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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: 5330
Location: Cicero, NY | Sounds like you should use the gun one more time before you grab the cannoli. |
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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: 10582
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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Posts: 7222
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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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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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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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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Location: south east Michigan | I've done business with B&H a couple times.
No problems... good deals |
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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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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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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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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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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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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | I wish B&H carried the camera I was looking for. |
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Location: Rego Park, NY, | Which camera is it? |
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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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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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| Just beautiful dave, just beautiful. |
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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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Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | "...I can only imagine what Witko does with the Taylor pages . . ."
replacement for the Sears catalog maybe? |
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Posts: 1792
Location: Rego Park, NY, | Jeff, you can try Adorama Camera. I buy some of my equipment from this store also.
http://www.amazon.com/Ricoh-GX200-Compact-Digital-Viewfinder/dp/B00... |
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Posts: 639
Location: NW of Philadelphia | Adorama is a sister store (more like cousin twice removed) to B&H... BUT their customer service and reliablity are not nearly as good. I learned that from personal experience.
My opinion: avoid Adorama too. |
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Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | Originally posted by cliff:
I can only imagine what Witko does with the Taylor pages . . . Those are the ones that are stuck together :D |
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Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | I did go with Adorama. This camera is not readily available in the States, so choices are a bit limited. |
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Posts: 5563
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | The B&H and the Sweetwater catalogs form the 1-2 punch of my toilet sitting. +1...Now this is downright scary...
:eek: ;) |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | Dave uses Odorama. At least that's what they become after he reads their catalog. |
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January 2006
Posts: 1478
Location: Michigan | :mad: alpep please dont get me started on BrothaSnobbyOklahomaHorseSh*tAttitude&Guitars please. :mad: I almost started a thread on jerks who do business on the web but I held back since its the time of year for Goodwill to all.GWB |
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Posts: 4827
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | I buy local.
Pay a smidge more, get great long term service. Plus, if they don't have it & can't get it they'll recommend where to get a good deal.
(local including youse guys, of course!) |
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OT: RANT! Slimy Camera Retailers