RE: off topic warning about purchasing cameras online

Chris,

I think there are a few things you can do:

Complain to the credit-card company: the paper work is not as bad as you
think. As long as you dispute the item, they will immediately refund your
money. For them it is easy because they just take the money out from the
merchant. The default is for your side and against the merchant.

Also, the laws might have changed (though I don't think it has), but anytime
you buy something by mail order, you can always return it within 30 days,
with our without reason, regardless of the condition of the item. You can
buy a sweater by mail order, receive it and find there is nothing wrong with
the sweater but you just don't like it. You can return it just for that
reason. In fact, the law was created for that reason because there is always
a possibility of misrepresentation of the item (like you can't tell what a
sweater really looks like from a photograph). Many people don't realize that
law. I came to know a little about it because a few years ago I was involved
in some business that has some mail-orders involved.

But the restocking fee is hard to find. If it is misrepresentation, then you
shouldn't owe it, but they might disagree. But if the credit card company
has refund your money, it is up to them to take the next step.

Dave S

-----Original Message-----
From: Christina Z. Anderson [mailto:zphoto@montana.net]
Sent: Saturday, February 18, 2006 3:37 PM
To: Alt List
Subject: off topic warning about purchasing cameras online

Dear List,
I feel that the below is necessary to share for those of you, like myself,
that are buying camera equipment and searching for a good deal, even if it
has nothing to do with alt. Sharing it is very embarassing for me, but I
hope it will profit the group.

I normally purchase large items from B and H, but B and H still does not
have the D200 in stock. I need the camera by March 10.

I found,on kenrockwell.com, the cheapest site to order the Nikon D200
body--$1549 I think it was. www.thecamerapros.com

I called them to order. I did the mistake of asking "What else might I
need?" He sold me the high speed battery and charger, as "the battery did
not come with the camera". He sold me a 5 year warranty for quite a bit of
money. He sold me a lens that he said was cheapest anywhere on the web for
around $500. He sold me some superior 1 gigabyte card for another
exorbitant price. Actually, I am not even sure of what prices I paid for
anything.

I agreed to the sale, figuring that the bill would detail everything and if
I wasn't happy I could return it. I was in a rush to go to work. I also have
no recording of the call., and can't find my notes on it, either, as they
were on the back of some piece of paper.

When the camera came, the battery as you are probably all aware, is the one
that comes with the camera anyway--the company apparently broke Nikon kits
apart and sold items separately so the $1549 price is not really true. The
card was a cheapy.

Nothing was itemized on the bill--it said "bulk camera package" and the
total price. I called them to find out the prices of everything and they
would not give them to me as they did not know either. No record. At the
bottom of the bill, it said "Returns are subject to AT LEAST a 10%
restocking fee". He quoted me, when I said I was returning it, a 25%
restocking fee. I tried to get a return authorization code out of him and
he was not forthcoming. They finally called me back a couple hours later
with the return authorization code, reminding me of the restocking fee.

I called the Visa fraud unit, and the dispute process is lengthy with lots
of paper work. Aside from the fact that legally I did agree to the
purchase. What happened to me is termed "slamming" and the dispute officer
was well aware of it.

The clincher is that when i priced B and H for comparable items, the lens is
a $200 lens, the card is a $75 card, the warranty is maybe $150...you get
the picture. I estimate I overpaid anywhere from $400 to $700 (still can't
figure it out). But being caught between a rock and a hard place, I am
keeping the camera and losing the money.

I feel that my best recourse is to "spread the word" to prevent others from
having this experience--to my students, to the alt list, to everyone I come
in contact with. As my husband says, at least I have the camera I want, even
if I overpaid for it (he's grasping at straws trying to make me feel
better...)
Chris
Received on Sat Feb 18 15:42:13 2006