5/5

posted Sep-13-2006

I purchased the Canon Elph SD630 at a great price from Beach Camera. People, this web merchant is for real! Order was placed on 09/12/06 and requested 2-day shipping. Well, I received the camera (BRAND NEW in retail packaging) today, 09/13/06. That's only 1 day from East coast to West coast. They're so fast, you might want to save on shipping by just sticking with the free shipping offers or standard shipping. I really appreciate the honest web merchants since there's so many dispicable online businesses (hint: they're all based in Brooklyn, New York - USA Photonation, Prestige Camera, and Butterfly Photo just to name a few). Remember, and this is very important...if the price is too good to be true, it is. So stay away from the amazingly cheap prices offered by such dealers. By comparing prices, you'll know which ones are suspicious.

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1/5

posted May-31-2006

Okay everyone, here's critical advice which I should have adhered to when ordering from an online merchant with such a low price for the product I wanted (Sony DCR-DVD405) - "If the price looks to good to be true, it is!" If you don't listen to this, you're in for a lot of frustration and in my case, credit card fraud as well.

Now to the transaction in question. USA Photo Nation (which I've read here deals under another name Radioactivedeals.com among many other names the same owner uses) was advertising this camcorder for an awesome price. And you know what, it was too good to be true indeed.

This company deceives you in every which way. I called their customer service specifically on this product and asked the person if this was a U.S. version in retail packaging and if I'll get the proverbial email confirmation stating to call them after my online order, which is normally a bait to upsell you on accessories. The guy says it is a U.S. version, and they will only email me to contact them if there's a discrepancy with the billing/credit card info.

Of course, that was a lie because I got the email asking me to contact them - a person by the name of "Thomas". I knew right away what was in store. But I got a little optimistic at first (after being placed on hold for 20 min) because the guy asked to confirm my card's 3-digit security code on the back (information that I have revealed to quite a few online merchants, albeit reputable ones). Well, right after that the guy asked if there's any other question before he ships the product. Good thing I asked! All of you out there, never forget to ask!

I asked him one last time if the product was a U.S. version and had all the manufacturer accessories included. What do you know - he says it's only the camera (no power cord, USB cable, etc) because it's an overseas version - no where on the site does it say this, and the guy has the audacity to say it's on the website if I just look (huh?). I would have to pay a lot more for the U.S. version. Wow, what a bunch of deceiptful liars! And then the guy goes into all his antics about why I wouldn't buy the U.S. version and there would be a 7% fee for canceling. People - never accept this!! As a consumer this is not legal business practice no matter what they say. As long as the item has not shipped, there should be no fee - your credit card company will always back you up on this. And even if they say it has shipped, they're probably lying - just say please make sure if it has because you will call your credit card company to credit back the full amount.

After I hung up the phone, I kinda knew my credit card info was compromised. So today, I check my statement online, and there's a $260 charge to some Ad company in Toronto!! I filed a fraud charge with my credit card company and an investigation is underway. Needless to say, the charged will be credited back and the account is closed. But now I have to go through the invconenience of updating all my auto pay accounts and online accounts with the new credit card number.

If an attorney is reading this or anyone here knows of an attorney seeking class action members, please let me know (tommy67@hotmail.com). I'll surely provided my witness testimony. USA Photo Nation and all the other AKA names the owner uses should be prosecuted! I feel sorry for the people that get strong-armed and scared into buying things from them.

Don't pay any attention to "good" feedback from other customers. I'm sure this company uses some valid transactions to disguise its dispicable business practices. And note, good luck to those who have bought from them as far as future customer support. They will do everything in their power to keep you from returning the product and NOT to refund any of your money. Bait and switch is one thing, but stealing my credit card information - that's truly horrendous. These guys should be closed down.

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1/5

posted May-31-2006

Okay everyone, here's critical advice which I should have adhered to when ordering from an online merchant with such a low price for the product I wanted (Sony DCR-DVD405) - "If the price looks to good to be true, it is!" If you don't listen to this, you're in for a lot of frustration and in my case, credit card fraud as well.

Now to the transaction in question. USA Photo Nation (which I've read here deals under another name Radioactivedeals.com among many other names the same owner uses) was advertising this camcorder for an awesome price. And you know what, it was too good to be true indeed.

This company deceives you in every which way. I called their customer service specifically on this product and asked the person if this was a U.S. version in retail packaging and if I'll get the proverbial email confirmation stating to call them after my online order, which is normally a bait to upsell you on accessories. The guy says it is a U.S. version, and they will only email me to contact them if there's a discrepancy with the billing/credit card info.

Of course, that was a lie because I got the email asking me to contact them - a person by the name of "Thomas". I knew right away what was in store. But I got a little optimistic at first (after being placed on hold for 20 min) because the guy asked to confirm my card's 3-digit security code on the back (information that I have revealed to quite a few online merchants, albeit reputable ones). Well, right after that the guy asked if there's any other question before he ships the product. Good thing I asked! All of you out there, never forget to ask!

I asked him one last time if the product was a U.S. version and had all the manufacturer accessories included. What do you know - he says it's only the camera (no power cord, USB cable, etc) because it's an overseas version - no where on the site does it say this, and the guy has the audacity to say it's on the website if I just look (huh?). I would have to pay a lot more for the U.S. version. Wow, what a bunch of deceiptful liars! And then the guy goes into all his antics about why I wouldn't buy the U.S. version and there would be a 7% fee for canceling. People - never accept this!! As a consumer this is not legal business practice no matter what they say. As long as the item has not shipped, there should be no fee - your credit card company will always back you up on this. And even if they say it has shipped, they're probably lying - just say please make sure if it has because you will call your credit card company to credit back the full amount.

After I hung up the phone, I kinda knew my credit card info was compromised. So today, I check my statement online, and there's a $260 charge to some Ad company in Toronto!! I filed a fraud charge with my credit card company and an investigation is underway. Needless to say, the charged will be credited back and the account is closed. But now I have to go through the invconenience of updating all my auto pay accounts and online accounts with the new credit card number.

If an attorney is reading this or anyone here knows of an attorney seeking class action members, please let me know (tommy67@hotmail.com). I'll surely provided my witness testimony. USA Photo Nation and all the other AKA names the owner uses should be prosecuted! I feel sorry for the people that get strong-armed and scared into buying things from them.

Don't pay any attention to "good" feedback from other customers. I'm sure this company uses some valid transactions to disguise its dispicable business practices. And note, good luck to those who have bought from them as far as future customer support. They will do everything in their power to keep you from returning the product and NOT to refund any of your money. Bait and switch is one thing, but stealing my credit card information - that's truly horrendous. These guys should be closed down.

This review was modified by tommy67 on May 31 2006 12:12:05 PM

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