Was wanting the Nikon D200. Placed the order then called to confirm. The CSR tried to sell me the warranty, said no. Then the CSR tried to sell me a different warranty, said no. CSR tried to sell me a memory card because "this camera takes a special high speed card." I said no. CSR then tried to sell me a battery and charger because this is a camera body only. I said cancel the order...

This review was modified by its author, drev, on 4/4/06 8:20 AM.

I like everyone else did not read the reviews before I ordered from these guys. As per all of the other reviews they tried the bait and switch by telling me I had to buy a battery and charger because it didn't come with it. Luckily the people at 17th street photo told me this was wrong and I should run from this deal. I did cancel my order and 3 days later there were 2 fraudulent charges on my credit card. I called the Attorney General in NJ because they are located in Edison, NJ and they said they are looking to shut them down. I even called Genius Camera to try to get their address and they flatly denied to give it to me (go figure). Anyway, they were the only ones who had my info, so it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure this one out. DO NOT BUY FROM THEM OR EVEN PLACE AN ORDER WHICH WOULD GIVE THEM YOUR INFO.

They tried to upsell me at the 'order confirmation' call in step. I declined. They persisted and I became skeptical. I asked for just my order and he spoke real fast and hung up on me as I tried to ask for a UPS tracking number. I called back and cancelled the order. And I put a stop payment on the credit card. Luckily it hadn't gone through yet.

Wow, I think I checked this a little late too...  
The ultimate Shyster Company! Here it goes...  
I wanted to order the Canon 70-300mm IS USM for $419 as advertised on the Genius Camera website on 3/22/06. I quickly called the 1-800# to begin the process…., I got through quickly. A nice, helpful man asked me if I was going to use it on a digital camera, and I said yes. Then he asked me what type of subjects I was shooting, and I told him it was varied. He then told me that on one who knew anything about Canon cameras was using that lens. The Nice man said the carried a brand new Sigma “New! 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 Macro Super II SLD Lens” with special new low dispersion glass and a special digital chip. He told me where to go on their site to see this great new lens that everyone who knew anything was using. It was priced at $599, but their prices were the lowest on every Canon camera or lens I had looked at. Then he told me that I needed lens filters etc. etc. but I declined that offer and decided to just go with the “NEW SIGMA LENS”. Final cost? $719.00…. Why so much you ask after all, all I wanted was a $599 lens, right! But he said tax and shipping. Now with me being excited to get the new top of the line lens I said fine. After the order had been processes I checked some other web sites for this same lens and the over all price was $150-$200. WOW! Right after viewing these results I called back and finally got to Mr. original Bait & Switch. He told me they were a special distributor for Sigma, and that special glass lens with the digital chip was too new to be out in reviews or for sale anywhere else yet and that this lens was not to be released until MAY, of 2006. And besides, he said, just take pictures with it when I get it and send it back if I'm not totally blown away by it.  
 
WHAT! Man are you crazy I thought to myself and openly I said just give me my money back FULL REFUND Thank You.  
 
He then tells me that the order had already been processed and that once I received the item I could ship it back for a full refund. Needless to say we discussed the matter for some time and the end results are…… I am getting all of my money BACK  
 
Final results: I have to wait a full 5 business days to see the charge credited to my account. If I don’t see it by then I will dispute the charges as my credit company said they will be glad to do.  
 
SHADY BUSINESS!  

I should have researched these clowns before I placed an order. I called them 3/15 and asked about the Nikon D50 body only price of $299. The person on the phone confirmed it was brand new with a USA warranty. I told him I would place an order online and he suggested that we do it now on the phone to avoid any 'delays'. He then asked me for my credit card info (kind of odd, but I proceeded). The salesperson then tried to sell me all kinds of accesories at outrageous prices. He said the battery that came with the camera lasted only 20 minutes. I declined everything and asked for my confirmation # and a subtotal-- he gave it to me and then said they would follow-up with an email. I called on 3/16 to ask when I would receive an email confirming my order. The guy on the phone sounded irritated and told me to be patient and that it takes up to 72 hours to process an order. I found this site shortly after and called them to cancel my order. The woman asked why I wanted to cancel and I mentioned this site and the reviews on other sites. She sighed and cancelled the order and then hung up. I followed up with a call to my credit card company and had the card cancelled just in case they try to pull something. PLEASE DO NOT ORDER FROM THESE FOLKS.....THEY ARE CROOKS.....PERIOD.

Purchased camcorder after confirming all accessories and US warranty. Received e mail to confirmed order. Called company to confirmed and refused all overpriced and unnecessary accessories. Next day check status of order and was informed by "David" the unit is back ordered 3-4 weeks. I informed him that "Adam" of his company did not indicate the unit was back ordered prior to ordering and the company's web site still indicates the unit is in stock. I immediately cancelled but David will not send written confirmation by e mail or otherwise. This company has no intention of selling at the price as advertised.

