Web Shopping: Point, Click, Hope.(Internet/Web/Online Service Information)

I FELL IN LOVE WITH Sony's little DCR-PC5 digital camcorder when I tried it out, so I ordered one over the Web last Christmas. Sure, the unit arrived without a warranty card--but it had very clear instructions for getting service in Singapore. Sure, the cord on the battery charger had two round prongs--but I did discover a flat-prong adapter for U.S. electrical outlets in the box.

Welcome to the gray market. The retailer itself had evidently imported the product rather than getting it through standard channels. There is apparently nothing illegal about this if the retailer discloses it. But this retailer didn't. I decided to keep the unit after I discovered I could register it on Sony's Web site, but the whole experience left me reeling--particularly since I'd done plenty of homework.

BEWARE OF BOTS

I USED SHOPPING ROTS like PriceScan and MySimon to find the best price, although I know that price can't be your only criterion. The sites I found offering the cheapest prices were sloppily put together, and the vendors were pushing package deals featuring dubious tripods from companies that I'd never heard of and extra tapes at triple the normal price. Eventually I stumbled on a New York outfit called Etronics, the only place I managed to find all of the official Sony accessories I was looking for. The prices quoted on the site were decent, even figuring in the exorbitant "shipping" charges of $56 for UPS ground delivery.

There were a few complaints about the company at the merchant--rating Web sites that I checked, but overall Etronics came up with decent marks. Still, I wasn't entirely convinced that every obscure item I wanted was actually in stock, as the site claimed, so clicked for online chat with a sales rep. "We do not lie," typed a person who went by the handle of Doug; "99 percent of the time if it says in stock it is." We went through the items one by one, and Doug assured me they were all in stock. The rest of our chat, strictly verbatim:

Steve: When will it ship?

Doug: it will ship tomorrow or the next day and you will get it, depending on what you pick with UPS...