Axer Lens = Scam / Ripoff . Run Quick! Friend Ripped Off

[rlemert]

If your friend does try to get her money back, the store may agree - or it may refuse.

If your friend does not try, then the store's policy becomes irrelevant - you've made the decision for them.

Both options have the same downside - that she's stuck with the lens and out the money.

The first option has a potential up-side - she get's her money back.

Why would you want to eliminate that potential up-side?

 

[sm4him]

Considering that its a sale made in a physical shop its a very bold move as they can't just run away so easily

I would never, ever, in 1 million years let this fly.

Call your states Better Business Bureau.

Tell a police officer the story, and see if he'd come along.

After they give the full refund, she should still report them to the Better Business Bureau. Scams are illegal and should warrant a business ethics investigation.

But she shouldn't stop there: get her to go on Google business search and give them a horrible review detailing your experience. Then make sure she tells all her friends about the experience.

The problem and what I'm worried about is its not a scam per say. She bought an item for an outrageous price, much more than it should be. Its no different than buying a $150 Monster HDMI cable when a $5 no name brand cable does the same exact thing. A officer would first off refuse to go and then tell her its a civil matter. I'm sure Axer is for all intents and purposes a shell name to sell crazy markup items with huge dividends for the store.

In my city, there are several news channels who just LOVE to do reports on scams just like that. The second they refuse her a refund, you turn the video camera on, tell them Channel X will be hearing about this and you ask them to specifically state why she can't get a refund.

This goes beyond your friend's "happiness" because she doesn't know the truth. What happens the NEXT time she wants to buy a lens, and she tells you she's going back to this store that was so "great" to deal with before?
Are you going to tell her THEN--when she really won't be able to get her $$ back on this lens--or are you going to continue to keep your mouth shut and let her lose even more money, AND support a store that scams people?

 

[amolitor]

I am confused by what she bought. How does a wide angle adapter work at a lens? Does whatever she bought mount directly on the body? Or is the original story just very mangled, and she was planning to buy a lens, and got sold an adapter instead?

 

[ph0enix]

How is this even up for debate? Of course tell your friend ASAP regardless of the outcome. She needs to know she got screwed.

 

[ClickAddict]

Everyone seems to be jumping on the call the press, call the cops bandwagon, but has anyone considerd that the store MAY NOT KNOW they sold her junk? Yes they should know if it's their business, but if they are a general electronics shop and not a camera specific, it's possible they saw this product online and bought it also for much more than it's worth without knowing. I'd bring it back, explain. IF they act surprised (Convincingly) and offer money back no hassles etc... Leave it at that. If they act like they knew all along, then hit them with the press etc... There's one thing to make a mistake and there's another to be dishonest.

Oh and yes tell your friend

 

[unpopular]

It is unlikely the media will want to reveal specifics at risk of liability. Generally, the US does not have laws providing a mandatory refund period. However, there may be a bad faith claim here. I believe in the US, every transaction is a contract. Despite what you see in cartoons, you can't just willingly take advantage of people's ignorance. I'd try to return it, claim that it wasn't quite what you had expected. I wouldn't go in blazing about being ripped off. Just your normal complaints. If no refund is provided, the salesperson will then say that "all are sales final".

If your friend bought the lens on a Credit Card, you may want to contact them. But other than that, your only other course of action would be small claims court, and without an attorney the "all sales final" sign will be hard to argue.

Did the salesperson explicitly state that this lens *was* a specific effective focal length? Like, did the seller say "Oh yeah, this *is* a 24mm lens!" This could be grounds for fraud, as the product's EFL is not going to be what was stated.

However, if the store was unaware, and was ripped off by this company as well, then no fraud would have taken place. However, I find that very hard to believe.

 

[Dao]

If I were you, I will tell her the truth and assist her later in lens purchase (or direct her to TPF).

For the lens that she already bought, I will suggest her bring it back to the shop and ask for a return for refund. If needed, I will assist her on that.

If the store refuse to do so, I will contact local BBB as well as FL state consumer service (File a Complaint - Division of Consumer Services, DOACS) and see if they are able to offer some help.

 

[unpopular]

If you are a professional photographer yourself, it might be a good idea to get on the phone with her CC company in a conference call, expressing your expert opinion why you think your friend was taken advantage of, and why you think she did not get the product which she thought she did.

 

[KmH]

Some random store in Orlando FL.

I hate it when those random stores pop up.

No doubt, you tell a friend you think they got ripped off.

Retail stores that routinely scam customers don't stay in business long. A retail store in a tourist town may be more willing to do so knowing many of their customers live elsewhere.

 

[Majeed Badizadegan]

So many people seem to think that walking on eggshells is the best recourse she has.

Hell no. If it was me, I wouldn't rest until I had a full refund. And if there was no good reason and apology provided, I'd be going to the better business bureau too.

the consumer is not powerless if they've been scammed by a retail store. It's not like she bought this thing from a guy in a trench coat. Please stop giving this guy misinformation. If what he says is true, there are plenty of things the buyer can do. None of which is "asking nicely for a refund and if they don't give oh wells lol".

 

[unpopular]

I'd be going to the better business bureau too.

Dun dun DUNNNNNNNNNN!

 

[thetrue]

Will the BBB get her a refund? Unlikely. The place may not even care about a bad mark on their record because how many people sit in a parking lot and research a store they may buy from if they're en route to Magic Kingdom? I know I wouldn't.......

 

[unpopular]

And going in with your guns blazing isn't going to do anything either except get your adrenaline up. I think it's better to not let the know that you're onto them, so they have no reason to provide you with anything but more lousy customer service. If they know you're onto them, what's the point of even pretending to be honest?

Heck, I'd even say "it turns out I really just didn't need it", and then report to the BBB and also all over the internets.

 

[thetrue]

I'll go the way of the donkey, angry gets little result. Just go in like it was Walmart when you're returning the extra whatever that you bought just in case.

 

[Majeed Badizadegan]

Business establishments are governed by a set of rules like everyone else. If they are knowingly conducting bad-faith sales, it's against the law. Period.

The BBB exists for situations exactly like this. They have been extremely helpful in my experience in the past and are always on the side of the consumer.

If the business sold her this item in bad faith, it's reasonable to assume there's no chance they'd allow a refund. I'd go in with the "blazing guns" holstered, play nice at first, but would not be afraid to take the bull by the horns.