I placed an order online for a Sharp 42" LCD TV. I did not receive a confirmation email. Four days later, the first time I called the company, they said the representative taking this order was unavailable. The next day, I called again and was able to talk to the rep. He said the order was sitting on his desk, had not been processed yet. He would process it that day. I asked if I could have my shipping upgraded as a compensation for the error, for the inconvenience (I had a cable company scheduled to come connect the cable and the TV needed to be there). The rep said - Do you want the TV or not, if you don't want it, I can sell it to someone else. No apology, no upgrade in shipping, NO CUSTOMER SERVICE, they did not care. The TV did not arrive on the day I was told it would come and my significant other had stayed home that day as someone needed to be there for the delivery. The only good thing I can say about this purchase was the price of the TV.

I am holding my review until fotoconnection.com resolve my issue.  
 

This review was modified by its author, 333bayarea, on 9/30/09 5:15 PM.

As fotoconnection.com has to decided to rebut my implications about the quality of their service publicly instead of addressing our concerns let me share some information about why we purchase a roreign camera in error. The website you see now is a vast improvement in clarity over the webpage we saw when we bought the camera. There were no words about the camera being an import in bold letters and only an experienced shopper would have noticed that a "USA warranty" was being offered whoever they are. Bottomline on the receipt , which we will upload to the web, doen't have any mention that THIS IS A FOREIGN OR IMPORT MODEL. NOT UNTIL NIKON INFORMED US THAT THEY WON'T HONOR OUR WARRANTY DID WE KNOW THAT THIS IS A GREY MARKET CAMERA. We have always wanted a US camera and would've never bought a camera without the Nikon warranty. Becareful of these tricks if you aren't experienced.  
This trick has been going on for decades.  
Nikon issued a recall on the D5000 after like many other customers the viewfinder went dark. When we went to Nikon while we were on vacation, they told us that we had a grey market product and wouldn't honor the warranty.  
If you want those kind of headaches go ahead and take a chance.

This review was modified by its author, keysmank, on 9/25/09 4:30 PM.

BUYER BEWARE! This is absolutely and without a doubt the WORST online merchant experience I have ever had. I have know come to realize I'm at the end of a VERY, VERY long line of other consumers who should have checked with BBB and some other online references before being dumb enough to do business with this company. Save yourself and your money a lot of heartache and don't make the same mistake others have made.  
 
Merchandise being offered for sale is misleading in many ways. Many of the brands do not authorize them to sell their product and the warranty may not be valid. Product is not always new as advertised and may really be refurbished... i.e. wonder why that price is so low?  
 
Customer service is non-existent. They will not do anything to really help you. They will not stand behind their advertised business policies that they post on their website. Take everything you read posted on their website with a grain of salt.  
 
If you are still think it is a good idea to do business with this company then for god's sake make sure you only pay with a credit card. If you get burned like me and others you might be able to protect yourself to a certain measure by going through dispute resolution with the credit card company.  
 
Follow-up Comments 9/21/2009  
 
I can now state that I escaped getting burned on this transaction, but is the average person as dogged persistent as I and not willing to give up when they feel they are being screwed and do they have the time to just keep after a merchant who is uncooperative? Not most people.  
 
To further give a clearer picture of the calibre of FotoConnection the final piece of this transaction involved getting my out-of-pocket cost to return a product I did not order refunded. To sort thru this I had to wade through multiple FotoConnection staff members denying that their posted policies state return shipping will be paid under these circumstances, another FotoConnection staff member arbitrarily making a determination that I would be refunded less than 50% of what it had actually cost me thru UPS, when I finally posted on ResellerRatings a higher up manager finally contacted me and then offered an extended warranty in lieu of an actual refund and kept dangling the promise of a shipping refund predicated upon my editing what I had posted earlier on ResellerRatings. Fire emails and 4 telephone calls after this point I finally did get the full value of my return shipping refunded. The interesting part is that FotoConnection apparently doesn't even have a corporate checking account. To issue me a refund they had to go to a local currency exchange and buy a money order. Unbelievable, but so far at least the money order hasn't bounced.  
 
