Got scammed and looking for advice

[morphis]

Hi all,

Wish I had done better reasearch before I commited my credit card... You folks seem to have lots to say about thecameraprofessionals.com and they got me hook line and stinker. I got fooled by their phoney review site...

But, not to rehash what you all have already posted and covered here...

After getting the bait and switch treatment I called in too late to cancel my order. They provided me with a tracking number and something is on the way to me from them via UPS. They said I could refuse to accept the package but I would be charged a 15% restocking fee. After a lenghty disscussion with my CC company it seems that no matter what action I take I signed a digital contract with them and am on the hook for at least the 15% plus shipping costs. So, I am trying to set aside the fact that I have been had and paid way too much for my new camera and figure out if it's in my best interest to just keep it.

I paid 1499 for this so called "deal" so my restocking fee is going to be 225.00 and it's around 50 bucks worth of shipping going each way.

So no matter what my budget is down to about 1224. The question I am left with is this: Is the stuff I bought worth ~1225 bucks? If so and it comes in new condition I am thinking I will just keep it. The level of hassel to undo this thing is going to be very high and I know that is what they are counting on. But, I have a vacation out of the country in a few weeks and the CC company said any disputes would take 60 days to resolve... Canon said they would honer the factory warenty so I am ok there... As much as I want to stick it to these sharks my time and frustration is worth a couple hundred bucks to me. Hate to break it down like that but it simply is...

Here is the list of items I am getting...

1 1 SHP 3 Piece Deluxe Lens Cleaning Kit
2 1 SHP Universal LCD Screen Protector
3 1 SHP Introduction To Your Digital Camera On DVD
4 1 SHP 2GB High Speed Compactflash Memory Card
5 1 SHP High Speed Compact Flash Card Reader
6 1 SHP Deluxe Photo/Video Tripod
7 1 SHP Deluxe Camcorder Carrying Case
8 1 SHP DigiCom DC-C81 Pro Aluminum Hard Case
9 1 SHP Canon EOS-30D Retail Kit With Battery And Charger
10 1 SHP Bundle Package Includes
11 1 SHP Memory Carrying Case
12 1 SHP Sigma 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 Macro Super II SLD Lens Canon mount
13 1 SHP Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8-4.0 High Speed Compact Zoom Lens Canon

So, what do you think? Is that stuff worth 1225?

If I truly felt scammed, I would refuse delivery AND I would keep calling and escalating with my credit company until I got someone who agreed to reverse all the charges.

Just because one person told you no, don't let it go. If you truly feel you were wronged, don't quit. Be persistent, keep good records, be polite, and keep calling. I've had good results pursuing matters in just this way.

You can plug those items into our product price finder and get some average prices. And please submit a review!

*edit

[twistedbrntucker]

I would refuse and argue with my CC. Like Lara said keep all paperwork and email records etc.

BTW the camera kit and lenses alone would retail for around 875.00 to 1100.00 depending on where you bought and if on sale or not. However the extras is where, IMHO, they are making their money. Like extended warranties

[morphis]

Yeah, the more I have thought about it the more it has been eating away at me. Which is just another way these jerks win. So, I have decided to refuse to accept delivery. I have also filed a complaint with the local BBB where I found the company to have an unfavorable rating. heh! Anyway I am going to contest any restocking fees but VISA says that shipping fees are not contestable. So, I will be make sure VISA knows EXACTLY what UPS said it cost to ship to and from my house. I don't want these guys to go for some loophole and charge me 200+ for shipping.

Originally Posted by twistedbrntucker

I would refuse and argue with my CC. Like Lara said keep all paperwork and email records etc.

BTW the camera kit and lenses alone would retail for around 875.00 to 1100.00 depending on where you bought and if on sale or not. However the extras is where, IMHO, they are making their money. Like extended warranties

[flipper812002]

As having a visa card myself and having had to dispute a charge on it i have no idea where you are getting some of your information. If you are getting it from visa then someone is telling you wrong.

Out of 7 years and the 2 chargebacks i have done the last one being 6 months ago i did not accept the box and when i disputed it i got a full refund of all my money even the shipping.

I suggest you fight for what is yours and make sure to keep accurate records. You should not have to pay for shipping or any other part of that purchase if you refuse it at the door and file a charge back.

Good luck to you and i hope you fight having to pay any portion of it.

[Mel Davis]

This is considered a "buyer's remorse" situation and would bring you grief on eBay, or in a car sale, or with cash/check/mail order payment, and might be trouble if you'd paid with a debit card, but in this kind of retail mail order situation, if you used a credit card, most credit card companies will back you assuming this retailer refuses to refund and assuming the shipper gets the package back to the store. I strongly urge you to stick with your decision and not even think about accepting or opening the box, based on their reviews here. Refuse it. Document everything. Filing a BBB complaint at this point is a little unfair, if I understand your posts correctly, because you're filing mainly on the basis of others' bad experiences rather than your own. If I were the BBB, I'd be ignoring you here. On the other hand, these mail order camera and electronics store scams go back many decades, and why this mess never seems to get cleaned up I can't even begin to fathom.

Learn from this. Try hard to avoid getting into this kind of situation again, and remember that in some kinds of transactions such as car purchases you can't always back out because you do your homework too late. Get your camera gear at an online/mail order house such as B&H, which would give you a much better deal even at a higher price, or use a local camera store.

[morphis]

Originally Posted by Mel Davis

Filing a BBB complaint at this point is a little unfair, if I understand your posts correctly, because you're filing mainly on the basis of others' bad experiences rather than your own.

Actually I just didn't post about what the guy did because so many others here have. But, he lied to me on four major points about the camera so that I would buy more expensive stuff. I called Canon directly and confirmed that the things he told me were lies.

I will be sticking to my guns however and have already sent in all the paperwork to fight it.

[morphis]

Originally Posted by flipper812002

If you are getting it from visa then someone is telling you wrong.

you are correct. When I actually filed the paper work with Visa and started talking to someone in their dispute department they said the same thing. Just a case of not talking to the correct person.

[Mel Davis]

Originally Posted by morphis

Actually I just didn't post about what the guy did because so many others here have. But, he lied to me on four major points about the camera so that I would buy more expensive stuff. I called Canon directly and confirmed that the things he told me were lies.

I will be sticking to my guns however and have already sent in all the paperwork to fight it.

In that case, you definitely have good cause for a formal complaint with the BBB. I wish you all the best in totally unwinding this deal with a minimum of hassle.