I purchased the Panasonic GS200 Camcorder from Blueswitch. Before buying from them, I did a lot of reference checking on this and other companies. I found that although they didn't have the best rating out there (about 6+ out of 10 at the time) Blueswitch's price was among the best.

I spoke with "Manny" who was very friendly. I informed him that I had done my research on companies such as his and that I was on guard for many of the practices I'd read about, such as items out of stock, repeated email delays, overselling accessories, etc.

He understood my apprehension and assured me that he had the item in stock and asked me to simply give him a couple minutes to offer accessories that I might want. He assured me he would not "hard sell" me.

After listening, I did end up buying a spare battery (after Manny discounted the price for me) and some tapes (name brand, priced under what I could get them for locally). Manny also threw in a UV filter and upgraded my shipping from ground to 2 day.

I received tracking information that evening and verified it shipped. The camera and accessories arrived as promised, with no problems. I would definitely make another purchase from Blueswitch, and will especially ask for Manny.

Now some words of advice to anyone purchasing from an online discount electronics store: First, do it via telephone, not via the internet. Be firm. Let them know you will not tolerate any BS. Ask specific questions verifying the item is in stock, that it is not grey market, it has full mfr. warranty, what the return policy is, restocking fees, etc. Also, get the first and last name of the rep you deal with. This makes them more accountable.

Finally, make it clear to them that if the item is not delivered on time and as promised, you will immediately stop payment on your credit card & report them to the Better Business Bureau. "Do not play games with my order!"

In order to get an idea of how responsive they are, I selected the returns option from their phone menu instead of sales. This allowed me to see how long it takes them to respond to a problem. Some companies didn't pick up for 15 minutes (if at all), while others picked up as fast as the sales department. Listen to the attitude of the rep when they have to transfer you. This also gives you an idea of their customer service commitment.