Ordered new brick...who believes??

[AngryCorgi]

I ordered a new 24-70L for the whopping sum of US$875 shipped. :eek:

The shop is a small shop that randomly gets new lenses and sells them until they run out for discounted prices. I did extensive research on the web for scam claims on the shop and no one has stepped up and said anything. The domain has been registered to the same company for well over a year. The only downside is the processing can take up to 2 weeks. Credit cards are not billed until shipment is sent and tracking numbers are emailed to buyers.

Anyone think this is going to succeed??

[davidfig]

Wow! Monday you will get a call. Along with the run around. I did a similar thing. They said that they had it in stock. They called me and told me that it was on backorder. I asked why the web site said it was in stock (still). The site is behind a little. Then next they will try to get you to upgrade, since this lense is coming from france. Not..... it will never come. Let me guess..... royalcamera.com?

[AirBrontosaurus]

Best of luck, but anything that far below retail is bound to turn out poorly. I'll be rooting for you, though.

[Richard_Miami]

nah..you will get it for sure... I consulted the entrails of a goat and my trusty Ouija Board.. both said NO PROBLEM (the goat had a different response..but only the entrails count here)






Entrails?

[Kuma]

I hope it was a killer price. Anymore I won't risk it and just buy from places like B&H. If somethings wrong with the order I know I'll get top notch customer support. To me its worth a few extra bucks.

[AngryCorgi]

nah..you will get it for sure... I consulted the entrails of a goat and my trusty Ouija Board.. both said NO PROBLEM (the goat had a different response..but only the entrails count here)






Entrails?

Hehe... nice...

I liked the fact that this site clearly states that it can take up to 14 days to acquire the equipment from the warehouse prior to shipping/billing. Many of the prices on the lenses were not much below anyone else, but the best deal they had was actually 100-400Ls for US$890!! If I really felt like I had a reasonable chance of landing a sharp copy, I'd jump on it, but I'm disallusioned from other experiences. :(

Let me know if any other goats tell you anything different! :D

[deadpass]

any chance you'll tell us the site?

[Palladium]

Last week thru amazon about $1005 with free shipping.

IMPO my time and energy is worth more than saving a couple of dollars.

[AngryCorgi]

Last week thru amazon about $1005 with free shipping.

IMPO my time and energy is worth more than saving a couple of dollars.

Your time and energy? Come again?? :confused:

[Ronald S. Jr.]

He's saying he'd rather pay more and get it now without hassle, than get it later and pay less, but with a big hassle.

[AngryCorgi]

any chance you'll tell us the site?

Sure...

www.usashopus.com (http://www.usashopus.com)

All the lenses are good/competitive prices, but a few are stellar deals. They seem to update regularly too. There are some items that are currently "out-of-stock"...the 100-400 had been then they removed it...until a day or two ago they added it back with no out-of-stock warning anymore. They clearly state that payment will not be requested until item ships. The written parts of the site are not very good English (probably immigrant-owned small business) despite it being located in Florida.

I'll update everyone as soon as I hear anything, at that point I will post in the Market Watch Area a new thread on the overall experience...that way you guys can wait and see and not take any chances if you like.

At any rate, I'm protected 100% against fraud on my Suntrust debit/credit Visa I used to pay with, so I'm not worried about fraud; I've dealt with that before.

;)

[Palladium]

He's saying he'd rather pay more and get it now without hassle, than get it later and pay less, but with a big hassle.

Well Ron your almost correct but

She's saying...;)

but your are correct in your reasoning

[AngryCorgi]

He's saying he'd rather pay more and get it now without hassle, than get it later and pay less, but with a big hassle.

You'll have to explain what hassle you are referring to. The only thing involved is a short wait. I can understand being ADD and having the attention span of a gnat, but I do not think that qualifies as a "hassle", rather its a "lack of patience". A hassle would be having to fill out strange forms or front the money before hand. The money is not extracted immediately, so it's like just waiting up to two weeks to purchase a lens, not like you are losing interest on your assets.

At any rate, to each his/her own...everyone is entitled to spend their money how they see fit!

