Citiwide online - any experience?

[surenj]

This Hong kong based store seems to be offering insane prices with a 18 month door-to-door warranty. [They pay for shipping charges if it's proven to be a real defect]

For example, they have the canon 100 2.8 for $650!
http://www.citiwideonline.com/au/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&category_id=98&product_id=635&Itemid=1&vmcchk=1&Itemid=1
If the warranty is real, this is a very good deal.

Here is more info on the warranty.
http://www.citiwideonline.com/au/index.php?option=com_content&task=section&id=11&Itemid=55

Does anyone have any experience with them? and especially with their warranty?

[Wink]

I brought a 10-22mm USM and 50mm f/1.8 II from them. Price was the cheapest i had seen.
Delivery was reasonably quick, and there's DHL tracking so you can check on the item all along the way.
They're not the cheapest for everything though. Some items are well priced and others aren't.

I see the same lens is $695 in the Bargains Section here. Since that price includes postage i'd think buying it through the forum will end up cheaper. It cost me $86 in postage for the items i listed above.

[zafra52]

I cannot comment on Citywide, but I have bought from Poon's now a few items and I am happy with the service, products and secured with the knowledge they know dSLRUsers and they will try their best to keep up happy. Besides, I understand they suppor this website also. So for me, saving $10-30 (on a $600 - $1000 purchase) by buying from an unknown source is not worth contemplating.

[surenj]

Thanks Zafra and Wink,

DOH! I should have checked the forum pricing first!! Some of the prices are not up-to-date as you may find out. I guess I was tempted by this warranty business which 'almost' sounds like a bit of a scam. They don't have an office here so it would be quite difficult to complain to anyone.

[not that lenses are expected to have too many warranty problems. This would apply to bodies a little more however]

[Wink]

How'd you go with the lens?

I brought a 580EX II off them lastnight. Hopefully this transaction goes as smooth as the first one i listed above.

[surenj]

Wink, I didn't buy from them.

D D electronics singapore (=DD photographics north sydney) had it for even cheaper. Their warranty is with DD photographics should I have a problem. At least I don't need to ship the lens to a place far far away if the worst happens.

[Wink]

Flash arrived today. Postage was $30.
I've got nothing to complain about.

[kobeson]

Anybody had to use their door to door warranty service? I heard one person say they did and they didn't honour it.

Prices look right though, just difficult to know which store to use.

[surenj]

I heard one person say they did and they didn't honour it.

I am not surprised...

Prices look right though, just difficult to know which store to use.

Watch out for expensive postage. I think this place charges up to $60. You have to balance out the risk of a warranty claim.

[kobeson]

Yeah, they seem to vary quite a bit for postage between a few of them.

The warranty does sound like a sales pitch though.