Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Lens Purchasing Experience from DD Electronics Singapore

In summary, it was a very smooth and good experience.  If you like to know more, please read on. About a week ago, I decided to acquire an all-rounder lens that’s affordable for the Canon 400D body that I have with me.  Upon doing a quick review and browsing online, I stumbled upon the DD Electronics website.  I have been to this website in the past but I never did needed anything and I do have some reservations about online purchasing of fragile items.

DDWebSite

The design of the website is functional, nothing fancy.  It was easy enough to find items but it can be better, especially the search criteria and filter.  It stocks mainly Canon and Nikon items but it also has Panasonic, Olympus and the major third party lenses such as Sigma and Tamron lenses.

So, I proceeded to create a new login ID, went in and worked out the cost of delivery for the lens.  It came up to be a reasonable price, after I made several other comparisons with other online retailers, I proceeded to place an order.  I gave the necessary details for the purchase (after reading the terms and conditions, especially the warranty of the item) and only finally clicked OK several hours later (I was sure about getting the lens, just wasn’t sure about getting it from an online retailer outside the country).  So, I hoped for the best … and expect the worse.

To my surprise, they were very efficient, they immediately sent me a confirmation email the next morning (I ordered it late evening) followed by an email informing me that they will charge a small amount to my credit card and asked me to verify that it is my credit card by replying to them the amount that was charged (the email wasn’t worded very well).  This is quite a common method for retailers to protect themselves from online credit card fraud.  This will only work if you have online access to check your credit card charges and if you don’t, you probably have to wait for your credit card statement!  (or call the credit card company).  The other drawback on this is that there will be a delay as most transactions take a day or two or more to register.  As it was the weekend anyway, it didn’t make any difference to me.

On Monday, I gave them the details and they immediately shipped out the item, a Sigma lens.  At each stage, an email will be sent to you on the status of your order, e.g. Item Shipped.  However, it would have been good if they had included the tracking ID.  The other minor complain I have is that once the courier company collects it from them, they will send you an email saying that the transaction and delivery is “completed”!.  I mean, I haven’t even received it yet! It would be good that once the courier company has confirmed delivery, only then they send out such an email.

So … it arrived on Tuesday!  Kudos to DHL! And the box is kinda large for a small lens.

DD Electronics Shipment

As you can see, the box is several times the size of the Canon 400D body!  And what did I get?  I got myself a brand new Sigma 18-50 f2.8 lens.  It does say Macro but then it is not a 1:1 Macro but 1:3 magnification.

Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 EX DC MACRO Box

More on the lens later …

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

I would like to exchange links with your site www.blogger.com
Is this possible?

Anonymous said...

how much did u bought for this lens?

Lens Cost and Total amt paid for this len?

Ian Tan said...

It was clearance stock, so the price was very attractive.

Anonymous said...

I see... can I check, how many days did u received ur lens from the date you order?

So is the item, you received in NEW and perfect good w/o any staches?

When saw the price in this website, it really cheaper than outside, so not sure issit trustworthy to order from them?

Ian Tan said...

Once they have verified the credit card, it was shipped immediately and I received it the next day. Received it new w/o scratches.

So far so good ...

Anonymous said...

tks for sharing your experience.

just to let you and anyone who's interested know, you get 2% discount if you pay by cash and selft collect

Anonymous said...

Why does the price is so low? How about the quality? Does it made in Japan?

Ian Tan said...

Hi Anonymous, I am not sure what you are trying to ask, but it is a new Sigma lens.

Anonymous said...

I mean the prices on the dd electronics... I've seen the comparison from the original store, like from the canon in sg, the price of 50 mm 1.4 USM is 699 (SGD) compare to dd electronics which only sells for 489(SGD). Does it compromises the quality of the product of dd ele...

Anonymous said...

what do you mean by stock clearance...

Ian Tan said...

Why are they cheaper? I am not sure but all I know is that I received the goods in good condition.

I am assuming that they are clearing stock to replenish their inventory.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for your reply... and also thanks for posting... =)

Ian Tan said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

FYI... their selling grey items, so their price is cheaper than CSC. I also tempted to buy from them since their price is really a good deal. But I don't know for their after sales service.

Ian Tan said...

Being outside Singapore, it is a grey item to us anyway =). Thanks for sharing ...

Anonymous said...

so the items are grey units? grey units meaning they don't have international warranty right? but the actual is the same thing you see on those common camera stores and official websites.

Anonymous said...

Hi Ian,

I am planning to buy one D7000 kit from them...what do you say to goahead or not ? I found the best price offered in town is with DD for d7000 kit with 18-105mm lens. Kindly reply so that based on your reply, I will goahead and buy it.

Regards,
Chen

Ian Tan said...

Hi Chen, gosh I must have missed your comment sometime back. Apologies on that. How did the purchase go?

Elise Wong Creations said...

Hey Ian. Thanks so much for the post. I feel a bit rest assured with this site. I'm intrigued in buying a flash gun. However, I too would like your opinion. All this while using the lens you bought, is it still working well? Trustworthy? :) Thanks

Ian Tan said...

Hi Elix, I have since sold the lens to a friend and as far as I know, he still uses it and it is still in excellent condition.

Anonymous said...

I'd like to buy canon 50mm f/1.2 and 85mm lens f1.2. They are $1000 cheaper than outside retailer. I dare not buy these. How is ur opinion? Let me know. Thanks

Anonymous said...

Its pretty safe to buy from them. The reasons they are cheaper:
1. They sell in just one place.
2. Normally they dont keep too many stock.
3. They are few employees