CCICameraCity.com
Dishonest business practices

On 1/25/07, I ordered two (2) Sony HVR-V1U camcorders from CCI Camera City Inc.’s internet web store—www.ccicameracity.com. As this was the best price I had seen on this camcorder, I read over the item description very carefully and reviewed my order before making the purchase. The item was listed as HVR-V1U “In Stock”. During the sale process, I provided the online shopping cart with the billing address for my credit card, my shipping address, and my credit card number. The total for the 2 camcorders came to $4998.00, and I paid an additional $119.99 for 3-day shipping for a total of $5117.99. After I made the purchase, I received an email from CCI Camera via the Yahoo Store Order System confirming the receipt of the order—order# ccicameracity-28275. The email also came with a web link to a page that would supposedly update me as to the status of my order.

On 2/1 I received an email from ccicam@aol.com:

Thank you for ordering from CCI Camera City.

Please call 800 216 9397 ext 213 or 718 627 5600 ext 213 to confirm this order

Mon-Fri 12pm until 6pm est.

Thank you

I telephoned both numbers and got an answering machine. I was concerned as to why the order had not shipped, and continued trying to reach the merchant calling the phone number listed on their website. I finally got a salesperson and gave him my order number. He got off the line for a moment, then came back on and asked for the 3-digit security code for my credit card. It was after I gave it to him that he began trying to convince me that I had purchased the ‘International model’ of the camera which does not come with a lens, batteries, or any accessories. I explained that I am very familiar with the Sony video products and know that the HVR-V1U is, in fact, the United States version of the product. (The European model is called the HVR-V1E) He continued trying to convince me otherwise and kept suggesting that I purchase the “United States” version which comes with everything. He offered to sell me one 1 camcorder for $4199. When I reiterated that I wanted exactly what I ordered, he stated that the camcorders would not come with lenses nor accessories and I would not be allowed to return them. I informed him that Sony does not make a camcorder with an interchangeable lens system (only Canon does) and I told him that I did not appreciate this type of dishonest business practice. He became very irate and threatened to put me on their “barred customer list”. I asked one more time if I was going to get what I ordered; he again tried to up sell me. Then got very irate and ended the call.

Company: CCICameraCity.com
Country: USA

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