I ordered a Camera kit for $3495. They called me on the pretense to verify my information, then tried to sell me a bunch of accessories. I can deal with that. But then real quickly, the salesman mentioned that there was an additional charge of $279 for insurance (8% of purchase price). I objected. He went to a supervisor and came back offering it at $104 (3% of purchase price.)
After reading many bad reviews of broadway photo, I thought I would not give them my business. Then I thought I should give them a call and see what happens. I called the sales dept. and spoke to Chris ext.#209 and asked about the things other people had mentioned on their reviews.
I asked if I was required to call to process my order; he said it was not necessary but I could to expedite the process. I asked if the bill was final and no hidden fees would appear; he said the bill is final. I asked him if there was an insurance charge; not unless I want one. I asked if I was shipped the wrong item, would I have to pay shipping, etc., to get it back to Broadway photo; he said if the mistake was theirs, I would not be charged. I double checked that a canon battery was included (for the XSi I was wanting); canon battery included.
So, after that call, I was so confused. I called again and got someone else who was helpful and not pushy as other reviewers have said.
Against my better judgement, I ordered online the canon XSi. I got an email confirming my order.
Then I emailed support to confirm that no more than the charge I agreed to would show up on my credit card bill. It was confirmed. I breathed a little until... I got an email telling me that I could call to expedite processing of my order. After remembering what Chris the salesman said (optional) I chose not to call.
Next email from them told me my order was processed. Whew!!
Then came another email saying they were having difficulties processing my order in the billing dept. and I needed to call. I did, expecting to get more charges added or sales pitches. But no! They simply confirmed my address and that was it!
Next thing I knew my order was shipped and I was given a tracking number. I tracked the package every day or so and received it just over a week after ordering (I chose free ground shipping). I registered the camera with canon fine (it wasn't a gray-market camera) and it works!
My suggestions to you? Know your camera,lens,etc., well. Be familiar with what it's made of(so they won't fool you if they try to say that the metal version is more expensive when you know all are metal). Also, be sure you want the product so you won't have to return it and pay shipping and restocking and insurance fees. Also, call them yourself and see what kind of person you talk to.
I will buy from them again based on my experience but will always be wary based on others' experiences.
Who knows, maybe I got lucky. But I have to write an honest review based on my personal dealings with them.
WORST COMPANY YOU CAN EVER HOPE TO DO BUSINESS WITH!! I have been communicating with them for the past three weeks with regards to availability of 25 units LG DS420 projectors and with a very absolute assurance they replied every time that they had them in stock. My company is commited with an overseas government licitation to supply this 25 units. We commited based on what Broadway Photo. com promesed us....Today, as we are finilizing the order ... not only they surprised us with some unexpected hadling charges, but after going through all the troubles in placing the order, I called to get confirmation and they slaped me with : Sorry, but we don't have them in stock.
Unfurtunately, their sorry will not resolve my situation, since because of their deception, now I cant get these products anywhere else on time to deliver to the goverment agency and we will be BANDED from doing business for the NEXT THREE YEARS with the goverment due to unfulfillment of an order.
All at BROADWAY PHOTO are not only unproffessional, but they have a horrible customer care and service. Actually they simply don't care. It's been a horrible day for us!!!
I purchased HDR-XR520V, 240GB High Definition HDD Handycam Camcorder advertised FREE GROUND DELIVERY.
THE CAMCORDER IS BRAND NEW AND LOOK GREAT.
BUT MY SHOPPING EXPERIENCE WITH THEM WAS VERY LOUSY.
AFTER RECIVING MY CAMCODER I FIND OUT THAT I WAS OVER CHARGE $ 49.99
After I complained them on the phone they informed me it was a handling fee & insurance. I never authorized these extra charges that I was not aware. They never send me invoice about this extra charges just an email me
that we have received your order.
On the end they offer to credit half $25.00 back to me. But Im steel not happy the way I have this extra charges.
Please be aware placing any orders with them. Even they say free shipping it is not free. They will charge you for Handling and other fees they want to include and very briefly note on the phone total amount $.... and never mention about handling and insurance fee separate they just include it in total amount. You are assuming they are honest people and doing right thing but not, please double check everything they say the best thing before authorize any charges ask them to mail you invoice so you can see what you was charge for.
We placed an order for a Panasonic VIERA TC-32LX85 32-Inch HDTV with broadwayphoto.com and within 48 hrs, we received an email from them asking us to call them to verify and process our order. When we called, we realized that their high-pressure salesman was simply trying to sell us a list of additional TV accessories. And it was during the phone call that we learned the TV does NOT even come with its base! Every other electronic store sells the TV and the base as a unit, but it seems that broadwayphoto.com sells their TVs by their individual components. It's outright bait-and-switch. We canceled our original order and we would never do business with them again. Buyer beware!
I ordered a Nikon 55-200mm lens... called to confirm. When I politely turned down all the accessories, I was told that I'd ordered the "foreign" version of the lens and if I wanted a US version (with English manuals, etc) I'd have to pay ~$40 more ...
I told them I didn't see 'foreign' anywhere on the web-page I used to buy the lens. The salesman ensured me it was there: so I made him wait while I checked. It was not there. I read most of the page to him and asked him to tell me where this information was: he said he didn't have access to the net but still insisted it was there!! Incredible...
