1/5

posted Oct-07-2010

I checked reseller ratings before ordering - no reviews - I am the first. They had a good price on an Ipod battery, went through the whole ordering procedure, clicked to pay - payment accepted......BACKORDERED!!!! We'll let you know when we we are shipping. No warning, no offer to cancel, just w"we got your money and we don't care when you get the product". Just unconscionable to do your customers like that.
Avoid these people and use milliamp.com. more expensive, but at least the have what they sell.

comment on review | report?

Is this review?… Helpful Cool Share

1/5

posted Oct-05-2005

These people are real weasels! I buy a lot on the internet, and most people are honest and truthful. I ordered a product from VitaDigest Sept.24, 2005, which their website indicated was in stock. The following day I got a UPS tracking number and a notice the product was shipped. When I called on October 5, 2005 having not received the product, after many phone calls that said there was no-one to take my call, "Amy" answered and told me that the product was backordered, that an e-mail had been sent telling me the tracking number was wrong, but.... my card had been charged for the item. Right up until I called, the UPS tracking number still said the order was shipped, and their web site still says the item is in stock and if purchased, would be shipped the next day. Of course there was no other e-mail, other than the one lying about the product being sent.
All other websites were back-ordered on this item, and said so, but these dishonest people would have you believe they had the item, and had shipped it, so you would buy from them and they could trick you into believing it was sent. I am sure they hoped it would arrive at their warehouse so they could then say it was sent, when you called to complain. Shame on you, VitaDigest!!!! You are dishonest and not worthy of my business. Oh, and you had better credit my card immediately as you never had the product to begin with. BUYER BEWARE of these bad merchants!!

comment on review | report?

Is this review?… Helpful Cool Share

5/5

posted Jan-25-2005

I feel obliged to rate this retailer because I saw so much rhetoric on this and other websites, it made me very cautious. In the end it was a comment on the C-Net site that asked for input if I had any problems with one of the retailers advertised on the C-Net site, that swayed me to deal with Cameras & Electronics (C&E).

I was pricing a Panasonic AG-DVC30 camera, and the pricing at C&E was agressive on this product. There were a number of sites with prices considerably (40%) lower, however I knew that a price that low brought trouble; and they were not on C-Net.

My call went to hold for 5 minutes, (with please be patient reminders every 30 secs or so) but I knew these people were busy and when I was answered I immediately stated that I had seen their site on C-Net and was interested in this particular camera. The salesman said yes, and quoted me the same price as was on the C-Net price survey. Now, being forewarned and alert, I asked what was included in the purchase and the answer matched the data from other more expensive sites, and the next question I asked was if the product was in stock and the answer was yes. I finally asked if this purchase would be followed by an e-mail request to call and was told those calls are a function of e-mail orders only. OK, I want to buy. Name address etc., credit card number, and I was then pitched on a filter set, (no thanks), a UV filter, (yes, thank you for reminding me), a better price on the filter set, (no thanks again), do you need tapes, (yes, I'll take a 3 pack), and then the inevitable pitch for the extended warranty. I listened to the pitch, said no thanks, listened again, again no, finalized all the info and got the third pitch for the warranty and again declined. Persistent, like a good salesman, (they only get one chance), but not rude and after three tries we moved on. Thanks for your business, you will get a tracking number. Eighteen hours later the tracking number appeared and three days later the camera arrived. The camera was in a factory sealed box and in perfect condition, exactly as promised.

The freight was $81. plus change, I had said that was high, he said it is for shipping, handling, packaging and insurance. More importantly I knew the shipping in advance because the C-Net ad had done the calculation before I called. Just checking. They were consistent.

As an interesting point, the first notification of shipping came from "Abe's Cameras" (or something similar but definately Abe's), and I figured they were probably also Abes of Maine, who are also in New York. Same people I think.

If you buy from any of these discount houses, be realistic and expect to be pitched for extras. The extended warranty in particular is a big money maker and they will try hard to sell. Just listen politely and let the man do his job, and then my standard answer is, "i'd prefer not to do that now, thank you". Relax and let him do his job again, and if you choose, reject it again. Their job is to get you to add to the purchase price of the deeply discounted product. If you can't take the sales pitch, buy from a big box and pay the balance, but I saved about $300.00 buying from C&E.

If the measure of a "10" is satisfaction and completion, then C&E get a "10". I got what was promised, in the time frame promised, at the price that was promised. Yes I was pitched hard (but politely) but I expected that and understand it is part of the procedure. I can say "no", if I mean it and I had no trouble. More importantly I believe you get back from people what you give them. These people work on slim margins and they are in business to make money. Know that going in, keep emotion out of the deal, be polite like your mother taught you, protect ypurself by using credit cards, and again, it was the C-Net protective phrase that moved me off center. I wold most definately buy from Cameras and Electronics again.

comment on review | report?

Is this review?… Helpful (1) Cool (2) Share