False advertising
Feb 1, 2018 07:50:54 #
Hi Brent, probably a lot dearer than the one you bought, here are a couple of prices, one from Canon UK and another from Amazon UK:
Canon GB £1864: https://store.canon.co.uk/canon-ef-100-400mm-f-4-5-5-6l-is-ii-usm-lens/9524B005/?WT.tsrc=NSO-Site
Amazon UK £1829: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Canon-100-400-4-5-5-6L-Lens-Camera/dp/B00PGNMXQA?SubscriptionId=AKIAILSHYYTFIVPWUY6Q&tag=duc08-21&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B00PGNMXQA
As I expected the lens is more expensive here in UK but all taxes of 20% are included in those prices.
Canon GB £1864: https://store.canon.co.uk/canon-ef-100-400mm-f-4-5-5-6l-is-ii-usm-lens/9524B005/?WT.tsrc=NSO-Site
Amazon UK £1829: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Canon-100-400-4-5-5-6L-Lens-Camera/dp/B00PGNMXQA?SubscriptionId=AKIAILSHYYTFIVPWUY6Q&tag=duc08-21&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B00PGNMXQA
As I expected the lens is more expensive here in UK but all taxes of 20% are included in those prices.
Feb 1, 2018 07:52:34 #
mas24
Loc: Southern CA
There are three Photo Shops I will not buy from. 42nd Street Photo, and Abe's of Maine are two. But, if I list the third one, some will say what a great store they are. No free advertisements from me.
Feb 1, 2018 07:57:07 #
Clapperboard wrote:
Paulie Yes the prices here seem higher. The UK price in £ Sterling seems much the same as the US price in Dollars. The exchange rate reflects the price difference. A few years ago that difference seemed to have pretty much disappeared but it seems to have come back now.
The prices in the UK ARE higher due primarily to the VAT (value added tax) rate of 20% that is included in the price of most everything sold there.
Feb 1, 2018 07:57:25 #
mrtaxi
Loc: Old Westbury NY, Fort Lauderdale, FL
The store was trying to cheat you. There are too many of theses around. They are not authorized Canon stores. The Canon website has a public list and those stores are pretty honest. This lens probably has no canon USA warranty and most likely no Europian warranty also. It’s a shame one has to due their Due Dilligence on who they buy from and find out exactly what’s included and excluded in the purchase!
Feb 1, 2018 08:00:02 #
Sorry about your experience, Brent. But joel has a point; "we've all been there". Some of us "old timers" have probably, at one time or other, tried-out most-if-not-all of the "mail-order" shops in the trades. We coulda told you about Abes (if that was indeed the "store in question"). We're family here. Before you buy, think about asking us if we would recommend "Store X".
Feb 1, 2018 08:09:54 #
BrentHarder wrote:
Hello my fellow UHH members.......yesterday I was ... (show quote)
Abe's of Maine was a good store in 1979, but when it changed hands - and location - all that trust went out the window.
https://www.google.com/search?q=%22The+store+you+can+trust+since+1979%22&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS726US726&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjk7bjg5ITZAhVBxVkKHdJDCacQsAQIKA&biw=1920&bih=949
Feb 1, 2018 10:17:35 #
Jamers
Loc: Michigan
BrentHarder wrote:
Hello my fellow UHH members.......yesterday I was ... (show quote)
I would have had the same bad taste in my mouth as well, you did the correct thing "bate and switch" unethical businesses should be exposed. Thank you for your post.
Feb 1, 2018 11:23:38 #
Brent: First day on the job my friend? This is an age-old practice and the reason so many of us here recommend staying away for ALL of these vendors. If someone is beating B&H or Adorama's price by too much, there is most likely a 'catch'. This is also why I make every effort to patronize my local store whenever I can, because they are great, have helped me many many times, etc. That store, Allen's camera, although not as well known as the others I mentioned does do phone/email orders. Tell them I sent you! Best of luck.
Feb 1, 2018 12:57:20 #
I guess that is why the price was so good WOW that really sucks hope you sent it back it you bought it. Mike
Feb 1, 2018 13:54:02 #
BrentHarder wrote:
Gene, I didn't say it was Abe's of Maine, but I didn't say it wasn't either! I agree with you that a red flag should be raised if the headquarters of a company is not in the same state as the title of the company has.
What about Linda From Maine in Yakima, WA? I wouldn't hesitate to buy from her.
(Sorry, Linda)Feb 1, 2018 13:56:17 #
BrentHarder wrote:
Hello my fellow UHH members.......yesterday I was ... (show quote)
You would not be bashing this store if you said their name. This is what Abe's of Maine does... deceptive advertising, hoping you will order a product from them without calling the store first. Its the old "Bait and Switch" they and 42nd Street Photo are famous for. You order a lens thinking it is coming with the caps and the foot. When you get it, all you have is the lens. Then when you call them to inquire, they tell you it cost extra for those items. So then you are stuck either purchasing the items for extra money, or if you say you want to return the lens, they then tell you there is a restocking fee.
Avoid Abe's of Maine and 42nd Street photo at all cost. The old saying... "If it sounds too good to be true, then it most likely is" definetly applies to these two stores.
Feb 1, 2018 14:06:11 #
Brent, given you have actual evidence it might be useful to file a complaint with the USA Consumer Protection bureau. Did the site you visited have product specifications for the lens. Was it clear with what you get. For the benefit of UHH members why not name the store or place?
Feb 1, 2018 15:01:19 #
joel.photography wrote:
Honest Abe, huh? Why not mention the name? We've all been there.
Joel, my purpose for this thread was not to bash any particular store but to send out a notice to all my UHH friends to beware of the "bait and switch" type of online stores out there. It was more of a warning to be cautious. Do your homework before spending hundreds or even thousands of dollars so you don't get ripped off.
Feb 1, 2018 15:06:06 #
johneccles wrote:
Hi Brent, probably a lot dearer than the one you b... (show quote)
Yeah, I checked it out.......$2659.69 US Dollars for that lens in the UK. That's quite a bit more. Thanks for the info John.
Feb 1, 2018 15:07:33 #
mas24 wrote:
There are three Photo Shops I will not buy from. 42nd Street Photo, and Abe's of Maine are two. But, if I list the third one, some will say what a great store they are. No free advertisements from me.
mas24, thank you very much for the info on this. It's not worth it to try to get a good deal then get ripped off. Your time and effort is worth money in my opinion.
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