"Stay the hell away from these places - This 86th St. outfit is just another shady online site that dangles great prices in front of you and then won't produce the item.

When you call to inquire why there is a delay in receiving the item you're told it's on backorder, even though their current advertising continues to show it "in stock and ready to go". (The salesperson clearly told me the item was ready to ship when I placed the order) One-to-two day shippin, my butt.

This is my second attempt to buy a Garmin Nuvi GPS from one of these scammers. The first was the same scenario as this one.

I've learned my lesson and will buy from reputable sites like Amazon.com, even though the price may be a bit higher, at least the shipping is free and they actually have what they advertise.

If I had read these reviews beforehand I NEVER would have ordered from 86th St. the first place.


Update to above story review:

After the old song-and-dance BS from 86th St. I ordered the Garmin GPS from Amazon.com late Sunday night and it was delivered and in the car working by mid-day Wednesday. I paid a little more, but I didn't have to deal with the thieves at 86th St.


"

"I purchsed the NUVI 360 and am VERY PLEASED with the treeatment I received while placing my order. The sales person was very knowledgable. MY order arrived in two days well before the 4-7 days I was quoted. I was so pleased with the service and order that I called and ordered a second package(7/18/2008) as a gift."

"I placed an online order based on good pricing, but when I did not agree to buy overpriced accessories, I IMMEDIATELY received and email stating that the item was backordered. It was clear that they would only ship the item if I paid $149 for a 1GB memory card. This place is unbelievable. Don't do business with them."

"Bait-and-switch company. I wish I would have found this ratings website before I actually ordered, it seems that everyone has had the same problem that I did. Do not order from them."

"RUN! Run far way and as fast as you can from this vendor.

I attempted to order a canon powershot SX100 IS from this company because they had the lowest price.

I had seen them on one of the 'compare the prices' sites. They were supposedly a 'certified' site and they had the lowest price so I placed the order.

I wish I would have checked further.
After I placed the order I received an Email stating I needed to call to confirm the order. When I called they tried to upsell me to a package containing a charger for an additional hundred bucks. When I turned it down, they eventually said OK and placed the order. Immediately after, I received another email stating the item was on 3-4 wk backorder with a 'convenient' notice that I could cancel any time. I waited a couple of weeks and called back to check the status. Surprise, it was still on 3 week backorder BUT, if I ordered the package with the charger, I could have it in 3 days!

I asked if the 'package' was packaged by Canon and was told "Yes, it is a special retailers package." I asked how confident they were that it would be shipped out within the 3 weeks and was told that "since it was already delayed once because of a delayed shipment from China, it would go out within 3 weeks and they would overnight it".

Next I called Canon camera customer relations department. They stated they do not sell any special retail packages, just the basic package that I ordered. The charger is offered as an accessory for $60 instead of the $99 they wanted to charge.

So I emailed 86th Street back relaying what Canon told me and stating that since they obviously had the basic package in stock, they could ship it out that day, and since they had offered to ship it overnight, I should certainly be able to receive it in 3 business days. Further, if I didn't, I would cancel the order, and submit a complaint with the New York Attorney General for what I considered to be bait and switch tactics. I waited until the day following that, without ever hearing a word, and called them again. Guess what, the first thing they said was that my order was back-ordered 5 weeks! I cancelled the order.

It is my belief that this store never intended to ship the basic camera package out. I believe they offer a very low price to look good on the comparison sites, then try to switch you to the full package. If you don't bite, I believe they try to force you to it with fake delays and are perfectly happy, if that doesn't work, to have you cancel the order. I believe they never intend to send out the low-priced camera, or, at least, try to push delays as long as possible in hopes you will cancel. Let me state clearly that this is just my interpretation of my experience, but it certainly seems to fit.

I intend to proceed with my complaint to the Attorney General and I encourage anyone else who has had such problems with the company to do the same. You can download the form from the web.

Most of all, I strongly encourage you to avoid this company!!!
"

"I ordered a Panasonic DMC-TZ5S Digital Camera and fell for the bait and switch. I went with the package for alot more money and the extra's I received were all off brand and not worth the extra money. When I ordered I mentioned the internet special "buy any High Speed memory card get the second Free". I was told I would receive two cards, but I only received one (off brand). I called 86th St and was told the buy one get one free did not apply because I ordered the package and the items were already discounted.
I am taking the advice of Strata and filing a complaint with the FTC. https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/
I hope everyone who has been taken by 86th Street Photo files a complaint.

