USA Photonation BAD!!!!!

[mjrso1]

This is my first post, but I hope many read. I just had the unfortunate experience of ordering a Nikon D70 Camera package on line through USA Photonation. This has got to be a scam website!!!! They don't sell what they advertise and don't be fooled by their low prices because your getting half of what your supposed to. Again pass along to any other photo people USA Photonation is BAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[John_Reed]

This is my first post, but I hope many read. I just had the unfortunate experience of ordering a Nikon D70 Camera package on line through USA Photonation. This has got to be a scam website!!!! They don't sell what they advertise and don't be fooled by their low prices because your getting half of what your supposed to. Again pass along to any other photo people USA Photonation is BAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!With a rating at http://www.resellerratings.com of 0.96/10.00, your advice is well taken. However, this site (dcresource) isn't bad, so I'd suggest that your post would have gotten more of the proper attention it deserves in the "Where Should I Buy My Camera" part of the forum. Don't double-post, this is just for your future reference. I always check on-line retailers against the "resellerratings" site before I buy anything.

[Rhys]

With a rating at http://www.resellerratings.com of 0.96/10.00, your advice is well taken. However, this site (dcresource) isn't bad, so I'd suggest that your post would have gotten more of the proper attention it deserves in the "Where Should I Buy My Camera" part of the forum. Don't double-post, this is just for your future reference. I always check on-line retailers against the "resellerratings" site before I buy anything.

The words "on-line" make the hairs rise on the back of my neck.

[MrGone]

The words "on-line" make the hairs rise on the back of my neck.

But 'on-line' sometimes is the only way us little guys can afford the goodies. The majority, if not all, of the shops in my area wanted $599 for the FZ20. :eek: I ordered mine + a nice extras package for a total of $615 (shipping included). Plus, unlike the OP, I scoured forums before placing my order, and www.resellerratings.com gave Digital Foto Club a 9+ rating. Not too shabby. Can't wait for next week!!

[Rhys]

But 'on-line' sometimes is the only way us little guys can afford the goodies. The majority, if not all, of the shops in my area wanted $599 for the FZ20. :eek: I ordered mine + a nice extras package for a total of $615 (shipping included). Plus, unlike the OP, I scoured forums before placing my order, and www.resellerratings.com gave Digital Foto Club a 9+ rating. Not too shabby. Can't wait for next week!!

I'm not a fan of ratings systems. Ebay's is a prime example of rating systems that can and are frequently fiddled. All it takes is for Mr. A. Crook to get his best buddy Mr Hood Lum to buy some cheap trinklets that he's selling. Mr Hood Lum spends maybe $1000 on cheap trinklets and in a dark alley, Mr A. Crook hands mr Hood Lum's money back and takes his trinkets back. Then mr A. Crook advertises something a shade more expensive and when he gets the money, splits it with Mr. Hood Lum and does a runner.

I'd say always buy from a brick and mortar shop that you'll know will be there next week. I've dealt with online traders and have met more than a few crooks online.

[John_Reed]

...aren't always readily available for some folks. Depending upon where you might live, there may not even be an actual store where a person can go to put their "hands on" a particular camera model, let alone buy it. The now-popular Panasonic line, for example, isn't even carried in most local photo shops here in the U.S., and except for large retail chains like Circuit City, Fry's, Ritz Camera (which mainly tend to have outlets in areas of large population density), their cameras are only available on-line. Moreover, there are many reputable and reliable on-line suppliers, who often don't charge the out-of-state buyer for sales taxes, or shipping, which can add up to a substantial discount.

One practice that bothers me ethically is when local shops have a particular camera in stock, and a prospective buyer goes to the shop, asks for a thorough demo of the camera, maybe even borrows it for a trial period; to me, that shop has earned the right to charge full retail (or whatever discounts they may offer) to that buyer. Many people abuse this privilege by returning the demo, telling the retailer "I'm still thinking..." and then placing the order on-line. To me, this is wrong, cheating the "brick and mortar" shop out of rightful profits for efforts expended. I paid full retail for my FZ10 at a local Ritz (Wolf) Camera for this reason.

