wrangler5 Loc: Missouri

I found a refurbished MFT lens at the Olympus USA web site yesterday and ordered it with a credit card. I got an email last night that said "We are writing to confirm an order that was placed with us recently, under your name." It said to call one of two phone numbers "to verify this order . . . , so we can help to get this taken care of and shipped out as soon as possible. The order cannot be shipped until we speak to you concerning this order."

The charge is pending at my credit card provider, and there's plenty of credit so payment can't be the problem. I've called the numbers provided in the email 3 times (last night, this morning and this afternoon) and gotten a recording, where I left a message saying that I had indeed ordered this lens, giving my name and a phone number to call me on, with no callback and no follow up email saying the lens is shipping. Since the email says "until we speak to you," it makes me wonder if I have to actually speak back and forth with somebody before they will ship?

I've never had this response from an online purchase (except when my credit card had been hacked and had just been shut down by my bank) so I'm at a loss as to what's going on. Anybody else had this experience with Olympus USA?

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

Wrangler5 - are you perhaps using one of those credit monitoring services that protects your card against the possibility that some nefarious badguy might hack it and mis-use it? Or does your bank provide similar services “for your protection”? Both possibilities blocked large expenditures from my account, despite the fact it was my money and their were ample funds to cover the purchase. In the first instance, I fired the credit monitoring service and in the second I told my bank to simply call me if they had a question regarding any expenditure. The vendor had nothing to do with it; it was just the monitor and credit card carrier (bank) that initiated it. /Ralph

wrangler5 Loc: Missouri

My bank has been alert to credit card fraud (caught one a few months ago and made me get a new number, which is a pain because this is the card that's registered with the online businesses I use regularly so I have to fix all those registrations) but they call me about questionable charges almost immediately - and that hasn't happened here. The Olympus charge is listed on the bank's web site as "Pending", which is what Olympus says will be the case until they actually ship and put through a final charge. They say they put something through on the card when the order is placed, but it's not final - and a charge to me - until they ship.

I do NOT use a credit monitoring service.

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

Apparently you will have to speak with the vendor directly. Good luck.

wrangler5 Loc: Missouri

Further info: I should have put in the original post that I got a perfectly normal email almost immediately upon placing the order, thanks for the order, below are the details of the product you bought, billing and shipping addresses, payment type and shipping type, and total cost - including the sales tax which they don't compute until the order is placed with a shipping ZIP code. And the usual "we'll email you tracking details when it ships." This is exactly the email I routinely get from many if not most online vendors after making a purchase.

The "you've gotta call us" email came about 4 hours later. That's the message that has me stumped. (I just called again, for the 4th time, got the same recording and left the same message confirming my purchase and asking for a callback. Or an email saying all is well.)

Bill_de Loc: US

I would leave one more message giving them 24 hours to call you or cancel the order. Are you really that desperate for this particular lens?

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Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

I’ve not had this issue in the past.

wrangler5 Loc: Missouri

Well, it's a good price on as reliable a used version of this lens as I'm going to find. And I can't find it now on the web site, so I can't just cancel and re-place the order (by phone, this time.)

repleo Loc: Boston

I had the same problem buying a camera from one of the less recommended online sellers. I eventually got them to answer the phone. The call was just an excuse to try to up-sell warranties, sd cards, spare batteries etc. Are you sure it was the genuine Olympus site? Maybe there is an issue with the condition of the lens that they wanted to explain to you.

tdekany Loc: Oregon

I just call their toll free number and there is always an answer after a few rings. I don’t understand what number Olympus is making you call

sueyeisert Loc: New Jersey

The store has a phone number call them.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I avoid buying from the manufacturer directly. I prefer to buy from a dealer and give them the profit. Dealers generally charge less, anyway. It sounds more like 42nd St photo than Olympus. Will they want to sell you "extras," like a lens cap and a box?

Since they aren't even answering the phone to let you complete the order, I would order from someone else.

pl

I purchased a motor drive from the olympus outlet store. It was defective and returned for refund. I called six times and was told the refund was being processed each time. It's almost a year with no refund. Other orders have taken several weeks to get filled.
pl

DaveC1 Loc: South East US

Are you sure you placed the order with a actual store and not some phishing sight that now has your credit card information and is using this ploy to get more of your information from you? I order stuff off the internet all the time and have never had the experience you are describing.

Opusx300

I have had this happened with a few online vendors on bigger ticket items when I provide a shipping address that is different from my billing address. For example, let’s say I know I wont be home to accept delivery so I have it shipped to my work address. Not sure this is the case for you but this has happened to me a few times.