Shopping for a new digital camera, I used froogle.com and found a Nikon Coolpix 8700 advertised @ starlightcamera.com for 399.99 including a 200.00 Nikon rebate (why I chose the model).
I ordered online 10/13/04 and received an email that I had to phone to finalize the order. I spoke with "Travis" who was relentless and pushy and whom I unfortunately let talk me into accessories—wide angle and telephoto lenses, longer life batteries, extended warranty, with the order totaling $1148 ($200 to be rebated) on my Discover Card. I also confirmed with him that the rebate was valid. Because I was about to leave on a trip, I paid for 2-day UPS shipping and he said it would go out that very day.
I received my order on 10/19/04. Wrong camera! They shipped a Nikon Coolpix 5700 (much lesser model), two accessory lenses of lesser quality and brand than he sold me (he guided me to the lenses and specs while I was online with him), no rebate form, and other promised items not included. I was very suspicious at that point, did some checking and found that the rebate had expired and was only for authorized Nikon dealers. Starlight is not listed on Nikon's web site as an authorized dealer.
I tried to email Starlight at two different addresses, one from the email they sent and one listed on their web site. They both bounced. I phoned Starlight on 10/20/04 (since the package had arrived late the day before) and got multiple runarounds—put on hold, transferred calls—denials that they could possibly have sent the wrong camera, offers to back-date a new invoice for me for the rebate. When I probed further, I got cursed at and threatened that if I contacted Discover, he would have me in collections.
I then called Discover immediately to alert them, seek advice, and a couple days later I cancelled the card and was issued a new number. I also did some internet research at places like resellerratings.com, and I was grieved that I had not done this before. Stupid, stupid, stupid, and I am not a stupid person.
On 10/22/04 I packaged everything back up in mint, unused condition (making photo copies of boxes for proof in case I needed it) and returned it to Starlight with a comprehensive letter canceling the order. They signed for receipt of the package on 10/27/04.
Since that time I have been disputing the charge with Discover Card. On 11/8 (12 days after they signed for receipt of my return package), Starlight notified Discover that they could not possibly have sent me a wrong camera, indicated that I had not contacted them, and failed to mention that I had returned anything.
After Discover reinstated the charge and I disputed it again, in mid-December Starlight then claimed that I had sent the camera back scratched, with the wires missing, and all the warranty cards filled out. Lies!
After multiple phone calls to Discover the last week of December and another batch of continued dispute documentation I sent them 1/6/05, they charge was taken off and has not reappeared. But I still have no notice from Discover that the charge has been permanently removed.
I also filed a complaint with the New York Attorney General online @ http://www.oag. State. Ny.Us/complaints/pdfs/internet_complaint. Pdf and then in writing with documentation 1/7/05.
I also found a picture of Starlight's listed address at Scary looking.
Now Starlight's web site does not work at all, and hasn't since the first of the year, though accessoriesland.com does.intererestingly, AccessoriesLand gives no location or address anywhere on their web site.
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