1/5

posted Sep-08-2006

"I placed an order on 8/30 via Stargate Photo's website for a digital camera, which had the lowest price advertised by other competitors. On Sept 5th, I checked on the status of this order, and it still just showed "new orders" and no processing date or ship date. Upon checking their website closer, it appears many links have been removed from customer service. It only listed an email address and a "fax" number. I sent an email on 9/5/06 requesting if there is any update on this order. No reply for 2 days. I prepared a fax requesting the same information, and attempted to send fax. The phone line was answered, but I could hear a recording in the back ground. I called this number by a regular phone, and heard a recording that "they were not HOME" and to leave a message. I left a message that I was getting worried about the status of my order, as I needed this camera soon for a high school reunion coming up. I advise him of my email address and a phone number to call. No response to all requests. 9/8, order still listed as "new order". I sent an email requesting that order be canceled, as I will have to purchase it from another dealer, so it will arrive on time. A check of Google with phone number listed, shows number is listed in two names, with Stargate and also name and address of occupant. Did a "hybrid" google search of address, and it reveals that this business is being run from a HOUSE, as photo shows it as a residential area Brooklyn NY. I would never deal with this company in the future. Never once have I been contacted after repeated requests. Scam outfit!!!!"

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1/5

posted Aug-22-2006

"I would not purchase from this site, EVER! I placed an order with them and received an e-mail that requested I call them to confirm the order. I called the next business day. The man (would normally call him a gentlemen, but in this case he was not)confirmed my order and then asked if I would be interested in purchasing an extra set of batteries for my camera. He said the originals would only last 20 minutes. I knew better than this from my research so I declined. He then rudley questioned me saying, "you plan to only take 20 minutes of pictures?" To get him off my back I said, "Yes I only need 20 minutes at a time." He was upset with my unwillingness to purchase. Then he asked me why I had chosen the "refurbished" model. When I said I did not, and that the web site did not mention it was a "refurbished model, he said simply "it doesn't have to." I questioned him about this and after asking two more times and getting the same answer, he said "I have answered your question, we need to move on." I was pretty upset by now. He then said "do you want the camera or not?" I asked how much a new model would be and he told me the price. Again he said "so do you want the camera or not?" I told him that I would like to cancel my order. His reply was "your order is cancelled, don't buy from us again." When I tried to reach a customer service person, I kept getting mysteriously hung up on. I finally received a confirmation e-mail stating my order was cancelled because it was backordered. What a scam. Whatever you do, DON'T BUY FROM THESE GUYS!!!"

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4/5

posted Aug-02-2006

"I was looking for a camera featured in Consumer Reports, and EveryPrice.com showed that StarGate Photo had the lowest price. EveryPrice's page also invited me to "Read 1128 Reviews". There were 10 pages of listings, and nearly all I would classify as positive, and very different from what I see here on this site. Here are the first reviews on each of EveryPrice's first five review pages:

EveryPrice.com Read Reviews PAGE 1) "Positives: All I can say is I wished I had found everyprice.com first, before ordering a canon camera from buy.com. Stargate Photo offers the same camera at a much lower price and apparently also has a much better service department. Next time I will start at Stargate"

EveryPrice.com Read Reviews PAGE 2) "Positives: fast delivery. didnt try and sell me a bunch of stuff i didnt need. will use this site again."

EveryPrice.com Read Reviews PAGE 3) "Negatives: NO Overall review: wonderful job great help from customer service and technical support."

EveryPrice.com Read Reviews PAGE 4) "Positives: stargate photo was wonderful to work with. us a day later was easy to talk to and gave us valuable information. I would definitely purchase from this retailer again."

EveryPrice.com Read Reviews PAGE 5) "Positives: The video camera I purchased was shipped quickly and the product arrived in excellent condition. We have enjoyed recording special family moments with our camera already."

Based on these EveryPrice.com reviews, I placed an order with stargatephoto.com for a camera only. Within minutes of placing the order, my phone rang, and I accepted some overpriced add-ons that I actually needed. The overall price was still a good deal, when I added everything up. The camera arrived very promptly, and all the accessories, including a high-speed memory card required for the camera's movie mode, were recognized quality brands.

