Photography store BS!

[MyCatsAnnoyingMe]

I have just had, over the course of the last week what I can only describe as the most irritating, frustrating and down idiotic experience I've ever had buying equipment.

I went in to buy a 70-200mm 2.8 non IS lens, could be Canon, Sigma I didn't care I just needed one. I bought two Sigma's there, both front focused. No problem, not the stores fault. So I said fine I'll take the Canon non IS version. Open it up, take it out of the box. Lens hood is scratched to hell. Rear element is dusty as hell. Front element has smudges and abrasions on it. I'm like, 'Are you serious? Can you look at this?' The sales guys takes it, cleans the rear element, then starts cleaning the front one. It takes care of the smudges and some of the 'abrasions'. He hands it back to me, I hold it to the light and ask him if he cannot see the scratches on it? He said to meeeee..... 'If you're not happy with this one I can bring another one in.' WTF?? If I"m not happy? It's either used or damaged, moron!

I tell him to take it back, he offers me an IS version, says take this one and I'll bring one in from another store and you can exchange when it comes in. Fair enough, cool I thought. I call Tuesday just to see if maybe it's on it way, I can get it on Wednesday. The guy on the phone tells me there is one in the store now, and that there is no request in the system to bring one in. I ask him to tell me the serial number of the one there. Ready? Same one I bought, damaged and back on the shelf as new.

I go in there today to take the IS version I have back as I didn't want it, and wanted to pickup up a 17-40L. I ask the guy behind the counter where the non IS (damaged) lens is, I didn't see it. SOLD! The guy told me someone bought it yesterday. I said, 'So you sold a damaged lens as new to a customer?' He said there was nothing wrong with it. I just about hit him! Nothing wrong with it?

Either the person buying it didn't open the box there, or they left the hood in the bag and never noticed it, and they just didn't examine the front element carefully enough. I had no issue with the customer, hey if you don't look then that's your problem. I DO have a huge problem with these idiots putting damaged pro lenses back on the shelf and selling them as new!

Told them they just lost two customers for life, I told him to look up how much we've spent there in the last couple of years. I'll tell everyone I deal with about this, and warn them against buying from these guys. That's just nasty and ignorant business practice. :evil:

I'd rather buy from Vistek, and I'm not a big fan of theirs either. ;)

[hawkeye60]

That's very shortsighted IMO. They lost you as a customer and anyone else who values your opinion as well. And for what?

[Karl Johnston]

I'll never order from vistek again, in fact I don't recommend vistek to anybody. Which store was this ? I just recently ordered from a new supplier called Henrys, which I hear has good reviews. Normally I order from adorama or mcbaincamera.com

[LostShootingStar]

Man that sucks! talk about a string of bad luck. http://www.entertainment-place.info/smile/img/2465/n08d1214eybr/1by1.gif http://www.entertainment-place.info/smile/img/3200/n08d1214eybr/1by1.gif

[MyCatsAnnoyingMe]

I just recently ordered from a new supplier called Henrys

Check your orders..... ;)

talk about a string of bad luck

Well I don't really think it's bad luck so much as a big ol' pile of BS from a retailer that's so worried about making a buck they'll do stuff like that.

The best part was when I bought the 17-40 (because no one else has one that's why), this idiot says to me 'So you're not going to bring it back right?' I said, 'I'll bring the damn thing back in an hour if it's not working right.' Like WTF is up with these people? I asked the guy if he was selling the lens as is? Bought it on the 90 day thing so by then I won't be so mad when I pay for it.

You got to be kidding me. I just opened the box, the f$%kin' a-hole sales idiot never put the case or the lens cap in the box. I left with the lens on the body. I was fiddling with stuff as he was putting things in the box, and getting the paper work. Unbelievable. Henry's is the worst.

[number six]

Umm, Cats, have you told us what store you're talking about? I don't see it in your first post.

Your last post talks about Henry's. Same?

Enquiring Minds Want to Know! (tm)

[MyCatsAnnoyingMe]

Your last post talks about Henry's. Same?

That be them.

And just to add insult to injury. I called the store this morning and asked if the case and lens cap were on the counter, or off to the side? Oh, ya no those items are missing. :rolleyes:

I paid f@#kin' retail for this thing and the a-hole doesn't even have the decency to tell me these things are missing? Like a simple, 'Oh ya items got lost, but here's a cap to replace that one and here's 10 bucks off for the case.' I don't even care about the case really, cap would be nice.

Nope I have to find out when I get home. They said well we'll order a new one in for you and you can exchange it. Ya I can come in there, waste another $25.00 in gas on top of the $60.00 it cost me last week.

Bunch 'o f#$kin' clowns! :evil:

[adebartolo]

You would be right to "Diss" that outfit. Talk about bad business how do those guys stay in business?

[S.Horton]

That's the new new way of doing business.

Lie.

Sell.

Leave.

[dgoakill]

I've found more often than not similar situations in retail stores, not lame Mc-Photo places like Ritz, but real deal pro shops. Selling used items as new is always an issue.

I just picked up a new lens in a pro shop here in the city and it will be the last time I do. Their policy is that they open ALL lenses and put them on display. So god knows how many people were messing with them before they were sold. I tried to explain that what they were doing was (to me) considered used, or at the very least a "demo" model. Either way, there should be a price drop because of this. they didn't agree.....I bought it anyway cause I needed it and didn't have time to order online. but that's the last time I'll deal with them for any serious equipment.

I used to feel sorry for the brick and morter shops, not just photo places either but just in general. but then I remember that the sales people were terrible and their practices shady at best..... it's funny, you'd think in these economic times with the cheaper, no tax, no shipping wholesalers you can buy form online, that the brick and morter stores would do cartwheels to get your business...instead they add insult to injury. they won't be around much longer.

[MyCatsAnnoyingMe]

Open and display all lenses? That's pretty weird to say the least.

I gave them back their 17-40, they can't get a new one in anytime soon so screw 'em.

There's something up with these guys, I checked stock on a few lenses that are supposed to be hard to get here now, fast primes, 24-70 2.8 etc and most of the big stores have them in stock. Henry's can't get anything it seems, nor do they have much stock ever. I used to think it was because they sold out of it, now I'm thinking perhaps Canon has an issue with them and they aren't shipping to them. Why would the other stores have stock? Aden, CameraCanada even Vistek (shudder).

Oh well, I don't care as I won't be buying so much as a friggin' AAA battery from them now. ;)

[JAZZ D.P.G.]

You need to switch Henry's stores.

The 2 I use in Ottawa are terrific. Bank St and Hunt Club stores are large, clean, well stocked and have knowledgeable and straight forward staff.

Picked up a lot of small stuff there, and my 9500 printer.

Just about have enough unused perdiem saved up to pick up the 24-105L, as the exchange rate is getting terrible. A few other little things.

Complain to the head office, and trash the store location itself.

Which location?

[MyCatsAnnoyingMe]

Oakville.

[LotsToLearn]

Apart from pricing, I've had nothing but good experiences with the downtown "superstore".

Too bad about your experiences though... that's never good to hear.

The store I avoid as much as possible is Aden and their terribly unhelpful staff.