[AngryCorgi]

*Update*

Received 2nd confirmation email...here is the context (with personal data ommitted for obvious reasons):


Dear ******,

Thank you for your recent order. Below is your confirmation that we
received your order.
Please review the information below and notify us immediately
if you have any questions.
Item ship within 5-14 days.
When is the item shipped, tracking number sended to you via e-mail.

================================================== ===========
USA Shop By US Florida Store - Online Order
================================================== ===========
Invoice No.: 342 Order No.: 37760324 Date: 07/21/2007

SHIP TO:
******
******
Alexandria, VA 22304
United States

BILL TO:
******
******
Alexandria, VA 22304
United States
703-989-****
******@comcast.net

Payment Method: Credit Card

ORDER DETAILS:
Item: Canon 24-70 f/2.8L USM Lens
Quantity: 1
Description: Canon 1-Year USA Warranty MFG Part #: 8014A002
Price (each): $855.00
Item Total: $855.00
_________________________________________

Subtotal: $855.00
Shipping Charge: +$20.00
Grand Total: $875.00


Thank You
Customer Service
http://usashopus.com/
4074302285
usfloridastore@yahoo.com

[cdifoto]

http://www.whois.net/whois_new.cgi?d=usashopus&tld=com

http://usa.bigcoolboo.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=35&category_id=10&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=40

http://www.bigcoolboo.com/

http://www.whois.net/whois_new.cgi?d=bigcoolboo&tld=com

Not sure what to think of it, but if you get the lens without hassle, I'll be tempted to bookmark the site. They need someone to proofread their website and email text though, as you already mentioned.

[AngryCorgi]

http://www.whois.net/whois_new.cgi?d=usashopus&tld=com

http://usa.bigcoolboo.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=35&category_id=10&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=40

http://www.bigcoolboo.com/

http://www.whois.net/whois_new.cgi?d=bigcoolboo&tld=com

Not sure what to think of it, but if you get the lens without hassle, I'll be tempted to bookmark the site. They need someone to proofread their website and email text though. ;)

Yeah I ran a samspade whois on them and got the same thing. Its really ambiguous and I ran scam searches for more than a week on all the names and ips/domain names. Nothing came back as a warning. Believe me, I did my homework on this one!! ;)

You're right about the proofreading, and they may be five-fingering these lenses for all I know. We will see. :D

[ivalcordo]

i wont trust a website so many misspelled words IMO

[cdifoto]

Yeah these prices don't outright scream scam...we're not talking about 75% off...but they don't look 100% legit either. My eyes are open on this one for sure. They do have a 16-35II at a right sexy price. :rolleyes:

The front page puts me off a bit though:

Please Contact US first for the price and availability.

[AngryCorgi]

i wont trust a website so many misspelled words IMO

Gosh I hope that gramatical exchange was a joke! ;)

Hey, you are from Florida too; perhaps the disease is catching! :eek:

[AngryCorgi]

Yeah these prices don't outright scream scam...we're not talking about 75% off...but they don't look 100% legit either. My eyes are open on this one for sure. They do have a 16-35II at a right sexy price. :rolleyes:

The front page puts me off a bit though:

Yeah that is the first one I was eye-balling, but a gentleman on POTN got me a mk1 the other day for around $825+shipping, so I had to move that way. I'm very happy with the IQ of the mk1 on the 1D2. If I was FF, there might be more interest in the mk2 from my perspective and more justification for an extra $300 to upgrade.

[ivalcordo]

googled earth the address and it looks likes an apartment complex to me

[AngryCorgi]

googled earth the address and it looks likes an apartment complex to me

Well, I guess that supports the enormous font on page 1 of their site that reads "Small Dealer".

I checked into the yahoo email address. Before yahoo auctions ceased, the user had just sold/mailed and gotten feedback on a garmin nuvi 670 (sold on their website too, for the same price the auction went for).

http://auctions.yahoo.com/i::239199903

I don't know if this is great proof or anything, but at least the person is trying to do business, even if yahoo closed the auction site. Ebay is pretty high on transaction fees, so I could understand the lack of desire to sell anything on there!

