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The 5 Best Places to Buy Camera Accessories & Gear(Tripods, Cases)
Camera accessories are an important part of your gear, but not all places have the items you need, or they’re expensive. Now, are you looking for the best places to buy camera accessories? Ever wonder what the best destination is?
There are many great places to purchase camera gear. Some are much better than others. Below is a list of my favorite stores and how to use them to your advantage when buying camera accessories.
Best Places to Buy Camera Accessories
B&H Photo-Video
Reliability: B&H Photo Video, located in New York City, is in my opinion the best online retailer for photography equipment and accessories. They have over 40 years of industry experience and built up a solid reputation as a reliable marketplace.
The website offers a wide selection of products, including cameras, lenses, accessories, tripods, and much more. They also have knowledgeable staff members who can help you select the right camera based on your needs.
Pricing: The company’s reputation is based on its commitment to quality products at reasonable prices.
They are not the cheapest option out there but they do offer reasonable prices for most items you may want to purchase from them while also having a limited refurbished section. If you are after the most affordable ones, then take a look at eBay or Walmart.
Shipping: They ship internationally with some exceptions. Specific items also come with free shipping and they have created a page on their website where you can find all of them in one place.
Warranty & Return Policy: B&H doesn’t offer any warranty so you only get the manufacturer’s. Used photographic equipment is covered by up to a 90-day warranty. Furthermore, no matter how you purchased something, they provide you with 30 days to return the item.
The same return policy is in place for items purchased from the Used Category. The product must be in the same state and packaging as when you first bought it.
Customer Service: One thing that sets B&H Photo Video apart from other online stores is its customer service. The company has received numerous awards including Best Online Retailer by PC Magazine and Best Camera Store by TrustPilot with a ranking of 4.9/5.
It also has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau due to its commitment to customer service and satisfaction. In addition, B&H Photo Video has been recognized as one of the most trusted companies by Forbes Magazine.
Pros
- Competitive prices.
- Highly reliable.
- Excellent customer support.
- International shipping.
- High quality.
Cons
- Not as many refurbished products as the alternatives.
Amazon
Reliability: The reliability of camera gear purchased on Amazon is dependent on the seller rather than Amazon itself. If you have concerns about the reliability of a specific product from a seller, it’s best to contact them directly before buying.
Pricing: While there are certainly a few items on Amazon that are overpriced, the vast majority of products sold through the platform are actually much more affordable than you might expect. The only way to get a discount on Amazon is through one of their deals and coupons or the refurbished platform.
Shipping: They provide worldwide delivery, and you will not be charged for shipping if your order includes at least the minimum number of qualifying items as mentioned by the seller.
Each item labeled with “FREE Shipping” on the product detail page that is shipped and fulfilled by Amazon counts against your free shipping order minimum.
After all of your products, including pre-order items, are prepared for shipping, your order will normally be delivered five to eight days later.
Warranty & Return Policy: A limited warranty of one year is provided by Amazon for both parts and labor. If you are a consumer who purchased a product from a third-party vendor, kindly get in touch with them to learn more about their specific return policy.
Since Amazon has a thorough return policy and frequently sides with the client, if you receive the wrong item or are unsatisfied with it, you can typically get your money back with the A-Z Guarantee.
Customer Service: A number of individuals have complained about Amazon’s customer service on TrustPilot, saying that it is far from average.
Fortunately, I didn’t get an opportunity to speak with their customer support about camera-related issues because the lens that I bought from them still works like a charm.
Pros
- Wide variety.
- Great pricing.
- A-Z Guarantee(Amazon usually sides with the customer).
- Worldwide shipping.
- Free shipping for specific items.
Cons
- Poor customer service.
- Many unreliable sellers.
- Limited payment methods.
Adorama
Reliability: Adorama has been in business for over 40 years and is an authorized dealer for all major camera brands, including Nikon and Fuji. They have a good reputation in the photography community, and their products are sought after by professionals and hobbyists alike.
Pricing: If you’re looking for the lowest price on anything, then Adorama is not going to be your first stop. But if you want quality and don’t mind paying a bit extra for it, it is definitely worth checking out.
