GOD I hate pushy salesmen!

[spiralout]

I finally got my credit card in the mail and set out to buy myself a D70. I bought all the necessaries (CF card, an actually usable tripod, warranty, filters, etc) at B&H Photo, while I bought the actual camera and 18-70mm lens kit through Price Rite (they were offering it for ridiculously cheap). The B&H order went through, but I had to call Price Rite to "confirm" my order. What they actually wanted to do was sell me every accessory they $&#*ing owned. The salesman would NOT let me go until I bought another battery, which, while probably a good idea, I could most likely get somewhere else for much cheaper. Not to mention I was DANGEROUSLY close to my $2000 credit limit...something I didn't even want to get close to. I kept on saying no, and he kept on insisting that Price Rite makes nothing off of the camera and that their business relied on the sale of accessories. Not my problem, right? Well, he made it my freaking problem. He knocked $10 of the price (something he probably would have done anyway), and I finally bought it to shut him up.

THEN he offered a 5-year warranty, another neccesary. I had gotten a three year one from B&H, but had since decided that a 5-year would be a much better idea. I had no intention to buy it from Price Rite, though. Once again, he wouldn't shut up until I bought it. I figured, fine, I'll buy it and send it back after I get one from B&H. 30 minutes after I had gotten off the phone they called me back saying that the added accessories wouldn't go through, then asked if I had another card. I said no, and that I was getting very close to my credit limit, so they could cancel the accessories. Well, they told me to hang on, then told me that they had gotten the order to go through, while I said I would like to cancel it anyway. Turns out that would be a "very bad idea," as I would have to pay numerous fees, inclding restocking, shipping, etc, etc, etc.

The moral of the story: ALWAYS read reviews before you buy ANYWHERE. There's usually a reason for incredibly low prices.

 

[Morelos]

thats why I prefer buying at wholesale stores... haha... (and not only photography items... but I do hate pushy salesmen)

 

[mattvillano]

yeah when i was looking to buy my d70 I found all those really cheap places online and thought I'd found gold.....then I read the reviews which pretty much repeat all of what you experienced. That's the problem with those "internet deals". I finally found a place in NYC Etronics, which was $100 cheaper than B&H and I bought it there in person because I wanted to make sure it wasn't grey market. I'll never buy anything from one of those "deal' sites. B&H may be expensive but you know what you are getting and you won't be asked to add more.

 

[danalec99]

B&H is the other extreme when it comes to "sales pitching". You are welcome to a 'rare-smiles' / 'take it or leave' attitude. But they usually have what you need with 'no-games' prices.

 

[ferny]

On the digital only forum I use I see these sorts of posts all the time. I can never understand why people can't just hang up. Unless they're refusing to allow you to buy the camera without these accessories. In which case, just walk away again.

There is a site which has reviews of websites like this. I'll try and find it. I think Price Rite is well known for this sort of business.

And I think, that under law, if you ask to cancel the order they have to. If they start trying to charge you all sorts of fees tell them to sod off and if they want money for that sort of thing they can take you to court. They won't because they know that'll lose and they can't take the money from your card if you've not given them to go-ahead.

 

[Jamie R]

Wow. That's a long rant.

I don't support franchises and chain stores: in 10 years time, I'd like to see the photographic specialist store where I know all the staff still thriving, rather than becoming a meat market with a sales pitch as successful as the Vanatu football team. Again, if you're only ever going to make one digital purchase and buy everything else off the net, there isn't much use for a photographic specialist. Guess that's why we have lots of computer shops stocking and selling digital photographic gear, outpricing the traditional photographic store.

 

[spiralout]

And I think, that under law, if you ask to cancel the order they have to. If they start trying to charge you all sorts of fees tell them to sod off and if they want money for that sort of thing they can take you to court. They won't because they know that'll lose and they can't take the money from your card if you've not given them to go-ahead.

Yeah. I figured as much, but something always keeps me from getting back in their face. I'm probably the exact opposite of the pushy salesperson type. Heh, they invited me to post comments on their store at shop.yahoo or other such review places, and I could get a free battery charger or some crap like that. They'll get a hell of a review :twisted: .

 

[j_mcquillen]

THEN he offered a 5-year warranty, another neccesary

How many of us (myself included) always go for the extended warranty on all sorts of goods - cameras, tv's, fridges, washing machines etc... and how many times to we actually have to use them?

Someone once reccommended to me saving the money you'd spend on the warranty, and put it in a high interest bank account for the 5 years or whatever the warranty lasts - that way you've got at least some of the money should you need to pay for repairs, and if (9 times out of 10) nothing goes wrong, you get the whole lot back, plus a bit more!

sounds like sense to me

 

[spiralout]

Hmmm...*strokes chin* probably a good bit of advice. I just talked to a couple people that said that extended warranties on almost ANYTHING are worth very little. There are so many conditions and exclusions that it actually covers very little. Oh well, a year of ramen should drill that point home pretty well :?

 

[Corry]

I'm pretty cautious when it comes to spending more than $50 online. For electronics, I only go to Newegg.com.

 

[Digital Matt]

A Mack warranty is a good one. If your shutter dies, fixed, free. That's something that seems to happen often with Digital Rebels, becaues the shutters are only rated to 10k shots. I wish I had known about them when I bought mine. I didn't get one.

 

[fadingaway1986]

Extended warranties are worthless. They did a thing on it on tv here, and found that you are basically paying for a piece of paper that says you have a warranty, however, it means nothing...

 

[Lepospondyl]

We had an extended warranty (at work) on our HP 4450 color laser printer. Problem was, we either had to drive it to their repair facility and drop it off (about 2 hours away) and come back for it when they're done, or ship it to them. Takes two people to move the thing so shipping wasn't really an option. I ended up learning how to take the thing apart for cleaning and consumable because we couldn't afford to use the warranty.

 

[GerryDavid]

Someone once reccommended to me saving the money you'd spend on the warranty, and put it in a high interest bank account for the 5 years or whatever the warranty lasts - that way you've got at least some of the money should you need to pay for repairs, and if (9 times out of 10) nothing goes wrong, you get the whole lot back, plus a bit more!

sounds like sense to me

In future shop *Canadas version of best buy, same company I think* they push the extended warrenties. Its all a scam to get more of your money. If you think about it, the amount you pay, and the amount the item will be worth in 5 years anywase, and the odds of something goign wrong are slim.

Plus ive seen a review on tv about future shops thing and sometimes they even refuse to come good on it saying you dropped it or something, which voids the warrenty.

So you may not even get to use it if you want to use the warrenty.

 

[DocFrankenstein]

In future shop *Canadas version of best buy, same company I think* they push the extended warrenties. Its all a scam to get more of your money. If you think about it, the amount you pay, and the amount the item will be worth in 5 years anywase, and the odds of something goign wrong are slim.

Plus ive seen a review on tv about future shops thing and sometimes they even refuse to come good on it saying you dropped it or something, which voids the warrenty.

So you may not even get to use it if you want to use the warrenty.

www.bestbuysux.org

Now, here's an IQ test. Best buy bought future shop 2 years ago. What do you think the policies are gonna be like?