Here's the breakdown on what USASHOPUS claims to be:


We are selling discount price for listed items.
All items are new never used, never opened come with warranty.
All items ship from warehouse or USA shipping department.
This is not wholesale, items sold for personal use only.
How it working:
Warehouse offer cheaper price limited time and quantity.
Once you order the item we are send the order to the warehouse.
Warehouse processing the order and send to the shipping department.
When is the item shipped (take 5-14 days) we received the tracking number and send to you vie e-mail.
If you pay VISA or MC card you card will be charged when the item is shipped to you.


You have to love that grammer! :D

[AngryCorgi]

Yeah these prices don't outright scream scam...we're not talking about 75% off...but they don't look 100% legit either. My eyes are open on this one for sure. They do have a 16-35II at a right sexy price. :rolleyes:

The front page puts me off a bit though:

Yeah, but it may be a follow up to the text right before it that reads:

Any other Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Leica M, Panasonic, Pentax, Samsung and Sigma lens on request !!!
Please Contact US first for the price and availability.

[cdifoto]

Yeah, but it may be a follow up to the text right before it that reads:

Any other Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Leica M, Panasonic, Pentax, Samsung and Sigma lens on request !!!
Please Contact US first for the price and availability.


True. But they should have put it all together instead of making it a completely separate table/cell. There's that grammar thing again. :rolleyes: ;)

[AngryCorgi]

True. But they should have put it all together instead of making it a completely separate table/cell. There's that grammar thing again. :rolleyes: ;)

Many Chinese people in China don't speak much/great English, but we still import their products. I'll readily whine on Monday about the guy speaking spanglish at the neighborhood MickyD's, and then I'll buy lenses from him on Tuesday for 20% of with a hearty "gracias!" to boot!! :D

[Jim G]

I think you'll get the shaft but I hope you get the brick ;)

[cdifoto]

That's fine and cute but if you're dealing in millions of dollars in inventory, you should at least get the hard coded text correct. We're not talking about the spoken word here. :rolleyes:

An eBay seller pushing 30 dollar wireless trasmitters I can understand. A serious independent website selling thousand dollar lenses has no excuse.

[AngryCorgi]

That's fine and cute but if you're dealing in millions of dollars in inventory, you should at least get the hard coded text correct. We're not talking about the spoken word here. :rolleyes:

An eBay seller pushing 30 dollar wireless trasmitters I can understand. A serious independent website selling thousand dollar lenses has no excuse.

So what you're saying is that if/when I get my brick you'll be the next in line to throw money at the "site-o-bwoken-engrish"?...No?? ;)

[AngryCorgi]

Actually, one statement on the first page has me sold on the authentic nature of the site more than any other...

"Shipping within US 48 states only!!"

If you were looking to screw someone, would you be that specific about your targeted audience? ;)

[Maureen Souza]

Answer the phone "Detective--------". That worked for my brother-in-law when he ordered his Olympus underwater camera from some cheesey dive. He told them which law enforcement agency he worked for as well....and they sent him his cmaera as well as an upgraded package ;)

[thekid24]

Who wont be surprised if its a scam raise your hands?

*raises hand*

Do I wish it was a scam, for your sake? Absolutely not. Hell if its legit, then you might have brought them more business just by posting your find here:D

I did the whole "save-some-cash" way and ended up nearly getting scammed.

Best-a-luck to ya.

[AngryCorgi]

Answer the phone "Detective--------". That worked for my brother-in-law when he ordered his Olympus underwater camera from some cheesey dive. He told them which law enforcement agency he worked for as well....and they sent him his cmaera as well as an upgraded package ;)

Now that's classy! Or given the great grammer...

"Virginia USCIS Office, Agent Jon Simpson speaking, how may I help you?" :eek:

[AngryCorgi]

Who wont be surprised if its a scam raise your hands?

*raises hand*

Do I wish it was a scam, for your sake? Absolutely not. Hell if its legit, then you might have brought them more business just by posting your find here:D

I did the whole "save-some-cash" way and ended up nearly getting scammed.

Best-a-luck to ya.

Obrigado!

