When you have some cold hard cash to spend and you can’t find the product you want to spend it on, that may be a sign that it’s a pretty good product. In my case, I’m looking to buy 2 Kodak Zi8’s. This is the updated version of the Kodak Zi6 in which I already own. I love the Kodak Zi6. You can watch the video of my Kodak Zi6 Review if you are so inclined.
The main reason I’m going to purchase the updated Zi8 is because of the new capabilities to use a wireless microphone with the Zi8. As a hyperlocal blogger, I have a lot of interview type situations and need the wireless mic. Your viewers will forgive you for crappy video, but they don’t like crappy audio.
My local Best Buy store has them in stock for $230. Amazon and B&H Photo carry them for $179 and both are out of stock as you can see below in the screenshots. I’m not going to pay full retail. I checked the Best Buy website and they state that they will not match prices for online items. Personally, I think that’s a stupid policy from Best Buy. Read their policy below. They will only match their own prices against themselves. It’s stupid mainly because I could have walked out of the store yesterday with my 2 zi8’s and saved $100. Hey, I’m selfish and frugal.
With the $100 savings I could join Amazon Prime
Amazon is sold out of Kodak Zi8’s. I can go ahead a order one and it will be sent when they are back in stock.
B & H Photo is also out of stock but I like the options they give me better than Amazon. Take a look. I can get an e-mail alert sent to me when they have some in stock. I like that very much. B & H does not make me go through with a purchase.
At Best Buy, I should have been able to walk over to the Geek Associate Table, and after being ignored for 10 minutes, they should have looked up the online price at their competitor and matched the price on the spot. I would have walked out with 2 Zi8’s and they would have a happy customer eager to return again to spend some more money. Instead, I am now re-evaluating how I will shop and will probably avoid my local Best Buy Store unless it’s extremely urgent on my part.
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if it were me, I would purchase the camera’s at Best Buy paying the higher price and i would use them until B$H gets some in stock, then buy those and return the original camera’s to best buy and tell them “I don’t like these” get your money back and be done, LOL
AL
Target has them in store for $179 still so you could use that against best buy to drop their prices. Also, even though Amazon makes you go through a purchase while you wait for the Zi8 to become available, you have the option to cancel at any time during the wait….
@Joe. Silly me, I didn’t check my local Target. I just called and they have at least 1 and it’s on sale for $169 the girl told me. I’m heading over there right now. Thanks for that heads up Joe.
Not a problem. The targets near me only have it in raspberry, and I’m being stubborn about the color! It may as well be pink…still waiting on amazon after a Dec 31 order date. I’m jonesin’.
By the way, is the Zi8 all its cracked up to be? I’m sure hoping so.
Joe, yes the Zi8 is an awesome little camera. I bought (2) Zi8’s in the raspberry. Had to go to 2 different Target stores. I was afraid of the color also but it is very low key and I have no problem with the color at all. I tested it with a wireless microphone also and it worked fantastic. Go get one for yourself, you will not be disappointed.