Read this before buying a HV20 or HV30

[Manhattan]

Hello everyone new member here and thought I would share my experience.
First of all, Im guilty of everything explained in this post. I did my research and thought the HV20 would be the best camera for our purposes. I checked froogle.com and went with what I thought was the best deal (problem #1).
Anyway I placed my order and quickly got a conformation message.

Thanks for ordering with PreferredPhoto.com!

Your order number is: xxxxxxxx
Please use this number when replying/calling about this order.


This email confirms that we have received your order for:
1 Canon HV20 High-Definition MiniDV Camcorder
Please allow a minimum of two days for order processing.
To expedite order processing, please give us a call.
If the address to which your package is being delivered is different then the address where you receive your monthly credit card statements (billing address). You must list that address as an alternate ship to with your credit card company by calling the customer service number on the back of your credit card. (This is simply a temporary note on your account that will allow us to ship to an alternate address)
If you have additional questions about your order please contact us toll free at 1-800-927-0973 or email us at support@PreferredPhoto.com.

Thank You,

PreferredPhoto
www.PreferredPhoto.com

Two days later I get another email:

Thank you for shopping at preferredphoto.com!

We have received your order, xxxxxxxx.

For verification purposes, please call our customer service department at 1-800-927-0973 Extension 233, in order for us to proceed and process your order.
Please have your order number ready when you call.

Store Hours:
Sunday: 10 am to 7 pm EST
Monday - Thursday: 8:45 am to 9 pm EST
Friday: 8:45 am to 5 pm EST
Saturday: Closed

Thank You,
The preferredphoto.com Staff

I call same day and the person who answers the phone tells me that the stock battery is pathetic and will only last 15 minutes, but they also sell an extended life battery on sale for approximately $180.00. I just laugh and say no thank you. The kid clearly sounds frustrated and asks, you only want to use the camera for 15 minutes at a time?..fine.. Right there is when I started to get suspicious. Sure enough, a few hours later I get one more email:

Dear ,

This e-mail is to inform you that your order #xxxxx has not shipped due to the fact that it is currently backordered. Your credit card has not been charged. When the product arrives, we will notify you via e-mail prior to processing your order. If you would like to cancel your order at any time or for updated order status, please visit the "my account" area, or click the link below.

For any further assistance, please email us at support@preferredphoto.com.

preferredphoto.com

How many legit companies do you know of which expedite cancellations? What a joke! The best part is the credit card I used expires in 5 days so Im going to see how long it takes them to come back to me and say the camera is in stock. Anyone want to bet that they will call the minute their cost is less than what I agreed to pay?

How can I change my username to preferredphotoSucks?
- Manhattan

[T_Bone]

Manhattan (and other newbies)

Sorry to hear yet again about such shaddy operations. But a simple Google search of "preferredphoto" revealed information that would have caused me to quickly place my hands very tightly around my wallet.

I don't know if this is definitely PreferredPhoto.Com:

http://donwiss.com/pictures/BrooklynStores/h0202.htm

But this and other information like PreferredPhoto may be associated or doing business also as A&M Photo, BwayPhoto, or DigitalLiquidators cause me grave concern.

In our zeal to "save" a dollar or two, we all too often flock to these rogue merchants frequently bypassing well established businesses who may charge just a little more in our mind for products.

http://sheddingsomelight.com/buy-cam...s-bwayfam.html

Let The Buyer Beware... Let The Buyer Beware... Have Mercy On The Buyer... But Let The Buyer Beware !!!

[Manhattan]

I guess I put too much faith in companies like the BBB and our gov't to curb such shady practices....(Mistake #2)

[T_Bone]

Manhattan (and other newbies)

The Better Business Bureau in fact does provide information on such merchants. However, it is on each of us to seek the info --- Often Free of Charge.

Here is what the BBB provided online when I searched for PreferredPhoto at 321 E. 89th Street, Brooklyn NY (the business address on PreferredPhoto's website:

http://search.newyork.bbb.org/reports.aspx?pid=44&page=1&id=68047

=================

New York BBB Reliability Report for BROADWAY PHOTO

This is NOT a BBB Accredited business

This business has an unsatisfactory record with the BBB

Business Contact Information
Name:BROADWAY PHOTOAdditional Business Names:

A&M Photo World, Best Camera, Camera Addict, Cameratopia, Digital Liquidators LLC, Ghu, LLC, Millenium Camera, Preferred Photo, Prestige Camera
Quest4Cameras, Regal Camera, TheDigitalExpo, Tronicity, Wild Digital LLC

