Avalon Gadgets / Foto Electronics (fotoelectronics.com)

Bought new digital camera, refurbished one was shipped.  
 
1. Number of scratches on the camera’s body.  
2. Clear signs of refurbishing on the camera body.  
3. 8mb SD card (originally provided by manufacturer 16 mb card).  
4. If to examine battery compartment signs of previous use visible.  
5. Optics was cleaned (not well).  
6. Screen was cleaned and scratched.  
7. Absence of original packaging (OEM packaging I am talking about).  
 

I ordered some Sony bookshelf speakers from Avalon Gadgets and I am very satisfied with the results. I was a little wary of purchasing them from Avalon because they are small compared to the other online stores but I read good reviews all over the place about Avalon. I also know that some people will complain if everything is not 150% they way. so I purchased the speakers and I must say that everything was to the highest standard possible, ordering was simple and quick, the delivery was within 3 days, everything was well packaged. The price was actually very good too, the lowest I could find anywhere, low shipping and no sales tax was also much appreciated. I would highly recommend Avalon gadgets to anyone needing electronics.

Avalon Gadgets Order number No. 10775619168478334192  
 
Re: $434.79 down the drain Revisited.  
 
April 20, 2004  
 
Update of Skoglund letter posted below on April 17, 2004.  
 
I wrote to some friends who are elected officials and also mentioned on my Public Radio program that Avalon Gadgets had sent me used and defective merchandise, and that it looked like I had been taken for over $400.  
 
Probably because he had received a letter or phone call from my Congressman or the Maine Attorney General, Ross, who appears to be the owner and sole employee of Avalon Gadgets, called me and, after some negotiation, offered to refund my money for the second-hand Minolta Dimage XT camera kit and inoperative memory chip (+$100). But I would still have to pay his exorbitantly inflated $46.74 shipping charge. I’m presently waiting for a legal opinion from the Maine Attorney General, because from what I read in the letters posted below, a promise by Avalon Gadgets to refund money for faulty merchandise would probably be broken.  
 
Ross gives me his address as:  
 
Avalon Gadgets  
6512 20th Ave  
Brooklyn, NY 11204  
 
When Ross called me, he told me that he had not received my earlier letters for help because there were two men named Ross working there and that he was the one in shipping.  
 
Until a check for $434.79 from Avalon Gadgets clears in my checking account, I’m going to invest some time and perhaps twice that much money to find out what I can about them and their business. I’m also featuring Avalon Gadgets in a special radio program on Consumer Fraud which will hopefully introduce people to intelligent online shopping.  
 
I hope that while investigating Avalon Gadgets, The New York State Attorney General asks Ross to provide a list of his suppliers. Who are these eager merchants who load his shelves with all of the expensive but often defective second-hand merchandise that I bought and that we read about in the letters below?  
 
His suppliers might well be the same people who wrote the fraudulent letters that praise his business.  
 
If you have done business with Avalon Gadgets, Eliot Spitzer would probably like to hear what you have to say:  
 
Eliot Spitzer, State of New York Attorney General  
Regional Office  
55 Hansen Place  
Brooklyn, NY 11217-1523  
(718) 722-3949  
 
Eliot Spitzer, State of New York Attorney General  
Executive Office  
Albany, NY 12224-0341  
(518) 474-7330  
 
You might also find these addresses to be of interest:  
 
The National Consumer Complaint Center  
The National Consumer Complaint Center is offered to provide a method for consumers to promptly and directly communicating their complaints to United States government agencies that are interested in investigating and taking action for consumers.  
 
The Internet Fraud Complaint Center  
IFCC's mission is to address fraud committed over the Internet. For victims of Internet fraud, IFCC provides a convenient and easy-to-use reporting mechanism that alerts authorities of a suspected criminal or civil violation.  
 
Thank you resellerratings for making this forum available.  
 
Robert Skoglund  
http://www.TheHumbleFarmer.com  
 

This review was modified by its author, humblefarmer, on 4/20/04 8:22 AM.

Did not receive merchandise. Sales rep claimed order was "in transit" but it never arrived. After three weeks, I reversed the charges.  
 
Update -- A week later, they sent a replacement even though I told them not to, then threatened to charge me $35 reversal fee and send it to collections. They also lied and claimed this was in their Terms of Service.  
 
I am reporting them to the Arizona Better Business Bureau.

This review was modified by its author, JonMM, on 4/13/04 1:01 PM.

You'd better think twice before doing business with this company. I ordered a digital camera from them, and when I received my credit card statement from them, the charge was for an additional $10.00. You cannot reach them by phone, so I emailed them and inquired about the charge. They said it was for giving them the wrong security code from the back of my credit card. I replied that I have a printout of the confirmation page from their website at the time of the order, and it clearly shows the code I gave them which is the correct code. They wouldn't answer my email until I emailed them again, asking for them to credit me my $10 overcharge. They answered back that there was nothing they could do. This was their response: "As we explained to you in our previous e-mails, the $10 fee was charged due to the incorrect information provided on the order.  We can not remove nor wave that fee." I have even offered to fax them a copy of the confirmation page.