I got my entire checking account sucked dry while I was in Indonesia for work a few years back. It was scary seeing large negative values in my checking account when I logged on in Hong Kong on my way back, but I learned how well protected that particular account is. I signed a few documents on my return and had the money back within a week, long before the bank recovered it.

[AngryCorgi]

Thanks mod...I was inches away from requesting a move to the "Canon EF and EF-S Lenses" Section, but yeah, this makes more sense.

[Space]

Better keep a close look on your credit card statements from now on.

[cdifoto]

Actually, one statement on the first page has me sold on the authentic nature of the site more than any other...

"Shipping within US 48 states only!!"

If you were looking to screw someone, would you be that specific about your targeted audience? ;)

There are enough stupid people within the lower 48 that in the interest of appearing legit, yes I would.

[Time Thief]

Do you still get your warrenty if its not sold by an authorized Canon Dealer? Are they an authorized Canon Dealer? I do hope you get your lens. There was a place that I tried to get a 30D from when I purchased mine. Body only for about 850 when they were going for 1500 regular. They called the next day asking me to buy a CF card for 300 and everything else under the sun. Oh it was backordered when I refused to buy anything else, I told them to cancel my order. I do hope you get it. I will keep watching this to see and they may just get one heck of a lot of business if they come through. Lets all hope.

[Jonathan]

Best of luck - I hope you get it. Seems like you did all the right research and understand the potential risks. I'm sure a lot of US users are watching this one with interest.

Again - best of luck to you :-)

[AngryCorgi]

Best of luck - I hope you get it. Seems like you did all the right research and understand the potential risks. I'm sure a lot of US users are watching this one with interest.

Again - best of luck to you :-)

Obrigado! I appreciate the well wishing. ;)

[AngryCorgi]

Do you still get your warrenty if its not sold by an authorized Canon Dealer?

The site says you do, whether that is true or not is something I will learn in a couple of weeks. :eek:

Are they an authorized Canon Dealer? I do hope you get your lens. There was a place that I tried to get a 30D from when I purchased mine. Body only for about 850 when they were going for 1500 regular. They called the next day asking me to buy a CF card for 300 and everything else under the sun. Oh it was backordered when I refused to buy anything else, I told them to cancel my order.

Yeah, those "deals" all seem to originate in New Jersey, too, for some weird reason that I can't understand. :confused:

I do hope you get it. I will keep watching this to see and they may just get one heck of a lot of business if they come through. Lets all hope.

I appreciate your optimism. ;)

[pwm2]

That's fine and cute but if you're dealing in millions of dollars in inventory, you should at least get the hard coded text correct. We're not talking about the spoken word here. :rolleyes:
But unless I missunderstood something, these guys do not have millions of dollars in inventory. They don't have any inventory at all. They wait until they have orders before contacting their suppliers.

[condyk]

I am confident ... they are probably semi-amateurs making a quick buck. I wouldn't buy from them but if you want to take the chance then good luck. As you say your CC covers you.

[AngryCorgi]

I'd be more than happy to buy 100-400Ls from them and resell them on POTN for $1150!!! :D

[Woolburr]

I can confirm that their "headquarters" is indeed an apartment complex. Had my nephew drive by there on his way home from work. Their support phone is a legit cell number in Sanford, FL. So who knows how this might turn out.

[Karl C]

While I understand a place like Canoga or B&H offering low prices because they can make up for it in volume, this place kinda has me scratching my head. A new, US version 24-70 for $855? When, on average, everywhere else it's at least $1000? This company's business model doesn't give me the confidence they will be in business for long.

I can't help but wonder if this falls into the category of "too good to be true".

Good luck

[Karl C]

After browsing their website a little more in-depth, I discovered they are selling the 70-200L f2.8 IS for $1200, when it sells elsewhere for a minimum of $1500.

Cut and pasted from their website:

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM "IS" Lens (7042A002)

Price: $1 200.00

Something wrong here...

[Woolburr]

Perhaps it takes them 14 days to get one in stock as that is the average time between deliveries to Colonial Camera in Orlando...where they steal it off the loading dock. Or perhaps the owner works in lost and found at Disney or Universal...and it takes a couple of days for the ink to dry on the box they print to fit the lens lost by some poor tourist.;)

[pwm2]

I have seen a couple of companies starting up like that.

