I ordered a Sony camcorder and accessory pack. The pack has arrived (and my AmEx charged) but there is no sign of the camcorder, and they do not respond to my enquiries. They show the camcorder as 'in stock', and promised it by the middle of this week.Given their reputation, I am certain this is a scam, and they have no intention of ever delivering the camera.
An update - after pestering them by e-mail, I am told that my camcorder is an "import" model, and so on back order, but for only $2899 he can mail me the USA model directly. Sure. I challenged him on the "import" story, and I think things are getting tetchy now. Next stop the AG's of New York and Ohio, American Express's Consumer Complaints Department, the BBB, and the FTC.
An update, as of 12/13/06 - still no sign of the "import" model. I make sure I condict all correspondence with these crooks by e-mail, not telephone, so I have a written record of everyting they say or promise. As of last week they are "still waiting on the order". Since the function that I was purchasing the camcorder for is now over, I can afford to wait them out, and not give them the easy out of cancelling the order. January 1 will be the date that the NY AG's Office gets an official and documented complaint from these swindlers - American Express will be put onto them, too.
Update - February 9, 2007. Finally got over the holiday rush and decided to put the screws on these swindlers. E-mailed them asking them to deliver the camera, and got the stock response that the "import" model was still on back order but, guess what (!), he could let me have the "USA replacement kit" which, by some strange coincidence they had "just received", for $2,999.99, or $1,400 OVER the original order price. I told them no, and that I was going to contact the New York Attorney General's Office, and he came back to offer me a further $100 off! The nerve of these shysters is beyond belief!
Anyway, I hae all the forms off the NYAG's consumer fraud site, and I will prepare and file the papers over the weekend.
These people are the scum of the earth.
As of May 1st, 2007, I have filed a formal complaing with the Federal Trade Commission, the Better Business Bureau, and the New York Attorney General's Office. Mr. Shy keeps saying the camera is an "import model on back order". He then told me it was no longer being made ( and, of course, offered me another model at $1,000 more), but was still advertising it on his web site. When challenged he said he was "trying another source". This lying scumbag wouldn't know the truth if it bit him.
OK, as of August 1, 2007, the FTC has responded, indicating that if this liar did not fill the order within 30 days, the order is null and void. I have forwarded this to Mr. Shy by e-mail, but now he won't even reply to it. It clearly must have hit home, since I have probably sent it 20 times without answer. The NYAG has apparently passed my complaint to their Internet Fraud department, but I have heard nothing from them - they seem to be totally incompetent.
MR. Shy is probably the worst piece of human trash I have ever dealt with. There is a special place in hell for people like him.
UPDATE - American Express tried to contact BBC with my complaint, but (surprise, surprise) got no reply. Therefore they held that my complaint was valid, and returned my $943 to me. However, this still means that BBC has scammed AmEx, rather than me.
I was finally contacted by the NY Office of Consumer Affairs, but by now BBC, CC Camera City, and the entire spawn of the devil that they are affiliated with has packed up its tent and disappeared. They are, no doubt, trading under another name, and still ripping people off, but at least we were able to strike one against Mr. Shy, Mr. David Gadeloff, and their thieving ilk.
In the meantime, I ordered the Sony HD-FX1 from B&H Camera for ~$3,000, and received it within the week. Stay with B&H, and avoid Brooklyn.
This review was modified by its author, watcoh, on
2/8/08 2:29 PM.
