"After reading all the bad reviews I figured I knew exactly what I wanted, 1 item the Canon 70-200 f/2.8 L lens, and figured that this was not debatable and would get a good deal. I was told that this is NOT a digital lens, then after being told that it was in stock and could get it in 2 weeks, was then told it will take 2-4 weeks to get it shipped over to their facility and then shipped. This place is a JOKE, the prices are fake, and they will try to bait and switch you on ANY order. Go elsewhere if you are smart. "

"I checked the previous warnings on this site AFTER I made my order with Genius Cameras. Do to many other opinions on sites, including this one, giving this online store a less than poor rating, I decided today to call on the status of my order. Sure enough, the Nikon D50 was backordered. This is especially strange, though not surprising to me now, since I had called before I initially ordered my Nikon D50 to ask if it was in stock...with such low prices, I was sure they would not have had many left!

Thanks to all of you opinion posters out there, you saved me a royal headache.

I, too, experienced the bait and hook tactic, though it was not a hard sell.

I don't usually post opinions on sites, but felt that this one was important to get out there and hopefully save someone else's heartache."

"Same as everyone else. When I declined to buy the battery and charger for $200 my order was put into backorder status. It doesn't seem that they have any intention to sell products at their advertised price. Classic bait & Switch."

"I called this stored to confirm and order and was confronted with the BAIT & SWITCH routine previously described by many here. I don't seem to be able to contact the authurs of reveiws directly as they have their direct email options turned off. I am worrying whether or not anyone had any problems with them running a credit card charge after being told the order would be cancelled?"

"Joe transferred me to another agent in 'Sales' and this agent proceeded to attempt to argue me down and speak over me in a condescending tone. He said that the order already shipped and that he could not cancel. [Mind you the order was confirmed 1hr prior to this call] THIS IS WHY I'M CANCELLING! Online reviews - which I should have read before ordering from you - are all NEGATIVE and after reading some of those reviews, I decided I did not want to order from this company. Did it ever occur to you that you would build a loyal customer following if you simply operated an honest, customer-centered business? Forget it! I will post this review and hopefully then next potential customer will read it and stay away from this company!"

"This is the same outfit as Express Cameras. Read my review under Express Cameras. And, btw, DON'T ORDER ANYTHING FROM THEM!"

"I bought the Nikon D200 from Joe Mclane at geniuscameras.com for $1699.00 which is the MSRP. I asked him if he was sure he had it in stock and he said yes. I asked him to overnight it to me and he said shipping would take up to 14 days. [Odd thing number one]

He informed me that it did not come with a battery or a charger and that I really needed two batteries to shoot for a whole day. I questioned both of these statements but he persisted. I proceeded to order two batteries and a charger for $637. I told Joe that I could buy the same batteries and chargers for $150 or less and he told me that they were 'aftermarket' and would damage the camera and void the warranty. [Odd thing number two]

Next, Joe told me that I had to get an extended warranty. I asked him what it covered. I specifically asked about 'water damage'. He gave me 'his word' that this warranty covered accidental damage for 5 years. The warranty was $499.

Next, Joe informed me that the shipping charge would be $171. I questioned the high charge but Joe told me that this was because of 'insurance'. This brought the total to $3006. [Odd thing number three]

The package arrived a week later. It contained the d200 body only kit (#25235) in a box clearly indicating that it included a charger and a battery. I also received the warranty which clearly indicated that it did NOT cover accidental damage. There was no second battery shipped.

I called Joe Mclane back and told him that there must have been a misunderstanding and that the warranty was not what I needed and so I wanted to return it. He said it was part of the 'package' and non-returnable. I told him that another misunderstanding was that the camera DID come with a battery and a charger and so I wanted to cancel the order for the 2 extra batteries and the charger that I didn't need, and had not received. He claimed that he had upgrade a 'wholesale' package that didn't contain a battery and a charger. I told him that I had looked into it and that Nikon didn't ship the D200 without a battery and charger. He told me that they did and that I shouldn't try and tell him how to run a business he had been in for 15 years. He wouldn't even cancel the order for the battery that hadn't shipped.

He told me I could return everything but that the shipping charge would not be refunded. He referred me to 'returns' who hung up on me. The guy on the phone kept saying "I can't hear you, there is an echo on the phone, try calling back".

