Sunday, 11-14,
While on my way to a San Francisco 49ers game, I decided to stop in Chinatown and get a camera to shoot some pictures. It was going to be my first time ever at an NFL football game and I wanted to capture some of the action. I was looking to buy a fairly decent camera, as I wanted to keep it for future use. The first store I went to, I think, was Chinatown Camera and Electronics. I asked them how much the Nikon D70 outfit was (with lens, battery, charger and strap). One of the guys said $900. I left and went to another store to compare prices. My big mistake. As I stepped into CAMERA EXPRESS Video-Electronics, the salesman, Tony, immediately asked me if I needed help. I inquired as to how much the Nikon D70 outfit cost. He said the price was $1199. I said that was too much, and mentioned that another store was selling it for $900. As I was leaving he said "how about $850?" I thought it was a good deal. I was kind of in a hurry to get to the game and didn't want to waste time. I asked to see it. He said if he took it down, would I buy it? I said yes. He took one from the behind the counter and opened it.
He said the camera didn't come with a memory card. I would have to buy one to be able to use the camera. I wanted to have enough memory and asked for the 512 MB card. He said that it cost $500. He directed me toward the Hitachi Microdrive 2GB and said since I was buying such a nice camera I should get it instead. He pointed to the sticker price of $999. I said that was way too much. He said since I was buying the camera he would give me a good deal for $650. Total of Nikon D70 outfit and Hitachi Microdrive 2GB card: $1500 plus tax. I told him that was too much. He said "ok, no tax." I gave him my Chase Credit card to make the purchase. He hands it to one of his associates and put the memory card and battery in the camera. He took a picture, handed me the camera and told me to take a picture. I looked through the viewfinder and gave the camera back so he could finish putting it together. He turned around, grabbed a small box and removed a filter and screwed it onto the camera. He said that I would have to buy the filter because if I broke the lens on the camera, Nikon USA would not replace it. But if I had the filter, they would replace the lens if it broke. His associate brought the sales slip and I signed it. This was while I was distracted by his pressuring me to buy the filter. Now he tells me that the battery that came with the camera was not good. It would only last about 30 minutes. The best thing for me would be to purchase a better battery that would last 4 hours. I asked him how much. He made some calculations and said the filter was $89 and the battery was 250. I mentioned it was too much and he said, "Ok just $250." I gave him my credit card again and he hands it to his associate. He continued to put my camera together. He grabbed 2 camera bags from behind the counter and said to choose one. He points to the price tag of $99 and said that he was giving it to me for free. I asked him about warranty and he said Nikon had a year warranty or so and the store had something like 30 days and a week for returns.
His associate came back and told me that my credit card had been denied. I said, "fine I'll just take what I already bought", but Tony grabbed my card and said he would call the credit card company to get authorization. He explained that it was for my own protection. I was really sweating now as it was close to 11:30 A.M., and I wanted to get something to eat before heading to the game. After about 10 minutes, he brought me the sales slip. During the 10 minutes that Tony was calling the credit card company, his associate filled 2 receipts listing the things that I purchased and told me to sign the bottom. I was flustered and distracted so I signed it failing to read the fine print which stated a 20% restocking fee for all returns. I have a feeling that if I decided right then and there to cancel the purchase, they would have charged the restocking fee. Tony finished putting the camera together and puts everything in the case. I asked for the box that the camera came in and also for everything that came in the package to be put in a bag. Finally, I was off to the game. 49ers vs. Panthers! Alas, 49ers lost 37-27. Good thing my ticket was free.
Sunday night,
I got on the Internet and out of curiosity, decided to check on the price of the camera that I purchased. The Nikon D70 outfit was about right, but when I looked at the Hitachi memory card and "better" battery, I realized I had been badly ripped off. The Hitachi Microdrive 2GB was selling for an average price of $139. I paid $650! The "better" battery, which only lasts about 90 minutes, not 4 hours, was selling for $39! I paid $200! The filter, I couldn't find one exactly like it, but the cheapest brand name one was $10.99! Tony was selling it for $89! I decided to go back to the store on Tuesday and get an explanation.
