"GrandCentralPhoto.com is the WORST Place i have ever tried to buy anything from. I was amazed by the price, and began to read reviews. I ordered a Canon Rebel t2i kit with 18-55mm lens from them and i thought it was too good to be true, well it was.
They called and left a message, my father called them back, Immediately, all the negative reviews for this place happened in real life to us. The salesman who called to "Confirm" the order tried to say that the lens was cheap so we should upgrade and many other things. My dad never confirmed and we just called back.
The customer service guy (named Brett i believe) asked whats wrong and immediately tried to sell MORE stuff. My father sternly said to Cancel the order and the rep was arrogant enough to ignore that 4 TIMES and kept going on about how obviously we didn't know what we were buying and only idiots would not upgrade. That is when my father got very angry and said "CAN YOU HEAR ME?" Where the man after he asked twice replied yes. My dad sternly asked his name, then said cancel the order once again. THEN the rep said there was a 4.5% cancellation fee, yet in the terms of service the site states that there are no cancellation fees if the order isn't confirmed or shipped. We never confirmed and there is no bill on my dads credit card. My dad yelled CANCEL MY ORDER and hung up.

I believe the good reviews for this site are fraudulent, as they are short and have no content.
This place terrible. Bait and switch rip off scam. The site is sketchy, the reps are not well trained or friendly, and they most of all are liars. Don't ever buy from here, as it is the worst site we have ever worked with to buy from.

Don't make the mistake i did.

Sincerely
Dante Grazioli"

"I ordered a Canon 50D body from GCP for the confirmed price of $539.00 plus free shipping. I was told that the camera is a USA model and includes a Conon 1 year warranty. I received an e-mail confirming the order. A couple of days later I received a phone call from a company representative stating that the battery that comes with the camera is good for only 15 minutes of shooting (a lie!) and that they would sell me a longer lasting battery. When I refused the offer I got an e-mail stating that the camera is out of stock and would not be available for 6-9 weeks. Interestingly that same camera at the same price is still listed on their web site.

Avoid this seller!"

"Long term, GrandCentralPhoto and affiliate/similar companies have a terrible customer service record. Suddenly, they have a great record. Either they changed, or they have a bunch of employees/affiliates that give false feedback on their behalf. So I decided to post some FACTS:

1. GrandCentralPhoto claims to have a Bizrate.com store rating of “good” (green smiley face) as of 9/26/10, yet the actual Bizrate site states that they are “Not Yet Rated”- this alone sends up a red flag.

2. (terms and conditions): “Your order or your receipt of any electronic merchandise or other form of order confirmation does not signify our acceptance of your order.”


3. (terms and conditions): GrandCentralPhoto.com reserves the right at any time after receipt of your order, without prior notice to you, to supply less than the quantity you ordered of any item in accordance with our order limitation privacy policy.

4. And, of course, they certainly “do not guarantee any order”

Additionally, I would like to add that that the recent complaints about this website sound very similar to old complaints from long ago.

One last thing- WHEN you want to cancel, it must be done via phone (not in writing). Presumingly this is for them to ensure that they offered the best possible service to you... OR would it be to hassle you over the phone so they can try to keep their sale? Hmmm...

I hope my review will caution others.
"

"I ordered a G11 Cannon from this company which they said they had in stock. So I gave them my credit card info and was told it would be shipped. I then got an email telling me they didnt have it in stock and would take 6 to 9 weeks to have it backordered. Now this company is telling me they cant send me this camera because it was discontinued (even though I talk to the Cannon company telling me it had not) but are still offering it in stock just for a higher price. Im getting nothing but the run around and have be hung up on several occations which I thing is very unprofessional! DO NOT TRUST THESE LIARS!!!!!!!!!"

"I FEEL DECIEVED, FOOLED BY THIS COMPANY. I STRONGLY RECOMMEND NOT BUYING FROM IT.

