5/5
posted Apr-28-2006
This was an interesting experience. Not bad, just interesting. I was looking for deal on a Canon 30D, and after a different store didn't return my call, I thought I'd give Profeel a shot.
First, I went to www.profeel.com. The site is a little rough around the edges, but people here on ResellerRatings and folks on DPReview.com give them a huge thumbs up. Then I discovered that there's also ProfeelVideo.com. Same logo, same phone numbers, different prices. Shows up as the same vendor on ResellerRatings. Strange.
I'm getting ahead of myself. I was looking for a Canon 30 & 18-55 lens kit, and it was listed on Profeel.com for $1,398 + shipping; but, ProfeelVideo.com had the same camera & lens for $1,368. But, Profeel.com had the 30D & 17-85 IS lens listed for $1,398 (it usually runs $1,800 - $1,900). ProfeelVideo.com had the 30D and 17-85 in the expected $1,840 range.
Hmmm, was Profeel.com having a sale, or a typo? After reading numerous reviews and recommendations of both Profeel.com and ProfeelVideo.com, I decided to give it try, but not before further investigation. So, I researched the owners of both domains and tried to determine if the sites were created by the same company. Guess what -- different registrants, different addresses, and (apparently) the sites were created by different entities.
A little more research, the address used to register Profeel.com appears to display a house when searched on maps.google.com; ProfeelVideo appeared to display a business/commercial building. But what can you really tell from a satellite photo. But, the reviews were great and there was the potential for a $400 savings. And I didn't think all of the reviews could be fakes. I bought. A day later, I still hadn't received a confirmation e-mail, but did have the order # I got when I placed the order.
I expected a confirmation call for my order and wasn't disappointed. I was, however, disappointed that the price of the 30D & 17-85 lens was a mistake and the real price was $1,839, "terribly sorry for the mix-up." Bummer, so much for a sale. But it wasn't surprise, and was the result I expected. I didn't interpret it as bait & switch, so proceeded to purchase the 30D/17-55 lens I was originally going to buy. This was $1,368 -- about $130 cheaper than most reputable merchants.
I was asked if I wanted to buy a discount package (I don't remember what was offered, but knew I didn't want it). "No, thanks." Not a problem, did I want anything else? Yes, a battery grip. Will Profeel meet the price I saw on B&H, which I thought was $10 cheaper? "Sure, no problem." (I later realized B&H was $20 cheaper, oh well). Profeel missed an opportunity here -- I was buying a grip that holds 2 batteries, but the camera only comes with one. They neglected to upsell me another battery (I already had it, so would have declined). "Oh, terribly sorry, the battery grip is out of stock. We can ship it when it comes in." Sure, no problem, that's fine.
I was then asked if I wanted 2-day shipping. "How much?" About $40. That's reasonable, sure. "OK, and we'll send the grip 2-day as well, no extra charge." "Sounds great!" That was the end of the confirmation call. The camera shipped on 4/26, and I did receive a tracking number via e-mail.
Two days later, the camera was on my doorstep. Yep, I was at work and FedEx left it on the porch. Not Profeel's fault, and I was kind of happy because it saved me a trip to the FedEx station. The neigborhood's fairly safe, I wasn't too concerned.
So, here it is, two days after shipping and the camera's in my hands. Brand new, in box, U.S. warranty. Just as promised.
Can I complain? Only about the typo, for which I don't hold a grudge; and about having to have the confirmation call. But the call was expected, so I don't have any complaints about that, either. Nope, no complaints overall. I expect to receive the out of stock part as soon as they receive it.
Note: I was trying to consult both web sites as I wrote this review. ProfeelVideo.com now redirects to Profeel.com, which still has the "rough" appearance. Strange.
--
Following up on the out of stock battery grip. I did receive the grip about a week after I received the camera. It was shipped 2-day as promised.
I'll consider ordering from them again, though I'd prefer not to have the confirmation call.