Personally, I find the rating scores posted for FotoConnection to be highly suspicious. I know one thing and that is people who are unhappy complain... but I only happened across ResellerRatings by accident... how many other unhappy customers don't know about this site? I also know that happy customers usually are way too busy to bother posting review... I know because I get all kinds of requests as a frequent on-line buyer. Yet there are just way too many positive reviews for a company that just had to negotiate a settlement with the BBB and the State of NY Attorney General. I am just skeptical enough to sincerely believe that someone has found a way to either exploit or manipulate the positive ratings. There are just too many of them and many are similarly worded using the names of Fotoconnection employees that HAPPY customers would never, ever encounter.  
 
If after reading all of this you still feel like going ahead and rolling the dice, well just don't say you didn't know.

This review was modified by its author, brookdale, on 9/21/09 11:13 PM.

I was looking for an Olympus Camera Mod# Stylus 1030SW ( New ). After week of waiting and going back and forth with the sales people at Fotoconnection they finaly said they can no longer get that model, however they would give me a later verision of the camera a Stylus 1050 SW for the same price. They sent the camera after over a week and never bothered to mention that the camera was a remanufactured camera, and the water dept capability was not even close to the SW 1030 model I originaly wanted. My overall experience with the folks at FOTOCONNECTION was terrible to say the least, I would not recommend any online buys from this company. JMC Michigan

This review was modified by its author, jmcshane, on 7/24/09 4:37 PM.

I ordered a DSLR camera and some lenses from FotoConnection and was amazed how mishandled my order was. After a few weeks when I did not get my order I called and asked what was holding it up. They stated the camera I ordered was out of stock but would be in, in another week. When I ordered the item there web site stated it was in stock even after they told me it was out of stock I checked and it still stated in stock on the web site. I called a week later and was told by another person it would be another three to four weeks before the item was in stock. I was told if I cancelled the camera the other items would ship. I cancelled the camera order and received a box a week later with only some of the items I ordered. I called back and was told one of the lenses I ordered was out of stock and would be in stock in another three week. I told them I would go ahead and wait for the other lens (because the price was very good). Its been three weeks and I still don’t have the other lens I checked online and it looks like they canceled the order. Average wait time for customer service is 10-40 minutes expect to be transferred multiple times.

I ordered a Canon EOS Rebel XSi camera kit online from FotoCon. The next day "George" from FotoCon called me to confirm my order. The then switched into upsale mode by telling me that the lenses that were included in the kit were not autofocus (AF) lenses. I thought that was strange because everywhere else the Canon EF 28-55 and EF 75-300 zoom lenses are described as AF lenses. George offered to sale me AF lenses for $100 each. I told him to hold my order because I wanted to do more research. I immediately went online and canceled my order. I then checked with Canon. The Canon techie told me that the lenses in question were infact AF. She added that FotoCon is not an authorized Canon dealer. I checked FotoCon's reviews online and was shocked by the grossly negative reviews that they received. I definitely would not recommend this company to anyone. Their ads appear too good to be true because they are too good to be true. Buyer Beware!

The worst mail order purchase experience I've ever had. I ordered a Canon 1100 camera by phone and was assured it was in stock and would be sent immediately. A week later I was called and told that the item was on back order and that they would substitute an another camera. I told them that I was not interested in the other camera and was told that I should get the 1100 in about a week. A couple days later I received the substitute camera despite telling them I did not want it. I was given a return authorization and was assured that they would reimburse the shipping cost for the return once they received the return. Upon receiving the return they denied ever saying that they would reimburse me for the shipping, saying that it was their policy not to do so, regardless of the fact that they shipped and charged me for an item I specifically said I did not want. If they had only been willing to do the right thing and reimburse the shipping I might believe that shipping the wrong camera was a mistake, but I now believe that they are a dishonest company and intentionally pulled a bait-and-switch in the hopes that they could sell an inferior product at a higher price. Beware of Foto Connection.