I bought a Nikon 5000 camera in a package with other items (tripods, memory slots, etc.) for over $700. A couple days after I submitted my order, I got a call from one of their salesmen. After initially refusing to get any other items, I finally accepted, and bought an additional lens and battery for $220 extra.

It turns out that the items I was getting where in exchange for the original items included in the package. This was not explicitly mentioned, or made clear at any point in the conversation I held with the salesman. He tried to make me believe that I was buying extra items. Prove of this is that he often proposed the comparison "buy it now for $90, or later (elsewhere) for $500," which has implicit the fact that I would be purchasing additional items, not exchanging them.

As a non-expert, I pretended to buy a relatively good camera and lenses so as to get started in photography. It turns out that the packages they offer "don't work," meaning, lenses do not work with cameras in the same package. Hence, after you bought a package with a given set of lenses, you need to get another lens if you want to get your camera to work when you receive it. So be careful with that.

So far, my complaints refer to faulty marketing practices: (i) misleading post-purchase phone-selling practices, and (ii) internally inconsistent product bundles. There is more.

When I received my package and found out some items were missing, I went to the site and attempted to log into my account, since it said to allow reporting of missing items in shipments (http://www.grandcentralphoto.com/help.asp). I wasn’t able to log in, nor did the system recognize my email to remind me of password. As I found out later, the site is designed to allow you to enter your account only before your order has shipped. So, the site’s design is also misleading, since the system does not allow you to log in once your items have been shipped (and arrived home), and you are expected to log in if you want to report missing items in your order. This was recognized by the store manager in a phone conversation.

A final complain regards the service when you call. I had to explain 4 times the issue to the person who answered the phone, got transferred at least two times, having waited at least 20 minutes. Once I got to talk to the manager, he ended up yelling at me –I had to hang up at some point- for claiming that I had been offered something I didn’t get. After I hung up, he called me again in order to get a recording of my voice saying that I was OK with everything.

In sum, if you want to save yourself the feeling of being fooled, and the bad time associated with dealing with this kind of people, do not buy from Grand Central Photo (http://www.grandcentralphoto.com). Spend some extra bucks AND BUY ELSEWHERE, NOT FROM GRAND CENTRAL PHOTO. You will save time, good humor and energy.

Manuel Hermosilla
PhD candidate in Marketing at the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University
"

"A scam company buyer beware!! These people are liars!
I purchased a Nikon D90 body for the sale price shown repeatedly on several sources on line from Grand Central Photo for $549 with free shipping. The price seemed too low so I first called and confirmed the price. The man also confirmed that they DO have them in stock. So Is said Ok I'll get my credit card to which he said oh its better if you order on line that way you get the free shipping. I did so 5 minutes later, I placed the order.
As expected I received a phone call I believe the next day from a salesman to CONFIRM the order and he tried to add on a over priced battery saying the one that came with the camera was so weak that it couldn't even run all the functions. I know that is not true and explained that all I wanted was the body as ordered, the call ended.
3 to 4 days went by and I received an email saying those were out of stock and would be for at least 6 to 9 weeks so they had canceled my order.
I emailed a complaint here is their response: "the item clearly states limited stock online no where does it say in stock. when the item becomes available we will email you to let you know that it has been restocked."
What a scam the sales person said "In Stock".
Don't buy from these scumbags, its a bait and switch scam and when they find out you will not fall for the overpriced add-ons they cancel the order.
Too bad these crooks are not prosecuted but no one seems to do anything about them.
DON"T BUY HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have a feeling the positive reviews are written by their employees."

"Do not do business with Grand Central Photo. I ordered a Canon EOS D50 on line. Before placing the order I called and spoke to a sales associate. He assured me that I was buying the retail version of the camera the same as I would get in any camera store. Today they called me to "verify" my order and I asked again what I would be receiving. "Brian" told me that I was getting a "wholesale" model with a trial battery and trial battery charger. He then attempted to upsell me on a retail battery and charger. I recognized this was a classic bait and switch tactic and told Brian to cancel my order. He was very flippant about what I considered to be fraud on his part. I will be in touch with my state's attorney general. Don't trust GC Photo."

