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

[Majeed Badizadegan]

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.

 

[JBrown]

Based on everyone's advice Ill tell her tomorrow and if need be go to the store with her. Hopefully she can get refunded, however I'm doubting it, but we shall see.

 

[thetrue]

Rotanimod has a good plan layout for you, I would seriously considering going that route.

 

[JBrown]

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.

 

[Derrel]

Some random store in Orlando FL. I dont know the name, didn't ask. Its a mom and pop shop, not a big box.

After looking at the post above (post #10's link) that listed the bad experience of a tourist shopping at a camera store in Clermont, Florida, I typed in "Clermont, Florida camera store" into a Google search window, and within the first few search results were the words, "ripped him off"...and so I clicked on the link...huh...a posted story about a man who was sold a $400 point and shoot for a "discounted price" of $775...hmmmm...

cameraelectronicsorlando: Global Camera 9350 U.S. 192, Clermont, FL 34714 863-420-8394 Ripped him off too

Sounds like the greater Orlando area has some people who have reported being badly scammed by at least one particular store...

 

[thetrue]

Seems like its tourist towns!!!!!

 

[jrizal]

Only reason I even hesitate is I am operating on the premise she will not be refunded. If I tell her she finds out and is angry/pissed/bitter etc etc about being scammed and wasting $600. Right now she is happy with her purchase. So my hesitation is what is the net result?

The net result is for her to learn her mistake not to be suckered again. After that, it is her decision to go after the company for a refund or simply live up to her mistake which is a costly one. Just tell her in the nicest/plausible manner possible so she won't be shocked. Hope everything ends well on her end.

 

[John27]

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.

This is my though too but I absolutely WOULD try to get a refund. It might not be worth it for this store to have any bad press about it. Just TRY to get a refund. What can a phone call hurt? You pick up the phone, you say "Can I get a refund" what's done is done. No sense debating it here, just try it.

As far as a scam, it looks like Axer is the scam and this camera shop is just a culpable opportunist. But, in the end, that appears to be the price of this product, even if it's outrageous.

If they don't want to offer a refund, find out if a local news station does a segment on shady businesses. These journalists are usually super slimy and have a reputation as such, and the last thing that store wants is to be featured on the evening news with the worst possible shots of the proprietor shown as potential customers are sitting down to watch the evening news. Find out if there is anything like that, and threaten with it!

In the end though, that's why being an informed consumer is SO important. But I really would TRY, at least TRY to get a refund. Most of these 'shady' type businesses, less than ethical, don't want to make a fuss. They'll gladly give you a refund to make you happy, box it back up, and sell it to the next sucker. Given the location, probably a sucker on vacation who decides they need that lens, and drops the big bucks because they can't wait to order it from Amazon.com, only to get home (perhaps several hundred miles away) to find out it's a $20 lens... THAT is who they are after. Just try it man, I mean seriously, it just takes a phone call or a quick visit. Based on their response, decide where to go from there.

 

[Psytrox]

I'm don't know a lot about American consumer laws. But in Norway, we can return just about anything within two weeks, for just about any reason. This provided you haven't damaged the goods of course.
Aren't there any similar consumer laws in your state? To be honest, I'd try returning the lens before contacting the police

 

[Overread]

Just try it man, I mean seriously, it just takes a phone call or a quick visit. Based on their response, decide where to go from there.

I wouldn't call, its too easily to be put off with a phone call. Travel to the shop and have it dealt with there.

 

[Psytrox]

Just try it man, I mean seriously, it just takes a phone call or a quick visit. Based on their response, decide where to go from there.

I wouldn't call, its too easily to be put off with a phone call. Travel to the shop and have it dealt with there.

There would also be an advantage to return the lens while there are customers in the store. As they may try to avoid looking difficult. And if they wont let you return your lens. Tell all their customers in the shop that they scammed you, and are refusing to accept returns.
After they have seen that they have lost one or two more customers. Tell them everything you intend to do, reporting them to buisness ethics department (if anything like that excists), give them bad reviews anywhere you can. Tell all your friends, and their dogs about their shop.
I'm sure running a business like that is hard enough already, that they don't need bad reputations to go with it... They might even change their minds...

 

[timor]

Is there no 14 days return for full refund ?

 

[gsgary]

I think she got a bargain,original post was remove

 

[gsgary]

She cant be much of a friend or you would have done something about it

 

[EJRPhotos]

I have to agree with John27 i would find a local paper and news station to talk to for the publisity and make that business pay for its mistakes. if it happened to your friend then i am willing to bet it has happened to countless others.

My cousin lives in that area and wants to start getting into photography and i would like it to be known what shops are major crooks down there just so i could warn him of such places. and he goes to school down there so just by word of mouth alone it could start really closing the places doors basied on the bad publisity.

Sorry my spelling is so awefull and my grammer is non existant. never cared for english in school only my photography class. looking back i should have paid a little more attention lol..

p.s. good luck to your friend and yourself, you have gotten a lot of good advice here I suggest you make some moves quick with this situation. and keep us up to date on what happens.