Buying MP3 players
 

I'll be visiting New York at the end of the month and I'm interested in buying an MP3 player. Can anyone recommend a good place to buy one. Someone mentioned JandR..... are they any good?

Many people I know from all over the USA are firm believers that B&H PhotoVideo at 420 Ninth Avenue, near West 34th Sttreet, is a good place to buy cameras and other similar products.

The B&H web site lits lots of MP3 players, and gcan give you an idea of price.

I'm a photographer, so would gravitate to B&H.

And I have heard good reports about prices from J&R.

I think buying from either store is a bit of an adventure in New Yorkkness, but I'd go to either one.

Be very careful of the garish electronics retailers where you start to get nervous when you enter the door. make sure you get official US warranties, if this matters to you.

BAK

We have bought from both J&R and B&H, mostly online and have never had a problem. However, I suggest that you do your comparison shopping online, know what you want and have a good idea of what the retail market price is before you shop the streets of NY.

I bought an Olympus Camedia online through B&H two weeks before Christmas, and within three days it was in our hands, and at an excellent price. It's certainly another company worth looking at for your purchase.

J&R is good and reputable, but you may not get the best price. You may want to check prices of some web retailers. Keep in mind, sales tax in the city is 8.625%

Whatever you do, avoid like the plague, the shops in tourist areas - (along Fith Ave, etc.). You will be ripped off. They are masters of bait and switch, gray market goods, and any other scam they can get away with.

I bought my laptop from J&R online--no tax, no shipping. Better deal than buying at the brick and motar.

Another vote for J and R. I think B&H looks like it has more depth and variety for photographics though. J and R always seems to have the latest things at the best prices - some charge a premium until a new product becomes well known !

Why buy in NYC instead of your home town? Neither J&R or B&H are bargains. Do you live in a rural area or foreign country?

I think you've gotten great advice so far. I bought some ipod accessories for a relative in England at J & R. It's all the way downtown near City Hall. It's a huge and overwhelming store. They usually have the very lowest prices though. You really need to know exactly what you want. I don't think it's a place to "shop" but I feel that way about all the discount places. I wish I'd had time to buy it online. Unless you live out of the country, I'd strongly suggest that and maybe save the tax.

B & H is at least midtown but as others have said, it may be better for cameras. Compare prices online.

Thanks guys for your advice on this. I stay in Scotland so unfortunately it's not possible for me to buy online due to shipping restrictions. MP3 players are a lot cheaper in the states than they are here, even more so with the favourable exchange rate. For instance, I've looked into MP3 players to find the most suitable one for me and have pretty much decided on a Creative Labs player which is $219 at JandR wheras in the UK, they retail at $440!! Scarey stuff, eh. Anyway, thanks again for all your advice on this and looks like JandR is as good a place as any to buy one.

B&H and J&R are both good reputable places to buy. They are not places to shop - there is no "customer service" and they do not have time for lots of questions or should I/shouldn't I? You need to go in knowing exactly what you want - model, features, etc and what price you are willing to pay (they almost always have exellent prices - but there is no guarantee).

So do all your homework, check the major web sites as well as those for B&H, J&R - and go in prepared to buy if they have the one you want.