1/5

posted Jul-09-2005

I placed an order with TheCameraMall.com (aka PriceRitePhoto aka C&A
Marketing) on June 9, 2005 for a Sony DSR-PD170 camcorder. At the time
the price advertised on-line was very low, which should have raised a
warning flag, but a call to the company confirmed the item was in stock
ready to be shipped, that it was a US model, the user's manual was in
English, and the salesman (Joseph) seemed helpful. There was some
pressure to add unwanted items like a tripod, extra battery, etc, but they
were declined. An offer to add insurance was offered, and initially I
declined but then agreed after being told that otherwise if the product
arrived and was non-functional I would be taking full risk. Before the
product could be shipped I was asked to sign and fax a form, appended
below, that indicated that if I wrote any negative feedback I would agree
to have my credit card charged $100, and that I also agreed to waive my
right to chargeback to the credit card company, and that product could not
be returned for any reason. I signed and returned this form with the
understanding that the company would send the item I ordered. However
after a week there was no indication of a product even having been
shipped, and the customer service contact indicated that only the
salesperson could give me order status, so after several tried I reached
Joseph again, and now he indicated that he couldn't ship the product
unless I faxed him a copy of my credit-card!!! This I refused to do, and
have never, ever had to do for a transaction. I sent email to the company
requesting cancelation of the order, and received yet another email asked
me to sign and fax back a form indicating that I would not post negative
feedback and if I did I was authorizing my credit card to be charged
$100. I refused to sign this.


I did post feedback to
the feedback links provided by the customer describing the details of the
transaction, including the forms I had been sent.

The day after posting the feedback describing my attempt to buy the video
camera from PriceRitePhoto/CameraMall, I received a call from a "John
Hancock", claiming to be the owner of the camera companies, and demanding
that I remove the feedback I posted. He said that he would charge my
credit card for the amount of the camera and and additional $250 for each
posting. He also said that he was shipping a Malaysian version of the
camera, without a lens, to me, and that he would make money on the deal,
and I couldn't stop the shipment, or dispute the charge. My credit card
company confirmed that a pending charge had been placed by PriceRite, but
the charge was not yet posted, and once it was posted, I could dispute.

The next day, July 6, I received several calls from "John Hancock",
demanding again that I remove the feedback I had posted, and when I agreed
that I would remove anything that he felt was not accurate, but if he
could not indicate any inaccuracy, then the feedback would remain. He
screamed and swore at me over the phone, and said that he would post my
credit card number on the internet if I didn't comply.

On July 8 a charge was posted to my credit card for $2139.99 and a second
charge was posted for $100.00. I called my credit card company and
initiated the dispute process. The security department of BankOne Credit
strongly suggested that I cancel my credit card, and complete an internet
fraud report.
Description of how you were defrauded:
My credit card has been charged $2238.99 for an cancelled order.
I've been threatened with additional multiple charges against my
credit card unless I change feedback posted to the Internet, and I've
been threatened with having my credit card number posted to the
Internet. I've had to cancel my credit card on the advice of my
credit card provider.

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1/5

posted Jul-05-2005

I placed an order with PriceRitePhoto (aka TheCameraMall.com aka C&A Marketing) on June 9, 2005 for a Sony DSR-PD170 camcorder. At the time the price advertised on-line was very low, which should have raised a warning flag, but a call to the company confirmed the item was in stock ready to be shipped, was a US model, the user's manual was in English, and the salesman (Joseph) seemed helpful. There was some pressure to add unwanted items like a tripod, extra battery, etc, but they were declined. An offer to add insurance was offered, and initially I declined but then agreed after being told that otherwise if the product arrived and was non-functional I would be taking full risk. Before the product could be shipped I was asked to sign and fax a form, appended below, that indicated that if I wrote any negative feedback I would agree to have my credit card charged $100, and that I also agreed to waive my right to chargeback to the credit card company, and that product could not be returned for any reason. I signed and returned this form. However after a week there was no indication of a product even having been shipped, and the customer service folks indicated that only the salesperson could give me order status, so after several tried I reached Joeseph again, and now he indicated that he couldn't ship the product unless I faxed him a copy of my credit-card!!! This I refused to do, and have never, ever had to do for a transaction. I sent email to the company requesting cancelation of the order, and received yet another email asked me to sign and fax back a form indicating that I would not post negative feedback and if I did I was authorizing my credit card to be charged $100. I refused to sign this.

I then placed an order with B&H Photo, and received the product promptly.

Here is the first form I was asked to sign and return;

Dear Customer,

You have declined the insurance option on the freight charge for your item. If the item arrives damaged you assume all responsibility. TheCameraMall.com will not be held liable for any dispute arising between you and the shipper in the case your order arrives damaged or has concealed damage. Additionally the item you have purchased is below the authorized price the manufacturer allows to resell their product. You have declined the extended warranty offered through Mack and are aware that the manufacturer has the right to decline warranty service for the product you ordered. Under no circumstances may you return the item to TheCameraMall.com. You also agree to give up your right to chargeback through your credit card company with TheCameraMall.com. If a negative review is written on our company in regards to your order a $100 charge will be posted to your credit card.

I ____________________ agree to the above condition and am aware that this product can not be serviced through the manufacturer and I can not hold TheCameraMall.com responsible for anything.



Please sign and fax back to 888-375-6700.

Here is the form I was asked to complete after canceling the order;

Dear Mr. xxxxxx,

As per our phone conversation your order will be retracted. No cancellation
fees will be charged to your card. If a negative review is written in
regards to this order, a $100 charge will be charged to your credit card.


I _______________________ agree to the above conditions and I am aware of
Priceritephoto's policies and procedures.



Please fax back this form to 888-375-6700 and put your order number 20657 on
the page. An e-mail confirming the cancellation of this order will be
e-mailed to you.


PriceRitePhoto - Customer Service

ADDED ON 7/7; the day after posting the above factual information here I was contacted by a gentleman who identified himself as "John Hancock" and threatened me if I did not remove the above feedback. He stated that it was illegal for me to post the forms that were emailed to me (though they were not marked Company Confidential) and he said that he would charge my credit card $250 for each instance of negative feedback, and that he had already charged my credit card with the amount of the previous purchase of $2138 and was going to ship me a Malaysian version of the camera I ordered, but with no lens, if I didn't comply. A call to my credit card company comformed that there was a pending charge in that amount, but I was also told that since I had a record of my cancelation in email from weeks before, that I would have no trouble disputing the charge. These guys are slimey!

Added on July 9; Although I had canceled the order weeks ago, my credit card was charged $2139 for the product that wasn't shipped, and a separate charge for $100 for posting the previous feedback. The "owner" of the company called me again and threatened me again, this time he said he would post my credit card on the Internet if I didn't change the feedback. My credit card company requested that I cancel my card, and I have done so.

This review was modified by zydegotoo on July 09 2005 06:06:53 PM

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