I RECENTLY (YESTERDAY) PURCHASED WHAT WAS ADVERTISED AS AN "EOS REBEL 2000 QUARTZ DATE W/28-80 MM LENS KIT (58MM)" OVER THE INTERNET. I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE SALESMAN IN NEW YORK CITY TODAY, WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE CAMERA BODY WOULD NOT SAY "REBEL" ON IT BUT RATHER EOS-300.HE ASSURED ME THAT THIS IS THE SAME CAMERA AS THE REBEL 2000. IS THIS CORRECT OR HAVE I BEEN TAKEN? I TOLD HIM THAT I WOULD GO AHEAD AND THEN IN CHECKING TONIGHT I'M TOLD THAT THE 300 IS AN OLDER MODEL.HELP!!SIGNED, A CAMERA NOVICE IN OVER HIS HEAD

-- mark mccabe (trendfly@yahoo.com), November 27, 2001

Answers

No, you should get what you pay for, or do you pay for what you get? This is a regular scam run by many camera shops. It is the same camera, but it does not come with the same warranty and it SHOULD COST YOU LESS to buy an imported model. Did they offer you a reduction in price for this swith? Canon has different names for their cameras, at least some of them, depending on which country you live in. SO, yes, the EOS 300 is the same as a REBEL 2000. But you are, to a certain degree, still being taken. Cancel your order and buy it from someone else. But, it may be too late. Some of these magazine shops will charge you a hefty "restocking fee" if you return the merchandise. What place did this to you? I am curious. So that they do not get my business.

-- Roger S. (rashrader@hotmail.com), November 27, 2001.

Its the same camera, Known as Rebel 2000 in USA, EOS Kiss III in Japan, and EOS 300 for other places on earth.

-- Jason Poh (Jasonpgc@yahoo.com), November 27, 2001.

This is an old game played a lot in New York.

The camera you are getting is what is called "grey market". Basically what that means is that it is indeed a canon camera but not one that was ever ment to be sold in the United States. It came to the US via some other avenue than through the official Canon distributors. This being the case, Canon will not warranty the camera. When you get it, you will find that the slick little warranty card will be missing. Usually with Grey market cameras the shop will give you a very weak warranty (good luck getting it enforced).

The deal with grey market cameras is that they are much less costly than the same stuff with the USA warranty. I was looking at a rig that ran $1050 or so grey market but $400 more when you added the usa warranty.

If you just ordered it then you have a decision to make, you can keep it at the price you paid and hope that nothing breaks that would have been a warranty repair in the first year.

If you feel that you have been had or you are paying too much for a camera without a warranty or you just don't want it, investigate the return policies from the outfit. Some places will give you 100% back if the product is returned in the first 7 days or so. If they will not give you 100% back and you really don't want to do business with them then call your credit company, report it as false advertising and deceptive business practices and ask to have the charge challenged. In short, try to "take" your money back.

Post what you decide to do and how it works out, we are curious.

Take care,

-J

-- Jonathan A. Papillo (papillo-j@erols.com), November 27, 2001.

yes, i agree to jonathan. i have bought a Canon EOS 300 from germany. but i heard and i went through the canon official site (http://www.canon.com) and found that in US the name is Canon Rebel 2000 and not Canon EOS 300. Canon EOS 300 is the name of the same (identical) model at all places except US and Japan. so if you are getting it in US, it might mean that either the camera is smuggled or is a fake camera. so i would suggest you no to go for it but check in at different shops.

-- Sajeev (chack74@yahoo.co.in), November 28, 2001.

Mark:

Do your self a favor. Go to bhphotovideo.com or adoramacamera.com, and order a USA warranty Rebel 2000. Whatever $$ this other store is purported to save you, is not worth it.

-- Kenneth Katz (socks@bestweb.net), November 28, 2001.

I am curious if there is difference in quantily between the Europe EOS 3000 and USA version?

BTW, Thank you the information you provide. Otherwize, I may have purchased the one w/o USA warranty.

-- JJ (jack29a@hotmail.com), December 08, 2001.

photo.net has a database of problematic dealers at http://www.photo.net/neighbor/one-subcategory?id=2.

Not only do the NY photo shops send you the wrong equipment, they usually talk you into paying more than what it's worth by lieing about the specs. I went through this many years ago. It's sad that these businesses are allowed to exist.

-- Steven Fisher (srf@nospam.net), December 09, 2001.

Guys,

I just bought the Canon EOS 300 in Hong Kong. The camera is spot on. The instruction booklet names both the EOS 300 and the Rebel on the front. It's just different names for different markets. I expect the warranty levels to be the same. Surley Canon would honour a Camera imported from Europe as you could have bought it on holiday etc. They are global after all.

-- Darren Travers (darren.travers@trw.com), December 14, 2001.