I just happened to be shopping for a digital SLR when an ad for Prestige Camera just happened to pop up as I opened I.E. I had just been advised by another vendor that I had ordered from online was sold out. How's that for coincidence?
Prestige even had the next better Nikon unit, a D40X, for less money than the D40 at the other vendor! So I ordered it online. A D40X with AF-X Nikor 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 zoom lens, for an excellent sale price of $519.00.
A day or two later, there was an e-mail in my box stating that I needed to call and verify my billing address was the same as shipping. The salesman was really helpful. He asked if I needed memory. I would have thought it came with memory. Oh, no. He then asked if this was my first digital SLR. It was.
He graciously told me that he could offer me a kit that came with 1Ghz of memory, uv filter, and an upgraded battery for only $679. The standard battery, he said, is junk. Good for only 30-40 minutes shooting time. The upgrade is good for 3-4 hours. Now here I am behind the 8 ball. I did not know the memory prices, but I know the batteries are right costly, so I ordered it. Along with a $27 remote. Shoot! He said he'd throw in the remote since I was a first time customer!
So three days later I sit with a brand new Nikon D40X. I love the camera. It is better than my expectations. The only problem is, the battery they sent is an EN-EL9. The STANDARD battery. You know, the one that they send with ALL THE D-40s! And the remote was not in the package.
To their credit, they sent me the remote. But informed me that the battery IS the upgraded one. I am awaiting a reply from Nikon to confirm it, but I think it's safe to say (and wager a few hundred bucks) that this is BULLS&.
My $519 camera as advertised, plus $10 SD card (a brand not even approved by Nikon), plus a $10 uv filter, plus $27 remote, and a cleaning kit that I wouldn't pay $1.00 for (5 swabs, a bottle of cleaning solution, and some glorified saran wrap screen protectors), plus that $19.99 handling and insurance charge comes to $585.99. Just think! I got all that for $699.98!
Lest I forget, I would think that FREE SHIPPING would have included the handling and insurance.
As a rule I exhibit more intelligence when making significant purchases, but I recognized the name from years and years of photo magazines. (At least, I think I did-I haven't read them in years), and the transaction caught me at a very busy time. To say the least, I wish that I had found Ripoff before I GOT ripped off. I am still feeling violated on this deal.
Be careful out there.
0 comments