I am kicking myself for not reading up on this company before attempting to do business with them. As others have said, they are completely ridiculous. I was having problems getting my emails for a day or two, and therefore called three or four times over two days to make sure everything was okay and to get the status. The first time, I was told the order was processing- nothing about needing confirmation- the second time, a day later, I got the crap about them needing my credit card security code to "confirm" my order- then the guy started trying to sell me a bunch of other stuff that I luckily declined. Another call or two confirmed that my order was still processing and would not ship that day and they didn't know when it would, even though I was told 48-72 hours to process and ship my order. The next morning I logged in to my email to find that the day before (after I had talked to them earlier, and over 72 hours after ordering) they emailed me to tell me that my camera was now on backorder and they had no idea when it might come in. I canceled the order and paid closer to retail at a more reliable store. Like others have said, the pricing seemed too good to be true, and it WAS.

If prices appear too good to be true, it is because they are. This vendor sells "grey market" Nikon cameras but does state this clearly on their website. Instead, they request a phone call to "confirm" the online order and try to sell you additonal items that are normally included. This is a very poor business practice and one that is less than honest.

This place like all of these other discount New York/New Jersey camera, stereo, electronics stores are a complete rip off. The sales people are hilarious, they are so rude and obnoxious and basically full of crap. I cant believe how these creepy freaks can just plain out lie every day. What a bunch of crooks. I got suckered into paying over 2k for a 20D and a bunch of other useless garbage. I got so sick of dealing with these idiots that I just kept the stuff. I threw away the "deluxe carrying case" "deluxe tripod" and the other crap that comes with it. The tripod is a piece of crap and mine was broke. The stupid camera bag is awful, made out of plastic and it would be a struggle to fit a compact camera in it. The memory card I bought for a bunch does not work either. The switched out my canon lens' I ordered with some Sigma lens' that are worth about 100 dollars or so. The sales person will tell you the Canon IS lenses are garbage and he has used them and now uses the Sigma lens' because they are so much better. I wish I had read this site before hand. DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH THESE SCUMBAGS!!! Truly the worst online experience this place and a place called cci camera city.

I placed an order online. I was sent an email asking that I confirm my order by phone. The salesman told me that my package did not have a battery and a flash card. So I purchased both. He then proceeded to tell me that he had a better package for me and that he would knock $200 of for me. I told him that I had researched the Canon camera and lenses I was purchasing. He told me that these lenses were better lenses and more expensive that the Canon lenses. He told me to go to their website and look at the cost of the Sigma lenses he was recommending. Their website listed the Sigma lenses as $200 - $300 more expensive than the Canon lenses. I bought the package. The next day I got on my computer to look at the Sigma lenses. The lenses that they had on their website for $649 and $599, I found on another website for $109 and $199 respectively. I called back to stop the order and the salesman would not let me. I received my package in the mail and one of the lenses was not even the one sold to me. It was a cheaper model. I feel I have been lied to and I will never do business with genius Camera again.

Genius Cameras "where the smart people go to buy cameras"-- that ironic phrase can be found on their web site. I naively ordered a nikon d50 camera package thinking prices must have really dropped-- $639 for the body, a 28-300 lens, etc, etc. Anyway, I called and got a bad feeling right away from the sales rep who tried to dupe me into paying way too much for "essential" upgrades. As soon as I made a comment that let him know I was on to his scheme he was in a real hurry to get off the phone. Unfortunately, I didn't act on my impulse to cancel right then and there so I'll have to wait for the inevitable backorder e-mail other reviewers have reported getting after failing to fall for their bait and switch tactics.

This review was modified by its author, AbrieM, on 3/1/06 12:09 AM.

I wish I had read these reviews sooner! This company made me call in for my order, then lied to me to get me to buy a warranty. Once I realised what they sold me and tried to get my money back they mocked me and said I lied! They ended up charging me $300+ more then my original invoice. Never ever shop here!

I ordered a Sony DSC R1 camera. Instead of adding a box for the credit card security code, they ask that you telephone them. I did. I gave the number to a rep named Carter. He tried to sell me flash memory and battery charges. I declined. I asked it the camera is in stock and when the camera would be shipped. Carter said the camera was in stock and would ship within 24-48 hours. The next day they emailed me: the camera was not in stock. I canceled immediately. This is another bate-and-switch oepration. Stay away from the likes of Genius, Express, and TCS. They are all criminal organizations.  
 
-Dr. Effy Oz

Just adding my experience, which is like all the others here...  
I knew about the way these NY/NJ companies work, offering cheap stuff and then trying the hard sales pitch. But I guess I wanted to experience it first-hand ;-)  
I ordered just a Nikon D50 body, got the usual email to call them to confirm the order, and had to endure their hard sell pitch. Since I didn't fall for that, the camera all of a sudden was out of stock.  
I called them today to cancel the order. The guy tried to get me to wait a couple more weeks, and to his credit, he wasn't rude, but still, I've had enough of that experience.  

I ordered from this company, got confirmation and was told to call the company. I called they tried the bait and switch on me. I was laughed at and scorned. This Joe guy called me a liar and started talking like a female. He's a crook. Don't order from them. I tried Express Cameras, asked them if they were affiliated with Genius. They said no. I was lied to. Unfortunately I ordered from Genius, and then cancelled. I've contacted my credit card. STAY AWAY FROM GENIUS AND EXPRESS CAMERAS.