Canon Powershot S200 at Staples B&M for under $200 (YMMV)

[integsr97]

I just got the S200 from Staples today. I pricematched it to Digital Liquidators which has it for $219.00 w/ free FedEx Overnight Delivery. With Staples' 110% PM guarantee, the $30 off $200 coupon and 8.25% sales tax, I ended up paying $195.82.

Here's the breakdown:
$299.98 - $89.08 (110% PM) - $30 (coupon) + 14.92 (sales tax) = $195.82

Here are some potential trouble spots you might hit. Hence, YMMV:
1) Out of the 4 stores I went to, 2 insisted that company policy dictated that they could not sell items below their cost basis ($248 and $254, respectively) and would only PM to their cost.
2) I tried ridiculously hard to get Staples to accept a $50 off $200 coupon, but given that I only had the coupon number and not the actual, physical coupon, they would not accept it - same deal with the $40 off $200 coupon. Get your hands on a printable $40 or $50 off IF at all possible.
3) The S200 was backordered at one store. FYI, the sales associate mentioned that most West Coast stores had little or no inventory of S200's while East Coast stores had a lot more.

Good luck!

 

[hawkeye81x]

The price might very well be worth the effort.

 

[macd]

Are you sure about the free shipping? I can't find it online and when I called the guy said it was $20 s/h.

And the guy at Staples tells me that he won't pricematch 110% unless I buy it first and then found a cheaper price later on. Which means I only get 100% pricematch.

 

[integsr97]

macd, after I added the camera into my cart on the Digital Liquidators website, I checked out, punched in my zip code and home state (California) and chose the FedEx Overnight Delivery shipping method. The billing page which appeared next showed that shipping was free. Perhaps, they charge different shipping rates based on where you live? As for the guy at Staples who said 100% PM, like I said, YMMV. Good luck =)

 

[ShowdOWN]

unless they are a canon authorized dealer i highly doubt that you will get a pricematch unless the staples rep is feeling good that day. believe me i tried with no luck.

 

[Wingznut]

Originally posted by: ShowdOWN
unless they are a canon authorized dealer i highly doubt that you will get a pricematch unless the staples rep is feeling good that day. believe me i tried with no luck.

"They are not an authorized Canon dealer."

That's exactly what both of the stores nearby said. So, I ended up using a $50 online and got it for $250.

AWESOME camera!!!

 

[BobSnob]

Repost... well sort of. Thanks for the reminder!

 

[BigYellowDog]

I don't think Staples pricematch policy says anything about otherized dealers. I had this problem with a Garmin Vista I bought before the new year. I called the online CSRs numberous times, and their supervisor. I always got the same answer or "we will research it and get back to you". I finally called the Office of the President, and they gave me the price match.

Also, do you think Staples is an authorized Canon dealer? They weren't on the authorized Garmind dealer list. Authorized dealer means price fix. All authorized sellers usually sell for the same price. It's probably some sort of agreement with the manufacturer. This makes it a convenient pricematch excuse, but you can win that battle with a few phone calls.

 

[BobSnob]

PMing is always a YMMV. The bottom line is that they either want to give it to you based on the price or they don't. If they're taking a heavy hit they have a standard list of excuses: "not an authorized dealer", "slightly different product", "different warranty", "we must include overnight shipping", the list goes on. They actually gave me the "not an authorized dealer" excuse once when the other website actually WAS an authorized dealer. When I pointed this out they switched tack to different excuses. I realised then that I wasn't going to get it, period. It's all about the price. If they are still making a nice profit then sure, you can have your PM. Fair enough I suppose, but I'd rather they just say a simple "no, we can't afford to do that PM".

 

[BobSnob]

BTW anyone who wants to buy this camera from Staples.com can get it by placing a phone order for item # IM1953384. There's a phone-only $50-off-$200 (over on F-cough-W) you can use, however I wasn't able to do a PM. They won't PM DigitalLiquidators.com so don't waste your time with that one. I got the "not an authorised Canon dealer" excuse. I couldn't find a major retailer with it for less than $280.

