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You can find additional information on the following topics below. Click a title to jump directly to that section.

What's new on the Samy's Camera website?

Glad you asked. We've made great strides towards refining this web site, to make it easier, faster, and more full-featured. Aside from the general graphic touch-up, you might notice the following improvements:

  • faster loading times
  • greatly improved shopping cart
  • better presentation of product information and images

Additionally, you'll notice that we've combined samys.com and samyscamera.com into a single website. No more confusion about which site is which, and no more going back and forth between the two. Both addresses will lead you here now, where you can find information about all of our products, and all of our stores and events.

But we're not done yet. In the near future, we plan to offer clearer, better-organized product categorization, a user registration feature for our repeat customers, better order tracking and inventory management, and full support for the XHTML standard. If you don't know what that means, don't worry about it; it just means this website will look and work better for you, no matter where you're browsing from!

If you have comments or questions about our new site, please fill out our feedback form.

Privacy & Security Policy

At Samy's Camera, we value your privacy and personal security. This is as much for our protection as it is for yours, and we take it seriously. Any information you give us is treated confidentially and steps are taken to make sure that it is protected appropriately.

We do collect some information from our users, which is gathered either in the course of transactions or internal monitoring. All such information is detailed below:

Anonymous user information
As you browse our website, our web servers do record data on your visit, using cookies and other tracking methods. A cookie is a small file that is stored on your computer that identifies it specifically with our website, allowing us to simplify the login and checkout processes. This information also allows us to analyze what our visitors are looking for, whether or not they find it, and how they work with our website. None of the information collected by these methods in any way contains personal details about you or any of our other users - it is strictly statistical information about your computer and internet connection.

Purchaser information
If you make a purchase with us at Samy's Camera, we require personal information to complete the order. This includes name, address, and other contact information that you provide. All of this information is maintained in our servers which are rigorously protected. We will never sell or give your personal information to marketers or solicitors. Personal information you provide is stored in your web browser's memory as long as you remain on our site for your convenience; as soon as you close the browser, this information is deleted. Your browser's security settings may permit you to change how long this information is retained; consult the help files for your browser for more info.

Credit card information
We collect credit card information in order to finalize purchases on our website. We treat this information with tremendous care, and erase it from our records as soon as your order has been completed. We take these exceptional security steps for a good reason: your security is our security. In February 2003, hackers were able to steal as many as 8 million credit card numbers from vulnerable databases - we'd rather not risk something like that happening to us (or you!).

Safe Purchasing

If you've bought online from other stores, you probably think we're asking a lot on our online forms, and you're right. But the business we're in is particularly prone to fraud and theft, and we take as many steps as we can to prevent that. Rest assured that all of your purchases with Samy's are verified, secure and authentic.

Samy's Camera is publicly rated on ResellerRatings.com, an online repository of customer comments and reviews for online resellers. Please, take the time to read our ratings and submit one of your own.

This website uses SSL secure server technology to encrypt your critical information while in transit. That means prying eyes can't get at your credit card or personal information. Our secured certificate is provided by Thawte, and you can view the credentials by clicking here. Wherever you see that certificate or the secure icon at the bottom of your browser (typically either a lock or a key), you know that we are who we say we are.

But what about you? The only way we can safely verify that our customers are who they say they are is by using thorough checks and having all the relevant information. That's why we don't currently ship anywhere but the billing address, and that's why we require the amount of information that we do. We realize the inconvenience this might create, but we feel building a mutual network of trust is crucial to having faith in your purchases on the web - particularly if you're purchasing expensive equipment on time-sensitive deadlines!

We are of course looking for better, more convenient solutions to these problems all the time. As always, if you have any questions about this policy, please feel free to contact us.

This site looks broken on my Mac!

Every web browser displays pages slightly differently. While redesigning Samys.com, we went to great lengths to ensure that the site would look consistent for most of our viewers. But, there just aren't enough hours in the day to make it look 100% the same on all browsers and platforms. Internet Explorer on the Mac is a particularly odd browser, and interprets certain display properties very differently from other, more common browsers. Faced with the various options, we unfortunately had to drop full support for this browser. While we regret having to do this to you, we do feel justified in the following facts:

  • Internet Explorer has been discontinued on the Mac platform and will no longer be developed by Microsoft.
  • all aspects of this site will work in Internet Explorer, even if they don't look quite right.
  • a variety of free alternative browsers are available on the Mac, and we encourage you to use them. They will make this site and many others look like they were intended to.
If you'd like to download a free web browser for your Mac, we think these are swell options: If you're not using Internet Explorer, and there's still something wrong with the site, you've probably run across an issue we haven't seen before. Please send an email to the webmaster and let us know, and we'll get right on fixing it!

