This is the most incredible case of consumer rippoff I have ever experienced.
I went into 51st Computers to buy a phone. They showed me the new IPAQ from HP. Told me the price of $899. And assured me the phone was unlocked for use in Bermuda which is where I live. I asked if I could increase the memory and they said yes for $300 for 1 GIG of memory. I was unsure of the value of both the phone and the memory but it seemed like a fair price compared to other products similar and the phone being unlocked was a real plus. With all this in mind I said I would purchase the phone and memory which cost me $1300. Total with all taxes.
Then the so-called owner of the company got involved with myself and the salesman. The owner started showing me a GPS device that could hook up to the IPAQ. Whilst he was showing me this the salesman and other salespersons kept bring over other devices. They would take them out of the box and show me them suggesting they were awesome and very expensive. It seemed odd but I just wrote it off as aggressive sales people showing off what the store had to offer. Within a 5 minute period I had laid out before me the following.
1. Panasonic D-Snap AV50 which they valued at $3000.
2. Plantronics Blue tooth device which the valued at $300.
These were all out of the packages on the sales counter before me.
At this time the owner said the following. "You know what, it is the end of the year and I want to give you an incredible deal. If you buy the Panasonic D-Snap I will throw in everything else for free including the IPAQ you just purchased."
I took the offer which amounted to the following.
1. IPAQ 6300 unlocked with 1gig memory card.
1. Panasonic D-Snap AV50.
1. Plantronics BlueTooth.
Cost: $3000. (The suggested price of the D-Snap)
Before I left the store the owner even gave me a set of Vanguard binoculors which he said cost $300. For free.
When I got back to my hotel room and told my wife what I just got, she was not impressed. We then went on the internet to see just what the real prices were.
They are as follows:
IPAQ 6300 $599 not unlocked (Their price $899 unlocked)
1gig memory $99. (Their price $300)
Panasonic D-Snap $299. (Their price $3000)
Plantronics Bluetooth $79. (Their price $300)
Binoculars $29. (Their price $300)
As one can see I just paid $3000 for what amounted to a real value before tax of $1100.
I went back to the store immediately and told them what I had just seen on the internet and they said they would refund me the difference. The only issue was the IPAQ as they assured me their IPAQ for $899 and the memory $300 had a greater value as the phone came unlocked. This might have been true if in fact they were telling the truth. (It was another lie)
I agreed to take the difference between the price they sold me the goods for and what the internet prices were and recieved a credit of $1099. I did not at the time recieve a credit for the IPAQ as I was still under the impression that it was unlocked and the internet ones were locked.
Now I have found that the HP IPAQ is distributed thru T-Mobile and has never been sold without a lock.in fact you cannot unlock the phone unless you have a T-Mobile account setup. They essentially over charged me $500 for the phone and memory because of this lie.
In summary I was setup by no less than 3 sales persons, one stating to be the owner. As one kept my attention the other two were bringing devices over to the sales desk, opening them and stating the inflated value. They lied about the prices to lure me into thinking I was getting a deal with the bundle price.
They lied about the phone being unlocked. If I had not seen the real prices on the internet I would have been over charged more than $1600. They lied about the phone not being unlocked and as of yet I still have not been able to connect to Bermuda Mobility. I paid over $400 for this lie. As well if I can get it unlocked it will cost me over $100 if at all possible.
I believe 51ST Computers is operating a con. They use powerful forces of con-manship combined with all out lies. They are probably doing this to any and all unsuspecting tourists and visitors to both New York and their store. Their store is in one of New Yorks busiest tourist areas just a couple of blocks from Times Square. Not what I would consider a good way to treat tourists.
I am suggesting an all out warning to all residence and any visitors to New York of the practices of this store. I would like to know as well if 51ST broke any laws in this transaction?
Allister
Paget
Bermuda
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