Digital cameras forum: 86photovideo.com and Techondigital.com are they OK

Do not use this company for any transactions. They are corrupt, dishonest, aggressive, rude and all round con men.
I ordered a Canon PowerShot G9, 12.1 Megapixel camera online with this company as the advertised price was very competitive. At the time the camera was advertised as available. Later I go an email from the company requesting that I call to confirm my order within 24 hours. As it was late Sunday I called the next morning. I was greeted by a sales rep who confirmed my order number and then tried to sell me a memory card for the camera. I told him that I didnt need this item but he persisted. Again I said no but he still persisted. I continued to say no (seven more times) but each time the sales rep got more and more aggressive and more belligerent. Eventually when he realized that I wasnt interested in a memory card he then tried to sell me a spare battery. Again I said no and again he persisted. I had enough and told him that all I wanted was the camera and that if he could not do this then I was going to cancel the order. Then he just stopped his aggressive sales pitch and said I hope you enjoy your camera and them immediately hung up. About 1 hour later I received an email stating that as per my instructions my order was cancelled. I did not instruct them to cancel my order. I called their customer support and spoke to another aggressive man who claimed to be a supervisor and who said that the camera I ordered was now out of stock. I questioned him about the original email requesting me to confirm my order, the really annoying sales rep and the second email about canceling the order. All he said was that the item was no longer available and that his sales people were just trying to make a living. I now realize that because I didnt want to buy the overpriced accessories, they decided not to honor my order and just canceled it without a valid reason. Both people I spoke to there were very aggressive and ignorant and were only interested in trying to con me out of more money.

When you try to buy, they make you call them to "confirm" your order and then when you do not purchase additional extras at extremely high prices, they cancel your order. Really unethical people from (it sounds like) the northeast.

Before reading the discussion here, I tried to purchase a Kodak Digital cam. They called me and high pressured to purchase more. Like a high speed card that started out at $120 and quickly went down to $30.00. Finally made the guy understand I wasn't buying more.

Sent an email asking when delivery would be. No Answer.

Called this evening and was told that I had ordered the Asian model and that it would be $20.00 more for the English users manual. Told him to cancel. Then it was $15.00 for the manual. Told him to cancel. Then $10.00 for the manual. Offered him $5.00. He said OK, I will cancel the order.

Contacted my Master Card people and had them issue me another card and number. Guy was a rude SOB.

Jim

I ordered a camera early today at a great price (shoulda known better). Got the call for confirmation email and did so. High pressure, rude and obnoxious attempt to upsell with some expensive batteries. I maintained a no response and he said "your order is cancelled - right now!" I called back to complain, got complete denial and in the rudest sort of way. At least they haven't dinged my credit card for the charge, though with all the purchase info I gave them, they can probably walk off with my identity. Definitely bad, bad folks.
GB, Michigan

Called to place order on 11/15. Was told I had to place online. Placed online. Was called later in evening and pressured to purhcase additional items. Told them no. Called today (11/26) to confirm order. Was told order was cancelled due to cameras not available. They were available on 15th. Asked to speak to manager. Was told no. Asked how to contact manager or owner. Was told it was none of my business. Extremely rude, arrogant, and obnoxious. No email confirmations given for order. No email link online to contact them even though website states to send email for quicker response. DO NOT BUY FROM THIS "COMPANY".

So sorry to hear they got your money. Will be interesting to know if you get your stuff all new.

Please keep us informed.

Jim

In Answer, to your post, I'll just give a head up on my complaint to the BBB (done in September): this is the letter I just received from them:

The Better Business Bureau has attempted to present your complaint to Broadway Photo in an attempt to resolve this matter to your mutual satisfaction. Unfortunately, despite our efforts to achieve a mutually satisfactory resolution of this matter, we have received no response to your complaint. We have attempted to contact Broadway Photo through written correspondence twice on your behalf. We have also attempted to contact this firm by telephone. Despite such repeated efforts, we are compelled to close this matter in our files. This does not minimize the importance of your concerns to you, nor is it any reflection upon the validity of your dispute. We wish to provide you with prompt notification, as you may wish to pursue this matter through an alternative resource.

The Better Business Bureau is a private, nonprofit organization without the powers of an enforcement agency; as such, we cannot compel a business to grant you a particular settlement or to respond to your complaint. BBB mediation is a voluntary process requiring the good faith and willing participation of both parties to a dispute. A central function of the dispute resolution process is to enhance communication between the parties and, in so doing, foster a greater appreciation of contradictory positions. Utilizing such efforts, we often attain a mutually satisfactory resolution to disputes brought to our attention; not all matters, however, achieve such an outcome.

Please be advised that this firms failure to respond to your complaint will be reflected in its BBB record. Accordingly, we will report that this firm has an unanswered complaint to consumers, businesses, banks, government officials, and members of the press who inquire about them. In addition, firms failing to answer even one such complaint will generally receive an unsatisfactory rating, the Bureaus lowest mark. Your experience may, therefore, alert other consumers seeking information through the BBB.

Thank you for contacting the Better Business Bureau. We hope that we may be of assistance in the future.

Sincerely,

Shirley Gerber

BBB Serving Metropolitan New York


At least, now they are red flagged, and hopefully it will help other potential customers. I also filed a complaint with the FBI, and hopefully it will work better there!

I'm so happy they didn't get you too! and glad you've been smart enough to google them before, not after, like me...
Hope you'll find a good deal for real, somewhere else!

Don't waste your time on these losers. They advertise low prices but never ship. Instead they try to bait and switch you to other higher priced merchandise because the low priced camera, video, etc. that you originally ordered is on "indefinite backorder"

Avoid these scammers.

I have filed a complaint against these people with the BBB and NY DA. They lie without blinking not only to the online customer but also to the District Attorney. They sent the DA a form they had filled out on their computer network and told the DA that was what I had filled out online. THESE PEOPLE ARE CROOKS. I posted elsewhere on this forum in this thread a picture of their "business". It looks like what it is: a scam joint. Keep filing complaints with the BBB and NYDA you can do it online and if they get enough complaints maybe they will do something about them or they will just go and change their name again.

You order and they try to pressure you to buy other outrageously priced products and if you don't, they cancel the order. I went to there web site just after there out of stock email and they say it is in stock. True bait and switch. The Attorney Generals of the different states should contact them.

They tried the same "sales tactics" on me a few minutes ago. I'm sure they are related to the same group in NYC that sells fake Rolex watches. STAY AWAY FROM THESE PEOPLE.

This "photo store" is still using the same luring strategies. Be very carefull not to order anything from them, no matter how low or provacative the price might seem. Another photo web site using the same illicit practices is photodinasy.com.

I ordered a Canon SD850 from this vendor. They called to verify credit card info that was clearly on line and accurate anyway. They tried to upsell with various "deals" on overpriced accessories. They bad mouthed the standard battery and memory card package (the 2GB memory card they were selling for $86 is available for $15-20 from many stores). When I declined the upselling of over $150, they then sent me a message that the XMas gift was out of stock but would be in stock in 5-6 weeks. Their website still shows the product in stock! Stay away, they are unethical! Don't be sucked in by a low initial prce. Pay more from a reputable vendor.