"i ordered a Garmin 760 from this site on fri 11/14/08 because they had the best price. i first called them to ask if this was new not refurbed (the answer was NEW)and asked how it could be so cheap. the guy said it's wholesale prices. after i placed the order online, later that day i decided to check out the website opinions as things didnt seem quite right. After reading story after story of bait/switch, high pressure sales of overpriced uneeded products, delays in shipping, i decided to cancel my order. i called them sun 11/16/08 (just after i received the email everyone warned that you would receive - "In order to further verify your order, we will need to speak with you on the phone. Please call our Verification department at 1-***-***-**** Ext. 209 Jason so we may verify and complete processing your order." Jason asked for my order #, pulled it up and unprofessionally like he was really cool said "oh hey jane doe (but my real name), hows it going?" and i replied that i was calling to cancel my order, not to verify it. He took my request immediately and that was it. That same minute after hanging up, I received am email confirming the order was cancelled and that no charges would appear on my visa. I will watch my card but my cancellation was much easier than i anticipated. so good luck to any of you who have to go through the sucky experiences that i have read about. seems i have gotten out of this unscathed...I ordered Garmin 760 from Amazon on Sat 11/15 and they emailed me sunday saying it was on its way. i am so relieved i found all of your comments about 86th St Video. I paid $50 more to Amazon than the price advertised with shipping at 86th. Well worth it and still a great price!
"

"I tried to buy a GPS System from this store. Called back to get a tracking number, and was met with a very rude & crude employee who told me in foul language that my GPS would not be coming until after the 1st of 2009. He stated his name as Babu (go Figure)had New York accent and told me he was the Boss. Tried to double the cost of my order and would not let me talk.He hung up on me 4 x and told me I was wasting his time. I cancelled my order and encourage you not to order from here. This place is a scam! Watch OUT!!!"

"Well I wish I had read this first. I am now going through the initial part. I placed the order on the 14th and have not received anything yet except the email thanking me for my order. I did have the same experience this past week with what must be the same outfit, www.techondigital.com because they have done the exact same moves as described here. They cacelled my order after I wouldn't buy the extras. I was told this was a gray market camera and then when I called back to see if they would honor a new lower price that they were showing on their site, they said yes and I would get a email in 24-48 hours with shipping info. The next day I got the email saying it would be 6-8 weeks for the item and they were cancelling the order. I am praying that I will get them to cancell this before card is charged. UPDATE: On 11/17/2008 I got the famous email asking me to call and confirm. I called and was given the sales pitch. I told them that I already had the accesories and all I wanted was the camera. Was told OK, enjoy the camera, you should receive it soon. Well, 5 minutes after call ended, I checked email. Says that they are out of stock, will be back in stock in 3-4 weeks. And that I can cancell by email if I wish. No charges will be made until item ships. It's funny how on the website, it is even lower in price and states that it is in stock and ready to ship.I think that I will wait out the 4 weeks and see if it ever shows up. I already have the camera, but I would love to get a 2nd. It is now 11/25/2008 so we will see what happens. I bet it gets cancelled by them."

"Same story as everyone else. Had to confirm my order by phone after they emailed me. Price at online checkout was at $517, as soon as I phoned it jumped to $550. Chris the salesman tried to sell me everything under the sun. Deceived me by telling me that garmin 880 I ordered took 6 to 8 hrs to charge with vehicle charger it came with and therefore I needed ac charger for home, he left out the fact that the unit also came with a usb for the computer. They sent the product minus the ac charger that Chris talked me into which he stated costs over 100 but he would give to me for 80. I called and told them not to sent the charger as I did not need it and that I was upset that I was deceived into buying it and I wanted the $80.00 just credited.
Approx 25 mins of this customer service rep giving me every high pressured technique under the sun, refusing to just credit me back the $80.00 instead trying to give me an error memory card (which I did not need or want) a three year warranty (did not need or want) a store credit (told him no way would I ever shop there again) and on and on and on, he also kept on telling me, go to best buy and see, you got a great package, your package was upgraded, check out Best Buy, blah, blah, blah. I said "listen, I am a single parent with two kids to feed, I'd rather have my $80.00 back for something that I never needed in the first place and was sold to me in a deceptive way to begin with. I kept getting "I understand" how about an error memory card? Warranty? Store credit? etc.. etc.. etc... NO THANKS, I JUST WANTED MY STINKING MONEY BACK THAT WAS TAKEN UNDER FRAUD AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED. I WILL NEVER, EVER DEAL WITH THIS STORE AGAIN AND WILL TELL EVERYONE I KNOW OF MY OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND OPINION. Needless to say my head was spinning after going round and round with this man (I was also at work at the time)I had finally had enough and told him to just forget it and send me the stinking ac adapter and he gleefully stated that he would send it out the next day. I hung up and actually felt completely violated."