I was prepared for this after reading the reviews here and all over the internet. I immediately filed reports with the Better Business Bureau, the Federal Trade Commission, the New Jersey Attorney General's office and the iC3 (joint btwn the FBI and White Collar Crime division). I would encourage all of you to do the same. You can report fraud even if you weren't involved in a transaction that lost you money."

"I ordered a Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT package on line with 3 lenses for a total of $1398.21. Site said all items in stock. Got email to call and confirm credit card information. When I called I got the hard sell for battery and charger (camera has no charger and battery is only good for 20 minutes than has to be thrown away), need high speed memory card, lenses have plastic mounts which always break so I needed to pay $120 more for metal mounts, etc. I declined all their scam offers. I called 2 days later to check on the status of my order and SURPRISE!!!! all items were back ordered and would not be available for 3-6 weeks. I cancelled the order."

"I ordered a package called the 'Platinum' package for the Sony HDR-FX1 that they said had such low prices they couldn't advertise it. I was pleased with the products and model numbers so I charged $6,500 for this package. The package arrived and they charged me $412 for shipping when I later returned the whole thing (same UPS ground) for $60. Substituted Sony XR2100 and supporting equipment and said I had ordered this. They said they checked their 'recording' and I they had not made a mistake. Finally, after many ugly words and wrangling the agreed to accept the items to be returned on an RMA#. Said they are experts at manipulating CC companies and they'll make me pay a huge restocking fee and pay the ridiculous $412 shipping charge. Truly a NIGHTMARE!"

"I just wanted to add my story to the list of people who had their order indefinately backordered. I also recieved the complementary 40 minuet wait, and they hung up on me twice (most likely on accident, but still). Then they added the battery and charger and a warrenty which more than doubled the price. I told them that that was too much but the sales person talked over me like he couldn't hear me and quickly ran my credit card. Then he said that only $1000 went through so he would send the rest of it COD. He eventually took the extras off after an exhausting and completely idiotic argument where he told me that batteries other than ones purchased from from Genius Camera would not work, or would void the warrenty. I said that was fine so he proceeded to try to talk me out of the order saying that the camera would arrive and be "completely useless" and that I should just wait untill I had more money and call back. I told him to just ship the item and had to ask 4 times what the actual total was before he finally told me (he kept saying "what it was before" and I kept saying "give me the number"). After I hung up I checked to see why Cannon would sell cameras without batteries, and they don't. So I don't know if they are taking them out or what. The next day I recieved the back order email which seems to be their trademark move, so I canceled my order. The bottom line is: worst case senereo you will pay more than twice what you planned, best case is you will have your order indefinately backordered and get an argument from someone in Jersey."

"After placing an online order for canon rebel xt kit, I called to confirm the order (part of the ordering process on this website). When I asked asked about the contends of the camera kit, they cancelled the order saying the product wasnt in stock. Very fishy operation, avoid ordering."

"My wife ordered a Nikon camera with lenses for me for Christmas from GeniusCamera. Evidently if you don't purchase accessories from this organization at remarkably inflated prices, your initial order will be placed on "backorder". We've now been waiting a month, and this company does not respond to emails or telephone calls.

There are numerous web sites that document other consumer complaints about GeniusCameras, I would review them before doing business with this outfit. We have cancelled our order, as have many many others.

To view these negative reviews, Google GeniusCamera.
"

"BELIEVE ALL THE REVIEWS!!!! I didn't and tried to purchase from Genius Camera anyway. I even told the salesperson about the reviews and he said it was jealous competitors that get on these review boards and try to give them a bad reputation. Well, after confirming my order, I called back the very next day to find out the status of my order and, you guessed it, it was backordered for 4.5 weeks. I told the guy that I figured as much and he asked me how I figured this. I told him about the reviews and he got very short with me. I will now be calling my credit card to make sure they do not charge me for anything. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED, STAY AWAY!!!!"

"Total scam. I placed an order for a Canon EOS 20D camera body and associated lenses. I was told to call and confirm the order per option 3. The tried to sell me a battery charger and card, then attempted to substitute out one of their packages over my choice. When I mentioned the Canon Rebate, they proceeded to tell me that the quoted price included the rebate, and that the had to add $500 to the cost of the merchandise I ordered because the price I ordered at did not include the rebate. I cancelled my order and like others posting here, I am watching my credit card to make sure they do not charge me."

"Company advertises wholesale pricing, but attempts to maintain profit margin through accessories, if accessories are not purchased, the end item you've ordered will remain on backorder indefinately."