Where can I buy the Canopus ADVC-100 in the UK?

[IJM]

Hi,

Okay, I've done my research, read your posts and concluded that Canopus's ADVC-100 looks like the ideal product for capturing analogue video from VHS.

I've searched the forum and cannot find anyone who's asked the question about where to buy an ADVC-100 in the UK.

I've done a search on Google UK and found a few websites. I get the impression that Canopus only sell through their own selected dealers who are usually digital video specialists. Canopus seem to avoid selling their products through the more popular hardware suppliers such as Dabs.com or Scan.co.uk.

As a result, I'm not yet convinced that these websites I've found are offering the best deal. Put it this way, one of these sites is also selling a Panasonic SVHS deck for twice the price that you could get it elsewhere.

To be certain I'm getting the best deal, I want to check that there isn't anywhere else cheaper. The sites I've looked on list prices in the 260 GBP range including VAT and excluding delivery.

Hence my question: Where can I buy the Canopus ADVC-100 in the UK?

Many Thanks.

Ian.

[Atmos]

Recall that PlanetPC is authorised uk canopus dealer{ www. planetdv.net} and had these last time I looked.

[franco]

I got mine from www.sirentechnology.co.uk because they had a special offer at the time where I got the EZDV SE for free, but I just checked and that offer's finished.

If you want to save a few quid you could order it from the US with E-bay from this link http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3025730989&category=21166. That works out at 190GBP.

I would have got it from the above on E-Bay if there was not a special offer in the UK. I searched for ages and could only find 5 or 6 retailers of the ADVC100 in the UK and all were about 260GBP.

[franco]

Another thing is Siren technology are offering loads of cables with the unit at the moment which you would otherwise have to buy seperately.

[geek rock]

the cheapest you can get it in the UK is around the £250-260 mark.

if you have contacts in the USA who can get one for you and ship it to you, you'll be able to save yourself a fair amount. just make sure that they ship it with some sort of insurance (so you can claim back if it gets damaged or missing in transit) and they put a low value on the customs form ($20 or so) otherwise you could get caught out by customs men and have to pay more tax on it.

you can pick one up on eBay for about $260-$270 (not including shipping etc) this way..

-Mark

[IJM]

Hi,

Firstly, I'd like to say thanks to all those that replied.

I've conducted a survey of UK Canopus dealers (a list of whom I obtained from Canopus's UK website). Here is what I found:

All prices in Pounds Sterling (GBP):

Site                      Price exc VAT   Delivery   Total inc VAT
www.cke.co.uk                 229.00        17.50        289.64 
www.3dinhome.com              229.00         9.95        280.77 
www.datavision.co.uk          228.94         8.00        278.40 
www.channeltechnology.co.uk   229.00         7.50        277.89 
www.smartdv.co.uk             225.00         6.45        271.95 
www.sub.co.uk                 225.00         5.99        271.41 
www.dvc.co.uk                 225.00         5.00        270.25 
www.dvc.uk.com                225.00         5.00        270.25 
www.sirentechnology.co.uk     219.00         7.50        266.14 
www.creativevideo.co.uk       213.75        12.00        265.26 
www.planetdv.net              225.00         Free        264.38 
www.dvstuff.co.uk             221.27         Free        259.99

As you can see DV Stuff wins hands down with an all in price of 259.99 GBP.

But I feel that CKE Distribution (www.cke.co.uk) deserves a special mention... for the most outrageous delivery charge!! I hope you guys at CKE read this because... Are you taking the **** or what??! You're having a laugh to charge 20.56GBP (including VAT) for Standard UK Delivery! You're only in Yorkshire too, so it's not like you're offshore or something. If you're going to charge that much for delivery, your customers better be receiving their purchases by a goldplated motorcycle courier! Rant over.

Anyway, from what I've been able to find out, I'm happy that 260GBP is actually a very competitive price. I know that you can go on eBay and/or get it imported and maybe save a few quid, but I'm not trying to penny-pinch that much. I just wanted to make sure that I'm not getting ripped off whilst still buying from a reputable source.

Thanks once again.

Ian.

[rhegedus]

Got mine from SmartDV last November. If you're in London you can just pop in and pick it up, saving on the delivery charge.

[IJM]

Got mine from SmartDV last November. If you're in London you can just pop in and pick it up, saving on the delivery charge.

Yes, I'd do exactly that if I could. I usually get most of my computer bits from Dabs.Com or Scan because they're just one junction down the motorway, near the Reebok Stadium outside Bolton.

But as it is, I think that the nearest Canopus dealer is in Manchester, which is a little too far away to be worth the hassle.

Ian.

[ChrissyBoy]

Add www.sub.co.uk to your canopus list.

£ 225.00 ex vat

This is where i'm getting my Canopus ADVC 1394 OHCI Card from on tuesday.