Greetings,  
 
I would like to WARN everyone about FotoConnection. They are a fraudulent company.  
I ordered a 'Brand New' Canon 40D w/ a 1 year USA warranty as it states here:  
http://www.fotoconnection.com/p72501-canon-eos-40d-digital-slr-ef-28-135mm.html#reviews .  
 
When I received the camera I noticed it came in a official Canon box but, it was a bigger box and the print on the outside was B&W not B,W and Red. When I took the camera out I noticed that the LCD panel did not have a protective covering on it as the LCD monitor did; as I scanned the whole camera I see something at the bottom of the camera beside the serial number - it's a gold sticker that read 'REFURBISHED'!  
 
I called fotoconnection the following day and someone named 'Bob' answered and as I was in the middle of telling him why I'm calling he cut me off and put me on hold and while on hold someone got on the phone for 2 seconds goofing around making goofy sounds like a little kid and I get put on hold again.  
I finally get a hold of Josh he seemed courteous and apologized for being cut off 'it must have been a glitch in the phone' he says.  
I told him what I had purchased and that it had arrived in a timely matter but, there is a slight problem w/ my Canon 40D and before I was able to finish my sentence Josh said he knew the packaging of the camera is different and I said to him the packaging is not my concern it's the fact that when I purchased the camera online, the website clearly states that I am buying a brand new camera w/ 1yr warranty and my camera is REFURBISHED. He immediately asked , how do you know it's refurbished?(sounding as though I made it up) I said there's a sticker on it that says it, he says WHERE? I said, at the bottom of the camera by the serial number, also the top LCD panel did not have a protective cover on it that I thought it should have just as the 3" LCD screen does, this is what led me to inspect the camera. He said that this shouldn't have happened.  
I also, let the him know that there were no warranty cards, no pocket book guide, no Do more w/ macro booklet.  
Then Josh said, he would get Canon to send booklets to me and that he reassures me that I have a 1 year labor warranty and a 90 day parts warranty and that he would give me a $30 gift certificate for my trouble. I asked him twice, 'So you can't exchange the camera for the 'NEW' camera I paid for? He just repeated he'd send the $30 gift certificate. I told him NOT to send it. I'll talk it over w/ my husband.  
 
After calling and calling trying to get a new camera we were told that there would be no telling when we'd receive the new camera meaning (to me) if we sent the refurbished back, we may not hear back from them again.  
 
Josh offers my husband a 3yr warranty on the camera.  
 
Meanwhile, we wait for the warranty card/s. My husband would call Josh week after week asking where the warranty cards?! Josh would reply each time 'I'll send it priority'.  
 
Finally, Josh sends the 1 year warranty card...exactly one month from the date of purchase.  
I called the warranty office and Thankfully I was able to register my camera for the 1 year warranty.  
 
Still waiting on the 3 year warranty...  
 
BEWARE OF FOTOCONNECTION THEY ARE SCAMMERS INDEED!  
'Bait and Switch'

This review was modified by its author, Wisconsin, on 5/31/09 2:04 AM.

Almost ripped off! I'm suprised to see that this company actively participates in Reseller Ratings and monitors feedback from customers. Why don't they change their ways? My daughter ordered a Canon digital camera and got an email that we needed to call the company regarding the order. This has never happened before when ordering online. I called and was shocked to hear that we needed to pay $65 more for a battery! They said the camera didn't come with a battery. We had purchased the same camera a year ago from a reputable company and it came with a battery. I called them back and he changed his story...now it does come with a battery but only holds a charge for 30 minutes. However, I could upgrade to a battery that lasts 4 hours for 10.00 more. So I went ahead and ordered it but still felt like something was wrong. I found MANY complaints about the company on this site and called back immediatly to cancel. I spoke to the same person and he didn't argue with me and just accepted the cancellation. I am keeping my fingers crossed that it goes through. If not, I will look into having them investigated.