Address:337 East 89th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11236

Principal:Ben Z. Cohen, President
Phone Number718) 338-1800. Additional Phone Numbers718) 338-0634, (800) 951-9542, (718) 338-1352, (800) 709-4491, (866) 407-3425, (800) 432-2180, (800) 572-6152, (718) 338-0634, (718) 837-5999, (718) 837-2666, (718) 837-5999, (718) 837-2666, (800) 819-6661, (800) 819-6661, (253) 423-3535, (718) 645-4800, (718) 645-6944, (800) 685-5140, (718) 663-7123, (917) 852-6536, (800) 957-6628

Fax Number718) 338-3029

Website:www.bwayphoto.comAdditional Websites:BuyeRetail.com
www.amphotoworld.com, www.cameratopia.com, www.digitalliquidators.com, www.kingcameras.com, www.preferedphoto.com, www.preferredphoto.com, www.prestigecamera.com, www.regalcamera.com, www.thedigitalexpo.com, www.tronicity.com, www.wilddigital.comType of Business:Photographic Equipment & Supplies-Retail, Photographers-Commercial, Cellular Telephone Equipment & Supplies, Computers-Dealers, Electric Equipment & Supplies-Retail, Electronic Equipment & Supplies-Dealers

The information in this report has either been provided by the company, or has been compiled by the Bureau from other sources.

Nature of Business Complaints to the Bureau indicate that this firm uses high pressures sales tactics after consumers place their orders. After ordering merchandise consumers report receiving a phone call from the firm’s customer representatives attempting to sell additional items. Representatives allegedly try to persuade consumers to buy the U.S. warranty, as well as accessories like cables, peripherals, and software, or lead consumers to believe the product will not work if additional merchandise is not purchased. In some cases, if the consumers declined, an email was sent advising them to cancel their orders because the item was on back-order despite being listed as available on the firm’s website. Consumers also reported unauthorized charges on their invoices. When trying to dispute such charges, consumers report difficulty talking to management, claiming they are verbally abused by the company’s staff.

Customer Experience Based on BBB files, this business has an unsatisfactory record with the Bureau, because there is a pattern of complaints, and the business has not corrected the underlying reason for the complaints.

The company's size, volume of business, and number of transactions may have a bearing on the number of complaints received by the BBB. The number of complaints filed against a company may not be as important as the type of complaints, and how the company handled them. The BBB generally does not pass judgment on the validity of complaints filed.

Additional Locations: This firm also does business at the following locations.

2922 Avenue L
Brooklyn, NY 11210

315 East 89th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11236

5014 16th Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11204

1354 E. 2nd Street
Brooklyn, NY 11230

1709 65th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11204

1412 Avenue M
Brooklyn, NY 11230

321 East 89th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11236

Report as of: 1/28/2008

[kevboz]

I ordered one from them. Price seemed great. After I ordered it I ended up deciding to order one from amazon a few dollars more and then cancel the one from Butterflyphoto. They had a form for filling out. I fill it out and pressed submit. Told them I wanted to cancel the order.

The next day I get a call from them asking about to confirm the order. I told them I cancelled the order about 5 minutes after placing it. He asked why. I told them I read some unflattering things about their company online and found a better place to buy from.. He said ok we will cancel your order then hung up on me.

I read some good reviews but also some really bad reviews about them. sure it's possible they could be posting their own good reviews.

Any thoughs?
here is more info about them

DOD Marketing, INC
1764 A
New Durham Road
South Plainfield NJ 07080
United States

Sounds fishy to me.


Kevin

[Mal]

Any though[t]s?

Have you read this thread and followed the links?

No further explanation is necessary - surely!

[raka]

- maybe add "HV30" to the thread name to reduce the new HV30 "deals" being mentioned in the forum?

