Thunder Camera warning

[lindadesosa]

I ordered a Canon 70-300 lens because Thunder Cameras prices were the lowest by far. I received an email from them telling me to call to verify my purchase. I did and they told me that the lens I had ordered would not work with a digital camera. Since I had ordered it based on recommendations from a website called the digital doctor, I demurred and said I wanted my original order. I also told them I had read reviews that said the company liked to bait and switch so I really wanted the lens I requested. He went away for a while and when he returned, he said they had to order it from Japan and it would take 4-6 weeks. I said that would be fine. I immediately received an email saying that it would be 7-13 weeks and offering me the option to cancel the order. I opted NOT to cancel the order to see what would happen. Four days later, I received an email thanking me for cancelling my order and saying that had discarded my sensitive information.


I filled out this form through "reseller rating", giving them the lowest score. Within 15 minutes, I received a phone call from the "president"
asking what they could do to change my score. I said that I wanted the lens that I ordered. He said he would put one in the mail to me immediately (so much for the 7-13 week backorder). He told me to look at my email, which I did, and a new order had come through, including the credit card which had been supposedly discarded. I put my feedback on hold to see what would happen. I did receive the lens that I wanted the following week.

I do not believe that one should have to fill out a form to force a company to comply. This company clearly does bait and switch and the only reason that they honored my request was because of my rating. Thank you for that.

[sdlong24]

So you made a purchase the company would have trouble filling, which they admitted to you over the phone. They then chose the easiest route by refunding your money and cancelling the order.

You then pretty much blackmailed them with a bad review, in which they most likely shipped you another customer's product or they had to purchase locally at a ridiculous price (possibly at a loss to themselves), for your satisfaction by the way, and you followed up by badmouthing them. Seems pretty unreasonable.

And before you start accusing me of working for them, I do not, but I do work for a small e-commerce company and it bothers me that consumers can be so unreasonable.

[Steve R Jones]

Wonder if its a standard SLR lens and if the OP got it to work on his digital camera.

[lenjack]

He wasn't blackmailing them. He gave an honest, poor review. Now if he then upgraded the review, then that sucks.

[frostbitetwice]

Originally Posted by lenjack

He wasn't blackmailing them. He gave an honest, poor review. Now if he then upgraded the review, then that sucks.

Not really Lens, as he could edit the review with his post...

[sundanchangmonk]

I can only say THANK YOU for your post OP and to RR for the service in general. I'm in the market for a couple of Nikon D3s and I fear that if I (tried) to purchase them from this company I am sure they would try to convince me that a Kojak Easyshare would make a pager or a taylor look even better than a crummy little Nikon D3s could ever do--for only a grand or two pounds more...Plus then they would have my phone number and would probably never stop bugging to get them an autograph for their twenty-two children on every single thing ever released by any subject that was unlucky enough to fall into my gaze and my cameras lens had possibly had a hand in. I really can't stand flurbie tootoums like these BASs. Thunder Camera my ask.

[frozenstar]

Originally Posted by Steve R Jones

Wonder if its a standard SLR lens and if the OP got it to work on his digital camera.

Wondering why the OP didn't mentioned that as well...

[EPowers]

Originally Posted by sdlong24

So you made a purchase the company would have trouble filling, which they admitted to you over the phone. They then chose the easiest route by refunding your money and cancelling the order.

You then pretty much blackmailed them with a bad review, in which they most likely shipped you another customer's product or they had to purchase locally at a ridiculous price (possibly at a loss to themselves), for your satisfaction by the way, and you followed up by badmouthing them. Seems pretty unreasonable.

And before you start accusing me of working for them, I do not, but I do work for a small e-commerce company and it bothers me that consumers can be so unreasonable.

Oh no, OP did not do anything wrong. The company was trying to up sell the product and got caught in their own lies. OP did the right thing and punished the company. Maybe next time they will be wiser.

[Chuckabutty]

The lesson is: If it sounds too good to be true it probably is. The cheap price is a hook they want you on. There are a few of these companies around, and I went through the same thing before I learned NEVER to buy from any of them, again. I shop with Adorama and found them to be prompt, safe and reliable, with a good return policy. There is no argument about returning something, but I doubt that cheap company would ever have considered a refund without making you go to hell and back for it.

I bought a 55-200 VR Nikon lens from Adorama and soon saw that it wasn't what I wanted. I wanted the 18-200 VR, and Adorama exchanged it for me. They were courteous and polite and have earned my trust. And, no, I have no connection with them other than that of being a customer

[unhsppy customer]

Unfortunately I am a victum of this company. They have a bait and switch thing going on. I caught them in 3 lies. If I return the merchandise I am out $37.00 . They advertise a camera for $159. but guess what, that is true. After falling for their scheme, I called back not 4 hours later and they refused to cancel my order. They stated I could return the items minus shipping AND HANDLING of $12.00 and 15% restocking fee. Someone needs to put these folks out of business!