Scams - Who to avoid & how.

I just noticed that a new store popped up last week called wilddigital.com so I decided to browse around a little bit. I've been needing a lithium-ion battery for my EX-S600 and was wondering what they are charging for it. $100 - What a joke...I hopped on eBay and sellers are selling it anywhere from $10 for a generic to $40 for a Authentic Casio one. In fact, alot of the places where I searched all had the same look and feel and were based out of Brooklyn NY. All had the same accessory offering, all at the ridiculous price of $100 for a battery.

This really got me puzzled so I decided to do some googling research on my own about this. My conculsion? Most companies based in Brooklyn NY are part of a SCAM RINGS. I'll try and summarize it a little here but I'll also provide you with the links so you can read up for youself. The main site that came up when I did mysearch was sheddingsomelight.com - a neutral site dedicated to educating customers on sales tactics, what to expect, and most importantly, who to avoid (even though they state clearly they neither encourage nor discourage buying from these companies...)

Keypoints...

The infamous Broadway and Butterfly Photo Family...

Owned by: Albert Houllou & Marvin Schwartz. Also be connected to Avram Sakkal, owner of the Butterfly Photo Family
Link: http://sheddingsomelight.com/buy-cameras/list/dealers-bwayfam.html
http://sheddingsomelight.com/buy-cameras/list/dealers-butterflyfam.html
http://www.resellerratings.com/seller1995.html

Afer reading this, I now know why they those stores in Brooklyn NY sell the NP20 for $100.

Filings with the Better Business Bureau...

Butterfly Photo - unsatisfactory record

http://www.bbbnewyork.org/reports/businessreports.aspx?id=74813&pid=44&page=0&FindStr=butterfly+photo&SearchBy=company&Address=&City=&Phone1=&Phone2=&Phone3=&MembersOnly=False

This firm also does business under the following names. This is not necessarily a complete list.
BDD Solutions
Butterflyphoto.com
Digital E-Tailer, Inc.
DOD Marketing Inc.

Broadway Photo - unsatisfactory record

http://www.bbbnewyork.org/reports/businessreports.aspx?id=68047&pid=44&page=0&FindStr=broadway+photo&SearchBy=company&Address=&City=&Phone1=&Phone2=&Phone3=&MembersOnly=False

This firm also does business under the following names. This is not necessarily a complete list.
A&M Photo World
Cameratopia
Digital Liquidators LLC
Ghu, LLC
Preferred Photo
Prestige Camera
Regal Camera
Tronicity

BOTTOM LINE - STAY AWAY FROM STORES BASED OUT OF BROOKLYN THAT DON'T LIST THEIR ADDRESS. Cheap camera, overpriced accessories? There is a reason for that. That said, there are legitimate businesses in NY. It's really too bad, the scam companies cause a negative stereotype on Brooklyn businesses.

Still want to buy from a Brooklyn store? Do your research first. Here's a site that keeps a library of pictures of these stores...
http://donwiss.com/pictures/BrooklynStores/

Safe shopping everybody!!

I got my 850Z from Preferred Photo. They did try to sell me a few items, not overpriced, but put on no pressure. I got my camera in a factory sealed box in five days. It just happens to be one of the 850's that have no known issues (knock wood). I got the camera for $227. So I, maybe luckily, did okay by this company.

I just called them up (preferredphoto.com - 1-800-734-5186) and they told me that the Z850 was out of stock. The guy then tried to upsell me to a Z1000 and did the whole bit about the Authentic Casio battery only lasting for 20 mins and that I needed their special "4 hour battery". Same old story...

Maybe they made a mistake with your order! You're one lucky guy... hehe

I ordered mine online so they didn't have a chance to give me the big sell. They never did say I needed a bigger battery, although they offered to sell me an extra battery so I'd have one in reserve. I guess I just lucked out, and I'm sure happy with the camera. It is, for lack of a better word, a doozy.

Big Bill said:

I got my 850Z from Preferred Photo. They did try to sell me a few
items, not overpriced, but put on no pressure. I got my camera in a
factory sealed box in five days. It just happens to be one of the
850's that have no known issues (knock wood). I got the camera for
$227. So I, maybe luckily, did okay by this company.

Click to expand...

did it include a usable warranty? many of the comments on resellerratings state that manufacturers do not honor the warranties included with the cameras they sell.

Their tactic is to send you an e-mail telling you that you have to telephone them to confirm your order information. Then they try to sell you a bunch of overpriced accessories. I had one go through their pitch and I said no, I just wanted to buy the camera which was priced lower than anybody else. He refused to sell me just the camera.

Best to check http://www.resellerratings.com . They have a pretty accurate rating for almost all the vendors. Occusionally one of the Brooklyn venders will come up with a new name and that new name might not have any record yet. Buyer beware!

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Seattle, WA - Currently Shooting: Samsung NV10, Casio EX-S770, Sony H5, FujiFilm F30, Sony-Ericsson K800i (3.2 megapixel cell phone camera), Panasonic GS-400 Camcorder (with 4 megapixel stills).