The dispute stems from fraudulent business practices. I purchased Nikon D5100 Digital SLR Camera Body ($549.00), lenses (a Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f1.4g and a Nikon 55-200mm AF-S VR DX) and accessories from the The Digital Hunter on September 11th. The merchant indicated he would include a rapid charger and battery with the purchase camera body which, unbeknownst to me, indicated he was switching the camera to a higher cost ($799.00)."domestic" model. No mention was made at all of there being a price differential. Soonest I realized what had transpired I was informed that there was a 35% cancellation fee. When the order arrived on September 25th, it included a low-end budget Sigma 55-200mm lens instead of the Nikon OEM lens ordered. The 50mm was missing. The merchant explained I had been given a free upgrade to the Sigma. I was not interested and returned the lens. Weeks followed. On October 10th I received a Nikon zoom lens but not the lens ordered. I returned it, all the while asking the merchant for the whereabouts of the 50mm lens which on two occasions I was informed had "shipped yesterday", another time I was told "I dont understand. I packed it myself." On another occasion I was told "weather" was responsible for a delay. The 50mm lens finally arrived on November 4th but I now am still missing the Nikon 55-200mm lens (for which I was given a wholly fabricated FedEx tracking number). The final straw came when the merchant accused me of lying to him when I informed that the camera battery that came with the 50mm lens he had sold me came in an opened package, was scratched, obviously used, and didnt even fit my camera. Fed up I informed the merchant I wanted to return the entire order for a full and complete refund; no cancellation fee, and no restocking fee — a full refund. He agreed (but did not follow through" and not before threatening: "... I will destroy you... I will ruin your credit rating... You don't know who you are dealing with...".
So here I sit, waiting for a $2,649.99 credit to be posted to my card before I return any merchandise.
I learned a few things subsequent to the sale.
The Digital Hunter (http://www.thedigitalhunter.com) has been in business since December. The domain is privately registered through GoDaddy.com, Inc., using Domains by Proxy, Inc., so they appear to be deliberately hiding their identity. Reverse phone number lookup search shows the number (954) 744-1565 is an unlisted number in Hollywood, Florida.
There is no corporate or mailing address listed on the site but they are associated with a residential / business address in Brooklyn (Bensonhurst area) from where product is shipped to / from (The Camera Shop (TCS), 6605 20th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11204). It is the same business address once used by Thunder Cameras, a now defunct but notorious "bait and switch" operation (a brief history of Thunder Camera: Stop & Shop Digital did business as StopAndShopDigital.com, StopnShopDigital.com, a/k/a Smart Choice Cameras, SmartChoiceCameras.com, a/k/a The Camera Shop (TCS), Save Here Digital, SaveHereDigital.com, a/k/a Thunder Cameras, ThunderCameras.com, a/k/a pricenshop.com). According to ReMax the property is up for sale. The storefront lease expires in November. There are options to renew but the listing agent was as of this date uncertain of the merchants plans in the matter as of this date.
This company's activities are scandaleous if not outright fraudulent. The technique is a classic bait and switch operation. Lured in by a great price on a camera or lens (the bait) the merchant then sends a low-cost budget item attempting to pass it off as a high-end upgrade (the switch). An element of the scam is to claim the item is a "gray market" model without warranty and / or everything is written on the item in Japanese (Nikon technical services, for one, disavows their being such products) and that you should upgrade. This might not be disclosed to the buyer at the time of purchase, but will handed off in the guise that, for example, a rapid charger and battery will be included in the sale (meaning the switch is being made to the higher cost "domestic" model). No mention may be made at all of there being a price differential.
— The bait: Nikon D5100 Digital SLR Camera Body
— Quoted price from The Digital Hunter: $549.00
— This would be the "gray market" model variant. Price for their "domestic" model is not listed, but was quoted at $799.00.
— Average Internet price for this camera is $625.00 to $650.00.
Some prices are just beyond belief. Memory disk's are marked up five fold so that a Class-6 8GB card — which would sell anywhere else for $20.00-25.00 — sells at TheDigitalHunter.com for $125.00.
— 8GB Professional ULTRA-HIGH SPEED Secure Digital (SD) Memory Card
— Quoted price from The Digital Hunter: $124.99
— Average Internet price price for this memory is $20.00 to $25.00
Other marked up items:
— Superior Titanium High Resolution Multi Coated UV Filter
— Quoted price from The Digital Hunter: $39.00
— Average Internet price for this filter is $20.00 to $25.00
Some items are just flat wrong. According to Nikon technical services, there is no VR II model of the Nikon 55-200mm AF-S lens and no meaning to the designation "Steel". Nor is there an extended life battery of any kind.
— Nikon 55-200mm AF-S VR II DX (Steel)
— Quoted price from The Digital Hunter: $499.00
— Average Internet price for the VR lens is $225.00 to $250.00
To further hide the deception the invoice will likely not list the price on any individual item in a multiple item purchase, showing instead the "special package discount" total price only. Shipping is free but don't overlook the incredible 6% insurance fee on all items, the 35% order cancellation fee, 15% restocking fee, the 60-day wait for refunds, or the claim that no refunds can be made on discount packages!
The Digital Hunter lost their Better Business Bureau accreditadation and was given an "F" rating (on a scale of A to F). See: (Link Removed)
There are also reports of buyers being compelled to leave "five star ratings" at (Link Removed) in order to obtain a refund (the company no longer partcipates in this rating forum).
A positive testimonial on the scrolling marquee on their site at one time was actually copied directly from a legitimate review on the B&H Photo website and links at the bottom of the page to PriceGrabber, Verified by Visa, MasterCard SecureCode, Shopping.com, etc., are image captures and non-working links.
According to the site http://usacomplaints.com/, $11,963.00 in damages have been reported in just twelve reports filed as of November 6th. Other reports of their fraudulent activities can be found at:
(Link Removed)
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