Some makes a good job. Some manages good prices because they "forgets" about taxes.

The ones that does a good job manages since they don't have any real administrative costs, no salaries (often working part-time with other things), no rent and no interest in an inventory. It really makes a difference to not have an inventory, but get the items when they have a customer. The bad thing is that one or two bad deals can break them.

[AngryCorgi]

Perhaps it takes them 14 days to get one in stock as that is the average time between deliveries to Colonial Camera in Orlando...where they steal it off the loading dock. Or perhaps the owner works in lost and found at Disney or Universal...and it takes a couple of days for the ink to dry on the box they print to fit the lens lost by some poor tourist.;)

Yeah, I speculated that there may be some 5-finger-discounting occurring! ;)

[AngryCorgi]

**RESEARCH UPDATE**

The shop owners are Hungarian...a fact that supports the names that the domains are registered to. They sell some odd stuff on the other sites (mostly little junky trinkets) that I guess I can see people buying.

http://usfloridastore.com/

That site is written in Hungarian and has prices in Hungarian Forints rather than US Dollars.

I sent them an email to test their feedback time, and it was replied to within 2-3 hours and in the same not-quite-right grammar used on the website. All in all, everything seems to be going ok. I'll update everybody when I get more news or a UPS/FEDEX tracking number.

;)

[ilvwhtgrls]

keep us updated man... anyone bother calling Canon to see if they're authorized?

[CyberDyneSystems]

uh... why?
They are clearly not authorized,. don't need to ask Canon that.

[AngryCorgi]

uh... why?
They are clearly not authorized,. don't need to ask Canon that.

Yeah, despite the warranty claims on their site, I would be totally shocked for them to be an authorized reseller. I will be inspecting intensely in the 3-day window after arrival of the lens, as that is the only stated warranty that the website honors. One probable way to offer such lenses at such prices might be a major reseller performing a little "warehouse overstock backdoor liquidation". In this instance they are not looking for profit, but rather to free up stagnant supply space. In comes the little guy as an avenue to liquidate said stagnant stock quickly.

When deals are outstanding, one should always recite "CAVEAT EMPTOR"!

That being said, at least Canon official recalls on lenses do NOT appear to require that the lens be in warranty and do not appear to require any proof of purchase (according to the phone conversation I had with a Canon rep some time back). That is one thing I learned dealing with Canon in regard to my 24-105L and the "flare" recall.

[cdifoto]

So did you get it yet?

[Mom27andblessed]

inquiring minds want to know!

[LeesaB]

yeah, did you get it? Come on..we gotta know...

[AngryCorgi]

The jury is still out. I will email them today and see what the order status is. ;)

......email sent. I'll try and update everybody this afternoon after they get back in touch with me.

[AngryCorgi]

Email received...it is as follows:


Dear xxxx xxxx

Shippment is processing soon i have update for the shipping department i will send to you via e-mail with the tracking number.

Thank You
Customer Service
http://usashopus.com/
4074302285
usfloridastore@yahoo.com


So, while the English is still a little sketchy, I should hear from them again soon...no? ;)

[cdifoto]

Yeah. Wonder what they call "soon" though. Oh well. Keep us updated.

[Richard_Miami]

I was optimistic from the get-go, and have re-consulted with my sources - which reconfirm that you will in fact receive the lens as ordered.

[bananas]

cancel your credit card!!!!

I have been following this thread from the get-go. I ordered something from the site and got a phone call from b&h photo asking if I ordered a lens from them (for $500 more). The site used a 3rd party credit card to order a lens for me. When and if I did get the lens, later on they would have used my credit card number to order a lens for the next person who wanted one and I wouldn't have picked up on it until my next statement.

It is a scam.

Basically you pay $, they keep money and use a stolen credit card and ship you a lens, they steal your credit card and order next lens.

[AngryCorgi]

cancel your credit card!!!!

I have been following this thread from the get-go. I ordered something from the site and got a phone call from b&h photo asking if I ordered a lens from them (for $500 more). The site used a 3rd party credit card to order a lens for me. When and if I did get the lens, later on they would have used my credit card number to order a lens for the next person who wanted one and I wouldn't have picked up on it until my next statement.

