DO NOT BUY FROM 86th Street Photo & Video

[Psyko]

Here is a copy of my feedback to there customer service department?:
My original order was backordered by 3-4 weeks for the canon 40D, so I cancelled it. I was then transferred to a mumbling salesman who tried to sell me an xpi, calling the 50D junk! When I told him, calmly that I know what I want to buy, he told me there was no reasoning with me and hung up! Horrible! Horrible! Horrible! I will post this on every forum I can find. My guess is that you don't have any quality cameras in stock for your low price and that it's a gimmick to lure people to you site to be persuaded to buy only what you have in stock!

[teko]

Join the club:
- http://www.resellerratings.com/store/86th_Street_Photo_Video
- http://www.epinions.com/msg/show_~threads/cat_id_~22/id_~17991/forum_id_~144

[Beowulff]

How can it be that the Better Business Bureau can't shut these scammers down, particularly considering the plethora of complaints posted all over the web?

Or are the BBB (like a lot of "consumer protection" agencies in Australia such as our ACCC or APRA or ASIC) really just paper tigers?

Cheers... and good luck. :)

[David Metsky]

The BBB has absolutely no authority. It's a private entity that serves just as a clearinghouse for information. You'll need to talk to the local prosecutor or state attorney general.

But, the bottom line is that as long as people are willing to shop only on published price scams like this will exist. They will pop up somewhere new as soon as you shut one down.

[JTL]

With resources such as Reseller Ratings and other web-based info available, there is simply no excuse...NONE...for getting ripped off. Except for laziness and stupidity, that is...

I have no pity.

[jcon]

With resources such as Reseller Ratings and other web-based info available, there is simply no excuse...NONE...for getting ripped off. Except for laziness and stupidity, that is...

I have no pity.


I agree completely.

[Paradox]

I agree with JTL - These sites are the online equivalent of survival of the fittest. Those without the patience or competence to buy online, are taken as prey, and probably won't do so again. Or if they do will be more careful.

If online shoppers weren't so idiotic, and actually checked before they bought, these sites wouldn't exist - So I don't like those who fall for the scams much. Because it's 100% the fault of those people, that the scams exist to annoy me in the first place. If nobody fell for them, the shops would fail and not turn a profit, so wouldn't still be running.

Lesson for today - Learn how to shop online safely, or go a brick and mortar store. You'll be doing everyone a favour.

[David Metsky]

With resources such as Reseller Ratings and other web-based info available, there is simply no excuse...NONE...for getting ripped off. Except for laziness and stupidity, that is...
I don't think that's fair. It's a learning process for everyone, you may just be further along on the learning curve. It's not stupidity (which can't be helped) but ignorance (which can be corrected with information).

[JTL]

I don't think that's fair. It's a learning process for everyone, you may just be further along on the learning curve. It's not stupidity (which can't be helped) but ignorance (which can be corrected with information).I know this Nigerian prince selling cameras. Interested? Give me your money and I'll get you one. If you gave me your money, would you be "ignorant" or "stupid"? :p:p:p

And, I beg to differ. It IS stupidity. People seem to have no problem whatsoever searching the internet for the "cheapest" price...but suddenly their ability to search magically disappears when it comes time to research information on the reseller to find out whether they are reputable or not. That's nothing but laziness and, yes, STUPIDITY.

If they couldn't use a search engine to begin with, well, then I'd agree with your "ignorance" argument.

[zmikers]

With resources such as Reseller Ratings and other web-based info available, there is simply no excuse...NONE...for getting ripped off. Except for laziness and stupidity, that is...

I have no pity.

So you're saying that anyone and everyone in the entire world that gets scammed over the internet is either stupid or lazy? Grow up mate! I wish I could be as perfect as you.;)

[zmikers]

Oh ya, I almost forgot, to the OP, thanks for the heads up. It's people like you that can save "stupid lazy" people from getting scammed.

[JTL]

So you're saying that anyone and everyone in the entire world that gets scammed over the internet is either stupid or lazy?Yes. That's exactly what I'm saying.