VERY VERY BAD SERVICE -A MAN NAMED JOHN WAS NOT ANSWERING ME WELL WHEN I CALLED HIM WHY YOU SENT ME ONLY THE LENS AND NOT THE BODY D700 ?.I told him what will I do with the lens and he rudely replied out of stock.Then I told him your web site says "in stock" Then I cancelled the order of the D700. I wanted to send the lens back but I did no do that.and found nothing seems organised there. I purchased the body from e.bay and I am fine. sorry for negative feed back from me.  

Avoid this company -- they falsely advertise their products and then pull the old "bait and swith" routine.  
 
On May 8, 2009, I placed an Internet order with FotoConnection for a Canon EOS 40D digital camera body. The price was advertised as $677. The condition was advertised as “Brand New With 1 Year USA Warranty.”  
 
The camera arrived via UPS on Thursday, May 14, 2009. Instead of a “Brand New With 1 Year USA Warranty” product, I received a “refurbished” camera body. Refurbished Canon cameras are not “brand new” and do not qualify for a 1 year Canon USA warranty.  
 
I immediately contacted FotoConnection and spoke to Josh (x1502), who told me that the camera was, in fact, new and that he would send me the Canon Warranty card.  
 
I then contacted a Canon factory service representative who researched the camera serial number and confirmed that it was a refurbished camera that does not qualify for a 1 year Canon 1 year warranty.  
 
I called FotoConnection and talked to Bobby, who said he would send me a brand new camera with a 1 year factory warranty card and return instructions for the refurbished camera.  
 
Later in the afternoon of May 14, 2009, I received a call from Edward, a FotoConnection manager, who said he couldn’t locate a new camera. Instead, he offered to give me a free 5 year third party warranty for service provided by a company named Consumer Priority Service (CPS). He was supposed to send me an email confirming his offer. For this CPS warranty to be valid, I have to register it and the camera with CPS within 30 days of purchase. I told Edward that I was leaving on an assignment on May 20, 2009, and would have to receive the warranty information by May 19, 2009.  
 
After three follow-up phone calls, I've still not received the CPS warranty information (May 19).  
 
I have filed a dispute with my credit card company and plan to ship the refurbished Canon EOS 40D back to FotoConnection.  
 
Clearly this is a blatant case of false advertising and “bait and switch” marketing techniques.  
 

This review was modified by its author, jdirden, on 6/12/09 1:36 PM.

The LCD TV was mispriced. I was shown one price on the checkout screen and my Credit Card was billed for $300 more. Foto Connection never sends the price with order confirmation e-mail. They do not even show the price on their online order status.  
 
Additionally, they corner you to buy a mount and send a mount for twice the market value which is not even recommended for the TV in question.  
 
Overall, I am very disappointed by their sales practices.

BUYERS BEWARE !! BUYERS BEWARE!! PURCHASED A CASIO EX F1 CAMERA AND ACCESSORIES. I RECEIVED THE ORDER BUT THERE WAS NO INVOICE AND THE EXTRA BATTERY WAS THE WRONG MODEL. I CALLED CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMEROUS TIMES FOR AN INVOICE AND A CALL TAG TO RETURN THE BATTERY. EACH TIME I GOT A DIFFERENT STORY AND AFTER ABOUT TWO WEEKS I WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULDN'T PRIVDE ME WITH AN INVOICE BECAUSE THE ITMES WERE PURCHASED AS A PACKAGE. THE ONLY PROBLEM WAS I PURCHASED EACH OF THE ITEMS INDIVIDUALLY AND WANTED A INVOICE TO RELECT WHAT I HAD PAID. I ALSO PURCHASED A 3 YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY AND A 3 YEAR DAMAGE POLICY. THE COMPANY WHO ISSUES THESE POLICIES REQUIRED THAT I SEND THEM A DETAILED INVOICE SHOWING EXACTLY WHAT I PAID FOR THE CAMERA. UNFORTUNATELY FOTOCONNECTION WOULD NOT SEND ME AN INVOICE NOR WOULD THEY SEND ME A CALL TAG TO RETURN THE BATTERY. I FINALLY CALLED MY CREDIT CARD COMPANY AND FILED A COMPLAINT. I AM WAITING FOR THEIR RESPONSE.