This review was modified by its author, mccune, on 2/7/04 9:37 PM.

The merchandise arrived in its original box, retaped as if previously opened, with no outer packaging or other protection. It was defective and the company has refused to respond to all inquiries regarding replacement or return. My credit card charge was $9 higher than my order total. Again no response from the company to my requests for an adjustment.

DO NOT BUY FROM AVALON GADGETS !  
Avoid them like the plague. Bought a NEW sony digital camera. Received a REFURBISHED product, scratched all over.  
They NEVER replied to any email until I disputed the charge with my credit card.  
They then immediately asked me to return the camera, but REFUSED the package. They then told to my credit card I NEVER sent the package and be recredited. Didn't work with me.  
Those guys are the WORST side of online shopping.  
 
They don't publish it, but here is there address:  
Avalon Gadgets  
1421 Sheepshead Bay Rd # 145  
Brooklyn, NY 11235  
 
Hopefully, those guys will be out of business soon.  

1 - they don't list shipping cost and they are about 2 to 3 times others  
 
2 - they sent the wrong item & the service rep was rude on the phone  
 
3 - a reshipping has not taken place yet - this sucks - I,m out 44.49 (for a 29.99 battery). I got a nikon and ordered a Minolta

I ordered a DVD/VCR unit advertised as new and was sent a dented refurbished unit. This seller also padded the price with a phony credit card charge. Seller refused to provide true name in oder to avoid lawsuit and ignored Better Business Bureau inquiry.

Best price. Prompt shipment. Completely satisfied.

This review was modified by its author, jmc2z28, on 1/11/04 9:50 AM.

These guys are what make the internet a shady place to shop. I bought a refurbished DVD/CD player. It arrived in non-working condition. I contacted them and they told me I could replace it by purchasing a new one for $49 dollars more plus $21 shipping-otherwise I would need to contact the manufacturer. The 7 day evaluation period was over by 2 days on account of Chrismas backage-((although it was not clarified on their site)When I said that they sent me a non-working devise, they informed me they are "resellers" and don't open the box. The sales person at my time of purchase assured me that they open and check everything they sell. I sent them an email saying that I have NEVER had any trouble purchasing anything on the internet and I am a powerbuyer, I received this response:  
 
 
From: Avalon Gadgets sales  
 
Since you contacted us after the allotted 7 day period we are unable to assist you in any way!  Please contact the manufacturer for any further assistance!  Contact information for Samsung is listed their website.  
   
No more favors or discussions!  
 
When I asked what favors had been bestowed, they responded  
 
 
From: Avalon Gadgets sales  
 
I am the owner.  It is the weekend.  The favors are: talking to you after the 7 day period all weekend long, offering different solutions and etc.  I am done talking to you and as you suggested I will do everything by the book.   
Thank you!  
 
Ross  
 
 

My wife purchased, as a gift for me, a universal remote controller from Avalon Gadgets. When it arrived, it was not in working condition. I contacted Avalon Gadgets about the problem, and they said they would exchange the item…but I would be re-charged the inflated shipping cost ($15 for regular mail, which SHOULD cost about $4). A remote advertised at $50 would have in the end cost me $84 after paying for shipping three times, through no fault of my own. I told them that if that was the case, I would rather just return the damaged item and get my money back. As you can probably guess, they told me I would not be refunded the original inflated shipping cost…and in addition to that, they would slap me with a 20% restocking fee (no mention of THAT on the website)! So if I wanted my money back, it would cost us $29 to get our money back and still end up with no remote at all. As if a $29 fee just for dealing with them in the first place. Thankfully, the manufacturer – not Avalon – eventually resolved my issues with the device.  
 
Obviously, I would recommend against dealing with this company. You can bet I never will again.  
 
Do you see all those positive reports about the company listed on this site? Do you notice how they are all reported by users who have only submitted ONE review (yes, I realize that I, also, have submitted only one)? Do you also notice how they give the specific web address, as if it was an advertisement? I strongly suspect that someone from Avalon Gadgets themselves posted those to offset the complaints.  

Buyer beware! I purchased a NEW Sony DSC-P72 from Avalon Gadgets, but when I got the product it was REFURBISHED. When I tried to contact them, which you can ONLY do by email, I never got a response. These guys are shady.

horrible company. overcharged card by 200 bucks products didnt show. claimed they were shipped. would not refund without threats to ruin my credit.

It took a very long time (20 days) until i recieved the order, and then when I got it, it didn't work with my phone model, but they wouldn't let me return it.