"Very unpleasant experience. I attempted to purchase a 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR II DX Nikkor Lens on 08/17/10. On 08/18/10 I received a voice mail requesting that I called the company to confirm my order. Upon calling (I won't get into hold time and transfers) I was pitched a different and more expensive lens. While I appreciate being given options, I asked what was wrong with the lens I am purchasing. First I was told that it was not an auto-focus lens. I was sure it was but could be mistaken, so I told the representative that would need to do some more research before buying the more expensive lens he was recommending. Just as I thought, it was an auto-focus lens.

Upon calling back, again I was pitched a different lens. Again, I asked what is wrong with the lens I ordered. The reasons this time extended from it not having a mount, to it having a plastic mount with which there is a 90% chance I will damage it, to it being an imported lens. Of course for a “discounted price” I could get a metal mount. I insisted on my order and was told that GCP would send me a form that I would need to sign and fax back to them. They would send this form to my credit card company, stating that I accepted their (GCP) terms, which in this case would include no return or refund on the purchase and no warranty coverage. At this point I requested that my order be canceled.

Canceling the order turned out to be challenging. The rep had to speak with his manager to see if I was “allowed” to cancel my order. I promptly informed him that I am 'allowed' to do so. After several minutes of what amounted to a high pressure sales tactic, including comparing GCP's prices to BHphoto.com, and telling me that his company is losing money “by canceling this order” while still having to pay for advertisement and waiving the cancellation fee among other business issues, a seemingly annoyed, rushed and irate rep canceled the order.

I called back to get a confirmation of the cancellation since I was rushed off the phone previously. I was able to get a 'confirmation number' and reassurance that my credit card would not be billed.

I thank them for waiving the cancellation fee(s), but I took my business elsewhere for several reasons:

1.Apparently the information needed to make an informed decision about this product is not available on their website. According to the rep, this is an imported lens and hence not covered by a warranty; or the product is missing an important component critical to its durability.

2.High pressure sales tactics in getting me to purchase a more expensive lens or additional components. I appreciate the recommendations, but if the lens I am purchasing is so bad, then why are they selling it?

3.Unfriendly customer service. Becoming irate, rushed and annoyed because I questioned your sales pitch and insisted on my position, is not very customer focused.

4.Inconsistent information. The reasons for pitching me a more costly lens varied so much, I wondered if the lens was any good. Additionally, here is an email I received on 08/22/10:

“Our sincere apologies for the inconvenience, your order is on a backorder and unfortunately we will not be receiving the product anymore. Due to the backorder, your order has been cancelled.  We apologize once again.
 
***-***-****
Customer care department.

Interesting. I thought the order was canceled on 08/18/10. Also, before making the initial purchase I called and GCP confirmed that they had the item in stock and available for shipping in 24hrs.

Others may have had good experiences, but my experience left a lot to be desired and questioned."

"WATCH OUT!
Found them via NexTag looking for a Canon EOS Rebel T1i camera body. They had the best price, so I placed the order (and normally NexTag requires the product description to be standard and accurate before they will include the listing in their price comparisons).
The next day I had a call advising that: I needed to add a battery ($89) and I needed to buy the software ($249) or the camera would not run. I told them I didn't want any extras, just what was included in the advertisement on NexTag. They said they would give me a deal on the battery if I bought two instead of one, and that they could discount the operating software to $199. I told them to cancel the order and I would buy elsewhere.
NOW, I have an email advising my Canon is on backorder for 3-6 weeks (?????)...I sent them a note back saying if they couldn't sell me what was included in the NexTag listing as 'included in the box' for the agreed price, they they should cancel the whole thing.
No idea where I currently stand with Grand Central Photo, or if a Canon DSLR is magically going to appear in the mail sometime in the next couple of months.
"