In addition, it offers filmmakers the unique ability to rent equipment for their projects.
Shipping: Adorama ships to more than 200 nations globally in addition to the U.S. and Canada. Free shipping is available to US citizens only.
Warranty & Return Policy: Depending on the equipment you buy, the warranty changes. You typically have the manufacturer’s warranty plus anything that they may add.
You may purchase a one-year Adorama Protect package when you purchase used or pre-owned equipment. Coverage begins once the retailer’s warranty expires.
You can return items for a full refund, excluding shipping costs, during the first 30 days following your purchase. The same rules apply as always: items being returned or exchanged must be brand new and unused.
Customer Service: Adorama’s customer support appears to be about average(at best) with a 2.2/5 rating on TrustPilot. While some users complain about the help they got, others had problems with delivery and product returns. Unfortunately, I can’t speak from experience on that.
Pros
- Reliable authorized seller of many camera brands.
- Excellent quality.
- International shipping.
- Offers you the ability to rent expensive gear.
Cons
- Below average customer support.
- Slightly more expensive.
eBay
Reliability: The main downside here is that people often associate eBay with “lower-quality” merchandise. Despite having the Money Back Guarantee, you must exercise extreme caution and avoid purchasing used goods from unknown merchants.
Pricing: The least expensive choice on the menu is eBay. Purchasing reconditioned goods from large box retailers as opposed to brand-new ones is the easiest method to save money. Daily deals are available on nearly anything.
There are actually more than 300,000 entries for items like tripods, cases, memory cards, and other camera accessories. Almost whatever you seek is available.
Shipping: eBay offers worldwide delivery, however, the seller-specific policies there are not universal. While some businesses may provide free delivery, others won’t. As a consequence, you’ll need to contact them to find out more.
Warranty & Return Policy: Each vendor has a different warranty duration. Depending on who you buy from, you may receive anywhere from 6 months to 2 years.
In the event of an emergency, the Money Back Guarantee essentially protects you from losing your money. In addition, they provide a 2-year warranty on certified refurbished products, which is twice as long as what most other firms offer for used goods.
Customer Service: eBay has received a lot of heat for its customer support. It has a 1.2/5 rating on TrustPilot. Customers have been complaining that they’ve been waiting weeks, sometimes even months, to get their issues resolved.
Pros
- Money-Back Guarantee and Buyer Protection.
- Exceptionally Cheap Goods.
- Huge collection of camera accessories.
- Various payment options.
- Global shipping.
Cons
- Some vendors might not be reputable.
- Not all merchants have the same shipping and return policies.
- Lower quality of products.
Walmart
Reliability: You must read the reviews of the products you want, just as with any other e-commerce site. You can never be certain if the seller is reliable.
Pricing: It is one of those stores that have a very wide variety of camera gear at generally lower prices than what you’d get from other retailers. However, the low pricing always comes at a cost.
They frequently receive poor feedback for several of their things, so I’m not confident of their product quality.
Shipping: They exclusively ship to US territory; they don’t provide worldwide delivery. If you are a W+ member or spend more than $35 before taxes, delivery is free.
Warranty & Return Policy: The majority of devices have a manufacturer’s warranty, which typically lasts between 90 days and a year from the date of purchase. Photo-related products should be returned within 90 days. Check here for more information!
Customer Service: Its customer support is very similar to that of eBay. This one has a 1.4/5 rating on TrustPilot. Now if you combine that with the “lower” quality of products that they have, you may face some issues.
Pros
- $35 and up in orders qualify for free shipping.
- Cheap prices.
- several types of equipment.
- accepts a variety of payment options.
Cons
- Some vendors might not be trustworthy.
- Numerous unfavorable reviews on products on their website.
- No shipping to other countries.
Conclusion
No matter what accessories you’re after for your camera, there should be a retailer below that has something perfect for you. All of these companies have something to bring to the table and are worthy of consideration.
The one takeaway here is that you shouldn’t just buy the first thing that you see. Take the time to shop around before making your final decision, and make sure to read reviews from other customers before buying anything.