When I was checking online for a tracking number, my order was never updated from my original web order to reflect the additional items, and a tracking number was not provided on the web.

If I had read the reviews here first, I would have chosen a more trusted internet vendor. My own experience is more in line with the reviews here, and not consistent with the "reviews" on EveryPrice.com. While I didn't have a particularly enjoyable or comfortable purchasing experience, I ended up with a nice camera and the accessories I needed, at a fair price I was willing to pay.

I've purchased other cameras in the past from NYC dealers, and the sales approach - lowball advertised offer, followed by aggressive sales upgrading - still results in what are pretty much the best camera deals on the planet. I'm used to the approach they take and expect it. What I am most disappointed in are the "reviews" on EveryPrice.com. I wonder if they are made up, or maybe presented in a format advantageous to the client. I don't have any confidence in them any more.

"

This review was modified by SouthMaui on August 03 2006 12:51:45 AM

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1/5

posted Aug-01-2006

"SCAM! I echo all the reviews that precede this. Same situation exactly, I just can't figure out why they get so nasty. Seems they're only asking to be reported to the Consumer Protection Board - which I've done. If it looks too good to be true - it is. Don't bother!"

This review was modified by NYC4U on August 13 2006 10:21:02 AM

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1/5

posted Jul-31-2006

"I have NEVER delt with such a rude and unhelpful company. I placed and order, then confirmed, as requested, by phone which they then cancelled and when I called to talk to an advisor he refused to advise me on alternatives then threatened to publish my credit card details on line! I called four times hoping I would get someone else but was threatened each time and told that my business was not wanted and never to call back. I only wanted to buy a camera!!"

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1/5

posted Jul-30-2006

"Same complaint as everyone else.....as soon as I ordered the camera, I had to call them for confirmation. When I wouldn't order anything else they said the order would be shipped. Two hours later I received an e-mail that said they couldn't ship and that the order was cancelled. I placed another order two days later and they cancelled again for another reason. Place is a fraud. I'm writing the NY State AG about them."

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1/5

posted Jul-28-2006

"Caveat Emptor with these guys folks. They quote a low low price and then start taking you to the next level(classic bait and switch.) I thought I had bought a camera. I was under some time constraints so I called back when I hadn't heard anything about shipment. Surprise! He didn't have the camera after all and suggested a higher priced one. I agreed (he already had my credit card number)and wound up having to pay 10% of the cost for overnight shipping. The product did arrive on time, but the invoice had no breakout of individual prices for the camera and accessories. The invoice states "The above items were sold as a value package." Most of this is my own fault for getting in a hurry and letting this guy push me around. But.....never again with this outfit."

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1/5

posted Jul-25-2006

"I placed an order for a Sony DVD 505 camcorder from Stargate Photo and was immediately sent an e-mail to verify my order by calling their 800 number. After I refused to buy an extended length battery the salesman told me my camcorder would be shipped. No sooner had I hung up that I got an e-mail that they had cancelled my order. I called back and was told the camcorder was no longer available. Use your own judgement but I will buy elsewhere."

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1/5

posted Jul-25-2006

"Buyer beware!!!! Like others, I was pressured to buy stuff I didn't want when I called to confirm the order. The guy said I was "not using my brains" and was "pissing him off". He said my order was cancelled and hung up on me. I subsequently got an email that my order had been cancelled because it was on "backorder" even though the guy originally said he had it in stock. I'm amazed this company is able to stay in business. Do not give this guy your money!!!"

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1/5

posted Jul-24-2006

"I placed an order for a camera at a favorable price on Sunday. The site had a post requesting a call to "verify" the order. When I called I got high pressure bait and switch, misrepresentations about the product, and attempts to sell extras I didn't need at rediculous prices. When I declined they cancelled the order and hung up. The worst on line order experience I have ever had.

Caveat Emptor!"

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