"Oh I am beyond upset with this horrible company. I fell for the "what a smokin deal" and ordered a camcorder from them and of course went the way every other customer's experience has went. Although when we called to ask them why our product was backordered, they told us that we had ordered the 'import' model and was rendered obsolete. So if we wanted to receive our product we would have to pay another 100 bucks and buy the 'domestic' model instead. Are you serious?! So JVC is made in the USA now huh? So angry, I hope someone puts these people out of business or shuts them down. "

"I just spoken (14 Nov 2008) to FBI Special Agent Balias in the Brooklyn, NY office of the FBI. He said to have anyone who has a problem with 86th St. Photo and Video to file a complaint against 86th St. Photo and Video at ***-***-**** internet crime center - www.ic3.gov file you can file the complaint on line.

FBI Special Agent Balias said that if they get several people to file complaints the FBI will in start an investigation on 86th Street Photo and Video. FBI Special Agent Balias said personally he would like to do this one since they are just down the street from his office.

Let's put these pukes out of business!

My story is the same as everyone else's story. On the 11th of Nov 2008 I ordered a Canon 50D from 86th Street Photo and Video for $789.00 plus shipping for a total of $823.00. I got an email confirming the order at that time. Then on the 12th of Nov 2008 I got the same message everyone else had received about calling them to confirm the order. The short story is they sent me the email 30 seconds after I spoke to Brian, telling me my order had been backordered. I spoke to AmEX and will be getting another account because of this.

Help everyone and file a report with the FBI at the address listed above so we can stop these people.

Al Berger
Spokane, WA"

"Please take the time to report this Bait & Switch and use of false advertising tactics to the Better Business Bureau. https://odr.bbb.org/odrweb/public/GetStarted.aspx
Use the zip code for the "store", which is
86th Street Photo & Video
2845 86th Street
Brooklyn , NY 11223
Maybe if they get enough complaints, the state will revoke their business license, at the very least!

BTW, yes, I was scammed, and yes, I reported it to the BBB."

"I wished i would have read this site before i purchased my Pioneer AVHP4000DVD audio system.
The price was $285.00 and i had added a 2day special
delivery of $49.95 or a total of $329.95.
I too received an Email from them to contact them.
I did only to be convinced to buy an extended warranty plan for the item because THEY do not cover any warranty themselves. The warranty is via the manufacturer. So for $40.00 i got the extended warranty. Total now should be $369.95.
But it was $409.95 ?? Further questioning on the price difference, i was told the extra $40.00 was for insurance. The "cheap"price of $285.00 [for a $500.00 audio system] is now at $409.95 [with warranty]. None of these additional items,warranty,insurance etc. are listed in their site!
I called them and got the doubletalk and a $50.00 store credit.[Big deal]
I called Prestige camera about the same item
for $315.00 with FREE shipping and NO additional charge for insurance. THE FINAL PRICE WAS $315.00
period.Including a warranty for one full year that THEY cover.The item has already shipped and i cannot cancell the sale. But i will and buy this from some one else .Maybe Prestige Camera.
PS. I ordered this on the 10th of Nov with a 2day delivery FEE. Today is the 12th and it is just now being shipped. Even with the holiday delay i won't get it for two days[i assume] so much for the extra amount i paid for 2 day shipping.
UPDATE
They refunded my money less the original shipping cost plus i had to pay $15.00 to ship it back. Most "ligitemat" companies would pay to ship it back or provide a return label.
NEVER ....NEVER AGAIN."

"I ordered a Garmin Nuvi 880 several weeks ago. Each time I call the sales person says they are in stock, When I ask when they're going to ship mine they come back that the ones they have are for other customers and mine is backordered. When I talked with customer service, they said that it will be several more weeks.(several times now).