 

[HardAngel]

Staples is waking up to the new dictum IE no Internet price matching(not to mention no coupon stacking). The staples I went to Tuesday night (in Massachusetts - Staples in New England seem to have plenty of these digicams, confirming what integsr97 said) only pricematched the site I presented them with because the lady cashier hadn't heard about the new no PM policy though the manager did and really didn't want to PM it (a nice guy, thanks!). Cashier did know enough not to let me use more than one coupon. Oh well, I got it for about $178.00 so I'm happy. YMMV indeed.

-Angel

 

[LilBlinbBlahIce]

What about buying it from Digital Liquidators, are they any good? Any one have any experience? 219 is still a great price.

 

[BobSnob]

Originally posted by: LilBlinbBlahIce
What about buying it from Digital Liquidators, are they any good? Any one have any experience? 219 is still a great price.

I don't think they could be much worse. Look here. STAY AWAY!!

 

[Napmobile]

Just got a Canon S200 for $180 with free 128 cf card (which had a $15 rebate) from Staples. Printed out Digital Liquidators site page with price along with internet coupon code for $50 to a local Staples. They said that they would not be able to give me more than 100% price match and that they would have to charge me for shipping fee the Digital Liquidators would have charged. But all in all, with $15 rebate, everything comes to $165 for a Canon Elph S200 camera! Thanks integsr97!

 

[BobSnob]

Originally posted by: Napmobile
Just got a Canon S200 for $180 with free 128 cf card (which had a $15 rebate) from Staples. Printed out Digital Liquidators site page with price along with internet coupon code for $50 to a local Staples. They said that they would not be able to give me more than 100% price match and that they would have to charge me for shipping fee the Digital Liquidators would have charged. But all in all, with $15 rebate, everything comes to $165 for a Canon Elph S200 camera! Thanks integsr97!

You didn't need a printed coupon? I have frequented several Staples stores and none of them would take a code without verification.

 

[SpacemanSpiffVT]

does om pm?

 

[BobSnob]

Originally posted by: SpacemanSpiffVT
does om pm?

Only to other office supplies stores.

 

[Napmobile]

Bob Snob, I just printed out a page listing all the online coupon codes, not the actual coupons and they were willing to honor them. Actually, this is around my fourth time where they took online coupond codes without making a fuss about it.

 

[BobSnob]

Originally posted by: Napmobile
Bob Snob, I just printed out a page listing all the online coupon codes, not the actual coupons and they were willing to honor them. Actually, this is around my fourth time where they took online coupond codes without making a fuss about it.

WOW! You must have the face of an angel!

 

[KLineD]

Originally posted by: Napmobile
Bob Snob, I just printed out a page listing all the online coupon codes, not the actual coupons and they were willing to honor them. Actually, this is around my fourth time where they took online coupond codes without making a fuss about it.

well you've gotta b a friggin idiot to do something like that...especially if they make u give up your copy...then go into their system and void all of the coupon codes you gave them. Please people, GROW BRAINS!

 

[ProjectUnkown]

Originally posted by: BobSnob

Originally posted by: SpacemanSpiffVT
does om pm?

Only to other office supplies stores.

Sorry buddy. They have a new policy and they do.

Wanted to price match a Camera but Overnight shipping was too much.

 

[BobSnob]

Originally posted by: ProjectUnkown

Originally posted by: BobSnob

Originally posted by: SpacemanSpiffVT
does om pm?

Only to other office supplies stores.

Sorry buddy. They have a new policy and they do.

Wanted to price match a Camera but Overnight shipping was too much.

Overnight shipping will always be too much. That's a zero PM policy in my book.

 

[Loote1]

Napmobile:

Never sell out your (our) hand by revealing such information for a
little deal. They often come back around in one way or another.
This is one of the few tools available to us to level the playing field
so don't give the war to save the battle otherwise, "Hot Deals" could
recuce to "Warm Deals". :frown:

Good luck in the future man.

-Loote1

 

[integsr97]

Napmobile, thanks for the heads up on the CF card. I went into Staples today to see if I could get in on the deal and they were more than willing to give it to me free of charge and hassle. Also, where did you get the $15 rebate from? The B&M store hadn't heard anything about it and I can't find it on Staples.com.