Scam is an understatement. I ordered a Fuji s8100fd. The price seemed excellent. I did not receive any calls, but did receive several emails saying I needed to call, because there was a problem with my credit card. I realized, when placing the order, that I mistakenly put the incorrect month for my expiration date. I assumed that was the problem. I called, told them the correct info., and that was the end of that. My camera shipped the very next day. I received it in a very timely manner. I had also ordered an accessory package. This was a case, card, card reader, full size tripod, and a few other small items. When the camera arrived so soon, I was pleased. That lasted until I opened the box. This was an obviously refurbished camera. The camera was in a white box, that someone slapped a Fuji label on. No packaging materials at all. Just loose. The tripod was approx. 6 inches tall. No warranty card, non Fuji cables, no lens cover or strap. It was late, so I had to call the next day. I spoke with Andy, Mgr. Cust. Serv. or so I'm told. He tried to convince me to keep the camera, and he would give me a 5 year extended warranty. I paid for a new, factory sealed camera, and that is what I wanted. I received an RMA#, and returned just the camera, the cables, and tripod. I also wrapped the camera in bubble wrap. I was assured that the correct items would be shipped as soon as possible. After repeated calls, to Andy, Adam, etc., my camera and tripod were shipped again. It was a different camera, but in no better condition. This one came with just one cable, no warranty card, no lens cap, no strap. The tripod could have been the same one I sent back. It was identical. I immediately called Andy at customer service, or so I'm told. He tried to convince me to keep the camera. This time he offered me a three year warranty. No thanks. I told him I would go to a store, and just buy it. He suggested I may want to keep both for several days, and think about it. No thanks. For twenty minutes, he tried first to convince me that I had a new camera, then to keep the camera, then he told me that they had no new ones in stock. I see on their site, as of today, May 13, they are still for sale. I also demanded my shipping costs back, since this was there mistake, not mine. That is the policy on their site. We'll see how that works out. I will update this, as it goes through the resolution process. I have already contacted my credit card company.  
5/26/09 I still have not received the credit on my credit card yet. I have heard from no one at Foto Connection. I just called the store, and again spoke with Andy. He assured me that the credit would be on my credit card within 24 hrs. I also asked him about my shipping charges. This time, he informed me that it was upto the billing department to see if I qualified for my charges. Since I never received what I ordered, I can hardly wait for their excuse as to why I don't. I will update this, as this situation changes, either for good or bad.  
09/18/09  
I must now conclude this miserable, but learning experience. I finally did receive the credit to my credit card, for the products purchased. I made numerous attempts to get the refunds of the two shipping charges I had to pay to send back the garbage they were pawning off as new. I have never received it, and of course, do not expect to. I was told that their policy is to not refund shipping charges. That is an out right lie, according to their own policy on their web site. I have since learned that the camera I was trying to buy, brand new, is manufacture discontinued. I learned this, from Fuji. I contacted them. I have since bought a different camera, and am quite happy with it, and the service I received when purchasing it. I have purchased thousands of dollars worth of merchandise on line, over many years. This was, by far the worst experience I have ever had. The learning experience, was that I will always research a little more than in the past, when dealing with an online site that I had not previously dealt with, and that I will never deal with any of the related stores, sites, or companies, associated with foto connection. If by some miracle, and perhaps a little help from the attorney general, I actually receive my shipping charges, I'll post that info.

This review was modified by its author, banjb, on 9/18/09 9:09 PM.