choice. Look at your income and expenses this year and think about when your deductions would be more advantageous.
Al Tompkins at the Poynter Institute linked to a Mashable piece on 10 Tips to Avoid Cyber Monday Scams, some more good advice in there.
Spend some time looking at what you have in your kit now. What needs to be replaced? What will need to be replaced in the next few months? Does it make sense to buy-ahead on some items?
My guess is external storage prices won’t drop much. The floods in Thailand have hampered a lot of manufacturers and supplies are pretty tight. Memory cards, though, may drop for the day. Cameras and lenses won’t flex much, but there might be some software deals out there. Perhaps some deals on accessories like filters or camera bags and straps.
Let me know what you find. If I see anything great between classes I’ll post them here.