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What's the general opinion of buying cameras on Best Buy?
Avoiding best buy and the like is only meant for things they are ripping you off on. There is no reason not to buy something you want that is cheaper there.
The reason you should avoid buying cables there is becuase they have marked them up 10-30 times their cost (my sister worked for futureshop while going to school, employee prices were cost + 5 or 10% or something, $30-$50 cables would be $3 on staff discount, while buying things like Xboxes or TV that were on sale, the staff discount would sometimes actually be higher than the sale price because they were cut to such close margins).
Edit: Typos.
More on reddit.comExperience with Buying from Best Buy?
Which online store to buy a Camera body in Canada?
The Camera Store has been good to me, but I live in Calgary so it's local which is always nice. It looks like they have the same deal on as Henry's with the 40mm if you read the fine print:
Save $100 on the Canon EF 40mm with the purchase of any Canon DSLR - See more at: http://www.thecamerastore.com/6519-Canon-EOS-6D-Body-Only.aspx#sthash.Tli5ymMD.dpuf
FWIW, that's where I'd buy now after dealing with them even if I moved away from Calgary. I would suggest that you avoid vistek.ca like the plague, even though it's not on your list.
I'm not sure where you're getting $1783 from.. $1699+120 = 1819. 1819*1.05= $1910
If you can get both for $1783, get it from whoever is giving you that deal. Unless it's Vistek. They're seriously a terrible outfit.
More on reddit.comBest place to buy a camera?
So I am a complete beginner living in Canada, and have been looking around online for a DSLR to begin learning on. It's a bit trickier to shop online in Canada because shipping can be pretty steep. But I've been looking around at a lot of online stores like adorama, B&H, Henry's, Future Shop and Best Buy, and it seems like Futureshop and Bestbuy seem to have the cheapest prices.
Now I know that the general opinion for most electronics is to not buy at places like Best Buy or Futureshop (eg. HDMI cables), so is that still the case for digital cameras?
Currently, Best Buy has a Canon Rebel T3i with 18-55mm kit lens, bag, and spare battery is only $529. Plus they have a bundle that comes with a 50mm f/1.8 prime lens for only $599.
These prices seem pretty cheap compared to some other sites where they price only a T3i body + kit lens for more than $600.
So are these two bundles a good deal for a beginner like me? Or should I forever avoid Best Buy?
Avoiding best buy and the like is only meant for things they are ripping you off on. There is no reason not to buy something you want that is cheaper there.
The reason you should avoid buying cables there is becuase they have marked them up 10-30 times their cost (my sister worked for futureshop while going to school, employee prices were cost + 5 or 10% or something, $30-$50 cables would be $3 on staff discount, while buying things like Xboxes or TV that were on sale, the staff discount would sometimes actually be higher than the sale price because they were cut to such close margins).
Edit: Typos.
I would be leery of any advice their (usually untrained) sales reps offer. However, if the price is comparable, go for it! I bought my Wacom Intuos from Best Buy because it was $50 cheaper than everywhere else.