Obviously you're not stupid or lazy because you seemed to have understood what I was saying perfectly! ;):D:p

[jcon]

Oh ya, I almost forgot, to the OP, thanks for the heads up. It's people like you that can save "stupid lazy" people from getting scammed.


Actually, what saves people from getting screwed out of their money is doing research and asking questions. JTL is right on the money with everything he has said. If people didnt wet themself everytime they see a brand new DSLR for $5(yes, thats a joke) and actually did a little thinking and research into that online retailer, they wouldnt be getting scammed.

There is an excellent thread on this site that has ratings and scores of online retailers, its something like "where to/not to buy my camera". There is ZERO excuse for getting scammed.

I think going after JTL is a little uncalled for here. Hes right, get over it.

[zmikers]

While I definitely agree that there are many things that you can do to protect yourself from not getting scammed, there are times when people, who are not stupid and not lazy and have done their research have still gotten scammed. Yes, I think that many people do get scammed out of pure laziness, greed for great deals or what have you, but that does not include everyone in the entire world that has been victim to scammers. I think its time to take your generalizations and insults and try to encourage people to do their research and point them in the right direction for help rather than just throwing insults at them.

By the way, you know that these websites that direct your attention to poor internet sellers would not be there if someone along the way had not ben scammed by them at some point in the first place.

Actually, what saves people from getting screwed out of their money is doing research and asking questions. JTL is right on the money with everything he has said. If people didnt wet themself everytime they see a brand new DSLR for $5(yes, thats a joke) and actually did a little thinking and research into that online retailer, they wouldnt be getting scammed.

There is an excellent thread on this site that has ratings and scores of online retailers, its something like "where to/not to buy my camera". There is ZERO excuse for getting scammed.

I think going after JTL is a little uncalled for here. Hes right, get over it.

I think he's right too, but not in every single case. I'm not "going after him" or anybody else. I just hate generalizations. Some people have been scammed by no fault of there own whether you like it or not. So please, there's no need to be rude, I'm just pointing out that there are other ways of helping people rather than just saying "your stupid and lazy."

[JTL]

I'm just pointing out that there are other ways of helping people rather than just saying "your stupid and lazy."O.K...you're right...it's not just stupiditiy and laziness. It's also GREED. Everyone...and I mean ABSOLUTLY EVERYONE who ever got scammed was somehow looking to cut a corner...looking themselves to "get over". In order to be a victim of a scam, you have to be a willing participant in the scam. That's how scams work. In a scam, nobody holds a gun to your head and says "hey, I'm ripping you off". All scams play upon the greed of the victim. That's not a generalization. That's the fact jack! And therefore I have zero pity, sympathy, emapathy for the scammed. Sorry, there is simply no excuse.

So, if you want to help people from being scammed, then help them not to be stupid, lazy and GREEDY. And when you've figured that out, please let me know. Thanks! ;)

[Beowulff]

This is 86th Street wearing a different set of clothes:

WiseTronics.com (http://www.wisetronics.com/Articles.asp?ID=1)

How many other sites do they operate?

Cheers :)

[JTL]

This is 86th Street wearing a different set of clothes:

WiseTronics.com (http://www.wisetronics.com/Articles.asp?ID=1)

How many other sites do they operate?

Cheers :)Interesting...but one short trip to www.resellerratings.com (http://www.resellerratings.com) and anyone on the planet would know not to do business with them...regardless of what other reseller they are related to.

Let me state once again for the stupid, lazy and greedy out there. It is not enough to just try to find out if a reseller is a scammer...although most who get ripped off won't even take this simple and obvious step. The only way not to get ripped off is to deal only with REPUTABLE RESELLERS. You know, the ones that have multiple, verifiable positive references.

As long as the stupid, lazy and ultimately greedy (or SLUGs for short) continue to try to get a ridiculously low price, they will be victims. And, they deserve to be victims because in the end, by being a SLUG, they're victimizing themselves.

[typethree]

Thanks for taking the time to write it.