I ordered a Canon camera from Tri-State Camera on Saturday, November 14th. I used my credit card, with a billing address in Vermont, but listed my ship-to address in San Diego, CA, as I didn't want to have to have the package re-shipped from Vermont to where I am working in San Diego. I do it all the time, never had a problem.  
For the next week, I keep checking on Tri-State's website to track the package, and it says no tracking information available. Finally, on Friday, November 20th, I call to find out the status of the order. I was informed that they would not ship to an address other than the billing address, and claimed to have sent me an e-mail and tried to call me to inform me of the policy. I checked the e-mail, and of course the junk mail folder to see if Yahoo had tossed it. No e-mail. No messages on my phone.  
The person on the phone at Tri-State wasn't concerned at all. It did take a few tries to get him to confirm to me that I wanted to cancel the order and for them to not charge my card.  
Fifteen minutes later, I had the order completed through Amazon.com, saved nearly $30, and they threw in 4 AA batteries and a 110-12volt charger. I will NOT consider Tri-State for any further purchases, and do not recommend them to anyone.

This is the worst company I have ever ordered from. The didn't have my product and never let me know. I had to call and cancel and they acted like I was not even a customer.

The customer service is terrible. I had ordered a refurbished Nikon Coolscan V. To be sure that it was available, I called. Two persons assured me that it was available and that it would be shipped shortly. They gave me their word on this. As few hours later I got an email that it was not available anymore. Apparently, promises can be made and broken without any consequence.  
I called the service department. They said they had an alternative; a slightly damaged Coolscan 8000. After thinking it over, they indicated that the price was almost 3 times the price of the Coolscan V. So, not really an alternative...  

Not good at all. I am a new Pentax owner and wanted a PENTAX zoom lens, external flash, and an optional Pentax AC adaptor. I knew what I was asking for, but the Phone sales rep managed to get the upper hand by "upselling" better lens (75-300 vs 50-200) or a more powerful flash ( Pentax 360 vs 450). I specifically mentioned Pentax accessories, he mentioned the advantages of the "upgrades," and I agreed, as I knew Pentax made the specific flash and zoom lenses he mentioned as being better...He was nice, no problem there, and he mentioned to me, "I'll take care of you."  
 
Well, the order was shipped , I opened it , and it was generic items from one end to the other........not a Pentax brand in sight. There was no Pentax a/c adaptor , just a AA Ni/Mh battery charger ( I already had one of those).  
 
I called customer service, the gentleman understood what I was saying, he persisted in convincing me to "try out" the Sakura Flash and Tamron zoom lens for a night, then send them back if I wanted..  
 
Well , the flash build quality was mediocre at best, the Tamron 75-300 zoom was Ok, but I found the Pentax at Amazon for the same price as Tri State was charging for the Tamron, so I realized.......no matter what you asked for ....they will just send generics, kinda like going to Walgreens...........at least at Walgreens, you know ahead of time you are getting a generic.....  
 
I packed everything up, insured it and the whole $635 order is headed back to TriState for a refund on my MasterCard. This was a mail order joke........I obviously trusted these people a little too much.............  
 
Bottom line: Be specific in EXACTLY what you want before you order.......I thought I was, but I think phone orders are a no-no......period.  
 
I have already ordered the Pentax 75-300 zoom, the Pentax 360 flash, and a Pentax remote for LESS THAN Tri-State's Generics............  
 
I was a fool, but with MasterCard's help, justice will be served here.........no thanks to TriState.........Go elsewhere, people........you deserve better.

Never Again! Called for an advertised Nikon Speedlight (didn't have one) and sold me one that was identical, made by the same manufacturer, etc, and cost less money. Like a fool I bought it over the phone, checked on the net and found that others sold the same light for $85 less. That was bad enough, but they also overcharged my credit card $50. Just an oversight, a mistake, they told me, and quickly offered to subtract the $50 plus the $85 and let me have the strobe for the same price that everyone else sells it for. I didn't even open the package when it arrived, I sent it back, then called them 5 times over a 4 week period to find out where my refund was at. Each time was told it takes 7-10 days, refunds are issued from some other location, would look into it that day and issue the refund etc etc. It's been 4 weeks, called them again today, was told the same story verbatim, still haven't seen the refund. Will call Mastercard tomorrow and see if they might be of any help. I would probably shop elsewhere!