"I am trying to buy a canon camera and found GCP has the best price, it's so cheap that I can't believe it's real. Called to check a few things before I place an order, a woman answer the phone, I ask her about the warranty and extended warranties, she was like "huh? What did you say?" after I repeat the questions few times, finally got answer that factory warranty and extended warranty are all back by factory. Who you kidding? What are these people? Then I read the review you all wrote, thanks for all of your reviews. I decide not to buy from them, they sure sounded weird. I agree with you guys up there " Don't deal with them" . They said when you think it's too good to be truth then it is. "

"I ordered a Canon 7D from GCP, and paid an additional $45 for expedited shipping. Thankfully, the order was "tied up" until I got a chance to call, 2 days later. Not only had they purposely not processed my order, but when I called, these swindlers started their scam. First, according to the customer service rep, my "New, In Box Canon 7D" only came with a "temporary" battery pack that would "only last 15 minutes." So, knowing I could get a battery pack and charger for way less on eBay, I politely declined their offer of $250 for a battery pack and charger. Then, they offered to sell me the FIRMWARE for my 7D for $399! Firmware?!?! Nowhere on the product description did it mention that I was buying a $1000+ paperweight. As soon as they tried to bait-and-switch me for the second time, I cancelled my order. Stay away, one big scam."

"Grand Central Photo is a sham. They advertise low prices, then use the old "bait and switch" technique to get you to buy a more expensive kit or camera. If you insist on just buying what you wanted, they're suddenly out of stock. The use deceptive marketing, and the lie to cover it up. There are better places to order your cameras through that have much better reputations, like B&H Photo. DON'T BUY FROM GCP. (I'm thinking that most of their positive reviews are internally posted)."

"DO NOT DEAL WITH THIS BUSINESS!

I ordered a Canon Eos Rebel Kit for $399, which I thought was a good deal, maybe a bit too good to be true, (which it was) but I have came across those type of deals online before, so I gave it a try. The day after a rep calls me to confirm and ship the order and also takes the chance to try to sell me a 5-hour battery for $149 because it would only come with a 15-minute start up battery in the package. (I've never heard of such thing? It's like trying to sell a car with a 15-minute "start up" engine and then try selling another engine for more than a third of the price of the car.) I later found the same battery for less than $50 on a different web site! He tried to "hook me up" with deals involving memory cards, and upgraded guarantee, which only confused me and distracted me because the least thing I needed was to deal with a sales person over the phone, I mean, isn't that why we shop online; so that we can avoid going to the store and dealing with all that comes with it?

So I decided to cancel my order. Then he tells me I have to pay a cancelation fee of 20% of the order when it says clearly on their web site under terms and conditions that they do not charge for cancelation. Anyways, I decide to process the shipment as I had ordered with nothing added. Two days later, I just had a feeling that something wasn't quite right, so I call to see if they had shipped it, which they had not because they all of a sudden were out of stock. So then I ask to cancel the shipment and I ask if they are going to charge me anything for that, and now the answer is "no cancelation fees".

I'm very disappointed and will not deal with them ever again and I wouldn't recommend anyone else to do it either. I hope this was helpful to you who were thinking of buying from them. Look somewhere else!"

"Grand Central Photo is an authorized Nikon Dealer, but beware. They employ the "bait and switch" sales technique. The salesman talked me into buying a "digital quality mount" 16mm-85mm Nikkor lens for $999, when I originally tried to order the $539 version. He said the cheaper lens had a plastic mount (not true), and then charged a 2x shipping charge to the order. When I called to talk to them about the issue, they were dishonest about this even when I convinced them to look at the B&H website where they show the exact lens for over $300 less. Do not buy from these guys at Grand Central Photo - they're not honest and will do anything they can to avoid a refund."

"i put ordar on my computer, they shiped my order very quick and my family is very happy thank you."