Sheryl Katz
Active member
What's with these camera shops that advertise too good to be true prices on the internet.
Recently I tried to order a Nikon Coolpix 4500, a camera I have been vacillating about buying. First, I ordered it from one place - I don't remember where - that advertised it at a very good but not spectacular price. However, the place had at least decent ratings from those web sites that rate sellers. The web site showed it as being in stock. I got an email confirmation of my order. Two weeks later I called them because I hadn't received it yet "Oh, yeah, it's not in stock they said - don't know when we'll get it."
Then I ordered it from another place. (At the start I asked the shipping charge because I know one of the tricks is to charge a low price but tack on a high shipping charge) This place had a bordering on a too good to be true price. I called them on the phone and talked to the sales person. He said, it was in stock and would ship within three days. Then he started with trying to sell me lots of extras (and the terms of his special deal kept slipping around). Finally we agreed on a deal (although honestly he had me agreeing to a lens that in retrospect I didn't really want). At the end when he was totalling up the price he hit me with a 5% insurance charge. I told him that was rediculous and cancel the order - he said, "wait" and came back and that charge was gone. That was two weeks ago. Today I called them and they said, "Oh yeah, that will ship tomorrow." I said that I had been told it would ship within 3 days, and the guy said that the web site says 10 days before shipping. Well, I went the web site and it says ship within 3 days. I cancelled the order.
OK so I get the bait and switch thing. Try to get you to buy a lot of extra stuff you don't need. But what's the payoff in taking your order and not shipping at all? I buy computer stuff from many low price dealers on the web and the stuff arrives promptly and as expected. What's with these camera dealers?
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Recently I tried to order a Nikon Coolpix 4500, a camera I have been vacillating about buying. First, I ordered it from one place - I don't remember where - that advertised it at a very good but not spectacular price. However, the place had at least decent ratings from those web sites that rate sellers. The web site showed it as being in stock. I got an email confirmation of my order. Two weeks later I called them because I hadn't received it yet "Oh, yeah, it's not in stock they said - don't know when we'll get it."
Then I ordered it from another place. (At the start I asked the shipping charge because I know one of the tricks is to charge a low price but tack on a high shipping charge) This place had a bordering on a too good to be true price. I called them on the phone and talked to the sales person. He said, it was in stock and would ship within three days. Then he started with trying to sell me lots of extras (and the terms of his special deal kept slipping around). Finally we agreed on a deal (although honestly he had me agreeing to a lens that in retrospect I didn't really want). At the end when he was totalling up the price he hit me with a 5% insurance charge. I told him that was rediculous and cancel the order - he said, "wait" and came back and that charge was gone. That was two weeks ago. Today I called them and they said, "Oh yeah, that will ship tomorrow." I said that I had been told it would ship within 3 days, and the guy said that the web site says 10 days before shipping. Well, I went the web site and it says ship within 3 days. I cancelled the order.
OK so I get the bait and switch thing. Try to get you to buy a lot of extra stuff you don't need. But what's the payoff in taking your order and not shipping at all? I buy computer stuff from many low price dealers on the web and the stuff arrives promptly and as expected. What's with these camera dealers?
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