They live on the back pages of photographic magazines and lurk in online venues. Those ads from out-of-state camera stores for the latest and greatest sound incredible - too good to be true, perhaps? Their prices are remarkably lower than the others. Maybe they’ve got the best deal?

Wrong.

Fact: For every reputable photography store out there, therein lies plenty of sleazy ones, just waiting to take your money and leave you frustrated and empty handed.

It’s a natural to hunt for good prices, but make sure to keep your eye out for these bait n’ switch nightmares this holiday season. A lot operate in Brooklyn or “crooklyn” as I’ve seen it listed on online forums like rec.photo. And if you want to see what that tantalizing ad really boils down to, check out their reseller ratings and storefront. I guarantee you’ll be shocked. Oh, and even if you find a horrible rating, keep in mind that according to The New York Times, the unsavory companies will often ditch their old complaint-ridden website and start-up anew. shaaaady.

And if you’re Indiana Jones-ish enough to try your luck with them, keep in mind you’re probably dealing in gray-market goods, meaning the product was packaged for sale in other countries and imported back into the United States. While it’s not an inferior product by any means, the camera manufacturers generally will not honor a non-USA warranty so you’ll most likely have to service it with third party providers. And for the record, pretty much every piece of digital equipment is going to need some service in its future, so it’s better to start off on the right foot.

Have you ever fallen for their traps? How did that work out? I almost did once. I called AAA camera to order a Tamron autofocus 28-200mm over 10 years ago. They wanted a credit card number up front and (shocking!) the price was a “typo.” It was much higher. Next, the lens was (shocking again!) out of stock but they would gladly send a MANUAL FOCUS Tamron 28-200 lens for the advertised price. yeesh. I promptly ended that call. Horrible. That one experience turned me away for good. Have you had an opposite experience you’re willing to share? I would like to hear a positive story.

So where to go online for great prices and service? There are a number of places, but for out-of-state dealers, Roberts Imaging, B&H Photo Video, are, in my opinion, my top faves. There is never any hassle, ever. Other out-of-state stores that I’ve heard good things about are KEH, Samys, and Adorama. And when I’m shopping in-town (which I’m doing more and more as of late) Schillers is my first stop not only because they carry a lot of the photo studio items we need down at the paper but also because they’re a quick drive from downtown and the folks are friendly. Nevertheless, you really can’t go wrong with any of our regional stores because of that always appreciated face-to-face time and the opportunity to try out the equipment you’ve been eyeing.

Are you a local or online shopper? Take this quick poll and let’s find out where the orders are going.

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Oh, and just so you know — I don’t receive any compensation or discounts from any store, including these here. These are my opinions built on multiple experiences over the years purchasing professional and consumer products. So, happy shopping!