[sprognak]

Been debating a new camcorder for 6 months, decided on HD around a week ago thanks to a previous post. Now settled for a HC3.

Been looking around for prices, I saw Comet is offering a reasonably good deal and I should be able to get them to pricematch their website.

*IF* I wanted to get it today, is there anywhere cheaper than this?

http://www.comet.co.uk/cometbrowse/p...=specification

£721.32

[redsox_mark]

If they will give you that price in the shop, that's pretty good, it will be hard to do better as a walk up price.

Cheapest web price I've seen is at Purely Gadgets (669.75 delivered).
http://www.pricerunner.co.uk/sound-a.../558964/prices

[sprognak]

Well, managed to get one on the high street for £663.76 - Jessops!

Jessops as of a few months ago do a nationwide internet price match. They will match any UK based online retailer as long as they hold stock. Went to my local store with a printout from Purely Gadgets and no questions asked. The salesperson was more than happy to match the price.

Fixed their PC for transferring memory card images while I was there too! Got me a couple of quid knocked off the tapes.

All in all, highly highly recommended. Jessops seems to be one of the few "decent" high street shops left.

Paid an extra £95 for 3 year accidental damage and breakdown cover which includes wear and tear repairs or new for old replacement. As it's for business use, home insurance doesn't cover it...

[redsox_mark]

Wow - well done!

[jwramsay]

Can you point to the source of this nationwide internet pricematch statement please?

[sprognak]

There's nothing on their website that I could find, but when I telephoned the store and asked how their price match worked they said:

"We'll match any UK based Internet or High Street retailer as long as it's in stock and they aren't charging stupid amounts for delivery to make up the price".

I presume they're not going to be silly and match ebay etc, but the sales rep just said "That's a good find" when I showed the printout with a £130 reduction!

I've bought a still digi cam from Jessops before and done exactly the same. Although this time stock was hard to come buy. I actually telephoned three stores in my area before I found stock - all three confirmed the price match.

[jwramsay]

I phoned a few Jessops today, looks like a pricematch will be on the cards so long as purely gadgets are indeed a UK internet firm, so thanks for the info.

I picked up some of these Sony Memory Stick Duo cards (128Mb) from Currys instore for 97p each, I assume these bad boys will work with the Sony HC-3?

[sprognak]

I presume they will work. Nice find btw, is that a managers special or nationwide price?

I read in one review that the compression for the stills is pretty poor and can take up to 14Mb per image though - whether that's true I have no idea as I have no memory card in mine yet. They must be stored in BMP format for it to take anything like that though...

[jwramsay]

Nationwide offer, they scan nicely at 97p!

Sony Memory Stick Duo Magicgate 128Mb, MSH-M128N.

This memory Stick Duo can be used in Memory Stick and Memory Stick PRO compatible products.
(This product does not include the Memory Stick Dup adaptor MSAC-M2)

I note that they are going for 10 quid on Ebay, not that I'd ever do such a thing

[jwramsay]

Found, this, so the above should be fine ...

Dual Record
While recording video in High Definition you have the ability to capture a 2.3 Megapixel still image directly to Memory Stick Duo™ media.

And 2.3M image equates to about 800Kb on my Canon 2MP camera, so loads os photos on one of these 128M Duo sticks.

[sprognak]

Found it in the manual, page 54, 63 images 4M Fine mode on a 128Mb card, 105 dual mode.

And am I getting it right that those cards are scanning in at 97p when marked differently?

[jwramsay]

£9.97 save £5 it said above them, but there was a thread on the DVD Forums bargain forum where someone pointed out that they are actually scanning at 97p, which I can vouch for.

Good luck in finding them!

[sprognak]

Aha! Well luckily I live in a small town with a small high street branch - should still have stock. Time to go find out!

[sprognak]

Ok, Currys do have the 128Mb for 97p and in my local store they are priced up as 97p as well - it's a known offer, not a computer glitch!

The bad news is these are the old Memory Stick and not the Memory Stick duo's which means they won't work with the HC3...

The Lexar PSP Gaming Memory Stick Duo Pro 256Mb is however priced at £14.98 and scans at £9.98. I bought two of these.

[jwramsay]

Originally Posted by sprognak

Ok, Currys do have the 128Mb for 97p and in my local store they are priced up as 97p as well - it's a known offer, not a computer glitch!

The bad news is these are the old Memory Stick and not the Memory Stick duo's which means they won't work with the HC3...

The Lexar PSP Gaming Memory Stick Duo Pro 256Mb is however priced at £14.98 and scans at £9.98. I bought two of these.

Check my post above, I typed exactly what it days on the box, and they *are* DUOs.

[sprognak]

Hmm, well my branch had the non-duo's priced to 97p but none of the duo 128Mb's in stock as far as I recall..... Might swing back tomorrow to look again.

[redsox_mark]

This Currys 97p stick seems very odd...

I stopped in at one on the way home. They had the full size 128mb stick marked as 14.97, but it scaned as 97p! Unfortunatly I don't have any devices any longer that can take that type.

They didn't have any Duo 128 Mbs in stock, so I could not check that price. (Maybe someone got their first and bought them out if they were 97p).

[jwramsay]

Called a few Jessops today who have the HC-3 in stock. First refused to pricematch Purelygadgets as "they sell non Euro stock", second said "no problemo, even after I mentioned the first store's KB".

So, I have a reserve on an HC-3, just need to bend the wife's ear a bit

They hold for 7 days.

[lurcher]

I did the same yest but on a Digital Camera , produced a print off from Purelygadgets and Jessops matched straight away.
( wife was in other shop , always buy first then show her when we get home ).

[jwramsay]

Got the wife to agree, after all I've only been researching this purchase for months and I see that Sony's newer HD models are HDD based rather than tape (which I think is a bad move, given the price of DV tapes nowadays).

So, been to Jessops and picked up the HC-3 for £651.25 using the 110% pricematch that they have.

Its on charge right now, and the 97p Sony Duo has been duly inserted.

Thanks again for the hot tip regarding Jessops.

[Triggaaar]

NOOOOOOOOO!

I've just called Jessops, and the entire chain stopped price matching on camcorders 8 hours ago! Apparently, they were selling for less than their cost (that's including % of fixed costs).

[BenRyder]

Originally Posted by Triggaaar

NOOOOOOOOO!

I've just called Jessops, and the entire chain stopped price matching on camcorders 8 hours ago! Apparently, they were selling for less than their cost (that's including % of fixed costs).

Oh no! Is this true? Can anyone else confirm? Was just going to buy one today!

[Triggaaar]

If you want to buy one today, call your local Jessops, and ask about they're price match policy. ANd if they say they've stopped price matching on camcorders, you can confirm it.

[BenRyder]

Originally Posted by Triggaaar

If you want to buy one today, call your local Jessops, and ask about they're price match policy. ANd if they say they've stopped price matching on camcorders, you can confirm it.

I would do if any of the stores actually answered their phones!

Ben.

Hi

I bought an HC3 yesterday. The jessops in Romford said they should not be price matching anymore although she let me have it for £669. They have another left in stock. My local branch in Chelmsford would not price match however.

Lee

[AverageJoe]

Bought my HC3 from Jessops in Birmingham city centre yesterday. Said they wouldn't price match purelygadgets but did 110% match Amazon so got it for £679. Thet have 7 left in stock plus 2 on display