"

"I bought a camera for $209. on June 8th which stated was in stock. I rec'd a call 5 days later stating they were in back order status and if I upgrade to a kit I can still get it shipped out at $200 more. I said I would wait the 3 weeks. When nothing still came I called and was told 5 weeks and was hung up on by a very rude guy. I called back to talk to a manager who stated I have this great kit and you get two 5 hour batteries and car charger and wall charger which none is in this kit. I said ok since I was going on vacation. When I got this off brand battery worth about $13.00 and a charger retailing at 16.00 I send an email to discuss an RMA to return these items for my $230. credit. I will send a letter to Nikon on the bait and switch tactics, contact BBB and if any other government agency needs to be notified, I will go forward with all of it. $230 for less than $50.. worth of accessories.

Wish I read the reviews here first. Don't ever buy from them"

"Placed order on 4/18. Didn't hear from 86th Street Photo for several weeks. Called about order. Was consistently told that all Nuvi's are on back order and it will be five weeks. Even today, when I called, same story. Rep was disrespectful and would not escalate my call to a supervisor or management within the company. Then I receive an email indicating that I canceled my order, which I did not. Product still advertised on their web site, at a lower cost than my original order. I called and spoke to someone about placing an order - was told that Nuvi's are on backorder for three weeks. IMHO, DO NOT purchase anything from 86st Street Photo. They are not a worthy company to purchase from."

"People, if you want prominent eyes to pay attention to 86th's st photo scam don’t waste your time with non government agencies like BBB who can in reality do absolutely nothing for you.
Real reports and real complaints are filed with the FTC. https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/
Learn your lessons BUT file a complaint. Trust me, they will catch up to them but you have to do your part.
"

"BEWARE!!DO NOT ORDER FROM THESE THIEVES!!!! I ordered S5 IS on May 11, 2008. I received an e-mail stating to call to confirm order, at which time they tried to sell me "accessories" for the camera. When I declined, I received an email that my camera was on backorder for 3-4 weeks. I emailed 2 weeks later to check the status and they said 6-12 weeks. Last week it was 3 weeks, today it was 5 weeks. When I demanded to speak to a supervisor, they hung up on me numerous times. When I asked for the address so I could file a complaint with the online BBB, they said "North Pole, to the left of Santa's house". They were rude and demeaning. The whole experience has been a nightmare. The moral is- if the price is too good to be true, it probably isn't true."

"Beware!!! Beware!!! Beware!!! Do not buy from 86th st photo. They are a bunch of scam artists. They offer a great price that it too good to be true, but when you don't buy other products that are way over priced, they send you an e-mail that your order is on back order. If you call to complain, they hang up on you."

"wow....shoulda checked here first! Exactly what was described. I became suspicious when I called to check on my order. 3 phone calls, 15 minutes average on hold, then a hangup. Finally got an operator, who couldn't have been more rude, who ignored anything I said and then "transferred" me. On hold for 10 minutes, hang up.
DO NOT ORDER FROM THESE JOKERS.

UPDATE: called 3 more times, to cancel my order but never received a confirmation. Each time when I asked for a confirmation number, I was hung up on. Finally I got an operator and pretty much threatened to call my attorney. He was very very rude and hung up on me, but I DID get my cancelation confirmation. We'll see....
SPEND THE EXTRA MONEY AND ORDER FROM GOOD PEOPLE
that's my advice....
"

"This will sound amazingly like 99% of previous (and I'm certain future) reviews on this disgusting and dishonest seller. When I ordered my remarkably low priced Garmin gps, I was a bit surprised with the request for the 1-800 customer service telephone number listed on the credit card as well as a subsequent email request to call and confirm the order. The focus of the phone call was trying to convince me to purchase a "required" drastically overpriced memory card for the gps. My refusal was followed by an email informing me that my gps was now on back order. When I went to cancel the whole mess, there was no record that the order had ever been placed!!!! "

"Horrible experience from the start. I am very nervous they have my C/C number. I cancelled my order after them finally saying it will take 5 weeks. Online order page says it ships in two days. No one would stay on phone long enuff to understand my questions re camera features before transferring me to someone else. Each new person was less helpful than the last. Very rude in general. To test them, I asked for any camera name they could ship me immediately that was similar to my initial order. All were on backorder! I have zero confidence in them...at best I suspect they are hiding severe internal problems."

"WARNING - DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH THIS COMPANY!!!

I ordered an Olympus 570-SP UZ digital camera, which was priced at $259. This was about $140 cheaper than any place else. After I placed the order, I received an email informing me that I needed to call the company about my order.

I called and spoke to a sales person who tried to sell me 2GB of memory at $279. I purchased this item at another web site for $29, so I obviously declined. I next received another email telling my digital camera was on back order for 3-4 weeks. I then contacted the company and told them to cancel the order.

This place is a FRAUD!!! They lure you in with a very low price, then try to sell you other over prices items with the follow up phone call. If you decline, you order goes to a back order status. Don't even bother with this place!!!!"