I called again today Nov.11, 2008 and was again told by customer service that they were out of stock. I called the sales dept. and they again said they did have them in stock. When I asked was mine going to be shipped. They then said they were out of stock on the models with the older maps but I could buy the model with the newer map at a greatly increased cost. Not the cost listed on the internet.

I hope to see my order someday, at the price agreed upon. (maybe someday will come)


I would be very suspicious of this company as I see no other negative reviews. While the price seems good, maybe it's to good.

PS: After reading all these reviews I feel stupid. The message printed above was the one I posted at 86th.St before finding this site. I know it will not be posted there. I will cancel this order and notify my bank to be on the watch.
Mike"

"My husband, too, was scammed by 86th Street Photo & Video, but thanks to all of your reviews, he won his dispute with AmEx on the 2nd round!! He ordered a Canon SD 890 camera for $199. Same story - he received an e-mail instructing him to call 86th Street Photo, and they wanted to sell him two extra batteries and a memory card. Unfortunately, he fell for it and said yes, for a new total of $369. When he received the package, only one extra battery was included AND the total price was $469, which was $100 more than it was supposed to be.

AmEx turned down his first dispute. Then I found this wonderful web site, printed out all of the reviews, and wrote a letter to the Chairman and CEO of AmEx, Kenneth I. Cheneault, explaining all the discrepancies in what we'd ordered and what was received and enclosing a copy of all of your reviews.

It took awhile, but the case was resolved in our favor. AmEx instructed us to send the camera to them (and they reimbursed the shipping charges), they credited my husband's account, and now 86th Street Photo & Video is on the AmEx "watch list" as scammers.

So thank you to all of you for sharing your experiences - this is what helped us win our case. And if any of you still have an open dispute against 86th Street Photo with AmEx, don't give up - it is possible to beat these cheats."

"Ordered a Garmin GPS online Monday. Got an email Wed stating they needed me to call them about the order. When I called they gave me some BS about my billing address versus my shipping address, which are exactly the same. Then they went into their bait and switch routine. They tried to sell me an AC charger adapter, an additional memory card, and an extended warranty. I politely said no to all of the above, and Chris said the unit would be shipped. Shortly after that I got an email stating "We regret to inform you that by the time your order reached the shipping process, our inventory on the product(s) you ordered was negative, therefore your order will be placed on a temporary backorder until we receive the product(s) back again in stock which will be in about 3-4 weeks." I noticed that the item is still offered online at their store and supposedly in stock.

This place is the worse kind of online experience you can imagine. DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT BUYING ANYTHING FROM THEM!"

"I called this company today 4 times and before I ask him a question he says? What do you want? with an attitude. ad I said do you have this item available? and he replied what kind of question and hanged up. I spoke to 4 persons there and they are the worse customer service in the entire country and possible world.

I thik these cameras might be stolen. I will report this to Nikon"

"This company appears to be a scam. They post extremely low prices on the Internet to solicit your order. Once you complete their online order form they send you an email indicating that you must call back to confirm your order. When you call back they are friendly and try to sell you accessories at extremely high prices. If you refuse to make the additional purchases they get rude and hang up. Then you get an email telling you that the item that was posted as "in stock" is weeks away from delivery and you can cancel if you want. They have done this to me three times. I will never again be a sucker for their posted low prices. The whole thing is a come on. Don't be fooled."

"I purchased a Garmin Nuvi 770 from this vendor and it cost me $900, which is way overpriced. The GTM FM receiver recently broke and I contacted them regarding a replacement. They had no record of my order and to this date have not returned my calls or e-mails. I do not recommend this vendor to anyone.
"

"Wow what a scam, wish I had done a little more research and read these reviews! I got sucked into the same scam! It cost me an extra $80! Then "Chris" had the nerve to tell me "I act like I am spending $2000-$3000"! The more I went round with them the more I figured things out. I believe it is a Jewish family business. When I didn't hear anything after 4 days of placing my order, until I got "the email", "Chris" told me they were closed for a Jewish holiday! They are all in it together! How does a place like this stay in business without being reported to someone?
To me sales people are worse than the dentist, so I don't usually get sucked into such a scam, am more mad at myself for falling for the high pressured sales job.
All the reviews are true and accurate, BUYER BEWARE DON'T DO IT!!!! Go to Best buy and pay the extra money, it's worth the headache!

By the way it looks like they have already changed from wisetronics to 86th street!"