I wish I had found this blog before I found FotoConnection's ad for the Panasonic TZ3A camera, met sleazy salesman "Eddie (x2037)," and got screwed. But since I didn't, the least I can do is share my tale of woe here, in hopes that I can help someone else avoid falling into the same trap I did. I've also filed a complaint with the NY Better Business Bureau and I plan to dispute the charge on my credit card as soon as it actually posts. We'll see what happens. Here's my story (sorry, it's long, but I need to vent):
I found FotoConnection's ad on
www.lowpricedigital.com. They were the fourth company I had tried to buy the TZ3A from, because the 1st three had all tried to sell me overpriced accessories and when I declined, said they were "out of stock," or "backordered," or told me at the last minute that I was getting the "import model" for the advertised price. (The companies were WiseTronics, DigitalNerds, and BroadwayPhoto, btw.) I now realize that this is standard practice for these ripoff artists: bait and add-on, and when you won't agree to add-on, then switch or claim to be out of stock. Anything but sell you the merchandise at the advertised price.
When I called FotoConnection, the very first thing I asked my salesman (Eddie) was “is this the US Model with the 1 Year USA Warranty and English Manual?” He assured me that it was, and complimented me for having figured out the "some companies will substitute imports." However, after he had taken my credit card information, he said I had bought the “import model.” I immediately corrected him on this, and he assured me once more that it would be the US Model. As it turned out in the end, it was the import model I got, after all, which is clear from the Japanese characters on the box, camera SN tag, battery, and everything else.
FotoConnection's advertisement still shows the exact price I paid for the camera, itself - $279, and it specifically states that the condition is “Brand New Factory Sealed 1 Year USA Warranty.” But when I received my shipment, the camera was in an already opened (and obviously not new) box, with no manual or other documentation at all, and no warranty card. (If there had been, of course, it would have been in Japanese, not English.) In addition, the battery was not in its sealed plastic envelope, but was simply loose in the box. When I was buying the camera, Eddie warned me that the stock battery “only lasts 20 minutes,” and he convinced me that I needed to buy an “extended life battery and high speed charger” for only $49.99 more. However, there was no such kit included in the shipment; the charger and battery in the camera box were merely the stock ones included with every Panasonic TZ3 camera. (I have also since learned that the stock Panasonic battery lasts much longer than 20 minutes – it can take well over 100 pictures, in fact. So what Eddie said was misleading, at best, even if he had actually sent me a different battery and charger than the ones that come with the camera anyway, which of course, he didn’t.)
When Eddie first sent me the required email confirmation, there was no mention of the Extended Life Battery & High Speed Charger, so I called him back before confirming. He claimed that it was all included in the camera price, not to worry, so I foolishly confirmed the purchase. Soon after, Eddie sent me a second email confirmation that did mention the battery and charger. But of course, that isn't the email that I had confirmed.
When I got the shipment, saw that the box was not sealed, that there was no manual or warranty, and no extra battery and charger, I realized immediately that I'd been had. So I called Eddie back, and he really didn't even argue with me - just passed me off to customer service for an RMA. After waiting on hold for about 20 minutes, I finally reached someone, told him my story, and demanded a full refund. He was surly and rude to me, and said "I'll send you an email with the RMA request form; put all your complaints in there." That email never arrived. So the next day, I called again, waited on hold again, and reached another surly employee who actually did send me the RMA request form. I filled it out, noticing that it said a "15% restocking fee" would be applied, and that it was the customer's responsibility to call to confirm they had received the request. But when I tried calling, the extension was bogus. So I called Customer Service yet again and was told "oh yeah, that number's wrong, it needs to be changed, ya gotta wait 24 hours until your request is processed and then call Customer Service."
A few hours later, I got my RMA#, with instructions on returning the unit, which included the statement that I was responsible for all shipping and insurance costs, and that I had to return everything listed in shipping invoice. Of course, I hadn't received everything listed there, and I had no intention of paying for the shipping. So I called Customer Service again.
This time, I got a real earful from a guy named Peter, who told basically told me that I had gotten everything I had ordered, that I had "signed a contract," that if I tried to dispute the charges, I would "lose," and who literally shouted me down when I pointed out that the website stated "factory sealed" and said "I didn't hear anything you said." When I asked to speak to his supervisor, he said "there's no-one." Absolutely brazen, this guy...like everyone else I talked to at FotoConnection. Proud of their work.
These people are crooks, make no mistake. They know it; they even seem to flaunt it. They're in the business of screwing other people and they take a perverse pleasure in doing so. I think they call that kind of person a "sociopath." Whatever and whoever they really are, stay away from these Brooklyn bums. If the price looks too good to be true, then it probably isn't (true).
End of story: Last night, I went over to my local Best Buy, got them to match their own web price of $297 ($50 less than the $349 price tag in the store), and bought a nice new Panasonic TZ3. Free shipping (in my Honda Civic); delivery time - 7 minutes. When I opened the box (it really was "factory sealed") and everything inside was pristine. It even had a 1 year warranty and a couple of manuals printed in English! Same exact battery and charger I got from the PhonyConnection, by the way.
Once Burned, Twice Cautious
Linear Mode
