I was looking to buy a watch a year or so ago. I did my research in the UK first and decided what I wanted and then compared prices by emailing a few shops in Tenerife before I went.

It was actually cheaper to buy in the UK over the internet (by quite a lot). In addition, my neighbour bought a camcorder in Tenerife and was very disappointed with his purchase - it was a bit difficult to return the item. Finally, can you really be sure that the item you think you will be buying is the item you will get?

Personally, I'm not quite so sure that buying out there is the "best" place. Added to that are fiddly problems like possible incompatibility with leads/customs and duties etc.

My advice:

Decide on the model you want (sounds like you have done already), check the price from reputable internet suppliers, then email a few places in Tenerife and compare the prices before you go.

Kelkoo.com and Dealtime.com are good places to start.

Cigarettes and Alcohol are cheaper in the Canaries but I strongly suspect that other things aren't so cheap.

Plus you might prefer to have the camcorder all set up before you go to use on day 1 of the holiday.

ive bought a couple here...... and was stung at heathrow by customs.... impossible to get out of, due to the fact that the power lead had a 2 pin plug as oppose to 3 !!!!

so many camcorder scams in canaries, that I would not risk it
( not saying that all the shops are bad)

Main scam seems to to be agree and pay!! for a piece of kit (good brand) , then they either claim not to have all the bits or tell you that model is not actually that good.... and you end up buying a cheap tacky one instead ( bait & swap)

( Note this sites word filter has blocked the word S>C>A>M

I agree, buyer beware. You might get stung at one of the 'lookee lookee' shops, or at customs. Not worth it really. But if you are determined, I would try Maya in PDLA or the El Corte Ingles in Santa Cruz

Can't see the point of buying in tenerife when you can buy digital camcorder at such places as comet for less than £200.00. Just my opinion but for me it would be less hassle and probably little difference in price if any at all

colinc57 wrote:

so many camcorder S>C>A>M>S in canaries, that I would not risk it
( not saying that all the shops are bad)

Main ???? seems to to be agree and pay!! for a piece of kit (good brand) , then they either claim not to have all the bits or tell you that model is not actually that good.... and you end up buying a cheap tacky one instead ( bait & swap)

I think this is what happened to my neighbour

A relative of mine was looking at a camcorder in a shop under Parque Santiago. It was in the window and he knew it was good value, a well known brand. With his partner he went in and asked to have a look at it. The camcorder was taken out of the window and connected to a small television on the counter and turned on. They could see themselves and realisied it was black and white.

The man behind the counter confirmed that it was only black and white and that was why it was cheap.

He then went to a shelf and took down another box. This camera was better quality and better value. While he was doing this my relative reached forward and turned the button on the television and the picture was full colour.

He then told the shopkeeper that he would buy the well known origional brand that had been taken from the window.

The man behind the counter started shouting, ordered them from the shop, which they did. He then came out into the passageway beyween the shops and continued to shout abuse at them. He was joined in this shouting and abuse by a man in the next camera shop.

Caveat empyor-Let the buyer beware,

Billyboy.

DONT ever buy anything from these scumbags in the Canaries, they have been scamming people since I first visited 20 years ago - They only got me the once and that was my daughter being overcharged for a gameboy advance. I find it best just to ignore them as they try to cajool you into their shops, it's not worth the hassle....

Buy in the UK or from the internet, dont waste your hard earned cash buying over there!!