- fortunately my personal favorite hasn't shown up yet:

"i got a great deal on ebay for $399 for a brand new HV30 and wired Western Union cash to the seller in Romania - but now he's not answering my emails anymore. do you think i got scammed? "

[melvonnar]

[
-

"i got a great deal on ebay for $399 for a brand new HV30 and wired Western Union cash to the seller in Romania - but now he's not answering my emails anymore. do you think i got scammed? "

[/QUOTE]

YEP

[melvonnar]

RAKA------I have a bridge for sale. only for cash.
And yes you can kiss that money goodby.
Best price I;ve seen so far on an HV-30 is $950

[raka]

RAKA------I have a bridge for sale. only for cash.
And yes you can kiss that money goodby.
Best price I;ve seen so far on an HV-30 is $950

melvonnar - you misunderstood - i've never lost a dime in all my internet transactions.

i was actually making fun of all the gullible (greedy?) people who fall for all these 'to good to be true' items.

in these types of threads, sooner or later, you usually hear from someone who wired money to (usually) Romania and are now waiting (in vain) for their goodies

but fear not - they will get their money back - they found this great business opportunity in Nigeria

[Erik Bien]

but fear not - they will get their money back - they found this great business opportunity in Nigeria

Mrs. Ngebegebwe would never lie to me! All she wants is my help getting access to her late husband's overseas accounts (he was a government minister, you know). I sure hope her barrister received my wire tranfer for the bank fees; do you suppose I should be worried? (Those Western Union people seem so unreliable!)

[1]

Erik, I'm sure you've read the now infamous Capt. Kirk - Nigerian Scam bust?

It's now 6 years old, and still every bit as funny as back then:
http://www.mylo.net/funny/fraud/mikeaba.html

BE SURE TO OPEN UP THE LINKS OF THE PICS, THE CAPTAIN KIRK "PASSPORT" IS TRULY A GEM!

[Lunchbox]

I recently received a simliar one but the guy's name was Patrick Chan who is the CEO of the Hang Seng Bank in Hong Kong. The guy's email address is PatrickChan@yahoo.com.hk. It gives me a chuckle.

[jackjackbobac]

so in this thread I hear a lot about where not to buy, but I want to know of some good places that have hv20 packages that I could buy without worrying about being scammed. Any particular recommendations?

[jackjackbobac]

wait, darn forget that last post of mine...

[Lunchbox]

There are a lot of them. B&H, Amazon (direct from Amazon), Buy.com, Circuit City, Sears, Adorama, Bestbuy, Crutchfield, 6ave. Go thru the where To Buy forum should get you some idea.

[Dodgy Nick]

Erik, I'm sure you've read the now infamous Capt. Kirk - Nigerian Scam bust?

It's now 6 years old, and still every bit as funny as back then:
http://www.mylo.net/funny/fraud/mikeaba.html

BE SURE TO OPEN UP THE LINKS OF THE PICS, THE CAPTAIN KIRK "PASSPORT" IS TRULY A GEM!

Mal, that photo had me in fits of laughter. The only suspicious bit about that whole story is the wife in the bathtub. If my wife was that hot, I'd never have drowned her!

If you like scambaiting stories, check out this pro:
http://www.419eater.com/
He gets scammers to post ridiculous photos of themselves (check the trophy room), and in some cases, even to send HIM money! Incredibly funny stuff.

[jazzworkerbee]

So where is a person to go to get a deal? What is the lowest legitimate price??

[Mehdi]

So where is a person to go to get a deal? What is the lowest legitimate price??

$799 + shipping from B&H, a very respectable merchant is a very good deal. Take a look at this thread.

-- Mehdi

[jazzworkerbee]

Thank you. It's still a little out of my range. I'll have to wait.

[timstupid22]

I went to the link and scrolled through the thread. I then checked out some of the sites listed as scams and it was hilarious, some of the prices they offer. On bestpricecameras.com, the HV20 is listed as $ 569.00 plus free shipping! Hilarious!!! You know it is too good to be true. I just laughed. I hope no one gets scammed. Please click on the link above before you consider buying online.

I Found a Referb HV20 on Newegg for $589.99 and its not to good to be true. i know its referb, but its pretty much new

[Gymnut808]

I Found a Referb HV20 on Newegg for $589.99 and its not to good to be true. i know its referb, but its pretty much new

You quoted a post that was dated May 2007. Brand new HV30's are going anywhere from $700 on up so NOW it's not so much of a stretch to see HV20's going for around $500+.

[markg143]

dell.com had an hv30 for 730 plus shipping (dont ask me why dell sells cameras), and i just got one from costco.com for 750 plus shipping

[APXIAC]

Wow im glad I read this.
I was considering fotoconnect due to my limitation on money.
Thank you.
lol.

[spelly]

I've never heard of these Brooklyn or Crooklyn stores...

where do they advertize?

are they on eBay? I always wonder about people/stores who sell brand new, unopened stuff on eBay.

One eBay listing said HV30 new in sealed box. When you read the item description it was a refurbished model that the seller had "sealed" into a genuine HV30 box.