dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

Yet another article about this camera store:

https://petapixel.com/2018/03/09/camera-store-receipt-will-make-mad/

Joe Blow

The best course of action is to refer it to the NY State Attorney General.

chaman

The people behind this store should be jailed.

Shellback Loc: North of Cheyenne Bottoms Wetlands - Kansas

Unfortunately, what they are doing is legal - up-selling is not illegal and they are selling at MSRP - like any product sales - buy the extended warranty for only $... (which by the way, provides the most profit margin) - When I was selling vehicles, the extended warranty sales got me more commission $'s that the actual sale...
What's the old saying - there's a sucker born every minute...
This publicity will slow traffic down for awhile, but it will fade away and business will resume as normal - like it or not, they have the law on their side...

WayneT Loc: Paris, TN

Remember the old saying "Buyer beware". Rings true in many of these cases. Do you homework before buying.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

Probably won't slow it at all. The people likely to read it already know not to go there.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Or at least forced out of business.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

[quote=Shellback]Unfortunately, what they are doing is legal - up-selling is not illegal and they are selling at MSRP - like any product sales - buy the extended warranty for only $... (which by the way, provides the most profit margin) - When I was selling vehicles, the extended warranty sales got me more commission $'s that the actual sale...
What's the old saying - there's a sucker born every minute...
This publicity will slow traffic down for awhile, but it will fade away and business will resume as normal - like it or not, they have the law on their side.

A lot of these kinds of stores aren't just up-selling accessories. They are taking things which are supposed to be included with the camera - batteries, chargers, strap, etc. and selling them separately. I don't know if that is illegal, but it is certainly very unethical.

blue-ultra Loc: New Hampshire

Judging from the warranty, I suspect grey market camera and lens. Nikon has their own warranty.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

I agree!

sodapop Loc: Bel Air, MD

200 bucks for a battery? My refurb Nikon came delivered with battery charger and all the basic accessories included in the reduced advertised price.

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

What JohnSwanda wrote is very (and sadly) true. Their advertisements are a 'come on' with what appears to be low prices (the bait that draws one in). They strip down the manufacturer's package of normally items included and resell them separately at marked up prices which of course increases their profits. The pretense is that because "they bought it" it is therefore theirs and because it is now theirs, they can separate the package as they wish. This is much the same as you or I would would if we were to sell something we own where we may choose to keep or sell parts of it separately (meaning it came with a lens so we are selling the body only for example).

The difference is that we would advertise it for what it truly is...a camera body only in this case. No deception and no intent to take advantage of someone in any way.

Are their practices deceiving and unethical? Absolutely. Do they take advantage of their customers? Absolutely. Would anyone who is aware of their business practices ever buy from them? Absolutely not.

NJphotodoc Loc: Now in the First State

Sadly, stores like 42nd St, Abe's of Maine, etc. and others do not want to sell to knowledgable buyers like us. Instead, these vultures seek out folks who want to buy a quality product but who either 1) don't know where to look, or 2) regard only to base price and compare against that. When faced with being forced to buy things like grey market, and overpriced accessories, they get lost and wind up paying way more than they should have spent with little or no recourse.
I work in NYC and live in NJ near Abe's of Maine and pass by these places everyday. As soon as you walk in, they make a quick assessment just by looking at you as to what you can afford to spend. Once I asked to see the original box for a D7000 being sold at $200 below US list and they refused (grey market, refurb???). When I said I was going to call Nikon to verify the SN before I gave the store my credit card, they asked me to leave. The worst part is that they are constantly "going out of business" which simply means that the store will be changing its' name or owner to avoid legal action.
At least forums like UHH can help to spread the word but unfortunately these predators are and will always be out there.

skeeth

Bunch of Scum Bags