Infinity: Tips for shopping in good conscience -- avoid it!
Written: Dec 16 '03 (Updated Nov 05 '07)
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The photo sales business is not traditionally a place to look for excellent CS over the phone. To make a long story short, Infinity Cameras is not an exception from the rule and may be leaning a 'little' towards the worse.
To skip the shopping experience and go directly to the checklist, please click here ...
Trying to get the best deal for a Canon Digital Rebel Kit (w/ lens) my wife and I found Infinity Cameras' offer for $804.- which is one of the lowest in the market right now. However, when ordering via the internet we were instructed to call for verification of address etc.. When we did so the sales person took the opportunity to make us aware of 'needed' accessories. Namely memory media and a battery ($199).
A battery? Ohhh! Err, we're so glad this 'courteous' gentleman is telling us! ... Wait a minute!!! I just looked this up on usa.canon.com and the kit (w/ lens) has a battery included!!! So is this an extra one? "Nope!", he swears: "There is none included, and the camera would practically not be useable." Then he takes it one step further and explains that the one 'other' vendors sell only lasts 15 minutes. A-ha!? Trusting the manufacturer's info (BP-511 battery included) we kindly refuse. Besides, the mentioned battery (as a spare) can be had for $60 from other vendors -- not $200!
"But a lens would be needed too!" A lens? No thanks, since this is the kit (again) and a highly rated lens is included! (Or so one can read in Canon's description and the various magazines we reviewed before honing in on this camera.) "Yeah, there is one ... but not a good one" Ohh really, thanks for the advice but no thanks?! One more time we're giving him the benefit of the doubt. Maybe he has just no idea that this lens is specifically designed to work with the Digital Rebel?
"So no accessories?", he summarizes. Correct! When 'processing' the order he finds out that: "... the camera is on backorder and will be shipped in mid January." Ohh really!? Must have sold out quickly since we just got a confirmation and the site still states it's in stock (now for $999.-). After all we were just calling to confirm order and shipping address, which in itself is unusual and unnecessary for other shops.
The original price was good, but this really starts to look like a scam now. Consequentially we demand the cancellation of this order. "Ooops, computer system is down." Alright, then we will call again. After 2 more attempts it finally gets cancelled and even confirmed via e-mail.
Reviewing the contents of the kit again, it becomes clear that this unit is an undisclosed grey market import since the country specific items like the charger (and with it the battery) have been removed. Absolutely unacceptable unless declared as such ... something Infinity Cameras does not do!
Content of the Canon Digital Rebel Kit
- EOS Digital Rebel Body
- Digital Camera Solution CD-ROM
- Adobe Photoshop Elements
- Video Cable VC-100
- Interface Cable IFC-300PCU
- Wide Strap EW-10DB II
- Battery Charger CB-5L (removed by IC)
- Battery Pack BP-511 (removed by IC)
- 18/55mm EF-S lens
Not that this is sooo much different from other experiences I had regarding camera purchases via the phone, but the incredible attempt to sell us the (included) battery for an extra 200 bucks certainly upset us. In light of this dirty trick, it seems almost insignificant that the camera is still 'in stock' and practically only sold with marked up accessories. (Other vendors at least are honest about it.)
Overall, the shop has a good selection and shipping cost is higher than average. (to compensate for low price offers) From that perspective one might still give them a chance, but if you're not into guerilla tactics sales do yourself a favor and avoid calling. (Advice is bad and given under great pressure to make a quick sale.) In fact, you might avoid them all together!
Sure, we're disgruntled right now and might have let it gone by - maybe - but way too often one can read pretty much the same story associated with Infinity Cameras*. So read a few customer feedbacks* before even attempting to do business with them.
These reviews are a quick selection of hundreds similar ones:
Detailed documentation of this company's scam
Stay away! Sketchy practices and products
Awful - avoid them!
...
*...Please note that there seem to be a few high-praise reviews that are so far fetched that some of them for sure are 'fake' in my humble opinion. ... unless it makes you feel good to purchase overpriced accessories and being rushed into buying anything you didn't need before the call.
Make sure you know exactly what you need before calling and stick to your plan. The initial offer may be tempting but the "accessories" more often than not are overpriced and sometimes even unnecessary. (Btw, the same advice goes for most mail-order shops.) Further -- especially with companies like Infinity Cameras -- make sure to ask whether the product has US warranty or not. (They conveniently forget to mention when it's a 'Grey Import'.)
Checklist for online purchases
- Check for company's respectability (i.e. www.bbb.org)
- Check feedback on Epinions.com* or Bizrate.com
- Check for competitive offers
- Know the real market value for 'accessories'
- Verify ordered content with manufacturer listed content
- Verify availability before payment
- When in doubt call rather than ordering online
- Have exact product description at hand
- Identify your needs before calling
- Stick to your plan!!!
- Ask for Manufacturer's US warranty (avoid additional bogus warranties)
- Don't agree to backorders more than 1 week (you can always order it later)
- If it doesn't feel right, don't order
- Don't argue, hang up (don't order)
So why 2 stars instead of the deserved 1? Well, unfortunately this experience is not soo much different from others and pretty much reflects the sales pressure in this business. So average is bad, and Infinity Cameras gets below average due to misleading information. Further, the 'call back to confirm order' is a mere sales scam to pitch accessories to an unsuspecting customer.
PS: Infinity Cameras does not participate in the Better Business Bureau's Online Reliability Program and is not customer aproved on Bizrate.com.
;-)
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Update (25-Feb-2004):
The Better Business Bureau responded: "Thank you for contacting the Better Business Bureau. While it appears that you do not seek our dispute resolution services, we appreciate the time that you have taken to convey your experience. We will retain your correspondence in our files.
Well, just pointing out some mal-practice does not appear to be enough. I guess I have to get burned before this gets anywhere. Too 'bad' I caught this before I really had an issue to resolve. (i.e. refund or exchange) So everybody less fortunate ... make your voice heared and submit a complaint to the BBBO!
Update (05-Nov-2007):
BEST PRICE CAMERAS
1938 McDonald Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11223
owned by George Sabato
operates under ...
http://www.bestpricecameras.com,
http://www.infinitycameras.com,
http://www.infiniticameras.com,
http://www.mraccessory.com,
http://www.regencycamera.com,
http://www.hellocamera.com,
http://www.beststopcamera.com,
http://www.jandkcameras.com,
http://www.eastcoastdistributor.com,
http://www.citywidedigital.com,
http://www.infinityphoto.com
... and generally all those business' have a lot of bait-n-switch complaints.
Recommended:
No
What product did you purchase or try to purchase? Canon EOS Digital Rebel Kit
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