I ordered a gps unit which was supposed to be new. The item I received appeared to be unused but upon trying to register the warranty I found someone had previously filled out the registration. I sent an email to Broadway requesting a replacement to no avail. I also received the hardsell and a lot of lies about needed accessories. STAY AWAY FROM THIS COMPANY!!!!! SCAM ARTISTS AT BEST!!!!
I had a very positive experience with Broadway. I ordered the wrong camera and they exchanged it without any problems. The sales person was very accommodating.
todays date 01/17/2008. ordered advertised low price , got the better battery pitch $99, how about this $$$, how about that $$$, No thank you just the camera, No problem says the Bway man. Problem I find , it is always on backorder. 4 to 6 weeks. then 4 to 6 weeks, then 4 to 6 weeks. Priceless and very entertaining.Some Mom's kids.
DON'T get suckered!!! The only "satisfied" reviews hereunder are posted at the request of the shopowner (except for the one that describes a terrible dissatifaction with "cuss" words, but that must have inadvertently clicked "satisfied" in his/her angst!
Just like One Way Photo, Camera Addict, Broadway Photo and a host of others, THEY LIE and MISREPRESENT EVERYTHING (hidden costs, misrepresented characteristics, ...).
HELP THIS SITE AND TRUTHFULNESS by taking the time to click on "NO"-t useful after all the single line comments that don't give any transaction detail. EXTERMINATE THEM ALL!!!
Preferred Photo is a TERRIBLE company, i tried ordering the olympus sp-550 uz and called in to make sure it was teh US model for 244 and was in stock, the rep said yes to both, so i go online and order...today i get an email to confirm and they confirm my order, i say yep...he tries to sell me accessories...during this time i ask to again make sure its the US model and not japanese model, he says yes...i say just the camera please...he then asked if iw anted to the US warranty, i say what? he says its an overseas camera and the menu will be in japanese...WHAT THE CRAP, I JUST ASKED THIS---how misleading, they are lucky they confirm the order or theyd be out of luck...piece of junk company
Don't bother. These guys will waste your time and stress you out unless you are willing to buy loads of cheap nasty accessories at5 times their value. I wasted a whole day with these guys...they took my order, then refused to give me a shipping time (after they realised I wasn't going to buy anything else).
These guys are scam artists and I had no idea that these resellers were linked until I came to writing this review. Some resellers linked with Broadway Photo had Sony HDR-SR8 camcorders for $749 - $1099, but when I called the resellers, they said that it was the China version and a U.S. version would costs $1500. These resellers were also very rude, transferred me back and forth to people when I called and played teenager phone games. These were I believe dummy resellers for Broadway Photo; part of their scam.
Anyway, I purchased my Sony camcorder over the phone with Broadway Photo in order to get a true understanding of what I was paying for. On January 9, 2008 I purchased a Sony HDR-SR8 from Broadway Photo for $1249, and they sold me on a Sony 6 hour battery for $169.99 because they said the original battery only records for 30 minutes or less. With the $54.76 for 3day shipping, the total amount was $1483.75
January 14, 2008 I received the merchandise and the Sony Camcorder box was crushed in one corner as if it's been dropped from a high place, but the shipping box looked fine with no damage on it. I would not buy a camcorder from any retail store if it was offered to me in this condition, but they sent it to me. The battery I received was a CTA brand (CTA DB-FH70) rated at 200 minutes, not the Sony 6 hour battery I ordered. This CTA battery sells for about $59 and after reading the camcorder manual, I found out that the original battery has 105 minutes of recording time, and not 30 minutes which they told me in order for them to make a battery sale which they took me for $169 on a $59 battery.
I called Broadway Photo today and it took an hour to get to a person, I was passed to 3 different people. They would not do anything for me but to say ship it back to them at my cost because they claim they have it on recording that I ordered that battery and they didn't say it was a Sony brand, which was a big lie. They made no comment on the damaged camcorder box condition. My email invoice only has an order # and no breakdown of cost for each item. Their scam is hidden that way.
I was scamed big time on the battery and received a crushed camcorder box which I only turned on the camcorder to see if it will power up and it did. I don't know if there will be any problems down the road with this camcorder but it was wrong for them to ship me this damaged box item. I took plenty of pictures of the damaged box and I will tell everyone I know to stay far away from Broadway Photo. They're a ripoff.
This review was modified by its author, HDR Sony, on
1/17/08 3:22 PM.
I had no problem with the first camera that I ordered because I fell into their trap of ordering overpriced accessories. I tried ordering another camera for my daughter a month later and, when I told them that I only wanted the camera, they became hostile. Then they said the price I saw was for the Japanese model and it would cost $150 more for the US model! I tried placing orders with several other companies that, at the time, I didn't know they were all connected and I got the same runaround. Stay away from these people because they commit fraud every day. I wish I had known because I would have saved time and aggravation.
DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME WITH THESE PEOPLE!! I ordered a TV on 11/30/07 and was told by email the TV was backordered. No other communication about the merchandise I ordered (for a Christmas present). After several failed attempts to get through to Customer Service, I got to Sales, only to be transferred back to Customer Service which was not even open during this particular time. Finally, after holding for over 20 minutes on December 28, I cancelled my order.
Try B & H Photo! They were on it and they wanted my business. Very smooth transaction from B & H Photo!!!!