[Rhys]

What I tend to do is to look at the camera online. Check which camera I want to buy. Then I find the lowest British mainland price and go to one of my local camera shops, brandishing a printout of the website with the price. I then ask for price-matching and get the same camera for the same price but locally.

[tonya]

valid points on both cases. i try to support the local merchant whenever possible and i will even pay a small premium as i know (as a small business owner myself) it is sometimes impossible to deal against the internet.

but when conditions call for online purchases, i do try to do as much research as possible to avoid any headaches.

[whirnot]

These creeps also go under the name of Radioactive deals.com
They are a shell game. Only supply product if you buy high priced accessories.
Also a quick check with Canon, and I found out they were not authorized dealers, so no Rebates.
I ordered from Beach camera and am very pleased.

[Rhys]

These creeps also go under the name of Radioactive deals.com
They are a shell game. Only supply product if you buy high priced accessories.
Also a quick check with Canon, and I found out they were not authorized dealers, so no Rebates.
I ordered from Beach camera and am very pleased.

I'm getting more impressed by Canon. Nikon really has been resting on their laurels. I asked Nikon who sells their slide copier for the Nikon 995. They just said "use google". Well, that tells me nothing - just that a load of people who have websites list it on their sites - it doesn't tell me who sells them and are authorised dealers.

Canon tells you that straight away. I must say Canon is drawing me ever closer.

[Fresno]

Hello,

My name is Ronald Sawl. I am an attorney in California. I had a similar problem with USA Photonation. In fact it was regarding the Nikon D70.

This is clearly a fraudulent business and I would like to bring them to court.

I am looking for as many of their victims as I can. My intention is to bring a class action for fraud.

Please call me (559) 266-9800 if you are interested or email me at hrs55@aol.com

Thank you.

[Manstein]

Always had better service via mail order in the UK than any high street shop. Park Cameras and Purdy's are excellent.

[crewchief]

Bought a fuji 5100 from this outfit along with a battery charger, was sent an
e-mail to call them, they tried to bait and switch the charger for one that
was way over priced. Be careful with this site they will try and con you.

[CharlesN]

They should be shut down. Plain and simple. They told me a week after I bought a camera and paid for rush delivery that it came without a battery or power cord. They said a battery and power cord was a peripheral. Then when I escalated it and argued that a device required for a product to function is not a peripheral they said it was on back order so they couldn't help me anyway.

Erveryone including competitors, should work to have this business and others that operate like it SHUT DOWN! It hurts everyone and takes business away from reputable online companies. I now must go to a retail store in my city and buy a camera, because there is no way for me to get it in time any other way.

[monja]

they stink,
but luckily the web works both ways.. scam and unscam..

here is a image and some info of their nice office head-quarters, I just wonder if their customer service department is in the front or the back of the store..

http://donwiss.com/pictures/BrooklynStores/h0101.htm



http://www.dcresource.com/forums/newreply.php?do=newreply&noquote=1&p=15410#

[GGFW]

WARNING stay away from this scam artist. You can not buy the items they have advertised for the price they show online. If you ask for just the lowball item it suddenly becomes unavailable, add a couple of $150.00 batteries and it might all the sudden be back in stock. Don't waste your time with them. :mad:

[GGFW]

Everyone should look at the great photo set by "monja" in this thread.
Also check with <hrs55@aol.com> if he is still looking for members for the
class action.

