Received merchandise over a week late, wasn't sure it was what I was sold over the phone because I never received an invoice, tracking number or written estimate. Shipping charge was WAY too much, and the packing slip info was vague, to say the least. BUT, I did receive a great camera for a pretty good price. Express Cameras needs better customer service (no bait-and-switch over the phone), email confirmations with tracking numbers and a website with truthful advertising and active links.

This review was modified by its author, mattorefice, on 9/2/07 12:05 AM.

This merchant is terrible. i ordered a video camera 16 weeks ago and it still has not arrived. I was told it was on backorder for 4 weeks when i ordered and I still don't have the camera in hand. I called today and they said it will be another 6-8 weeks. If it seems too good to be true, it is. Go somewhere else to order. They are horrible and have no answers for when you'll get your equipment and they make no effort to make restitutions for being over.

Below is a copy of the letter I sent with my return to ExpressCamera. What a friggin joke. Upssell me to almost $3000 then deliver MAYBE $1500 worth of product. Please, I may not be a professional, but I know the difference in a $200 lens and a $1600 one. The internet created these people, but it also allowed me to check what they sent and the value. ALWAYS PAY BY CREDIT CARD PEOPLE.  
 
August 16, 2007  
 
Express Camera’s  
Re Order: XXXXXX8Y  
XXXXXX8  
 
I am returning my entire order for invoice XXXXX for the following reasons.  
 
1. Cannon 30D was previously opened and entire contents smells like cigarette smoke.  
2. A cheap $200 Sigma lens (70-300 F4-5.6 DG MACRO)was substituted for the $1,599.00 Sigma  
Apochromatic AF DG MACRO SLD  
a) It appears a cheap $79 lens (28-70 F2.8 DG) was substituted for a $599.00 lens but Nick tells me  
it is so new on the market it is not on the Sigma website.  
3. The order was missing the battery charger and Compact Flash Memory.  
 
On August 9th I placed an order for your Gold Package for $2004.00. On August 13th, Nick convinced me to upgrade to a special catalog # 7 package. Total cost was $2994.90. Instead of the Cannon Lenses I was to get upgraded Sigma Lenses. When I called to inquire on the lenses received, I was told a mistake was made and to ship back the camera and lens and new ones would be sent out. Instead of $2100 worth of lenses, mine were worth about $300.00. I decided to return the whole order and just reorder my original Gold Package. When I tried to do this, Edgar informed me they were out of the Cannon Lenses and the 30D. He switched me over to Nick who promised me that if I kept my package #7, he would ensure I got a new 30D unopened and the $1599.00 Sigma Lens along with an extra battery charger plus replace the one I was missing. I asked him if he had the Cannon 30D in stock and he said he did. This is minutes after Edgar told me Camera Express was out and they were on back order. I decided to do an internet search on your company and found numerous complaints for these kinds of tactics. Bait and Switch, items on back orders, incomplete shipments. This describes my order and experience so far. After calling Sigma directly to discuss these lenses I received, the tech said, I bet you got them from Express Camera’s. He informed me your company does this all of the time. Bottom line is I don’t trust your company. I have already informed Discover Card Services of my complaint. They advised me you have 15 days to issue a full credit. After that I will file a dispute.  
 
Sincerely,  
 
Steve  

This review was modified by its author, abcmemphis, on 8/24/07 9:16 PM.

This a very simple account of my experience with Express Cameras. I bought I Nikon D70s at the price they advertised on their web page. They tried to upsell me. I refused the upsell. They charged the credit card $1843 instead of $644; both charges include shipping and handling. The merchandize was shipped and delivered approximately five days after the order. It was at the time of delivery when I opened the box of equipment did I realize what they had done. I called them to inform them that I was returning unordered merchandise. They refused to provide a tracking number instead offering a small credit. I returned all the equipment I did not order and informed the credit card company that there were unauthorized charges on the card. The credit card company reversed the entire transaction. I offered Express Cameras the amount they advertised to settle the account. They refused the payment instead beginning continuous harassing phone calls which is a violation of New Jersey State Law. I reported them to the State of New Jersey and my home state law enforcement officials. Almost a year later they tried to send a collection agency to collect. The agency was unlicensed. I returned their demand letter and reported them to the authorities. To this day Express Cameras is attempting to collect the fraudulent bill. The offer to pay to amount they advertised was put in writing a second and third time but ignored or refused every time. American Express has cancelled ExpressCameras account. The State of New Jersey sued them. They continue to harrass consumers and lie despite the fact that based on the State of New Jersey's statute the first offense is $10,000 and every offense thereafter is $20,000 in fines. I would recommend that everyone who reads this note file a complaint with the State of New Jersey using their automated consumer complaint system on the web.