Payment Methods

We accept Visa, Master Card, American Express and Discover. We also accept cashier's check, personal checks, postal or bank money orders. Personal checks and money orders are subject to verification which may take several days or longer.

Why are the prices on this web site different from those in your stores?

Our stores are staffed with a wide variety of product specialists and support staff, each of whom make an effort to be responsive and pleasant to deal with. We're also able to provide a customer with any item from our inventory to inspect and test. The cost of this customer service is an increased overhead for our in-store prices, to pay for the store space, the training of our employees, and other considerations not present online. We're happy to offer reduced prices online and hope that you will be satisfied with your purchase no matter where you decide to buy.

Minimum Advertised Price

You may have noticed that some items simply have a price listed, while others have a price that is linked or directs you to "Call for our price!" Why aren't all of our prices treated the same way?

This is because of something called Minimum Advertised Price, or MAP. MAP is an agreement between a reseller (such as Samy's Camera) and an equipment vendor or manufacturer, wherein the reseller agrees to advertise products only at a certain price - even if you can actually buy the product for less! As a reseller, it's beneficial for us to adhere to MAP, because then we get a favored status with vendors that includes better and faster access to new products and information.

As a customer, we understand that MAP pricing can be confusing. But we've tried to simplify the process as much as possible. If you add any item to your shopping cart, the price you see in the shopping cart will always be the absolute best price we can give you on that item. You're under no obligation to buy any item in your shopping cart… just click the "remove" button at any time and it's gone. We'll continually try to find the best ways to get the best prices to you in the most straightforward way possible.

Mail Order Return Policy

  • Time period is two weeks from the time that you receive the order to exchange or return item.
  • All returns must be received in their original packaging, intact. Warranty cards must be returned blank. Any item that is received by Samy's with missing or damaged packaging, or has had the warranty card filled out will be returned to the customer at their expense.
  • All returns for refund will be subject to a 10% - 15% restocking fee.
  • Exchanges for items of equal or greater value will not be charged a restocking fee as long as the item is returned in a "like new condition".
  • Defective merchandise can be exchanged within 30 days of purchase as long as you have the original packaging and warranty card and the warranty card has not been filled out. If you do not have the original packaging or have already filled out the warranty card, you'll need to send the defective item to the manufacturer.
  • No returns or exchanges on Film or Sensitized Materials, photo-paper, one-time use batteries or cameras, etc.
  • No returns on opened inkjet cartridges, inkjet paper, dye-sub materials, printer ribbons or donor, etc.
  • Software is not returnable once it has been opened, except for exchange for the same item in case of defect.
  • Returned products will be subject to a restocking fee unless returned for exchange.
  • Shipping is not refundable.

External Links

This site contains links to other websites beyond the control of Samy's Camera. Samy's Camera takes no responsibility for the content or presentation of these websites. Links are added and edited as needed. If you have links you would like to submit or correct, please send an email to the webmaster.

Terms of Use

Your viewing and use of this site is at your own risk. While Samys.com makes every effort to present accurate and reliable information, this site is presented "as is." Samy's Camera makes no guarantees with regard to the content or services of this site, nor the accuracy, suitability, or reliability of any of the information or services provided on the site. Samy's Camera makes no guarantees that the web server used to present this site is free of harmful agents including viruses, downloadable software, or other components that could infect or damage your computer beyond the control of Samy's Camera.

You agree to indemnify, defend and hold Samy's Camera harmless from and against any and all liability and costs (including, without limitation, attorneys' fees and costs), incurred in connection with any claim arising out of any breach by you of these Terms and Conditions of the foregoing representations, warranties and covenants. Samy's Camera reserves the right, at its own expense, to assume the exclusive defense and control of any matter otherwise subject to indemnification by you and you will not in any event settle any matter without the written consent of Samy's Camera.

Samy's Camera is a registered corporation operating in the State of California. These Terms and Conditions are governed and interpreted under the laws of the State of California, United States of America, without giving any effect to principles of conflicts of law.

Additional Information

All prices are good for mail order and Internet only. Samy's is not responsible for typographical / photographic errors or manufacturers' price increases. All prices subject to change without prior notice. All images are for illustrative purposes only. Send your questions or comments to webmaster@samys.com.