[shingi]

I was ALMOST scammed by these people. I ordered the 350D from them, only to find out over the phone it doesn't come with the battery and whatnot. So, I cancelled my order instantly, and order from B&Hphotovideo.com

STAY AWAY FROM USAPHOTONATION!!!! SCAMMERS AND DECEITFUL!!!! When I told the customer service guy that the website was decieving, he merely laughed and asked how it could be? Then, he insults me by using some rather vulgar language at me. STAY AWAY FROM THIS "COMPANY"

[rwbv57a]

I wish I had read the bad reports about Photonation. It is the worst company on the internet that I have ever dealt with. I made a mistake and fell for one of their high pressure bait and switch lies. I called Canon about the 20D camera they had advertised afterwards because I felt uneasy with the information they had given me and found out they were lieing to me. They refused to cancel the order when I called back one hour later. Hung up on me when I tried to cancel the order and they are shipping the merchandise anyway. My fight is not over with them and I am not sure I will win.

[Norm in Fujino]

I wish I had read the bad reports about Photonation. It is the worst company on the internet that I have ever dealt with. I made a mistake and fell for one of their high pressure bait and switch lies. I called Canon about the 20D camera they had advertised afterwards because I felt uneasy with the information they had given me and found out they were lieing to me. They refused to cancel the order when I called back one hour later. Hung up on me when I tried to cancel the order and they are shipping the merchandise anyway. My fight is not over with them and I am not sure I will win.

How did you pay? If by credit card, just call your card company and stop payment.

[Stelmate]

Well,
I had no idea that radioactive deals a US photonation where the same company.
I placed a order recently on a 42" panasonic plasma (which was fairly cheap)
and was charged $399 for the shipping when their website stated it was $199.
Overall that was about right considering other websites did approx. the same thing (you need a private trucking company to pick it up at the airport and deliver it to your home) but the sales person from radioactive deals was actually fairly nice. He tried to sell me on the warrenty they offered and I told him no so he didn't bother me anymore about it, didn't try to sell me anymore cables or anything else. The item shipped 3 days after I ordered it and should be here by the end of the week (according to the tracking) The only thing disconcerning is that radioactive deals is NOT in the same location as USA photonation, and USA photonation had a different price listed for the same TV (slightly higher) and my item shipped from las vegas? (3rd party retailer?) under the name of USA photnation. Also I called USA photonation (which was under a different phone # and area code) and the bastard hung up on him after I asked for a shipping quote!
Very strange, I'll report back once I get the TV in.

[cknute]

I totally agree! Unfortunately I did not discover this forum until too late. I had an almost identical experience with my order of a Canon Rebel XT. The salesman got abusive when I told him I would need to check web prices again - that their "advertised" price was not a true price or product description. He told me that he would "prohibit" me from ordering from any other online merchant by sending "all of them" my name, address and last 5 numbers of my credit card. Needless to say, I cancelled my order (he told me it was too late) and notified my credit card company of the conversation. Unbelievable!

[flyer70]

:mad: This is my first Post. I called the toll free number for USA Photonation to order a Fuji S9000. The agent said I had to but a battery Charger and special batteries. I refused and said I just wanted the camera. He then responded that the warrenty would be void, and the camera would ship from Japan with a 3 to 4 week delivery time.

What a ripoff. I cancelled the order, and actually found a better price elsewhere. I don't know how they expect to survive with tactacs like that.

STAY AWAY FROM USA PHOTONATION

[goodeyephoto@aol.com]

Buyer be very aware when dealing with this place. These guys are slimy and slippery as hell. Seriously!

The website is misleading and gives very little information as to what you are getting. Legally, they are probably skating by when they say you are getting "Body Only." You literally are getting the body only. LITERALLY. After you place your order, they send you an e-mail telling you to contact them immediately about your order. When you call, they act like they are confiriming your address before they ship your order. Then the ugliness begins. They offer to sell you the crucial accessories, ie; Firmware, battery, charger at a much higher price than what you you had planned on paying. When you question them and ask them to clarify, they tend to get very impatient and defensive.

I have a feeling I was not the first customer they used these bait and switch tactics on. Be extremely cautious when doing business with them. It's a marvel that they have not been shuttered already. Then again, they prolly have slimy lawyers protecting them and monitoring their activities to avoid lawsuits. USA PhotoNation is BAAAAAAAD PEOPLES. BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD!

