On 1/25/08, I went online shopping for a new camera. I found www.fotoconnection.com carried the camera I was looking for.
I placed the order online for a package totaling $679.00 that was to include free shipping (no disclosures anywhere about my paying for insurance). The shipping was to be upgraded to 3-day express for FREE.
I then received an e-mail from the retailer on 1/27/08 instructing me to call "Sam" at their 800 number to confirm the order before anything was to be shipped. I called back this A.M. (1/28) and after a lengthy hold reached Sam who then proceeded to ask me if I wanted to "upgrade" to the 2 or 5hr battery as the factory one only lasted 15mins. I said, nothing in the product description indicated the battery was only a 15min battery. Sam proceeded to sell me on a 5hr battery for the price of a 2hr ($124). I said I would upgrade the battery and that's it. Then he proceeded to try and sell me an extended warranty for $149/5yrs. I said NO! He tried to add additional lenses and bigger carrying case to sweeten the deal. I said NO! I said give me the case, lenses and warranty for $75 and I would do it, he said NO. We negotiated like this until a deal was reached for $90 for the extended warranty, extra lenses and larger carrying case.
He said ok, your new total is $1079. I said, hold on...$1079? How do you get that? I said the camera package I ordered was $679 with FREE shipping, $124 for the 5/hr battery upgrade and $90 for the extended warranty with the extra lenses and larger case... That totals $893, not $1079!! He said, insurance is extra. I was on their website during this conversation reviewing their policies and NOTHING on their website indicated I was responsible for insurance.
I became VERY suspicious and told Sam to cancel the order. At this time Sam said he would cancel the order but it would cost me a 15% restocking fee! I told him he couldn't charge me a 15% restocking fee when the order was still in the making and nothing was shipped! I told him nothing anywhere on the website says I am responsible for $186 shipping insurance, cancel what we negotiated and the order. He said he was charging me a restocking fee right now. I said I would contact my attorney about this and he stated "you don't want to play hardball with me". At which time, I asked Sam, do you really want to go down this road? He became agitated and argumentative where I could not get a word into the conversation. I asked him to please hold on a minute and he said he was hanging up on me in one minute if I didn't basically change my mind and place the order. At that time I said I was contacting my attorney and hung up. I then contacted my credit card company and canceled it to prevent anything from this merchant from going through. This merchant is deceptive and fraudulent at minimum and should be closed down to prevent others from enduring what I have.
I wish I would have been to this site and the BBB-NY before trying to buy from them. It would have saved me a ton of stress and headaches.
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