Smoking Hot Deal: Canon XSi with two lenses: $641.89 Shipped; $591.89 After Rebate

The Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens (Black) is currently $571.89 from Amazon. You can add the Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS telephoto zoom lens for $269.99, and when you get to the checkout the price drops by $200, bringing the total to $641.89. If you already own certain Canon cameras, there is a $50 rebate, bringing the price down to $591.89. Not the lowest price lately, but the best right now. Remember, you MUST purchase the ones being sold directly by Amazon. Follow the links:

Camera and 18-lens:
Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens (Black)

55-250 lens:
Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras


Link to rebate. 

Deal Still Alive: Canon VIXIA HF200 HD for $519.19 Shipped

Canon VIXIA HF200 HD Flash Memory Camcorder with 15x Optical Zoom

Dave's Deal Website Up and Running for Black Friday

Check out http://www.daveshotdeals.com/ for the hottest, legitimate deals that I can find on the Internet on cameras, camcorders and stuff I think is cool. 

Top Scam Black Friday Websites

Based on the visitors to this blog that found it by searching for camera selling websites in Google, today's winner, by a huge margin, is Supreme Camera, a fraudulent, bait and switch enterprise.  Don’t even think from ordering from these criminals, who are taking advantage of Black Friday to try and dupe unsuspecting consumers into their fraud.

Bing: Absolutely Horrible Sponsored Links

Any hope that Bing would vet their sponsored links better than Google is officially over.  Check out these results:

Stopandshopdigital, Photoloon, Skypoint, and ThunderCameras are all incredibly bad bait and switch websites.  I don't know who would use Bing, but I sure hope they aren't trying to do their Christmas shopping based on these results.  They'll be in for a real shock. 

DEADLINE TO FILE FOR RESTITUTION FROM BAIT AND SWITCHERS IS DECEMBER 1, 2009!

Back in June the State of New York finally cracked down on a number of bait and switch websites.  Read this article in the New York Times.   Per the agreement you can file a claim for restitution, but you only have until December 1, 2009!  You must file immediately if you were ripped off by any of the listed merchants.  Here is a list of the websites that agreed to pay restitution. 
You can obtain the form to file for restitution at this link: CLAIM FORM LINK.  Note that it must be notarized.  Get your claim form in an take money from THEM for a change!
If you've been ripped off by a website not on the list, file a complaint with the State of New York Attorney General's Office.  Currently, one of the worst bait and switch websites is Supreme Camera aka Delta Cameras, and I'm working on exposing exactly who is behind it.

Bing Search Results Corrupted by Bait and Switch Sites

As Google moves (albeit slowly) to eliminate bait and switch sites from their paid search results, the sites are now popping up on the other search engines.  Here's Bing's results:

Wow.  not a good sign to see Skypoint, stopandshop and Thunder cameras all on one page.  These are some of the worst bait and switchers out there.  Buyer (and Bing users) Beware!

Bait and Switchers Now Using Yahoo! Search

Bingo Cameras and their ilk are now using Yahoo! search.  

Congrats to Google for finally chasing the Bingo Cameras vermin from their adwords program.  Although no one really uses Yahoo! search, I sent their execs the following email:

I just did a search for a camera using Yahoo! search. (The Canon t1i).  The top “sponsored result” is from Bingo Cameras, which is one of the most notorious bait and switch websites on the Internet.  Read the reviews of Bingo Cameras here.  http://www.resellerratings.com/store/Bingo_Cameras
Bingo Cameras is run by really, really bad people and you would be doing a very good thing for your users if you were to eliminate them from your ad program.

I am committed to removing the bait and switch sites from the Internet, and will follow them to whatever search engine they try and use.  Even Bing.

LMR Photo Video aka lmrphotovideo.com: BUYER BEWARE

The bait and switchers are ramping up for Black Friday and the Christmas season with a slew of new bait and switch sites.  The newest is LMR Photo Video, which purportedly is selling the Nikon D90 for $699.  That's over a hundred dollars less than reputable websites.

No, you cannot shop with confidence.  (The ad from Photoloon is also bogus, so don't bother going there).  Once you click the ad in Google, you're taken to their website.

Once you place the order, you'll be told that a variety of things...the item is gray market, it doesn't have English in the function mentions, it doesn't come with a battery, etc.  Here's the item description:

As you can see, their website says that the camera comes with everything.  Point this out to them when they deny it.  Once you do, they'll simply say the item is out of stock.  But they've got your credit card information, so you won't have piece of mind.  Please post a description of your dealings with LMR, if any.  They are brand new, having reserved the domain less than a month ago.  They collect New Jersey tax, so it appears they are based in New Jersey.

They have no physical address listed on their website, and they've paid extra to hide it when they registered the domain.  They are charging muchless for their cameras than reputable dealers, but I suspect that you won't get the item for the advertised price unless you agree to purchase overpriced accessories that negate the deal.  Avoid wasting your time. 

Top Bait and Switch Websites: November 18, 2009

Based on the visitors who found this site performing Google searches, the top scam websites today are:

Congratulations Supreme Camera!  The money you spend for Google Adwords is well spent. 

Remember, Supreme Camera will never, ever sell you the item for the advertised price.  Read the reselleratings reviews here, but ignore the fake positive ones.

Canon Digital Rebel XSi with EF-s 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens and Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS Lens: $569.43

Amazon currently has an incredible deal on the Canon Digital Rebel XSI with two lenses. 

First, go here and add the camera to your cart:

 



YOU MUST CHOOSE THE CAMERA THAT IS BEING SOLD DIRECTLY BY AMAZON. LOOK ON THE RIGHT SIDE BAR FOR "MORE BUYING CHOICES" AND FIND THE CAMERA OFFERED FOR SALE DIRECTLY FROM AMAZON, NOT A THIRD PARTY.

Next, click the following link and add the lens to your cart.  Again, YOU MUST CHOOSE THE LENS THAT IS BEING SOLD DIRECTLY BY AMAZON:

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras 



You won't see the instant rebate of $200 until you get to the checkout screen, but once you enter your payment information you’ll see the discount prior to pressing the purchase button.  I just purchased this and delivery is scheduled for December 2 (the first email said late December, but they immediately updated it with the earlier date).  If you use the above links, I get a kick back from Amazon, which will encourage me to continue to post real, authentic deals.

Here’s how mine looked:

Shipping Method:      FREE Super Saver Shipping
Shipping Preference: Group my items into as few shipments as possible
Subtotal of Items:   $819.43
Shipping & Handling:           $8.53
Super Saver Discount:        -$8.53
Promotion Applied:   -$200.00
          ------
Total for this Order:            $619.43

To make an amazing deal even better, there’s a $50 coupon from Canon for those of you that previously purchased a Canon camera.  Here’s the link to the coupon: http://www.usa.canon.com/app/pdf/Promotions/MIR_loyalty_form_101209.pdf

UPDATE: PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT THE DISCOUNT IS REFLECTED AT THE FINAL STAGE OF THIS PROCESS.  THESE DEALS END QUICKLY, SO IF YOU DON'T SEE THE DISCOUNT, DON'T BUY IT.  JUST WAIT; I'LL FIND ANOTHER KILLER DEAL.