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Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | What is it about the Camera retailing business that seems to encourage less than up-front business practices?
The latest example...
I ordered a camera from BroadwayPhoto, - whoops- did I mistakenly mention BroadwayPhoto by name?- thru their website and I get and order confirmation. Three days later, I get an email from them asking to call to confirm the order so they can process the order.
I call.
I'm on hold for 30 minutes (no exaggeration)
When the sales rep finally answers, he asks me, if my address is correct and reads it to me. Almost before I tell him it is correct, he begins to aggressively "up-sale" me for accessories; memory cards, batteries, warranty, case etc. I tell him, "no... no... no... no... just send me the camera as ordered..." ("Confirm your order," my ass)
He doesn't seem to understand this. And continues to tell me I need this stuff. Again, I say "NO. JUST SEND ME THE CAMERA AS ORDERED!"
Finally he gets it and now rushes me of the phone with a snarky, "Fine, the camera is in stock and you should receive it in 3-5 business days." and then hangs-up.
Today I get an email saying the camera is backordered.
That's it. The last straw. I click on "Cancel Order" link contained in said email and guess what...
The web page is "Unavailable"
This isn't the first time I've had issues like this with a camera retailer and my impression is that it is somewhat common.
:end rant: |
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Posts: 5327
Location: Cicero, NY | Sounds like you should use the gun one more time before you grab the cannoli. |
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November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | don't you wish you could send Emails with poison gas?
-or is that just me? |
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Posts: 10581
Location: NJ | same thing happened to me and I think it was the same place
no it was abe's of maine LOCATED IN BROOKLYN
the butt munch sold me a memory card that I later found out was over priced by $20 bucks so I did not save anything on the camera.
sorta the brotheroklahouseoffriend of the camera biz |
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Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | B&H
period. |
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December 2001
Posts: 7210
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | While OT, many of us do buy online. There are ways to avoid the above. While the above is certainly more common online, so is places that track this kind of behavior.
Unless you are buying a vintage, on-of-a-kind item, it's available from many retailers. While many could really care less about customer service, it's just not in their business model, many do. I always research who I'm dealing with.
One of the best resources is, believe it or not, the Better Business Bureau. Simply the www.bbb.org and click the "National" site of choice. In this case, the business mentioned has an "unsatisfactory" rating. That would be enough for me to move on.
Also, don't let really big companies with LOTS of complaints scare you off. It clearly states if the complaints were resolved or not. Remember the BBB reports on businesses that are also not members.
What if you find NOTHING about the business you are looking up. Really??? Nothing?? is what I ask. Now sometimes there are no complaints. If the business has been around for a year or two, fine, just search deeper. If they've been around for 10 years and NO complaints... hmmmm I'd search a little deeper.
Also, my other favorite is just google "review of xxxxx" and use the business name. You'd be surprised. As example again using the business above... the 3rd link down is titled "Read this BEFORE you buy a digital camera at..." and the business name.
In this day and age of technology it's fairly easy to get scammed or just get poor service. However, it's also just as easy to find great places to do business. |
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Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Yepper, what cliff said!
Ya might want to get on their mailing list if you're looking for some great deals. |
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Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Miles, that Googled review is nearly identical to my experience.
Me thinks there's a pattern of behavior there. |
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October 2008
Posts: 639
Location: NW of Philadelphia | +1 with Cliff.
When it comes to buying serious camera equipment online, if you know what you want and want it fast and reliably... B&H
Of course, I too support my local shops and go to The Camera Shop of Bryn Mawr , PA. Great service, great knowledgeable people. (Not to be confused with "The Camera Shop, Inc.") |
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Posts: 12750
Location: Boise, Idaho | I make my share of typos and don't pay too much attention to others', but after my daughter watched some dress designer marathon on the TV in the family room last night, Miles' "it's fairy easy" typo struck me as funny. |
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Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | I've done business with B&H a couple times.
No problems... good deals |
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December 2003
Posts: 1889
Location: Central Massachusetts | +1 all of what Miles said.
While there may be legit camera stores in Brooklyn, this is a well known problem area.
Brooklyn camera retailer storefront pictures
Jeff, here's the storefront for your shop:
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Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Jeff and Al you are not alone
Same thing happened to me about 6 months ago.
I think that it is the same outfit with about a dozen websites but they all seem to go back to the same slimeballs.
I fought mine through the credit card company, showed them emailed copies of discussions with the company, showed how I had followed the companies instructions to the letter and I was still denied my claim by VISA. Guess I don't do the volume of business these sleezeballs do. |
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Posts: 1792
Location: Rego Park, NY, | Originally posted by cliff:
B&H
period.
B & H Photo + 1000. Remember I'm the asian camera guy. :) |
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Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Those storefronts don't lend much confidence.
It'll make me do a little more research next time. |
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Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | Jeff, the exact same thing happened to me from these people. They also operate under about 5 or 6 other storefronts and have the same policy. I actually ended up buying off Ebay and got a great deal on the camera and lens set. B&H is reliable, and usually very competitive price wise. |
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Posts: 3145
Location: Marlton, NJ | I purchased my stuff last year off of an Ebay store - Cameta Cameras. They also have a real store in NY. No problems whatsoever, and excellent customer service. |
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June 2003
Posts: 1792
Location: Rego Park, NY, | I went to Abe's camera store once. Didn't feel comfortable there. I wasn't the one buying. That day a co-worker wanted me to take him there. I've been to Cameta Camera also. I went there because they had something that B and H didn't have in stock. Otherwise B&H Photo is the way to go. I just ordered medium format film and polaroid film for my friend last week. I received the order in 48 hours. |
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Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | I wish B&H carried the camera I was looking for. |
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Posts: 1792
Location: Rego Park, NY, | Which camera is it? |
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Posts: 12750
Location: Boise, Idaho | Originally posted by Phil Wong:
Which camera is it? The "slimy" one, Phil. You didn't pay attention. |
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Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | The B&H and the Sweetwater catalogs form the 1-2 punch of my toilet sitting. Sorry to be so graphic, but the reading just doesn't get much better then that. I've tried the newspaper, magazines, Uncle John's, you name it. Nothing quite packs the wallop of these fine publications. And due largely to their catalogs they have both won my business on many, many occasions. |
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Posts: 4413
| Just beautiful dave, just beautiful. |
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November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Originally posted by Phil Wong:
Which camera is it? Ricoh GX200. |
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Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | I can only imagine what Witko does with the Taylor pages . . . |
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OT: RANT! Slimy Camera Retailers