It is a scam.

Basically you pay $, they keep money and use a stolen credit card and ship you a lens, they steal your credit card and order next lens.

I believe the 70-200 IS has been listed on their site as "out of stock" for a week or so now. I already got confirmation that they pre-authorized my card for the $875 that I ordered the lens + shipping for, so that is all they have authorization to pull in an instance (i already contacted them in regard to the pre-auth). If they have been doing this for a year or so, I'm confused how the feds have not busted them for credit card/identity theft, as it is a federal felony. Its very clear who/where the people operating the domain are registered at. Even if the actual people could not be traced (unlikely), their domain account would surely have been frozen (US registrar) if they have been scamming all of this time. I will keep my fingers crossed and wait until Sunday (14-day deadline) to contact them for potential order cancellation. At any rate, I am protected from illegal withdrawals from my account (as I previously stated).

Thanks for the heads up. If all you have stated is correct, then you need to report them immediately to the FBI's Internet Fraud Complaint Center (IFCC) at http://www.ic3.gov/ and try and register the site with the various online fraud registries.

A good one to place a review on is --> http://ripoffreport.com/default.asp

[jcw122]

If they have been doing this for a year or so, I'm confused how the feds have not busted them for credit card/identity theft, as it is a federal felony. I

People scam people on the internet all the time and the Feds have better stuff to do.

Interested in the thread, subscribed, and good luck!

[AngryCorgi]

People scam people on the internet all the time and the Feds have better stuff to do.

Interested in the thread, subscribed, and good luck!

I'm not referring to bait-and-switch scams and the like. Credit card theft and ID theft resulting in financial loss is followed up on by the FBI and/or local authorities (at the spurring of your credit card company/bank), as this activity is classified as a felony (since 2003). They do not, however, follow up on people complaining that a site tried to get them to buy more than they wanted to buy, which is the prevalent scam type. Bait-and-switches are prevalent, because there is no law against jerking someone's chain (or else every carmax would be shut down, no? ;)) to get more money out of them than they wanted to spend.

It is annoying to deal with this on the consumer side, but the people with the money (banks, etc.) have the power and excercise it to squash illegal shops via the authorities and private investigative personnel. Hence, if this online shop had been reported even once for credit card theft in the past, they would not exist. I believe the federal fine for class B felony of this type is 6-20 years in prison and some amount over $10k.

[the_incubus]

AHHH this thread has gotten me so curious. I really hope this works out for you. keep us up to date!

[csm328]

Update?

[bananas]

Update?I almost got a lens, but the guy from b&h photography figured out the scam. Maybe the guy is ordering from another photo store and AngryCorgi will get his lens. Good luck! (just cancel and get a new credit card # asap.)

[AngryCorgi]

No news yet. I may just tell them I want to cancel the order if they do not get me some info by noon tomorrow.

[Grace]

:( im sorry for ya...

[the_incubus]

well its only 7 days. Didnt they say 5-14?

[AngryCorgi]

well its only 7 days. Didnt they say 5-14?

Oh yeah it is...good call!! I'll relax and wait another week...my brain is on so many things right now that I totally lost track of when I ordered it!! :P

[the_incubus]

uh oh. I dont want it to not come and then you think, damn incubus, i should have called! :)

Keep your hopes up and keep is posted!

[AngryCorgi]

Well, this is day #16 (I checked my initial receipt) and I have instructed them to cancel my purchase request since they have failed to meet the advertised "5-14 day" window from ordering to shipping. I will let you guys know what response they have if any.

[StewartR]

Shame. Looks like all those people who say "if it looks too good to be true, it is" are right.

[AngryCorgi]

And for the grand finale, the email response to my cancellation:


Dear xxxxx,
I agree for this, i sent to order to the warehouse in time, but sometimes they mess up me order, because all items i sell is brand new, but have discount price and sometimes the shipping department ship for other dealer item fist who don't have discount price. I try to do for the best all customer, i can't control this. Rare happening same , but usually all items shipped out within 14 days. I sent the cancel to the warehouse, and i am so sorry for this situation.