This review was modified by
rainmakr on June 24 2006 02:14:02 PM
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![Share](javascript:share_rating({"review_body":"This was an interesting experience. Not bad, just interesting. I was looking for deal on a Canon 30D, and after a different store didn\u0027t return my call, I thought I\u0027d give Profeel a shot.<br><br>First, I went to www.profeel.com. The site is a little rough around the edges, but people here on ResellerRatings and folks on DPReview.com give them a huge thumbs up. Then I discovered that there\u0027s also ProfeelVideo.com. Same logo, same phone numbers, different prices. Shows up as the same vendor on ResellerRatings. Strange.<br><br>I\u0027m getting ahead of myself. I was looking for a Canon 30 & 18-55 lens kit, and it was listed on Profeel.com for $1,398 + shipping; but, ProfeelVideo.com had the same camera & lens for $1,368. But, Profeel.com had the 30D & 17-85 IS lens listed for $1,398 (it usually runs $1,800 - $1,900). ProfeelVideo.com had the 30D and 17-85 in the expected $1,840 range. <br><br>Hmmm, was Profeel.com having a sale, or a typo? After reading numerous reviews and recommendations of both Profeel.com and ProfeelVideo.com, I decided to give it try, but not before further investigation. So, I researched the owners of both domains and tried to determine if the sites were created by the same company. Guess what -- different registrants, different addresses, and (apparently) the sites were created by different entities. <br><br>A little more research, the address used to register Profeel.com appears to display a house when searched on maps.google.com; ProfeelVideo appeared to display a business\/commercial building. But what can you really tell from a satellite photo. But, the reviews were great and there was the potential for a $400 savings. And I didn\u0027t think all of the reviews could be fakes. I bought. A day later, I still hadn\u0027t received a confirmation e-mail, but did have the order # I got when I placed the order.<br><br>I expected a confirmation call for my order and wasn\u0027t disappointed. I was, however, disappointed that the price of the 30D & 17-85 lens was a mistake and the real price was $1,839, \u0022terribly sorry for the mix-up.\u0022 Bummer, so much for a sale. But it wasn\u0027t surprise, and was the result I expected. I didn\u0027t interpret it as bait & switch, so proceeded to purchase the 30D\/17-55 lens I was originally going to buy. This was $1,368 -- about $130 cheaper than most reputable merchants. <br><br>I was asked if I wanted to buy a discount package (I don\u0027t remember what was offered, but knew I didn\u0027t want it). \u0022No, thanks.\u0022 Not a problem, did I want anything else? Yes, a battery grip. Will Profeel meet the price I saw on B&H, which I thought was $10 cheaper? \u0022Sure, no problem.\u0022 (I later realized B&H was $20 cheaper, oh well). Profeel missed an opportunity here -- I was buying a grip that holds 2 batteries, but the camera only comes with one. They neglected to upsell me another battery (I already had it, so would have declined). \u0022Oh, terribly sorry, the battery grip is out of stock. We can ship it when it comes in.\u0022 Sure, no problem, that\u0027s fine.<br><br>I was then asked if I wanted 2-day shipping. \u0022How much?\u0022 About $40. That\u0027s reasonable, sure. \u0022OK, and we\u0027ll send the grip 2-day as well, no extra charge.\u0022 \u0022Sounds great!\u0022 That was the end of the confirmation call. The camera shipped on 4\/26, and I did receive a tracking number via e-mail.<br><br>Two days later, the camera was on my doorstep. Yep, I was at work and FedEx left it on the porch. Not Profeel\u0027s fault, and I was kind of happy because it saved me a trip to the FedEx station. The neigborhood\u0027s fairly safe, I wasn\u0027t too concerned.<br><br>So, here it is, two days after shipping and the camera\u0027s in my hands. Brand new, in box, U.S. warranty. Just as promised.<br><br>Can I complain? Only about the typo, for which I don\u0027t hold a grudge; and about having to have the confirmation call. But the call was expected, so I don\u0027t have any complaints about that, either. Nope, no complaints overall. I expect to receive the out of stock part as soon as they receive it.<br><br>Note: I was trying to consult both web sites as I wrote this review. ProfeelVideo.com now redirects to Profeel.com, which still has the \u0022rough\u0022 appearance. Strange.<br>-- <br>Following up on the out of stock battery grip. I did receive the grip about a week after I received the camera. It was shipped 2-day as promised.<br><br>I\u0027ll consider ordering from them again, though I\u0027d prefer not to have the confirmation call.<br><br><br><br>","link":"http:\/\/www.resellerratings.com\/store\/PROFEEL_Profeel_Video_12\/comment\/256702#comment256702","store_thumb":"http:\/\/www.resellerratings.com\/store\/thumbnail\/PROFEEL_Profeel_Video_12.jpg","store_name":"PROFEEL \/ PMI Digital [profeel.com]","username":"rainmakr","rating":"5"}, "single");){kind=link}
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