I ordered a Canon 10-22 lens, advertised for  
$499.00 at Express Cameras:  
 
www.expresscameras.com  
http://www.expresscameras.com/prodetails.asp?prodid=211292  
 
There was a telephone number to confirm the order, I was given by E-mail an order number, but never a statement of the actual purchase. I called to confirm the order, and somebody said that things were OK and hang up immediately. A few days later I found a charge of $590 in my credit card. I called several times to inquire, and was treated rudely and put on hold indefinitely. Finally my order arrived. It was a Sigma lens that retails for $450. I really blame myself for being taken. Apparently this ``company'' has being doing this for years, and nobody has stopped them. I wish I would have consulted with the BBB before ordering from them:  
 
http://www.trenton.bbb.org/nis/newsearch2.asp?ID=1&ComID=0221000012001957  
 
I contacted my Credit Card Company stating that I  
disputed the charges. They told me to make at least two attempts to arrange for the return of the unsolicited lens. I did that on August 2nd (an E-mail went unanswered). I spent like an hour on the phone, being hung up repeatedly. Finally I talked to somebody extremely rude who yelled at  
me and told me that that was the lens I had ordered, he lied saying that I had called them asking for an upgrade on the original lens (how can an upgrade be an inferior lens?). He said that I could return the lens at my own expense, but I suspect that if I do that they will claim that they never received it and the charges will stay.  
I did not open the lens, it does not look like factory sealed... Might well be a used or a damaged lens, I have no way to know. In any case, the issue remains unresolved at this moment. I recommend the readers to stay away  
from this company.  
 
-Mario Blaum

When I called Expresscameras.com, I informed them that I was a new high school journalism teacher purchasing the equipment for my school newspaper.  
I ordered the Continental Package (for the Digital Rebel), which comes with an Image Stabilizer on the 70-300 Canon lens.  
The package arrives at $1,999.00 ($700 MORE than what I ordered on the web) and the lens was a Sigma DG without Image Stabilization.  
I fought with these guys for days over the phone, but to no avail; I gave up.  
Finally, I filed a complaint with the New Jersey Attorney General's Office and I am awaiting their response.  
BOTTOM LINE: If they will take advantage of a teacher, using his own money, they will take advantage of ANYONE. PLEASE stay away!  

SCAM SCAM SCAM! These guys should be in jail! I wish Michael Moore would do a Doc. about online fraud! I was so excited to get my new camera, then it all started this morning when I talked to the biggest jerk on earth first I was hung up on 3 times then when I did speak with these unpleasent crooks they where so rude when I did not want any upgrades, after a while they said "fine dont upgrade" my order was confirmed. I had a really bad feeling about them! so I called back to get a tracking number, at that point I think I was talking to the same person and he said my order was canceled, I said excuse me? and he said, "canceled canceled canceled canceled what part of that do you not get?" checked my card and it was still charged I disputed the charge. crooks someone should take these guys down!!!!

This company is running a scam. I ordered about $2700 worth of stuff from them including a Nikon D200 and a couple of Nikon lenses. They had the best price for the D200 -- several hundred bucks below others. The lens were priced on par with others. During the "please call us to confirm your order" they tried to up-sell me a couple hundred dollar battery and charger. Also wanted to get $300 for high-speed memory cards. They also wanted to see if I would pay an extra $50 to "upgrade my lenses to Sigma lenses". I politely refused all of these add-ons.  
 
The next day I got an email that my order was cancelled because one of my items was on backorder. I called them to see which one. It turns out that ALL of my items were on backorder -- none were in stock. That just sounds amazing to me; but I was glad to have the whole order cancelled because these people are shysters. I'm worried that they have my credit card number.  
 
