|
|
Morgan of Chicago, IL November 13, 2008
I would like to know why you can't get word out of the New Jersey Consumer Affairs Department about what happened with the lawsuit against Express Cameras filed in November 2006.
Apparently, the people are no longer practicing but they should have been monetarily punished and each scammed customer should have received 10,000. Instead, the New Jersey Department of Consumer Affairs refuses to respond to questions about the outcome of this case.
Jason of Westfield, MA June 18, 2008
I did have a very pushy salesman. My intentions were to purchase a canon camcorder and I was talked into a higher priced camcorder. Sony. The photos and advertising on line was misleading and faulty. Nevertheless, i purchased the more expensive camcorder and was ultimatley pleased with this item when I did receive it. The only problem was I was gaurenteed a 5 year warranty on the product and did not receive this paper work with my purchase. I immediately called to ask where it was. Of course they coaxed me into believing it was being processed and may take up to thirty days. I waited a few weeks and called to complain. They kept saying please hold and hung up on me several times.
Finally, when I did get a chance to talk to Adam (the original sales associate) he assured me it was in the mail. I called him several times throughout the following weeks to come and was treated like dirt. Again they hung up on me and played transfer tag with me. Never did I get the chance to talk to anyone who could help and never did I receive the 5 year warranty. This was November 5th of 2007 When I made this purchase. It is now June 18th of 2008 and I have been having trouble getting my camera's tape player to open. Great, now I can't even get a hold of anybody from the company and The one year warranty card I did fill out is [expletive]. I called on it and the company said they don't deal with sony camcorders.
Economically, its going to cost me money to get this camcorder repaired. How much is TBD at this time. It is also costing me money for several weddings I had lined up to do the videographing. Also, some hunting video footage I had recorded I now cannot get to on my computer cause I cannot get any tapes in my camcorder to edit.
Richard of Vista, CA May 7, 2008
I saw their ad on the internet for a movie camera and a very respectable price. The critical thing is that they displayed the entire camera. This is the first part of their GAME. (False and mis leading advertising) I place the order and filled in all the blanks.
Here is the second part of the GAME. They didn't ask for the three digit code on the back of the card and thus they had to call for the number. Nick starts by saying that I really didn't want to buy that camera as it is only partially there. He starts by saying that there isn't any lenses, batteries and on and on. Since I didn't know anything about movie cameras, he convinced me to buy a Sony for twice the money and he would up grade different items including a camera case. I was anxious and asked for a next day delivery as I needed the camera ASAP.
Man was I ever disappointed with that tinker toy camera. Nothing was good about the whole deal. Oh! the upgraded DELUXE WATER RESISTANT CAMCORDER CARRYING CASE; my point and shoot barely fits into it. Nick also informed me that there would be a battery charger included in the package. I guess he didn't scam too much about that as it is build into the camera which isn't what he led me to believe. And the camera: I ordered a lens filter and a 2x telephoto lens. With the filter on the main camera lens, the 2x won't attach and with the 2x lens installed, the filter can't be used.
I waited until the last moment to buy a good camcorder and instead of getting help from this New York company I got screwed out of 3581.97. The camera he recommended is also junk in my opinion.
Evelyn of Charlestown, NH February 2, 2008
I ordered a Canon 100mm Macro lens via the internet. I did check feedback, but only on their web page. Anyway, the order didn't confirm, said to call, so I did. Got Nicholas, who informed me that I really didn't want that lens, it wouldn't do what I wanted, and he would upgrade me to a Sigma lens that was much better. I am a novice to photography, but I had heard about Sigma lenses, and what he was saying made sense to me, plus I was at work and really busy, so I agreed. I did refuse other things he said I needed. My order had gone from 366 to almost 500. After I hung up, I didn't feel good about the whole thing, so I did some research online for Sigma lenses. The ONLY one they had that was even slightly comparable to the Canon lens I wanted was available almost everywhere for just about 100.
Meanwhile, my invoice came via email, and the total was even higher. The worst part was that NOTHING was itemized, not even the shipping part (which was supposed to be free.) Still not feeling good about this order, I did a Google search on Express Camera, and came up with HUNDREDS of horror stories, most worse than mine. By now it was 3 PM, (on a Friday), and, in spite of being fearful about what would happen, gleaned from all the experiences in the reviews, I called to cancel the order. As soon as I gave my name and said why I was calling, I was informed that it was too late, they were closed for the weekend. My next call was to my bank. Remembering from somewhere about a buyer's remorse clause, I thought I had 24 hours to cancel the charge on my credit card. Well, the bank clerk suggested I refuse the shipment, but after I read a bunch of reviews to her, she checked my account, and the charge had not come through yet. She immediately canceled my card and reported it as a hot card. Fortunately for me, this is a debit card, so it was relatively easy to do, and the service charge to issue a new card with a new number was tiny compared to what I was potentially spending on a lens being totally misrepresented to me. I haven't heard any more from Express Camera, but it is still the same weekend. I am pretty sure I won't, since this has probably happened to them before, and they are aware I am on to them, so to speak.
Fortunately, my consequences are negligible, compared to others who have been taken by this company. I basically wanted to post this to thank everyone else for the warnings! Without sites such as this, I probably would have let the whole order continue and really have suffered buyer's remorse'. I thought I was a pretty savvy shopper, but this Nicholas guy is very, very good... he knows exactly what to say based on answers to questions he asks! Most people, like myself, are really excited about making their new purchase and feeling that we are getting a great deal, so we aren't as careful as we should be. How do we prevent these sites from continuing?