[Bambolayo]

I nearly put an order with USA Photonation for the Nikon D200 when i found these review.
I found out that people often placed an order before they were requested to make a phone call to USA photonation to confirm the order. And all the trouble started then!
So I did make a phone call to USA photonation to check out the deal before i order it. My conclusion is: NEVER BUY ANYTHING FROM USA PHOTONATION

The story went like this:
- Me: Hello, i am interested in the D200 package (body only) which is advertising on your website,
- The USA PHotonation receiver: Yes
- Me: Can you tell me more about the deal, like where the camera was made? Do i..... (i did not finished my speak)
- The USA PN: Yes, yes yes yes ( He even did not care what i was asking)
- Me: Does it come with Nikon standard accessory? I just want to know the details, if otherwise I would not order this package.
- THE UAS PN: No, you HAVE TO ORDERED it, you CAN NOT CANCEL it!
- ME: Hang up immediately!

What the hell is going on??? I just make a phone call, inquiring about the information of the camera then he told me i HAVE TO ORDERED it!!!!
SO whoever want to place an order with USA photonation, just make a phone call first to check it out.
This guy thought i was a fish who stuck in the USA PN bait, that why he did not care what i was asking and so cruel when said I HAVE TO ORDERED the package.

[ml2010]

Ordered a GS500 camcorder at a good price from Photonation. Then I get an e-mail to call them. Same story. They said I had to buy the accessories for it since it doesn't come with a battery and charger. The battery and charger was over $400 by themselves. I told them I just want the camcorder. They then said it is a chinese version and everything is in chinese. The english version with battery and charger of course was $300 more. Told them I would think about it and found this website. Can't someone put these crooks out of business.

[FishFace]

In the UK there's a law called the "Distance Sales Act," where you have 7 days to return something you ordered from a catalogue or the internet. This is so that, if you thought you were ordering something else, because you can't actually see it and check, you can send it back. Is there anything similar in the US?

[Santavez]

Below is basically what I wrote (I had to shorten it about 100 characters b/c of their limit) I encourage everyone to file. I've included most of their information below. I ENCOURAGE everyone to do the same:
Complaint Number: 4577120

This is regarding:
www.usaphotonation.com
Head Office Address: 164-15 Jamaica Avenue, Jamaica NY 11432

I ordered a digital camcorder from this company found at: http://www.usaphotonation.com/products.asp?product_id=12706&dept_id=2527&shelf_id=&v=&show=acc#box

Upon ordering the item; I was instructed to call and confirm the order. Upon calling; the person on the phone attempted to "bait and switch me". I was told I needed to order the USA Model, which was conveniently NOT on their website until I was on the phone with them. (It is conveniently not on the website now.) The "USA" Model was significantly more expensive and the person on the phone attempted to pressure me and argue with me into authorizing a charge to my credit card for the "USA Model" because the advertised model would 'not work' without a firmware upgrade.

At this point I requested that my order be canceled and the seller attempted to negotiate with me for a lower (yet more expensive than advertised) price. I still insisted on cancellation of the order. At this point; the seller attempted to bully me into agreeing while repeatedly placing me on hold before finally relenting and canceling the order. I assume the responsibility of not performing proper due diligence in researching the seller. I had accepted the rating found on www.shopcartusa.com, which now appears fraudulent. Had I done proper research, I would have seen that I am NOT the only unsatisfied person.

Thankfully, I was able to cancel my order; however, I feel that I may now need to cancel my credit card and get a new number as this company now has my credit card number along with the CID. I am hoping that someone puts this company in its place, puts an end to their "bait and switch" business practices and restricts it from doing further business in the State of New York, (my home state), or anywhere else for that matter.

Reference Consumer Complaints:
http://www.resellerratings.com/store/USA_Photo_Nation
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/cameras/usaphotonation.html
http://www.dcresource.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-3553.html
http://www.epinions.com/content_284146306692
http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/usa-photo-nation-c2024.html

Thank you in advance for your assistance!