If I had found out about this web site first and avoided ordering from this company, I would have saved a bunch of time.

Bunch of bait and switch, New Jersey, crooks. AVOID.

Company keeping advertising that camera Nikon D80 is available for orders. After placing order on line, next day I receive e-mail with cancellation note. When on phone, their clerk was very rude and unpleasant to talk with.  
Meanwhile store keeps my credit card, address and other personal data, which they require for placement of orders on line in spite of not stocking this camera.  
I consider this company as one that engaged in fraud advertising. Do not deal with this establishment. In the future I definitely will not buy from this chain of stores anything.  
I ordered this camera from BuyDig.com and transaction was perfect. I am glad that I did not get sucked into business with those low life crooks.

This review was modified by its author, mk1818, on 7/18/07 10:21 PM.

STAY AWAY FROM THIS COMPANY!!!  
 
These guys give criminals a bad name. I'd call them slime, except that would be an insult to slugs. Bait-and-switch is this company's main product. They won't sell you what they advertise for what they claim, but they will try to upsell and buffalo you into buying thousands of dollars worth of outrageously priced "accessories". Customer service is worse than dismal. Hang-ups are their response to normal questions.

I feel lucky. Express Camera canceled the next day after I refused their ridiculously strong upsale for outrageous prices. I ordered a Nikon D80 Kit with a couple of lenses that was listed on Express Cameras website for $679. What a bargain! It made me nervous when the website didn't give me an opportunity to print my receipt for what I had ordered and how much I was supposed to pay. After the normal "call to confirm," they told me my kit didn't come with a battery and wanted to charge me $200.00 dollars for one! They also said the standard memory card took 8 to 12 seconds to write a photo and I needed the super fast memory card for the camera to work as advertised. It cost $399! I knew better to order without checking Resellerratings.com and did anyway. Anyway, I received the same treatment most others have already commented on. I'm glad my order was canceled. It sounds like the ones who actually receive something are the ones who really get hosed. Everyone who has a complaint about this company should fill out a consumer complaint form on the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General's website. I did.

This review was modified by its author, Stuttgart, on 7/11/07 11:54 AM.

The store is a rip off operation. They advertise at very low prices and then try to get you to pay hundreds more by lying through their teeth about how much better the hjigher priced item is. Then, if you don't buy the high priced item they cancel the order you had placed. BEWARE!

On July 2nd I ordered a Nikon D200 digital SLR camera body and a Nikon 18-200mm Digital Lens from Express Cameras website because they had the cheapest price ($349 on-line advertised price for the camera body and $629 for the lens). The order was confirmed via email. On the same day, another email came letting me to contact them to verify the order. I called and talked to Chris. First he tried to sell me accessories for the camera, then he told me that camera I ordered has a plastic body and asked me whether I wanted to ‘upgrade’ to a magnesium alloy body. This in of itself was a scam because the Nikon d200 only comes in a magnesium alloy body.  
Another email came on July 3rd saying that the camera was in backorder (for 6-8 weeks) and my order had been cancelled because of this. Meanwhile Express Cameras continued advertising the same camera on their web site and raised the price by $100. I find it hard to believe that they are able to continue to pull this off without some legal intervention.  

Lies, fabrication, bait and switch, breaking up a Nikon Kit and trying to sell you the battery and charger FROM THE BOX. Lies about a lens upgrade--more lies. RUDE. IGNORANT. IDIOTS! A SHAM!!!!!!  
 
The Attorney General of NJ has filed suit against this "company". See http://www.nj.gov/oag/newsreleases06/pr20061130a.html  
If you've been screwed by this sham-business, call the AG at 973-504-6200 and ask to join the lawsuit by filing a written complaint. It's the only way to stop this outrageous behavior.  
 
For more "wonderful" reviews and stories about expresscameras.com see this 86-post thread at CNET:  
 
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-6035_102-0.html?forumID=58&threadID=41675&messageID=2520078&tag=rss.rbf#2520078  
 
WE CONSUMERS HAVE RIGHTS. LET'S ACT ON THEM!