Tim of Marietta, OH January 13, 2008
I called to purchase a Nikon SB-600 Flash. First, I was given a price of 190.00 with US Warranty 1 yr. warranty. Then I was told if I wanted a Nikon Warranty it would be more money. I believe 25.00 more. I asked if it was in stock and that said they would order it and wouldn't give me a delivery time. Then they quoted me a price on shipping and then also changed it to a higher amount. When I complained, they tried to switch me to an off brand flash of which I never heard before and it was the same price as the Nikon SB-600. Before this took place the flash was in stock and the shipping was reasonable and I gave them my Visa Credit Card then changed the whole story on the warranty, price and shipping quote.
Typical bait and switch internet company. Very rude and they have my credit card number which I am very worried about. I filed complaint from the New Jersey Consumer Division almost 6 weeks ago and have never herard anything back. I am worried about fraudulet use of my credit card!
Wayne of Patchogue, NY January 3, 2008
I recently had a bad experience with express cameras.com. I ordered a lens from them and they called me the next day and talked me into buying a different lens (bait and switch). After I received the lens, I started doing some research because I did not think it was the lens they told me it was. I called the lens manufacturer and they told me that the lens I ordered was not due to be released in the US until January 20th, 2008 . I called express cameras.com and they assured me it was because they got it from their overseas distributer and told me to look at the back of the box and the PE on it meant professional grade. I called Sigma again (lens manufacturer) and they told me that the PE meant recycled paper and that it was not their new lens, and they get more complaints about expresscameras.com than any other dealer.
I called express cameras back again and said I wanted to return the lens and they wanted to charge me 240 fee and I had to pay that first. I would end up settling for a 320 refund which they did pay, but I still could have gotten the lens for close to two hundred dollars less at any number of sites. They basically lied and sold me a cheaper lens and were very nasty on the phone. They also sold me a 3 piece glass lens filter kit for more than 300.00 but I received a plastic filter kit I could have bought on E-bay for less than 50.00
I feel I could have gotten the same items from a reputable store for at least 400.00 to 500.00 less. This store is lying and charging for items and sending less expensive items, and were extremely belligerent and nasty on the phone. Now I am stuck with a lens I did not want and cheap, plastic lens filters. Barry of Baltimore, MD January 3, 2008
I over PAID. They convinved me to pay 40% more then what I could have paid from a full price retail outlet. I was DUMB.
Sharon of Rochester, MN December 3, 2007
When I called Express Camera for information on an upgraded lens for my Canon xti, I was directed to the 24-7 site. The Lens is listed on the website as new; the salesperson told me that it was the last one they had and they were flying out the door! I ordered the lens and started to become suspicious as I was searching other retail sites, and the lens came up over 1000.00 less than Express had listed on their website. Upon receipt of the merchandise, I then sent an email to Sigma with the model number and the serial number of the smaller lens. I got the fastest response from them; he told me that the lens was introduced into the market in 2004!
Needless to say, I was totally ripped off with both lenses. Buyer beware: they don't list the manufacturers' names of any of the lens filters or kits. Once I got the package, I found they are very inexpensive and can be bought anywhere else for a fraction of the cost. They should not be selling merchandise.
I called about returning the merchandise and the invoice is not itemized, they charged 100.00 for shipping! I was told that there was a restocking fee for all the merchandise (but on the phone placing the order I was told I had seven days), and I would also loose the shipping fee. They have agreed to give me a partial refund for a 2500.00 purchase, I keep checking my Visa account and it has not shown up yet
Keith of Steilacoom, WA November 28, 2007
I had used one of the best-value sites to purchase a Canon XL2; expresscameras.com came up. I ordered 2 online during the Black Friday super sale, and on Monday I received an order cancellation notice informing me that they over sold the item I purchased; and they put me on a list that will take six to eight weeks to get more. Monday, the day I got the notice, they still have them advertised for the same price under the title Monday blowout special. Today 11/28/07 the camera is still listed for sale for 999.00. I have my confirmation order and cancellation notice.
I was purchasing the camera for my son who needs it for college. Now due to my attempted purchase, expresscameras.com has a lot of personal information along with my credit card number. If they are a fraudulent company, there's no telling what they can do with that information. This is stressful.
Michael of Berlin, MA November 26, 2007
I tried Expresscameras.com based on (what I now believe to be fraudulent) great ratings on Shopcartusa.com. I've even tried to post a (negative) review, but it never appears! BAIT & SWITCH! I had called to order low advertised components (Nikon d80 camera 249, Nikon AUTOFOCUS lens 479, Nikon 800 flash 279). I was told they were not available for 6-8 weeks, even though site says otherwise. However, they are available if you buy one of their *packages* which is no deal--but way overpriced. The package gimmick didn't work so the Rep tried really hard to fast talk and get me to take, instead of Nikon gear, the *better* Sigma items (1899, 409) for a special 1199 price. However, the lens is 3.5 times and the filter 2 times the price if you shop anywhere else (lens about 500, flash 200). When I told him I wanted to stick with the Nikon gear he hung up on me.
I called again on different day, different Rep, but it was the same bait and switch, items not-available- separately nonsense. I did order the Nikon lens online, but have since canceled my credit card to stop it.
Luckily, I found Consumeraffairs.com site and started reading about similar scams and how these were overseas gray market items that were cheaper or did not fit other US components. Contacted my credit card company and had my card canceled.
Report Your Experience
If you've had a bad experience -- or a good one -- with a consumer product or service, we'd like to hear about it. All complaints are reviewed by class action attorneys and are considered for publication on our site. Knowledge is power! Help spread the word. File your consumer report now.
|
|
|
MOST-VIEWED PAGES
|
|
NEW COMPLAINTS
|
|
|
Print This 
Email This
