Broadway Computer & Video - unethical and fraudulent

[dkong]

I recently made several purchases at Broadway Computer & Video (over $5k).

Without getting into a long post, apart from overcharging me (3 - 10 times more than the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price), they also "kindly" packed my camera into the bag for me, and when I got back to the hotel I realised that the memory cards, battery and additional lens I purchased were not the items I agreed to pay for (they did the old switcheroo, perhaps thinking that I wouldn't know the difference because I am a camear novice).

Anyway, when I returned to complain they referred me to the barely visible "no refund" policy, and then at best offered to exchange the item (with a 15% re-stocking fee) for a more expensive (and inflated) different item - all of this even though they gave me the wrong item in the the first place. To make things worse the incorrect items where overcharged as well, so even if I decided to keep them they would be worthless, ie 8GB Memory Card worth $50, charged to me @ $350.

In the end I left the incorrect products on their counter and walked out of their store. I am currently attempting to reverse the charge with visa, although Visa says they required written evidence that I returned the product - this is kind of difficult since the guy in the store was refusing to accept the product back saying "no no no, I don't want it".

Unbelievable. Judging by some other posts in this forum I am amazed at how many other corrupt Camera stores there are in NY, and how many still get away with it. I have read all of the information on the DCA website, and most of it basically says "buyer beware". I hate to say it but they are doing a sub-standard job. They even admit they get hundreds of complaints per year from customers about Camera stores. I would have thought that this would have been an indication that perhaps they need to look more closely at their laws and what they are letting their "licensed" vendors get away with.

[lenjack]

Very few legit photo vendors in NY City. B&H is one, and there are a handfull of others.

[Roxy1]

I sympathise

This is the letter I sent to them in October :- We came into your shop on the 15th October 2008 and you sold me a HP 2G memory card. Receipt no 325708 Invoice No 00020
As you are aware you over charged me for this item $162.38.
Fortunately for you and unfortunately for us, we were in a hurry as we had an appointment with the NYPD as we were there guests for the afternoon/evening. However I realised afterwards that you grossly overcharged us and on returning to the UK yesterday visited the HP website and found the following
HP Photosmart 2GB Secure
r 3W t1 Digital Memory
Card PRICE DROP
Enlarge
Price: $9 99*
May I therefore respectfully suggest that unless you require me to take this matter further, which I am more than prepared to do that you credit my card with the full amount by return.
I am sure that HP would not approve of this behaviour not to mention the local authority and tourist board.
I await your confirmation that this money has been credited to our account by retun

and guess what I still have heard NOTHING, they should not be allowed to trade !!!!!!!! and Yes I am taking it further

[luckymec]

on our last night in New York me and my wife decided to go for a little bit of shopping in broadway computer to by binoculars,the salesman showed us a first model at 899.00 to expensive so he continue with a 599.00 model so I ask if this was the best price he can do ,that's when Ray the boss came and he lower the price at 331.00 so we bought the binoculars and started looking for lens for my wife's camera so Ray showed us a 1200.00 lens and told us if we bought the lens he would deduct the price of the binoculars we had just bought......what a deal we tought ,Ray showed us another lens that we could use but this one is 1800.00 but he is ready to go down 500.00... and give us a camera bag value of 165.00 so we left the store with a total spending over 2500.00.when we got home I've done a little bit a research to see if we made good on our spending.to start the binoculars worth on four different site 55.00 , the first lens on three site 399.00 and the other well I'm embarrasse to tell ..100.00 so talking of over priced and by reading a few forum site i'm not the only one with a bad shopping experience at Broadway Computer

[EYE.image]

Check the reviews.

Broadway Photo is a repeat offender. I've heard they even sell gray market stuff without real warranty (only their own shop warranty. But it may be easier to squeeze tears out of a stone than getting service out of such a warranty).

Go to B&H if you want good and professional service.

[EYE.image]

The best advice against getting ripped off is this one:

First evaluate what goods are services are worth.

Then find someone who does good work and does not overcharge.

Then pay the price.

If you want to pay less than what something is worth, you are setting yourself up to get ripped off.