[IJM]

Add www.sub.co.uk to your canopus list.

I think you'll find that The Red Submarine Computer Company is already in the list.

Thanks anyway.

Ian.

[ChrissyBoy]

I think you are right!!


I'll get my coat.

[redlester]

Just ordered mine from www.creativevideo.co.uk for £251.16 inc. VAT.

Delivery is £22 for Royal Mail Special Delivery - there was a cheaper UPS option but I prefer Royal Mail because if I'm out when they deliver, the depot is just round the corner. And that includes the Firewire card I also ordered - delivery might be less for just the Canopus?

I only just discovered the Canopus last night, and every comment I've seen on it is positive. This is great because I was on the verge of buying a new camcorder just to get analogue-in, which my existing camcorder doesn't have - but is only less than 2 years old. So that's saved me spending £400 to £500 on an unnecessary camcorder (though the widescreen option on the new ones is tempting..... :P )

[IJM]

Just ordered mine from www.creativevideo.co.uk for £251.16 inc. VAT.

Delivery is £22 for Royal Mail Special Delivery - there was a cheaper UPS option but I prefer Royal Mail because if I'm out when they deliver, the depot is just round the corner. And that includes the Firewire card I also ordered - delivery might be less for just the Canopus?

So altogether, it's cost you 273.42 GBP.

I'm not impressed by companies that suck you in with a nice cheap product price and then try to slap an overpriced delivery charge on you. Creative Video is a case in point: they list the cheapest price for the ADVC-100 itself and then charge you a minimum of 12 GBP for delivery (UPS option).

I'll still be getting mine from DV Stuff. 259.99 GBP with free delivery.

Ian.

[rhegedus]

Let's hope they have it in stock!

[ironwood321]

Hi,
I ordered mine from siren technology in Manchester. They where featured in Computer Video magazine plus I bought some Amiga stuff from them in the distant past. You get some extra scart and phono leads in the box. Which came form CPC?? I'd also recommend you purchase a 6pin to 6pin firewire cable.

IJM Perhaps a certain video department might have one of these units or a friendly technician who knows something about video/computers might have one at home.

[ChrissyBoy]

This is where i'm getting my Canopus ADVC 1394 OHCI Card from on tuesday

WHAT A JOKE. www.sub.co.uk!!

Ordered on 21/05/03, still waiting for the goods to arrive in thier shop (i only live 1 mile away). Today is 4/6/03!!

Comedians.

[M66]

Why are you limiting yourself to buying from a U.K. dealer?
Chances are you'll get a much better price if you order the ADVC-100 from Germany.
Sweden, where I'm from, and the U.K. are alike in that we have extremely high prices on everything from cars to ADVCs.
Higher than in other EU countries.
I bought my ADVC- 100 from Germany, ordered via the web, and got it for considerably less than it costs here, with postage and all fees included. We're in the EU, and we customers need to use the benefits from our EU memberships more often.

[ironwood321]

The trouble ordering from a non UK source is if something goes wrong with the item. You usually have a lot of hassle arranging for it to be sent back to be repaired or even accepted for repair by a non UK company.

You usually get some sort of limited protection from trade with UK companies in the UK.

You could always go for the ADVC-50 which is the ADVC-100 little brother. Internally mounted and slightly cheaper.

[M66]

The trouble ordering from a non UK source is if something goes wrong with the item. You usually have a lot of hassle arranging for it to be sent back to be repaired or even accepted for repair by a non UK company.

You usually get some sort of limited protection from trade with UK companies in the UK.

Buying a well-known manufacturer's gadget (from a German on-line shop that looks serious, of course) means it comes with a world-wide, or at least European, guarantee.
My experience with sending things back for repair or exchange to German companies has been good.
Keep in mind that the domestic shops *wants* you to think it's going to be a problem ordering from abroad. It's in their interest to scare customers to only shop in their own back yard. While many, many times it is considerably cheaper - and perfectly safe- to buy things from Germany.

Just one note: You can't disable Macrovision on the ADVC-50, only on the 100 model.

[Quentin]

My experience is just the opposite - got my Fast DV now from a big(ish) German retailer and it was nothing but hassle - not a wise move, for me at least - the carriage costs to return it when the **** thing developed a fault were indeed ridiculous. Not to mention not really being able to get phone-support as their english wasn;t great and call costs from the u.k. to germany wern't cheap.

PS - Obvious tip but i always ring any company offering anyting for sale over the web to see if they have stock before ordering, as they always seem to take ages to get stock/re-stock for some reason (or maybe its just my bad luck).

To give them credit, sub.co.uk did own up to having no ADVC-100 stock when i rang them so I got my ADVC-100 from Planet PC, for £219 ex VAT with no P&P charge & got it next day, hurray!