I bought a Sigma lens from this store online. The lens came on time and as I expected, but I realized that I bought the wrong lens and that's when thing went wrong. Living in NYC, I thought I would go to the store and exchange the wrong lens with one that matches my camera. Wrong. The guy in the store said he had no direct link with the warehouse in New Jersey (online purchases) and he couldn't take the lens back. So, back home, I asked for RMA# and shipped back the lens. I was shipped the second week of August. We are now I October 2009, and I still didn't get the money back on my credit card. Already called 4 times, the guy said he will process the credit "tomorrow", but he is obviously lying. I guess now I will have to file a complaint and from now on I will buy my camera stuff elsewhere.

They did not have the camera they advertized. I was asked to call them back and at that time they tried to sell me a more expensive camera. Although they were very quick to charge my account for the camera, the refund for the non-existent camera was not as forthcoming. I had to hold for an eternity when I called to find out what gives.

I did not get positive emotions from this company at all. I have ordered a camera 1,2 weeks ago already and till now it have not received. And it is a gift for birthday of my little brother. I called to the TriState and have received disgusting and unprofesional custome service + they promise that they will receive my camera today or tomorrow and it throughout already 4 days. Well, possibly I should find other gift because I am not assured when I will receive the order. I'll never oder there again.

I cant be very positive about TriState, I received poor customer service. I will not come again.

I disliked that the shipping charges are not shown until the second to last step.  
I disliked that I received an email requesting that I call them about my order. I called and they just wanted to sell me UPS shipping for an extra $10 and sell me filters for the lens I ordered. A delay just to cross-sell and upsell is unacceptable.  
The only positive was the lens price although the price saving is partly offset by $20 S&H on a small $100 lens. Grossly inflated S&H charges is an underhanded tactic.  
 
linus hart

After I ordered the product, they called the next day to offer an extended warranty on the lens I ordered. They quoted $99.95 for 4 years. When I received my updated invoice with the product, I noticed I was charged $116.95 for a 3 year warranty. I emailed their sales email address and the email address of the salesperson that told me a warranty was added. Both of these emails went completely unanswered (3 weeks to date). I called the following week and finally agreed to a price correction of $99.95 for 3 years, which is still a year less than quoted, but was acceptable to me. It is now 2 weeks later and I still have not received a credit on my account. When you call them, plan on spending 30 minutes on hold and talking to 5 different people before you find "the right person."  
 
Also, shipping information was never entered so I was unable to track my order.  
 
Garbage customer service from a shady company.  
 
I have spent thousands of dollars on camera equipment... all online. I understand mistakes do happen, however these are not mistakes. These are bad business practices!  
 
STAY AWAY! Order from B&H, Cameta, or Adorama instead!

WARNING! BAIT & SWITCH! SCAM!  
 
I ordered a camera kit for $2200 from them, *after* calling in first to make sure the item was in stock. On the site it says it comes with a warranty. I called them 2 days later to check why my card wasn't charged yet. They said that they don't have the *gray market* (no warranty) camera I ordered in stock, but that they do have the equivalent USA camera kit for $2500, which I (stupidly) okayed.  
 
I was naive. After the phone call I got on resellerratings.com and saw the reviews of all of the other bait-and-switch victims and victims of other scams they pull.  
 
Needless to say I immediately called back and canceled the order. So far my card does not appear to be charged.  
 
Save your money and your conscience. Don't fall for these crooks.  
 
One last thought, why haven't the police done anything? Tristate HAS to be breaking some laws here with all of this stuff the victims have on them!

I was excited to find the discontinued Sunpak 120j bare bulb flash. I ordered it for $219, it showed in stock. Several days later I received an email to call them(red flag). I was told that they were out of stock but he just talked to the Sunpak rep and they had one that he could let me have for $345. No thanks! Run, run far away from these guys.

I have received the merchandise but I have not opened it. The Tristate Camera replaced the product with a cheaper one, less function. Right now the initial charge is under contest. I wanted to return it but the merchant proposed to give a $10.00 credit. I agreed to it and I am right waiting to see the credit in my account. VISA is also involved in this contest.  
 
From 1 to 5 (where 5 is excellent) I rate them at 1.

THIS IS THE ABSOLUTE WORST COMPANY I DEALT WITH. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE PEOPLE ARE RUDE AND UNFRIENDLY. THEY DONT WANT TO HELP CUSTOMERS.  
 
AVOID THIS COMPANY AT ALL COST.