Thank You

Norbert
Customer Service
http://usashopus.com/ (http://usashopus.com/)
4074302285
usfloridastore@yahoo.com


I can't say that they screwed me, and I really have no ill will toward them. That being said, I doubt that I will "attempt" to order from them again. The only thing negative I can really say in review of this company is that you have to ask questions to get information. They really don't feed you news or any weekly updates otherwise. The only "fishy" part of this whole ordeal is the comparison of the previous response I got and this final response. It kind of leaves a weird blank spot in my mind as to how this company operates, assuming that in the end it is legitimate.

Anyway, another experience, another lesson learned. This was not a discouraging experience in my mind. It really is just a reminder that (a) most fantastic deals are sketchy at best and (b) always be wary and use safe payment methods that protect your finances and your credit rating!!

[tomd]

The reply didn't mention a credit back to your credit card. Or perhaps they never charged your card....

[Richard_Miami]

Too bad. I seriously thought you would be OK with this order. Better luck next time.

[AngryCorgi]

The reply didn't mention a credit back to your credit card. Or perhaps they never charged your card....

They never charged it. Like I said in a previous post, they did authorize the purchase (to garauntee my card was good for it), but never actually charged it. That's why I really have a hard time blasting them for any sinister designs. Part of me wonders if a deal is possible through them, but its not a big enough part of me to try again.

[StewartR]

Hmmmm. If I've read this correctly:
- at no time did they try any sort of bait & switch scam
- they didn't charge your credit card
- they replied to emails promptly
- they accepted your cancellation with good grace

It looks to me like they were *not* trying to rip you off. So what other possibilities are there? Perhaps they are obtaining their stock via some not-entirely-legal channel. That would be consistent with the story they've spun you.

How would you feel about that? If you'd got the brick, but you (and all of us) had a strong suspicion that it might have been stolen originally?

[AngryCorgi]

Hmmmm. If I've read this correctly:
- at no time did they try any sort of bait & switch scam
- they didn't charge your credit card
- they replied to emails promptly
- they accepted your cancellation with good grace

It looks to me like they were *not* trying to rip you off. So what other possibilities are there? Perhaps they are obtaining their stock via some not-entirely-legal channel. That would be consistent with the story they've spun you.

How would you feel about that? If you'd got the brick, but you (and all of us) had a strong suspicion that it might have been stolen originally?

Believe it or not, I already passed through the crisis-of-conscience phase on this. I would feel pretty pissed if I had glass stolen from me, so I'd feel pretty crappy about getting handed stolen merchandise. I still hang to the possibility that they are covering down-swings in supply/demand cycles and getting cheap stuff. That is how their last email sounded. The statement that they are not at the top of the receiving list indicates that they are the last resort to stock liquidation.

[bananas]

Believe it or not, I already passed through the crisis-of-conscience phase on this. I would feel pretty pissed if I had glass stolen from me, so I'd feel pretty crappy about getting handed stolen merchandise. I still hang to the possibility that they are covering down-swings in supply/demand cycles and getting cheap stuff. That is how their last email sounded. The statement that they are not at the top of the receiving list indicates that they are the last resort to stock liquidation.
Yeah I was surprised that they cancelled the charge on my credit card as well. It just doesn't make sense that the "warehouse" was b&h in New York and he was purchasing the lens with a credit card for $500 more than I would have paid. Something just doesn't add up. Plus, why was the guy so nice?

[the_incubus]

i was really hoping it would work out.

[AngryCorgi]

i was really hoping it would work out.

You and me both! :p

[morgbag]

This crook now operates from here:

http://www.smalldealerusa.com/

Who ever posted about B&H is 100% correct. Norbert Szabo has ripped off other optics dealers the same way.

A customer in NJ ordered a high-end binocular from smalldealerusa.com in October using a VISA card. The binocular arrived from a different dealer showing a different charge to a MasterCard that didn't belong to the NJ customer. The dealer received a chargeback for the item from the MasterCard bank. It's a slick operation. If you buy from this guy, you're accepting stolen merchandise.

Morgoth