Tuesday,
Before I went into Camera Express, I stopped in another camera store and asked about the backup battery just to be sure that it was $39. The salesman said the Nikon battery was $49, but an alternate backup battery (the one sold to me) was $35. I then proceed to Camera Express and asked Tony why he ripped me off. His manager, I believed his name was George, immediately came up and asked what the problem was. I said the problem was that Tony ripped me off big time. He goes and said that it was a packaged deal that they sold me. I said yeah, but Tony told me that the Hitachi Microdrive card was $999, which wasn't. He should have told me the truth and sold it to me at a reasonable price. George gets in my face and said that was THEIR listed price. He takes me over to the counter and takes out a Hitachi Microdrive 4GB and pointed to the price tag: $1999 for a memory card! I also mentioned that the battery was not worth $250. He gets in my face again and said the other prices didn't matter. It was THEIR listed price. I again asked why have they ripped me off. Tony comes up and said everything was a packaged deal and I was also buying their service. "What service?" I asked. This was when I got angry. I started to talk loudly as I wanted other customers to hear how I had been deceived. I asked again why they ripped me off that badly. I mentioned that the other stores were selling it for less. George then said the regular price was $1499 for the camera only and I was getting a good deal. I mentioned the other store told me it was $900. George then said "Ok, I go with you and if they don't sell to you for $900, you give me $100!" I said that was Sunday, but he kept saying let's go to the store that would sell it for $900. I brought up the price of the battery, again, but he said forget about the battery; everything was a packaged deal and I was given a great deal. I told him the battery and filter were separate, but he kept going on about what a good deal I'm getting overall. At this time, I asked about returning everything. He points out the fine print on the receipt and a sign on the wall that said there was a 20% restocking fee. He said, "Ok, I take everything back, no problem." I was still angry and repeated how badly I had been ripped off. I then calmed down and said, "Ok, let me return everything." George then says to give him cash as the restocking fee, which totaled $354.25. I told him I didn't have cash, since I used my credit card, he could take the $354.25 off my credit card and that would be it. He said "No! Cash only, our store policy!" I pointed out the sign that said 20% restocking charge, nothing about it being cash. He still refused. I said take it off of the credit card because that was what I paid with. At this point, George said the store was a private property and asked me to leave. He picked up the phone and called someone. He picked up my bag, took it outside the store and placed it on the sidewalk saying his store was private property, not a storage area and told me to leave. He said he had called the police. I looked at my watch, an hour had gone by and my meter was up. I said I would go and put money in the meter and come right back. If the police came by, to wait for me. I went and got some change after buying a 7up from a grocery store (no one would give me change!) and went to my car to put the money in the meter.
Dangit! I got a ticket, not for expired meter, but for parking improperly. I didn't have my wheels pointed toward or against the curb. Apparently in San Francisco, people have been killed by runaway cars rolling downhill. For anyone reading this: don't forget to point your front tires toward the sidewalk!
I went back to Camera Express and asked to return the merchandise. George said no, I had to have cash. I got angrier. I asked where the policeman was. George said to wait and he would call again. After a while, I calmed down and George and Tony told me that they would give me an additional battery and another filter to make me happy. Tony took out a filter and said it was a special filter which cost $149. He screwed it onto my camera and told me to look into the viewfinder while he manipulated the colors. I said, "No, I want to return the merchandise."
The Policeman arrived at this time and George went out and talked with him. He came into the store and I immediately went over to him to tell him my problem: I wanted to return the merchandise and pay the restocking fee with my credit card, but the store refused to do it for me. The Policeman said that George could do whatever he wanted; it was his store and private property. I told him I didn't have cash, I wanted it to be charged to my credit card since it was what I used to pay for the merchandise. I also mentioned that I had been ripped off. The Policeman said, "you should've done your homework" before stepping into the store and I was stuck with whatever deal they gave me. He said if I wanted to return the merchandise, I would have to give the store cash. I said that wasn't the store policy and pointed to the sign that said nothing about the restocking fee having to be in cash. The Policeman said there was nothing he could do and the store could do whatever they wanted. He went out of the store and waited for me to leave. I said I would be back with the cash. I went to a Bank of America and requested $350 cash advance.
Back at Camera Express, I took out the $354.25 and gave it to George and put everything on the counter. I gave George my Visa card to have the credit returned while Tony checked the merchandise. After about 2 minutes Tony told the associate who was processing the return to stop because the charger's missing. George gave me back my money and said he wouldn't do the return. I told him that it was Tony and his associate that packed everything for me on Sunday and I hadn't opened the box. Tony mentioned that the charger was $299. I said alright, give everything back to me and I'll go look for the charger. So, after spending a whole day in San Francisco and getting a ticket, my task has not been accomplished and I'm mad as hell. I'll go buy a charger and put it in the box and return it another day. I'm sure it won't cost me $299...
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