Problems with 645af aka Genesis Camera aka DigiOnix

[LMorici]

Has any one else had a problem receiving merchandise from 645af, or Genesis Camera, or DigiOnix? Apparantly this is all the same company. I ordered a digital camera on 7/28/03, my account was charged on 7/31/03....yet I haven't received my merchandise, haven't gotten a tracking # to check if it was shipped...I get no response to email inquiries, and they do not answer their phone. If anyone else has had this problem, please give me ideas on what else I can do. I will contact my bank to see if they can reverse the debit to my account (I used a visa check card)..but it may already be too late for that. Help!

[dallasthree16]

I attempted to purchase a Nikon coolpix 4500 through 645AF.com. Its a very large purchase for me so I did my homework well, they were a Yahoo preferred merchant and proudly displayed the Better Business approval logo on their website. There was a physical address listed, phone numbers and all the information you should look for. The second I placed my order my credit card was billed - the actual camera didn't ship out until a full three weeks later (despite my many phone calls and assurances that it was "shipping out tomorrow") I was on the verge of cancelling the whole order when they finally found one in stock to ship me. As I live in Canada I was pleased that it would be shipped by US Postal Service (USPS) and I could avoid the customs charges this way. When the camera finally arrived, they had sent it FEDEX and there was an additional $200 owing for customs and taxes. I refused the camera and demanded a refund - by this time their website was down and their phone lines were not being answered. After perservering for two months I finally got a refund! So they had my $900 U.S. for three months - I still can't find their website (that's how I found this thread) and I hope I can prevent someone else from going through this.

[LMorici]

After reporting them to the Better Business Bureau, and sending a complaint in writing to my Bank, I finally received a full refund! I too did research on this company before ordering, and was fooled into believing they were legit.

[mpclark31]

I fell for the Yahoo thing too. I had ALL KINDS of problems. They are basically thieves. Check the Pricegrabber.com merchant ratings for more bad news. I sent a complaint to Yahoo, but they seemed to not care about it. There response was nonchalant. I don't have it anymore because I deleted it. It kind of pissed me off when it basically sounded like they weren't going to do anything. The BBB filed a complaint but they can only do so much. It's a shame because people who haven't found this site or other merchant rating sites are getting royally ripped off. I think what they are doing to people is called grand larceny!

Mike

[gsmitho]

I have, fortunately, received my equipment, but, in trying to contact them to return one lens, I have experienced the same difficulties you have.

My suggestion to you, as you have mentioned, would obviously be to start with your bank and work with them to get your money credited to your account. If you had used a credit card instead of a check card, I believe they automatically deduct money immediately from your account (?), you may have had a much easier time getting your money back. You would be able to issue a complaint against the charge and they would not include it in your statement as they review the claim. Check with your bank to see if you have any type of insurance on the card to protect you from things like this or false charges.

Best of Luck
GS

[gsmitho]

Just to TRY to make you feel better, the company was legit...I payed over $3,000 for equipment and received it...I think they just went out of business.

As far as the charges though, I THINK it is illegal to post a charge to a customer's account until the product actually ships...in that respect, they may have been thieves. They obviously knew they were having financial problems and tried to take in as much money as they could before shutting down.

I hope you all are able to get your money back...wish ya the best!

[tgif]

I ordered a Fuji digital camera from 645AF.COM on June 27. The camera, which was supposed to be new, was obviously a refurbished one and came with no memory. I returned it and the next one arrived, but it did not have the Fuji A/C adapter. By the way it was packaged, it was obviously was not a "factory fresh" camera. A call to Fuji determined that it was gray market, thus Fuji would not honor the warantee. It was also lacking the two 128 MB memory cards that I had paid for. I got the run around about how they were on back order. Never have gotten the memory cards.

I issued a complaint and a demand for a refund to American Express, and they immediately put the amount I had paid on hold, so I am able to leave that balance on my account without incuring interest or late penalties until the dispute is handled. Just one word of advice: If you contact your credit card company, be sure to do it in writing. I made the mistake of calling their customer service. A couple of weeks after issuing the complaint, I phoned customer service at Am Ex. and asked to have the details of my complaint read to me. The information on record was incomplete and inaccurate, so I immediatelyu wrote a letter to American Express giving full details of my complaint. I expect to hear back from then in a couple of weeks from now.

I would love to hear from anyone who has successfully gotten a refund by pressure from their credit card company. What if 645AF.COM is out of business, which is appears to be? Does one still get the money from the credit card company? Wonder if Yahoo bears any responsiblity because of their tacit endorsement of this company.

[Brynot]

Ok, I think I might have topped everyone.
I bought my camera last January from "Genesis Camera", a D100. I was told it was a US Factory Warranty. So the trusting fool that I use to be assumed it was. Of course the last thing I looked for in my box when I opened it was anything but that beautiful D100. I was estatic That was until I sent it back to Nikon for a repair on a pin in the memory card slot. I got a note back from NikonUSA saying it was a gray market camera. Even though service had me pay $26 in UPS shipping after I had told them my problem and my serial number over the phone. I learned about gray market the hard way. Oh, and sitting in front of me is my 9 month old, year long Genesis store warranty. HA!! THe saddest part is that no one will touch it. Not even a local repair shop because Nikon has not released the proper equipment and software to camera repair shops to make repairs to the motherboard (as of 10/30/2003). You have to send the Nikon DSLRs to NY, the same place they sent it back from with a refusal sticker on it. So now I have this $1800 paperweight. Thanks "Genesis Camera aka 645af.com, aka I will do my best to find you and sue you". Lesson Learned: Buy local and make sure that warranty is in the box.

[tgif]

An addendum to my previous post: I received a letter from American Express last week. They had notified Genesis of my complaint regarding the sale of a gray market camera they sold me. AE said that they had not heard from Genesis, and that they had credited my account for $488.95, the total amount that the camera cost. They said that if they don't hear from Genesis by November 3, I can keep the camera and have no obligation to return it. I'll celebrate by purchasing for $50 the Fuji AC/DC power adapter. I was told by Fuji that I could damage the camera by using a generic one, although so far that hasn't happened. I just want to play it safe.

Lesson learned: Demand from your credit card company an investigation and request a refund. It seems to have worked in my case. Unless Genesis can prove that they were honest in their dealings with me (fat chance) then I will get a nice digital camera for free. If it breaks down, at least I haven't lost anything. Good luck.

[Brynot]

I called Mastercard about it but they failed to help. I think I'll write them and Nikon.